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YA Author Jody Sparks

~ Love. Angst. And Writing Books.

YA Author Jody Sparks

Category Archives: Social Media

The Dog who Loves Selfies

30 Wednesday Apr 2014

Posted by jody sparks in Adventures, family, humor, Nonsense, Social Media

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

dog humor, Dogs, family, parenting, parenting teens

Magnolia has adopted Instagram as her preferred social media platform, and I’m committed to not getting my parental funk all over the site by joining it. She didn’t specifically ask me not to, but it’s an easy enough gesture. So, I’m sharing a few of the selfies she took with Eleanor and the dogs. Because they are cracking me up so bad!

If you don’t know our dogs, allow me to introduce them:

Marlowe: A crotchety, old retiree who wants nothing more than to enjoy his early bird special at precisely 5 p.m. and then yell at the young pups from the sunny spot on the porch. Smelling the sweet stink of squirrels is also a welcomed treat, taking this hound back to the days when the chase took him on such adventures as “How did I end up at the Safeway dumpster again?” and “Hey Jody, have you met your neighbors at [xxx address]?”

Dandy: An eager, vain, bow tie-loving tramp ready to sneak your shoes into his stores. When confronted, he won’t admit his fetish. “No, no, I just missed you,” he’ll plead. Riiiiight. Your name is Dandy, son. We’ll love you no matter who you are! It’s no wonder he’s confused about who he is; he’s a mix of the smartest herding breed and dumbest retrieving breed. Also, a neat freak, this one hates messes so much, he cleans up after himself (and Marlowe), giving you a literal shit-eating grin after a long day picking up in the yard. If only he had the manners to cover his mouth when he belched.

Can you guess which of these sons of bitches loved the camera?

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Like Working in Dog Years

23 Saturday Jun 2012

Posted by jody sparks in Adventures, my day job, Social Media

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

"Typing" people, best places to work in Indiana, business, Individuality, SEO, Slingshot SEO, startup company, work environments

I wrote a post over on my company’s blog about what it’s like to work at a startup company and why it works for me as an individual and as a type of person. I resist “typing” people, because I highly value individuality. But one of the things I’ve found in life is that I appreciate having commonalities with people as much as I love  individuality. So, I feel like I’ve found a place where there are people with similar values, who like similar work environments. Enjoy that post.

I’m not the only one that thinks it’s cool to work at Slingshot SEO. We were just voted the 9th best place to work in Indiana. As far as corporations go, I’m 100% convinced it’s the 1st best place to work. I’m putting that on record. The fact that there’s a corporation that tolerates me and lets me thrive is evidence enough to slot it as number one. We are a force of hustlers.

 

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New York Times: Your Writer is a Douche Canoe

04 Saturday Feb 2012

Posted by jody sparks in Social Media

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

NewTimes is a Douche Canoe, Superbowl 46

My participation in the Superbowl festivities is lame. I drove around the night before the Superbowl Village opened for business. I scanned a few photos of my Facebook friends while they walked around and partied. I probably won’t even watch the game. But I’m glad the Superbowl is here because it’s great for the city. Today I drove the edges of Downtown Indianapolis, and thought, nice zoo, nice park, nice canal, nice museum. I’ve always been lukewarm on the city. At 18, I couldn’t wait to leave. I didn’t apply to any colleges in-state. And I never thought I’d be back. Now that I am, its been easy to find things to complain about. I’ll look forward to leaving this town again, even though I have a good job, a great critique group and family close by. I don’t want to die in Indiana. Sorry, Hoosiers. I made a pact with Erin not to join the granfalloon. I’ve given my word.

Then I read this douche canoe article. John Branch, I can talk shit about my city. But, you can’t. Not without a bit of blogger backlash. If you’re going to write for the New York Times, at least do your fucking research. If you’re going to complain about Indianapolis, act like a journalist and do some digging. You picked the most surface-level bullshit to paint your picture of the city. Grandmas and prison inmates knitting? Really? Eighth graders who want to have a voice? That’s who you pick on?

Pick on the fact that people won’t be allowed to buy alcohol on Superbowl Sunday. Pick on the fact that our public school system found kids that could actually spell. How about how most people will choose Red Lobster over Room Four? We have our faults. You just didn’t manage to actually find them.

Call me defensive. I’ve resisted being a Hoosier my whole life. But, damn, New York Times, you made me want to step in front of my city while you throw stones, and say hey, Fuck you. We’re okay.

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Reading the Internet is Like Watching Cartoons

24 Friday Jun 2011

Posted by jody sparks in Social Media, writing

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

blogging, Internet, Internet marketing, Jody Mugele, Jody Sparks, reading, Social Media, writing

After listening to 10 interviews for the new editor position at work, I couldn’t stop thinking about what I do there, as well as the perceptions the interviewees have of the job, and of the company. And of the Internet. Many of the interviewees had a print background, or a journalism degree that left them without a job in their field. And when one candidate asked what my favorite part of the job was, I said something like, “I actually get paid to write.” It’s still kind of shocking. I also said, “the people I work with” (If any of you are reading this), but that’s not what this post is focusing on.

I think this post is about how the Internet format is changing how we gather, utilize, and enjoy information. How do we humans navigate the business of Google to get to our news and pleasure reading? Which comes first: the ad or the story? The whole business of the reading the Internet reminds me of when I was kid and I’d wake up early on Saturday morning to watch Scooby-Doo followed by He-Man followed by Super-friends, and ending with the Smurfs. It was so fun hanging out on my parents’ waterbed in my jammies, until noon, with my sister. Then one day, along comes my dad and says, “You know these shows are just long advertisements for toys.”

Wait, what? Then why are there commercials for Barbie’s purple corvette in between? Ha! So there! But, later, looking around my room at my collection of Smurfs, or eating out of my Scooby lunch box at school, I knew what my dad meant. And I felt a little sad. But I still loved watching my stories. Because that’s what I was in it for — the story.

I think that’s what reading the Internet is at the moment. Or, at least it’s how I think of my part in creating blog content for the Internet right now. Blog posts are like cartoons. There’s a story and there’s an underlying marketing strategy. It’s fun to read to blog posts and that’s what brings us to certain blogs. Or, there’s an answer to a question. Or, there’s news, gossip, or something at which to point and laugh.

We seem to be in an era of information where experts are no longer regarded. At least not as much. I no longer read the Hornbook to find out which young adult books librarians and reviewers are calling great. I go to Goodreads to see what my friends with similar tastes are reading. I can’t even personally name a reviewer of books.  I can however name several book bloggers. One in particular I remember once tweeted something like, I’m not a reviewer. I’m a blogger. It’s not my job to be expert in the quality of a book. I just write about how much I like them. Yet many publishers are sending this blogger books because she influences sales. Good for her. That’s awesome. I personally regard expert readers in my field as other authors, not reviewers. But it’s not like authors are trained in reading. Wrong or right, the untrained (whatever that means) reader’s opinion is well regarded. I have to think it’s in large part because access to so much information and opinion is at our fingertips. We no longer have to rely on print publications or professors to guide opinion.

So, I will argue that in general, blog readers don’t need or really want expert content. Maybe because we don’t know how to define it, who the experts really are. Maybe we trust Google too much; and that’s why we rarely dig deeper than the first page for information. But I don’t think it’s so much that as it is that we don’t care. Because most of the blog reading we do on the Internet is not for academic research. If it is, then what are you doing on a blog? I think if we’re on a blog, we mostly want our Saturday morning cartoons. We want interesting content. Thoughtful content. Nichey content. Relatable content. And who cares if it’s on a  site that happens to be an Amazon.com affiliate? And while many people (at work) go on and on and on about creating authoritative content on a blog, I’m inclined to roll my eyes at that. It’s great that anyone can be seen as an authority, but that’s a sub-point–an effect of the changing nature of how we now get our information. Going back to how I first understood the point of blogging: it was about creating a conversation. It was fresh content, immediately publishable, that engaged friends and people with common interests. I think that is still what’s at the heart of anyone who decides to start a blog, whether it’s personal or for business. Blogging is still about being invested in a story and/or a community. Just like being a kid who is invested in watching the smurfs outwitting Gargamel every Saturday morning.

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Sparks And Butterflies Pays It Forward

08 Tuesday Mar 2011

Posted by jody sparks in books, Social Media, writing

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

bloggers, Jody Sparks, Sparks and Butterflies, Stylish Blogger Award, writers, young adult fiction

Thank you, to Helen Sayers, over at Are You Ready? for bestowing the Stylish blogger Award upon Sparks and Butterflies. Yay! I’m honored. The award is stylishly designed in sparkly gradient text for a writer to “pay it forward,” part of supporting our own, and please, check out some of these wonderful writers. Some are already there, some are almost ready, but read them and follow them and comment on their posts.

Part of paying this forward means that I also have to tell you some things about me. At least that’s what Helen did, and I’m an obedient little blog meme-er so here goes:

1. I like wearing glasses. Someday, I’ll have pairs of glasses like Carrie Bradshaw has shoes!
2. I love nail polish on my toes, but won’t tolerate it on my fingers.
3. I sleep in as many layers as I day-dress in the Fall.
4. I am often a sufferer of the Sunday Evening Blues. It can go well into Monday morning. I wish I could grow out of this.
5. Cursing is my favorite. Sorry, Buddy The Elf.
6. I could watch The Fifth Element repeatedly without ever getting tired of it. It’s the opera singer: she gets me every time.
7. Remember Bubba, of Bubba Gump Shrimp? I love sweet potatoes the way Bubba loves shrimp.
8. I never went through braces and I rather like the small gap between my front teeth.
9. I hate my cheeks. Both pairs, if you must know.
10. I talk to myself in the mirror.

And now, I’m paying it forward to these blogging writers. Check them out; I think you will find their words inspiring, too.

Erin McCahan
Antony John
Brodi Ashton
E. M. Kokie
Shannon Morgan
Liz Czukas
Virginia Vought
Nina Badzin
Shaun Hutchinson

Stop by the virtual homes of these young adult fiction writers and see why they are all, indeed, Stylish Bloggers. And, should you choose to accept this highly coveted Stylish Blogger award to handsomely display on your own blog shelf, simply pay it forward: select a few not-so-cringe-worthy tidbits to share about yourself and link to other bloggers. Hopefully these writers will provide you inspiration in their words, and bring your attention to someone else, by paying it forward.

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Jody Sparks Alphabet Z

01 Tuesday Mar 2011

Posted by jody sparks in Adventures, books, family, Nonsense, Social Media, writing

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

alphabet games, blog memes, Jody Sparks, things I've never done

Here it is: My alphabet conclusion. And because Erin started this meme, I’m ending it the way she did!

Z is for Zero. Here is a list of things I’ve done zero times: (Anything with a star means that even though I haven’t done them, I’d like to.)

 

 

– Won a game of Chess.

– Finished the Twilight series.

– Read Pride and Prejudice.*

– Been in a fist fight.

– Been to New York.*

– Been to another continent.*

– Eaten at Hooters.

– Kissed a girl.

– Had a My Space account.

– Met a president.*

– Published a young adult novel.*

– Owned a cat.

– Ridden a unicycle.

– Had a son.

– Been in an ambulance.

– Gone skydiving.

– Attempted to get on a reality TV show.

– Hailed a cab.*

 

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Please Advance To Search Engine Journal

03 Thursday Feb 2011

Posted by jody sparks in Social Media, writing

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

blogging, guest blogging, Jody Sparks Mugele, Search Engine Journal, SEO, writing

Today I had the pleasure of writing a guest blog post for Search Engine Journal. The subject is actually guest blogging for Search Engine Optimization purposes. That being said, it also focuses on good writing practices, so even if you don’t know what the heck search engine optimization is, you may still find a few take-aways. Likewise, if you want to know more about search engine optimization, this is most definitely the place to do so, as Search Engine Journal is highly regarded.

Thank you to Search Engine Journal for inviting me into your domain. Thank you to Slingshot SEO for the introduction.

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Are Books Social Media?

14 Friday Jan 2011

Posted by jody sparks in books, Social Media, writing

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

Jody Sparks, Online Prescence, Social Media, Social Networking, Trends in Search, writing, YA author

This question came up yesterday during a social media presentation at work. It piqued my interest because it perfectly marries my interest in being a YA author with my day job as a social networker and SEO guru.

It made me stop and think for a minute. But the answer is actually a pretty simple no. Books are just plain media. The book is a one-way engagement with a reader. The discussion that follows after a reader (and/or author) engages with it, will hopefully become social media via Tweets, Facebook posts, school discussions, book clubs, and the conference scene. And authors put themselves in a better (and inexpensive) marketing position if they use that in some way. There is so much talk of social media these days, I’ve been avoiding blogging too much about it. But, as it is, I happen to have a paying job that encourages me to learn about social media and networking to my hearts content and beyond.

If there is one thing I ‘m learning as I go along my social networking way at work, it’s that much of what we do mimics what naturally happens in the online world. We just give that a big boost. And, what’s happening right now is that Google is measuring your online presence based on frequency of content and authority of content. My understanding is that some of that authority is based on how many people are “liking” and “tweeting” your content. Google is taking into consideration that it’s not just how many times you “tell” Google “I’m important” but rather it’s who is saying it and how often. And that my friends, means social networking is a dominating force. It’s no longer about simply having a website; it’s all about engaging. Just as writers are encouraged to meet and engage their readers in person, I’d say it’s just as important to meet and engage with Google. And I’m pretty sure Google is here to stay, at least for a huge portion of the years in which I’m building a career as an author. Because seriously, who still uses a phone book? Encyclopedias? Gets news from an actual paper?

So, while a book may not be social media, I think the author should definitely be engaged in social media. I think writers are sometimes resistant to this. And I get it. I told my dad in junior high that I didn’t need to learn to type. Where would I be now if I hadn’t have learned? It’s time for us all to accept that social media is around. I’m no expert, but I predict Facebook and Twitter are the typewriters of the social networking world. Who knows what the PC and MAC will turn out to be. But, they’re coming. Don’t be left behind. Oh, and P.S. I wouldn’t mind terribly if you clicked the tweet button at the bottom of this post.

 

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Merry Christmas

22 Wednesday Dec 2010

Posted by jody sparks in humor, Nonsense, Social Media

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

Christmas humor, Christmas Joke

This hilarious video came to me first via Twitter through a friend’s retweet from Felicia Day. You know, Penny from Dr. Horrible? Then my buddy, Stovall–knowing my sense of humor–linked it on my facebook wall. It was created by the Daniels. Can’t say that I knew of their work before, and shame on me because this is wonderful. God Bless the Internet.

And Happy Holidays! See you in 2011.

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Happy Thanksgiving

24 Wednesday Nov 2010

Posted by jody sparks in family, Nonsense, Social Media

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

happy thanksgiving, Jody Sparks

Thought this stop motion video was cute. Have a lovely holiday, my friends.

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