This week, Write Vault brings back our Guest Columnist, Katy Goldapple, a freelance photographer and writer from Florida. She shares her advice about putting our work on Social Media.

Sharing Work on Social Media
by: Katy Goldapple

Posting work on social media is an effective way to advertise. How else can you show others what you’re capable of? Over sharing can be a problem, though – there is a difference between a “tease” and “giving away the farm”. Various issues arise when writers, artists, photographers, and filmmakers over-share.

It negatively impacts profits and opportunities. Customers won’t spend money on art, e-books, or comics that they can download off Facebook for free. It also limits any chance for publication: Most publishers decline submissions that were leaked online – they want fresh material no one has seen before. This is especially true where it concerns literature, film distribution, and various genres of photography. Prematurely posting full-sized images and finished drafts puts the poster at risk for copyright infringement. It is easy to download images off social media sites. Your art could show up in unexpected places, with someone else receiving credit (and profit) from your hard work.

Choosing what, and how much, to share is a balancing act. The goal is revealing enough to intrigue fans, distributors, and financial backers (but not so much as to compromise the project). When it comes to writing, small “samples” are key – resumes, treatments, and updates about current projects are all effective. Posting these can even result in direct sales. Stacy Porter, writer and Managing Director of Write Vault, is one such example. A producer inquired about a title listed on her Twitter page (she links her resume and available titles in her bio). “She sent me a direct message that literally asked me how much I wanted for it,” Stacy says. “It was still in treatment form at that point so I sent her to my manager to figure out her modus operandi. Was she for real or not? I was astounded by the amount of B.S. that was skipped by the ‘dance’ we normally go through as writers. She just cut to the chase. It was a great experience.”

Many projects benefit from behind-the-scenes photos, videos, and blog posts. They build momentum for film, television, and webisodes . Behind-the-scenes footage engages fans, and keeps the project fresh in everyone’s mind. It also provides a “sneak peek” without spoiling major storylines. Candid, behind-the-scenes photos, video, and blog posts are perfect for photography projects – they promote without compromising final results. I’ve seen illustrators and special effects artists blog their “process” for creating specific characters and effects . It is a fun way to make fans feel like they are a part of the journey.

Audiences invest in projects that excite them. They want something to look forward to. You don’t have to give away your art to engage fans – in fact, it’s better if you don’t.

Katy Goldapple is a freelance photographer and writer.

“I believe the best art tells a story, and captures the beauty often overlooked in daily life.”