Susie's Mini-Blog With Breaking News on Facebook

 Dear Constant Readers:

I've discovered that my Facebook site— which I once thought was only good for finding old lovers— is a superb place to publish quick jots on breaking news.

I'd like to invite you to join me there, because it's too juicy to leave you out!

Facebook is better than posting a quick piece on my Typepad blog, because:

a) technically, it's faster for me; I can post a quick story, photo, or video—  in under a minute. There's no formatting, no design work, it's just a quick spell check and I'm done.

b) I can post small stories as frequently as I want, without annoying you with email alerts all day.

c) It's faster/easier for you to comment on the fly... no log-in, no typing your name, etc.

I am NOT abandoning my blog, here, not at all. 

This is something new.

I'll run my longer stories here, as I always have. I can stretch out in my blog, do "live" blogging of big events, make a permanent, searchable, story. It's irreplaceable. 

But for a "Susie-Wire," where I can comment and alert you to critical news— as well as my quixotic state of mind— Facebook is a godsend.

For example, yesterday, I posted on my Facebook profile:

The annoying but titillating Times story on "Female Desire," cough, cough

Cory Silverberg's and Greg Downey's great critiques of above story

My "Obamicon," which makes me look like a Warhol movie star

My latest book events, Craft column, and flu-busting maneuvers

The Secret Disgusting Phone Calls CEO's are having to kill the Labor Bill

Obama throws contraception funds off the lifeboat

New Georgia law criminalizes vibrators, condoms, and lube

Gay State Dept. Employees Write Hillary a DETAILED letter

What needs to be said about John Updike's erotic influence on the English language

Greta Christina's cathartic rant on the God-Glut at the Inauguration Ceremony

Yes, all in one day!  It would take me ten hours to do that here, at the Journal. So come on over and have some fun!

 I also use FB to point you to my big blog posts over here, so you'll never miss anything you're interested in.

How to Join Up and Cozy In

In order to see my Facebook stories, you have to become my "friend," a euphemism that has become the source of much hilarity around my house. I am apparently a "Facebook Slut."

I will "friend" anyone who asks me— no fear of rejection!

Are You a FB Virgin? —Here's How-To:

You join the Facebook site, which  requires filling out a little info, but then that's done, forever. It's easy; no computer savvy required.

I  HIGHLY recommend going into your FB "privacy settings" and turning OFF all the "email alerts."  Otherwise, you'll find their email barrage annoying.

Bookmark Facebook on your browser, and you'll be able to see, at a click, what I— and your other friends— are up to! You may even become an addict like me and make it your home page.

Search for my name,  ask to be my friend, and I will say YES.

Meanwhile,  you'll find some of your old pals and family hanging around the FB watering hole. It's a great way to keep in touch with long-distance comrades, and you're always able to say "Happy Birthday" at just the right time. (Why is that "birthday" thing so touching? It just is... one never feels overlooked or uncared for again!)

I didn't have anyone instruct me how to use Facebook; one thing just led to another. It's a very intuitive pleasure, which I'm sure their founders are very proud of!

I'm sure FB has its drawbacks, or scandals— but I encounter these same problems everywhere I publish. As a blogger, FB offers magic, and since we writers are hanging on by our fingernails, I have to use its benefits, or perish.

Do I still need your subscriber support? 

Of course! The people who are sending me $5 a month to support my reporting and writing are the only reason I can do this blog, Facebook, or any independent writing at all.

If you can consider making a regular tiny-donation to my work efforts, I am in your debt— and I also send out great presents! (Just ask my regular donators!)

The Profile Vs. The Page... An Important Distinction

Right now, I use my FB "Profile" to post all my news— that's the webpage that everyone on FB gets.

 But I also have a fan-style "Page"— because when I reach 3,000 friends, FB apparently will sound the horn and  make me stop expanding my Profile circle. At that point, I will only be updating my "Page."

The trouble is, one day my Profile is going to go dark, and I won't have a way to wave my hands frantically and say, "Over here! Come over here!"

So, sign up for my Page, now, in addition to my Profile, before they dim the lights. If you search for my name, you'll see both.

Thank you!

Still trying to spin straw into gold before dawn,

Susie

Photo: I found this on Susannah Breslin's blog, and it SPOKE to me.