Should You Get Litsy?
By Greer Macallister | November 7, 2016 |
Let’s face it: the internet is the best and worst thing to happen to modern authors, and social media is the best and worst thing about the internet.
The ability to connect directly with readers, and with other writers, is amazing and powerful. I wouldn’t trade it for anything. But direct connection isn’t always pleasant — just ask an author what they think of unvarnished Goodreads reviews — and it’s far too easy to spend three hours on Twitter under the guise of “building your network” when you’re really losing three hours you would’ve otherwise spent writing.
And the variety of social media is just dizzying. Should you be on Facebook? With a personal page or fan page? Does Twitter sell books? What about Instagram? Can you attract readers with Pinterest? Snapchat? I’ve had to pick and choose the channels that work well for me, and let the others lie.
All that said: I’m going to suggest that you join one more social media network.
(I know!)
Litsy is the sassy cousin of Goodreads and Instagram, but friendlier than the former and more focused than the latter. There’s a website, but all the action takes place on the app, which is available for iPhone and Android.
If you use other social media, much of how it works is familiar. Handles start with @, you can use #hashtags, your stream consists of people you choose to “follow” but you can also view content from others, and short posts with prominent images are the primary method of interaction.
What makes Litsy unique is its focus on books. It’s alllll books. Every post is linked to a book in addition to the account of the person who posted it, so you can easily see everything that everyone has ever posted about, say, Pride and Prejudice.
And each post is either a review, a quote, or a “blurb” (everything else that isn’t a review or a quote.) The screenshot above is a blurb, and the one at left is a quote. Reviews don’t use a star system, but instead four categories: Pick, So-So, Pan, or Bail. Not all the reviews are positive, nor should they be, but I’ve rarely seen the kind of outrageously negative review that seem to breed like rabbits on Amazon and Goodreads.
I’m resisting the urge to explain in detail the rest of how it works, because you can figure that out yourself by downloading and playing around with it.
What you really want and need to know is this: why should authors join it? What’s it for?
You should get Litsy if:
- You want to join and participate in an online readers’ community
- You like Instagram but wish it were more book-focused
- You spend a lot of time with your smartphone
Litsy might not be for you if:
- You don’t have a smartphone, don’t have room for more apps, or prefer social media you can access on your laptop
- You want to use social media for self-promotion only
- You primarily want to connect with other writers, not readers
So it’s up to you, as all social media choices are. I enjoy using Litsy, especially calling attention to my favorite independent bookstores with the #getindie hashtag, but an author’s time is a precious commodity. Only you can decide whether you want to spend some of yours in this particular way.
Q: Are you already oversubscribed on social media, or do you have room for one more?
Raised in the Midwest, Greer Macallister earned her MFA in creative writing from American University. Her historical novels have been named Book of the Month, Indie Next, LibraryReads, Target Book Club, and Amazon Best Book of the Month picks and optioned for film and television. Her latest novel, The Thirteenth Husband, is inspired by Aimee Crocker, the Paris Hilton of the Gilded Age. Macallister also writes the ongoing Five Queendoms epic fantasy series as G.R. Macallister. A regular contributor to Writer Unboxed and the Chicago Review of Books, she lives with her family in Boston, MA. www.greermacallister.com
The more pertinent question might be: is this new form better for the kind of writing that you produce, not, or not yet.
You need to join if that where all the readers of your genre get their information; and aren’t going to make any inroads if your potential audience doesn’t get its recommendations from a smart-phone app.
And re-ask the question periodically.
How is it for literary fiction? And ‘big books’?
Those are great questions to ask, Alicia! Different genres and types of books (debuts vs established authors) definitely get lots of play on Litsy, but that isn’t necessarily the case everywhere on the internet. Great nuance to be aware of before we leap in.
This may be a personal quibble, but when a piece begins “Let’s face it . . .” — and I’ve seen a bazillion that do — it makes me wonder where the editor was. Same goes for “at the end of the day.”
Otherwise, interesting post.
Jean — Ha, I see what you mean. In this case the fault is entirely with the author and not the editor.
Time will tell whether this will gain a foothold. I like the idea and will give it a try, though. Authors need to always be open to new social networking concepts. One will eventually take off and others (ahem…Twitter) will likely die a slow death. Facebook is here to stay, and that’s about the only prediction I feel is safe to make.
Sold. Persuasive post, Greer. Honestly, I was getting a little bored with my smartphone. So.
Next you’ll have me investing in Scrivener.
Is Scrivener some kind of cult? My author friends who love it looooooooove it. I have not yet dipped my toe in the waters.
You want to. :) It’s off the hook.
Appreciated the review, especially the bullets at the end for a quick check on preferences. The app sounds a bit like a writer’s board on Pinterest, and while I’ve had enough of the profound writers’ quotes and blurbs on Twitter, I may give this a try for a more directed browse. Thanks!
Thank you for this information. It’s not for me because I’m a laptop person. If I were a smartphone person I would use it.
Yep. It took me a long time to get on it because I didn’t have enough room on my previous iPhone for any more apps. Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads, those are all more flexible.
I liked your bullet points. I don’t have enough room on my phone and prefer website groups. I may check the site out, but your cautions at least help me to see the potential limitations.
I’m so glad you posted this. Eloisa James has been urging me to investigate this platform for the past 6 weeks, and you’ve echoed a lot of her points. Folks keep searching for ways to access credible word of mouth, and it sounds like Litsy may be on to something…
Thanks!
I joined Litsy yesterday and I’m already head-over-heels for the site. I love the stylistic similarities to Instagram – IG has long been my favorite of the big social media sites – but I especially enjoy the limitations of what readers can post. Quote, blurb, or review: that’s it. Keeps the site focused on books and keeps spammy accounts away. Plus, the Litsy community is so warm and welcoming. A great place for compulsive readers!