Why I don’t pay for Facebook ads

If you’ve ever heard the phrase: “It’s the principle of it,” then you can understand why I don’t pay for Facebook ads.

DISCLAIMER: I’m not saying YOU shouldn’t pay for Facebook ads. I’m going to write why I haven’t paid for Facebook ads up to this moment, which is also NO GUARANTEE that I won’t do it ever. It may happen but I’m not too keen on the idea… here’s why.

Maintaining a Facebook author page is not as easy as it looks and it’s mainly due to the Pay to Play system that’s implemented. Feel free to correct me if I’m wrong, but as I understand it, it’s not enough to get someone to like your page to appear on their feed. This can happen occasionally, but there really is no guarantee. For people to see your page and your content (and just to be clear, these are people that have already liked your page), you have to pay X or Y amount to reach your ALREADY ACQUIRED audience or at the very least have a chance at reaching them.

You see, once upon a time, I thought that if you paid on Facebook, you’d get to NEW people. That’s still very possible, but obviously it comes at a higher price. But no worries, it’s a low investment……. To reach people you’ve already reached…. And who you won’t reach again or at least have a CHANCE at reaching them if you don’t pay unless they check your page regularly……..

Which is why I don’t want to pay for ads on Facebook. I think that for the amount of times I have to block Bitcoin ads, MMA ads, fitness ads, and countless other things I could care less about, Facebook could tell its greedy algorithm to show me what I really want to see from the people that matter to me.

I’ve had people talk to me about these ads and the low investments I could do, but honestly, it also feels like too many people trying to make money off me when all I want to do is connect. So it’s pretty simple, if you see something you like on my page, click like, share, comment. All that ALSO feeds into the algorithm and doesn’t cost a cent.

For my part, I’ll focus my Facebook page on offering my very own posts and things I find that are beneficial to share. From documentaries, to TED Talks, to information that benefits most people regardless of where they stand on most issues. I’m doing this because the amount of negativity we’re exposed to on a daily basis is honestly alarming. So I want to do whatever I can to offer something positive or funny or fun or helpful, because if we can make an impact, why not make a positive one?

Cheers

So you want to write a book Part 2: Get to know your characters

Now that you know for sure that you want to write a book, here comes the fun part, writing it.

Writing is one of the things I most enjoy doing in my life. It is equally challenging and liberating.

So why did I take seven years to write Only Human. Ok, here’s the thing, I had the concept down and had begun writing but it took me the longest time to shift from focusing on the craft of writing in favor of allowing myself to be swept by the story.

This sounds simple… it isn’t.

It took me years to have this breakthrough.

I can still remember that moment when providence arrived. I couldn’t stop writing and it is one of the most wonderful experiences I’ve been fortunate enough to enjoy.

Being frank, this is something that happens; it’s not something you can induce but you can make it a whole lot easier on yourself.

First off, get at least two notebooks (or word documents for you digital folk). One is for your work and the other one is for ideas and notes. They are BOTH capture tools but their purpose is endlessly different.

If you’re going for a novel, write down character names and then find out who they are, what do they have to say, why do they do what they do… in essence, what drives them. Do this for heroes and baddies alike. Really DIG into what makes them do the things they do.

In Only Human, Nathaniel Runnels is a jaded average Joe reporter who dreams of writing a novel. He hates his job but there’s reason behind that hate. He found out that he would not do what he wanted to do the most: seek out truth. He likes wine, he’s switched to gin and it’s a wonder he makes ends meet. Both his parents died, he has two brothers, he is agnostic and does tend to go with the flow even though that often means settling. He also always keeps his manners, something that saves his tuckus on more than one occasion.

Daniel of Montacre is a vampire who is over 400 years old. He’s a smartass, plays the violin and isn’t keen on being tied to any stereotype regarding vampires. He has been in love with Captain Jane Rivers for over half his existence and is driven by his need to save humanity so the entire world doesn’t collapse. He trusts very few people, always prepares in advance and a long life has given him the skill of supreme foresight, farther reaching than anyone could imagine.

You could say I fleshed out these characters but the reality is actually more organic. On more than one occasion I’ve crossed something off a page because Daniel would never say something like that. You know these people because although they might be characters captured in words… they’re alive. They have feelings. They have fears. They exist within.

On more than one occasion, I’ve meditated and tried to channel Daniel, to know him more in depth. It also goes deeper than just knowing a character…. It’s having a relationship with them. I’ve done the same with other characters and when in doubt, I’ve audibly asked them questions only to have my hand jot down the answer.

Spooky? You bet. But that’s how writing works sometimes; you just have to let your hand go sometimes.

By fully appreciating the nuances of each character, you get to write something that feels that much more real…. And you know why it feels that much more real?

Because it is.