Robyn Bradley's Blog: Missed My Stop!

1. I own a pair of Pajama Jeans. I live in them. But, interestingly enough, I’ve never slept in them.

2. Scatology is the scientific study of excrement. Who knew? And you’re welcome.

3. In his book Linchpin: Are You Indispensable, Seth Godin says, “It’s not an effort contest. It’s an art contest.” I agree with that.

4. Maybe someday when I get an email with the word “Beloved” in the subject line it will be from someone like George Clooney, and not some spammer promising me a million-dollar inheritance if I just provide certain info, like my birthday, social security number, and bra size.

5. I’m recording a podcast today with children’s author Katie Davis who wants to talk to me about all things Facebook. She’s taken my FB obsession for expertise. Hope I don’t disappoint. I’ll announce when the podcast is live. She also talks about me in her latest podcast, which you can listen to here.

6. Bored? Try coffin racing.

7. Just finished reading one of my favorite author’s latest books: Some Assembly Required: A Journal of My Son’s First Son by Anne Lamott and Sam Lamott. I swear, the woman gets in my head and can read my thoughts and fears and dreams and everything.

What random thoughts have you had this week? Share some in the comments.

Okay, the title might be a little overly dramatic, but let me explain. First of all, this memory has come flooding back (see what I did there?), thanks to the re-release of Titanic in 3D. I saw the original for the first time in December of 1997 (with my beloved) and was wowed, just like everyone else.

I then went on to see the flick another three times (at least) in the spring of 1998, and here’s why: my beloved and I had broken up, and I was, quite simply, devastated.

I was a young pup — I’d just turned 25 — and my heart was breaking, and no, Celine Dion, it didn’t feel like it would go on. This was before the Internet had taken off and everyone had email. Facebook didn’t exist, nor the smart phones and texting and online Scrabble we’ve come to know and love today. Time went by so slowly back then, but even more so for me in that stretch of spring circa 1998 when every minute it seemed my tender little heart ached and broke some more. I needed distractions, something to fill the endless, empty hours. Enter Titanic. I mean, there’s nothing like a 3.5 hour movie to kill off a chunk of time.

Yes, it might seem odd that I opted for a flick with a love story — and a sad one — at its heart, but I had few choices. So off to the theater I went, by myself, when I didn’t think I could stand another moment in my body. The hours I stared at the screen with glazed, red, and puffy eyes saved me.

I’ve seen the movie probably a dozen times since then and know much of the dialogue word-for-word. I haven’t seen it in 3D and don’t know if I will. The memories it’s stirred up are enough.

But it’s those memories and experiences, I think, that shape and complete us (corny sounding, even as I write it, but it’s true), and, for me, all of it has inspired me, my writing, and my vision for my future.

It’s taken me fourteen years to feel this way, but I’m grateful for all of it, and I am, finally, at peace.

1. It’s a gaggle of geese, a school of fish, and — get this — a “kindle of kittens.” I’m surprised Amazon hasn’t done something with this yet.

2. I think you know you’ve made it as a writer when someone else cares about your book more than you do.

3. Isn’t all romance paranormal?

4. The only complex things I want in my life are carbohydrates.

5. Anyone who has ever taken a standardized test knows what a #2 pencil is. Question: what are #1 pencils used for? Do they exist?

6. The true definition of a stealth mission: you’re in Stop & Shop, un-showered and in a bad mood, and you spy someone you know, and you spend the rest of your shopping trip ducking down aisles and hiding behind displays and praying to God that the person didn’t — and doesn’t –  see you. You’d abandon your cart, but the cat needs food and the only thing in your fridge is chunky milk and a mushy cucumber.

7. Red Solo Cup. I’m late to this party, but I can’t get the tune out of my head, and I love the back story about how the song got made in the first place. I’m embedding the video below, but don’t blame me when the earworm strikes you.

When I was kid, I loved going to the movies. General Cinema was the big theater in town, and one of my favorite moments was after the previews and before the movie started when the General Cinema clouds would appear with this soaring music — music that made my skin tingle and my heart beat faster and my imagination spin with possibilities.

I knew at a very young age that I wanted — that I needed — to create, and this “thing” inside me stirred whenever the clouds appeared and the music played, almost as if the two were a trigger to remind a dormant piece of my soul what it was being called to do.

I was thinking about the clouds and the music the other day, struggling to describe them and wondering if I could somehow find them online. I googled “general cinema clouds,” and the first item to show up was a YouTube video of what’s called “the policy trailer” (I never knew it had a name). I’m embedding it below. About 32 seconds in you’ll see my clouds and hear my music, and if you listen closely, you might hear my soul singing, too.

1. Lately, three boxes have been controlling my life: inbox, outbox, cat box.

2. If you’ve been with someone long enough, everything holds a memory.

3. Human knees are ugly, even on models and hot guys. We’re essentially walking around in version 1.0 knees, people.

4. Realization #334: I like ‘em tall, dark, and tortured, apparently.

5. I get that funeral homes are running a business and that they should embrace social media like any other business, but it’s still weird to see them pop up on FB and Twitter.

6. Blah boink what is this Poop heh! That’s how I feel about the Republican primary (and I imagine it’s how I’ll feel about the general election as well).

7. “Rain on the West Side Highway, red light at Riverside: the more I live the more I think two people together is a miracle.” RIP, Adrienne Rich. And thank you.

Wishing my readers a blessed Passover and a blessed Easter. Peace! xoxo

I’m excited to announce that my novel Forgotten April is a finalist in the 2012 Book Bundlz “Book Pick” contest. And guess what? You can help me win. Book Bundlz “Clubies” vote for the winner.

It’s free to become a Clubie, and you can vote once a day from now until voting closes on 4/26. If you love the book and/or you love the idea of helping me out, I encourage you to vote.

Here are some other ways you can help:

• Spread the word (on FB, Twitter, Google+, or any of the other places you hang out).

• If you haven’t read the book yet, consider checking it out. It’s available on Kindle, Nook, iPad, and in paperback.

• If you have read the book and you liked it, consider leaving a review on Goodreads or on the bookstore website where you bought it from.

Thanks in advance for all of your support!

By the way…Book Bundlz is a really cool site…it’s all about books, book clubs, and the readers who love both. Poke around and have some fun. Enjoy!

xoxo

I’m late to this party, but in case YOU haven’t seen this inspiring TED talk with Elizabeth Gilbert (author of Eat, Pray, Love), then watch it here. It’s for anyone who creates. Enjoy!

Lately, I’ve been in the weeds, feverishly working on the draft of my next book. It’s messy — very, very messy — and I’m not entirely sure I’ll be sticking with it. But! A song has emerged, the video for which I’ve been watching over and over.

I take this as a positive sign…this happened during the drafting of Forgotten April and Granite Creek…this obsession with the song tends to spur me on and helps me become obsessed with the character. (In this post on my soundtrack for What Happened in Granite Creek, I talked about the role music plays when I’m writing.)

Anyhow, back to the song in question: “Inside Out” by Eve 6. For some reason, it captures the essence of one of my main characters. I can’t tell you much about this character right now, aside from the fact he’s male and around 24 years old, but I thought I’d embed the video below to give you a sense of something.

Tell me, based on what you see and hear, what characteristics would you expect this character to possess? There are no right or wrong answers, and I’m truly curious. Share in the comments.

Many of you know that I’m a marketing copywriter by day. I actually do a lot more than just writing — I help clients with strategy and program execution. And I also help with social media, specifically Facebook.

I’m an admitted FB junkie, and I had a ton of fun sprucing up my author Facebook page with the new Timeline. I know there are many other people out there — and not just writers — who need some guidance. Consider this your go-to resource!

Best resources for setting up the new Timeline for brands/business pages:

• HubSpot’s Complete Guide to Setting Up the New Facebook Design [if you only read one, read this]
• Mashable Guide
• Official Page & Promotion Guidelines from Facebook

Facebook Advertising

FB advertising is changing for premium ad account holders only, meaning those accounts that spend a minimum of $25/K per month (that’s not a typo). Self-serve ads remain the same for smaller accounts. Read this blog post from HubSpot on the changes to premium advertising.

Specs at a Glance

Cover image: The cover photo can be up to 850 pixels by 315 pixels but may not contain any of the following:

• Price or purchase information, such as “40 percent off” or “Download it at our website.”
• Contact information, such as web address, email, mailing address or other information intended for your Page’s About section.
• References to user interface elements, such as Like or Share, or any other Facebook site features.
• Calls to action, such as “Get it now” or “Tell your friends.”
• Here are some examples of great cover images in action

About blurb: This is the snippet of text that shows up under the profile pic. It’s limited to 150 characters. This is the place to include the website URL.

Profile pic: Choose an image that fits 180 x 180 pixels and also looks good when scaled down to a thumbnail size of 32 x 32 pixels

Graphics for Views & Apps: Think calls to action. Specs: 111 x 74 pixels

Milestone images: You don’t need images to create Milestones, but images *could* make the Milestone more interesting. Ideal specs: Milestone images are set at 843 x 403 pixels. Milestones can now go all the way back to the year 1000. Check out how The New York Times is using Milestones.

Adding free apps capability: Static HTML App and Static HTML App – Tab 2 (if these links don’t work, simply search on “Static HTML” in the search box, and they should come up.)

Pages that are already using Timeline…and that are doing a great job:

• Lexus
• The U.S. Army
• Marines
• Coke
• HubSpot
• Dallas – the TV show
• The New York Times

Further reading:

• How to Run Promotions on FB Timeline Pages
• 4 Cool Applications for FB Timeline Pages
• Facebook Timeline Features You Haven’t Heard About Yet
• Funny FB cover photos
• 7 Crucial Things About Timeline
• Advice on Using FB Timeline Pages
• Fan Gates Now Irrelevant – How Do I Get FB Fans

How are you liking the new Timeline? Have you seen any great examples? Share in the comments (and yes, it’s okay to promote your own page here — I’d love to check it out).

As many of my regular blog readers know, I’m a Facebook junkie. I spend waaay too much time on the social medium, but it’s fun, and I love engaging with readers, friends, and family alike.

In the past, I’ve always resisted Facebook’s changes, but I’m really loving Timeline for brand pages (I’ve done nothing with Timeline on my personal FB page).

Here are some of the enhancements that I’m really digging:

• The cover image…and the fact FB has some pretty strict restrictions as to what you can and can’t include. These restrictions are actually freeing in a way, because it’s less about selling and more about fun and visual appeal. I have two cover images at the moment, and I imagine I’ll be alternating between the two.

• The apps above the fold (those three boxes to the right of the “photos” box). I’ve modified my original welcome image, but I’m still using it for my FB ads. And I’ve created a Q&A for fans (click on the image to the right, and you’ll be brought to the page on my FB Timeline).

• Milestones. These are the moments you highlight throughout your brand’s “life.” In this case, I am the brand, so I chronicled my writerly life from birth to present day. People can click on a year, like 1979, and see what I was up to.

All of these enhancements create a more engaging page. If someone “likes” an author’s page, there’s a good chance the person is curious to know more about the author (I know I love learning about my favorite authors and hunger for “insider” insights and info).

Anyhow, you can check out my new FB page here. Definitely let me know what you think of it.

How about you? Do you like Timeline (either for brand pages and/or for personal pages)? Share your thoughts in the comments.

(By the way, on Thursday, I’ll have a post that will essentially be a “cheat sheet” on everything you need to know about using FB’s Timeline.)