Following Authors?

anamardoll · 01-31-2012, 02:34 PM

It's time for...

...

...

...

...

... an UNUTTERABLY SILLY POLL!

Do you follow your favorite authors outside their published works?

anamardoll · 01-31-2012, 02:39 PM

I voted "not really", though I do follow Margaret Atwood via Twitter. But that was a random Follow impulse and I honestly can't remember seeing her ever tweet.

Some of the blog writers I follow are now authors, but that's not why I initially followed them.

QuantumIguana · 01-31-2012, 02:42 PM

Terry Pratchett, C.J. Cherryh, Neil Gaiman, I'll read whatever they write. I wouldn't travel out of town to see them, but if they are in town...

Belfaborac · 01-31-2012, 03:00 PM

I was really, really tempted by the snowflake butterfly option, but I chose "No, I avoid hearing authors' opinions lest it ruin their books for me" instead.

I do my damnedest to avoid knowing anything about anyone I don't actually know personally. I don't know the first thing about the private life of celebrities, politicians or my next door neighbours beyond what I absolutely can't avoid picking up by keeping company with actual human beings. If I hadn't been a member here I wouldn't have had the faintest clue that Orson Scott Card has any opinion at all on gays, or that other authors have any opinions on anything at all.

I'm also not on Twitter or Facebook and find most blogs to be unmitigated garbage.

anamardoll · 01-31-2012, 03:17 PM

Yes, I considered posting a "Why are YOU boycotting Orson Scott Card" because he's a doozy, but decided that might be a touch offensive.

I like to avoid knowing bad things about authors, because it can ruin a work for me, if it's bad enough.

BenBanned · 01-31-2012, 03:48 PM

What about the dead ones?
I tend to stalk authors who have already passed.

ucfgrad93 · 01-31-2012, 03:51 PM

I don't really need to follow the authors I read.

Asawi · 01-31-2012, 03:52 PM

Not really, I don't really need to follow an author outside of their published works but I do like baby crocodiles.

gweeks · 01-31-2012, 04:13 PM

It depends on the author. Some I follow quite closely as to when their next book is coming out, others I don't.

Greg Weeks

carpetmojo · 01-31-2012, 06:23 PM

"Yes, I read everything they write, follow them on social media, and travel to see them speak in person."

Don't be daft, I just read everything they write - I've still got a life you know.

Apache · 01-31-2012, 06:27 PM

I also chose not really. I will read their books. I do not need to follow their every move on some type of social media. I don't think I like anyone enough to follow them on social media.

Apache

CWatkinsNash · 01-31-2012, 06:32 PM

I selected two conflicting answers, though they are both true:

Quote:

Yes, a little. I follow a blog or two, or on Twitter / Facebook.
No, I avoid hearing authors' opinions lest it ruin their books for me.

Well, okay, and also:

Quote:

But I do like baby crocodiles and rainbow-colored kittens.

I follow Anne Rice, Susan Mallery and Kristan Higgins on Facebook, and I check in on Steven King's & Scott Sigler's blogs. But that is IT. I go out of my way to completely avoid all others. 'Twas not so easy to do when rescuing books on Goodreads, but I tried to keep a sort of tunnel vision so I'd only be focusing on book data.

Lazybones · 01-31-2012, 06:41 PM

Generally, no. I started reading Brandon Sanderson's blog when he picked up the Wheel of Time, and Patrick Rothfuss's during the long delay after The Name of the Wind, but those are exceptions to my usual practice, which is just to keep an eye out for new titles from authors I like. Usually I hear about them on the various forums I frequent, which is enough to keep me informed.

xg4bx · 01-31-2012, 06:55 PM

a little. i don't go out of my way to go to signings or whatever but its cool to have some favorite authors on something like facebook where you can actually interact with them. if they're cool it makes me even more of a fan, i haven't seen any yet who killed my fandom.

obviously you're not going to chat with stephen king but there are plenty of mid-listers and small press/indie writers who open themselves up to fans.

Giggleton · 02-01-2012, 01:02 AM

I try to avoid that sort of thing.

View Poll Results: Do you follow favorite authors?
Yes, I read everything they write, follow them on social media, and travel to see them speak in person.	3	4.48%
Yes, a little. I follow a blog or two, or on Twitter / Facebook.	17	25.37%
I don't know. It never occurred to me that I could. Maybe I would/will in the future.	2	2.99%
Not really, I don't really need to follow an author outside of their published works.	34	50.75%
No, I avoid hearing authors' opinions lest it ruin their books for me.	11	16.42%
I didn't vote any other options in this poll because I am a special snowflake butterfly.	3	4.48%
But I do like baby crocodiles and rainbow-colored kittens.	13	19.40%
Multiple Choice Poll. Voters: 67. You may not vote on this poll

01-31-2012, 02:34 PM	#1
anamardoll Chasing Butterflies Posts: 3,132 Karma: 5074169 Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: American Southwest Device: Uses batteries.	Following Authors? It's time for... ... ... ... ... ... an UNUTTERABLY SILLY POLL! Do you follow your favorite authors outside their published works?

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01-31-2012, 02:39 PM	#2
anamardoll Chasing Butterflies Posts: 3,132 Karma: 5074169 Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: American Southwest Device: Uses batteries.	I voted "not really", though I do follow Margaret Atwood via Twitter. But that was a random Follow impulse and I honestly can't remember seeing her ever tweet. Some of the blog writers I follow are now authors, but that's not why I initially followed them.

01-31-2012, 02:42 PM	#3
QuantumIguana Philosopher Posts: 2,034 Karma: 18736532 Join Date: Jan 2012 Device: Kindle Paperwhite 2 gen, Kindle Fire 1st Gen, Kindle Touch	Terry Pratchett, C.J. Cherryh, Neil Gaiman, I'll read whatever they write. I wouldn't travel out of town to see them, but if they are in town...

01-31-2012, 03:00 PM	#4
Belfaborac Wizard Posts: 1,498 Karma: 5199835 Join Date: May 2010 Location: Norway Device: Sony PRS-505, PRS-950	I was really, really tempted by the snowflake butterfly option, but I chose "No, I avoid hearing authors' opinions lest it ruin their books for me" instead. I do my damnedest to avoid knowing anything about anyone I don't actually know personally. I don't know the first thing about the private life of celebrities, politicians or my next door neighbours beyond what I absolutely can't avoid picking up by keeping company with actual human beings. If I hadn't been a member here I wouldn't have had the faintest clue that Orson Scott Card has any opinion at all on gays, or that other authors have any opinions on anything at all. I'm also not on Twitter or Facebook and find most blogs to be unmitigated garbage.

01-31-2012, 03:17 PM	#5
anamardoll Chasing Butterflies Posts: 3,132 Karma: 5074169 Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: American Southwest Device: Uses batteries.	Yes, I considered posting a "Why are YOU boycotting Orson Scott Card" because he's a doozy, but decided that might be a touch offensive. I like to avoid knowing bad things about authors, because it can ruin a work for me, if it's bad enough.

01-31-2012, 03:48 PM	#6
BenBanned Groupie Posts: 169 Karma: 1326166 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: NJ Device: Paper	What about the dead ones? I tend to stalk authors who have already passed.

01-31-2012, 03:51 PM	#7
ucfgrad93 Wizard Posts: 2,370 Karma: 9026681 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Colorado Device: Kindle Paperwhite 2nd Gen	I don't really need to follow the authors I read.

01-31-2012, 03:52 PM	#8
Asawi Gadgetoholic Posts: 1,467 Karma: 3865860 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Sweden Device: Kobo Libra2, Tolino Vision 6	Not really, I don't really need to follow an author outside of their published works but I do like baby crocodiles.

01-31-2012, 04:13 PM	#9
gweeks Fanatic Posts: 509 Karma: 3455210 Join Date: Apr 2007 Device: Rocket, Nook ST, Kobo WiFi, Kindle PW	It depends on the author. Some I follow quite closely as to when their next book is coming out, others I don't. Greg Weeks

01-31-2012, 06:23 PM	#10
carpetmojo Wizard Posts: 3,117 Karma: 9269999 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: UK Device: Sony- T3, PRS650, 350, T1/2/3, Paperwhite, Fire 8.9,Samsung Tab S 10.5	"Yes, I read everything they write, follow them on social media, and travel to see them speak in person." Don't be daft, I just read everything they write - I've still got a life you know.

01-31-2012, 06:27 PM	#11
Apache Readaholic Posts: 5,272 Karma: 90000484 Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: South Georgia Device: Surface Pro 6 / Galaxy Tab A 8"	I also chose not really. I will read their books. I do not need to follow their every move on some type of social media. I don't think I like anyone enough to follow them on social media. Apache

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01-31-2012, 06:41 PM	#13
Lazybones Groupie Posts: 162 Karma: 1719250 Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Sacramento Device: Kindle	Generally, no. I started reading Brandon Sanderson's blog when he picked up the Wheel of Time, and Patrick Rothfuss's during the long delay after The Name of the Wind, but those are exceptions to my usual practice, which is just to keep an eye out for new titles from authors I like. Usually I hear about them on the various forums I frequent, which is enough to keep me informed.

01-31-2012, 06:55 PM	#14
xg4bx Are you gonna eat that? Posts: 1,633 Karma: 23215128 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Phillipsburg, NJ Device: Kindle 3, Nook STG	a little. i don't go out of my way to go to signings or whatever but its cool to have some favorite authors on something like facebook where you can actually interact with them. if they're cool it makes me even more of a fan, i haven't seen any yet who killed my fandom. obviously you're not going to chat with stephen king but there are plenty of mid-listers and small press/indie writers who open themselves up to fans.

02-01-2012, 01:02 AM	#15
Giggleton Banned Posts: 1,687 Karma: 4368191 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Oregon Device: Kindle3	I try to avoid that sort of thing.