Tee Morris

Writer, podcaster. and streamer

Blog

Embracing the Dummie in Me

“Why would we need you? There are no dummies here.”

The year is 2006 and I had just wrapped for the day presenting at a conference, recording interviews for a client, and giving a seminar on the potential of podcasting. One of the things I had talked about at length was the podcasting community — really cool people who loved talking shop, meeting other podcasters, and making connections.

Then I met the charming fellow quoted at the beginning of this blogpost.

What had caught my eye was a sandwich board pointing to a podcasting class being taught at a different event in the conference center. I was always excited to connect with others and see what their approach to podcasting was, so I swung by the classroom to make a quick introduction.

My introduction did not go well. At all.

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Are You Paying Attention to Your Social Media?

It’s a good idea, if you have a Twitter account, to pay attention to it.

Check Twitter. Like NOW!

While the much-maligned platform seems to be dominated by cyberbullies — some of whom occupy large white houses in historic districts of the United States — there are some people in the Twitterverse that will make your day at the most unexpected of times.

And let’s be honest — those times are the ones most welcome.

Case in point: my Saturday morning started off with a lovely tweet from someone I deeply admire in the Destiny and Twitch Community…

I mean, wow! I’m blushing over here. Seriously.
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The Art of Reading a Room

“What advice would you have for someone who wants to write professionally?” is a pretty tall order. It’s a question that, while I love answering it, remains one of the toughest to answer because you are being asked for that “One Ring” kind of answer. What’s the one takeaway you want people to have after meeting you? Well, apart from buying my latest book, there’s no one thing that makes an aspiring author a success. A lot goes into building a professional writing career.

But one thing I’ve rarely, if ever, hear an author offer for advice is this: Learn how to read a room.

If you want to see a really good dramatization of this, watch the Amazon Prime movie, Late Night. It’s a terrific watch for many reasons (like you need any reasons beyond Mindy Kaling and Emma Thompson) but one scene in particular is a masterclass in how to read a room. At a stand-up comedy cancer benefit, late night talk show legend Katherine Newberry (Emma Thompson) takes the stage in an impromptu stand up set, and she is bombing. You watch Newberry look the length of the audience; and the camera switches angles, looking at the world from her perspective. She takes a moment and changes her “opinions on this wacky world” approach to self-deprecating comedy, a change that not only helps her recover gracefully but also makes a connection between her and the audience.

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If Social Media Is So Easy, Why Is It So Hard?

I’m a little worried if I’m a canary and the people I work for are running a coal mine.

Let me explain…

Recently, I accepted an opportunity where the client’s entirety of a social media strategy was Twitter and a blog, both posting updates when time allowed. (In other words, infrequently.) I was asked to not only work with the tools given, but build on them and make something better, provided the resources were free. While I was there…

  • Twitter went from occasional updates to three tweets a day, on average. The content included news stories, promotions over upcoming events, and special tweets featuring the client front and center.
  • A new LinkedIn page launched, reaching a completely new audience from Twitter, also posting two-to-four updates throughout the day.
  • On the dates of special events, both platforms would host images, quotes, and, if possible, video.
  • Video, a medium completely new to this client, had reached enough demand for a Vimeo channel to launch.
  • The client’s blog went from “a post when time allowed” to a managed editorial calendar, offering original weekly content.

After a lot of positive feedback and encouragement during my stay, I was told by my superiors they wanted a fresh start and new perspective on their digital strategy. Yep, I had been replaced. I respected their decision, left behind a detailed Communications plan (which included a look ahead to what I was planning), and hoped their new social media manager would take their digital presence to higher levels.

Within a month…

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Six Things to Know When Searching for an Agent

A new and uncharted path lies ahead for this word-herder…

You might have heard me talk a little about this on The Shared Desk, or you might have bumped into me at an event and asked me “So, what’s next for you?” Well, since you are curious, here’s what I’m currently up to â€” I’m agent hunting.

If this comes as a shock to you, then you really should listen to The Shared Desk.

Yes, I’m looking for an agent. Bylines with the biggest publisher in “How To” books, awards and accolades for a successful steampunk series, and years of being in the business of storytelling does not shield me from starting from Square One all over again. See, my latest idea yielded a book that isn’t Science Fiction. It isn’t Fantasy. It’s not even Horror. My latest completed novel is a thriller.

Albeit, this is a thriller set in the video games and eSports industry, so it’s still very much me. Have no fear in that.

Write what you know.

Since I’m braving undiscovered country, I’m putting together a cover letter and proposal for agents. Again, the confusion probably deepens as many of you know I’m no stranger to the D.I.Y. approach of publishing. Thinking about it, I want this title to find a home with a traditional publishing house (or, as the cool kids call it — trad publishing — which is…cool…I guess…). That means agent hunting; and seeing as how almost twenty years has passed between the last time I did this and now, a lot has changed…

…but some of the basics in seeking representation still stand.

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You Got This. And Other Things You Already Knew.

When LinkedIn decided “We don’t want to be just a place where people can find a job. Want want to be more like Facebook…” I knew there was no way this was going to end well. And I was right, as my feed is now full of business contacts all sharing the latest moment of wisdom from the modern-day snake oil salesmen: Motivational Speakers.

Fuckit, I’m out…

If you ever take a closer look at these “inspirational wunderkinds” and look at where they are coming from professionally, you can get a good idea of their background. Many of them were involved with marketing at one point of their careers, so — sticking with what they know — they market in their webinars and IRL seminars “insight” on the secrets of success. I’ve seen one individual call herself a “Chief Inspirational Officer” (see what she did there?) while another posted “Do the thing for yourself not for others. When it’s for you, it’s passion. When it’s for others, it’s your job.”

Maybe they just need a hug.

When you’re in the moment with these Cults of Personality, I’ll admit it’s all incredible, awesome, and affirming; but stepping back and really looking at their “secrets” you’re paying top dollar to find out more about, you discover what they are selling: Common Fucking Sense. Live passionately! Set goals and then map yourself a path to those goals! Water is wet! Fire is hot! Put your pants on one leg at a time, you dumbass! Many of these gurus take Life 101 approaches and re-package them as “Life’s Secrets” which is ridiculous.

Actually, I take that back. What’s ridiculous is when these “Motivational Mavericks” (and yes, all of the titles I have seen before, and they hurt my brain…) attempt to work off-script. Then you see just how little they really know.

Step back in time with me for a moment…

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