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Awesome Resources for Creative Writing: Facebook Events

Awesome Resources for Creative Writing: Facebook Events

Let me be very clear: Facebook can be the worst enemy of creative writing! It's distracting, time-consuming, and can sap your motivation or productivity. That being said, it does have a few things that can benefit you as a writer. In this case, I'm talking specifically about Facebook Events… Facebook allows you to virtually "host" events for literally any reason you want. Whether you're celebrating a book launch, promoting a freebie day, or doing a cover reveal, you can create an Event. Heck, you can create an Event around one of your characters' birthdays or to celebrate some holiday in your fictional world. Untitled With Facebook Events, you can: Share news of your work. Interact with people. Give fellow authors a chance to showcase their work. Promote a new release or giveaway. The problem with Facebook Events is that Facebook has VERY specific rules and guidelines that must be followed--something I discovered on the event I held this last weekend. Midway through the first day of my two-day event promoting FREEBIE days for The Last Bucelarii (Book 1): Blade of the Destroyer, Facebook had blocked me from posting AT ALL. I sent emails asking them why, but I have still not received a response. Before you create your Event, make sure to read over the Event Guidelines posted on Facebook's FAQ page. This will give you a general idea of what you can and can't do for the event. However, you should also read Facebook's Page Guidelines, as it gives you a pretty clear outline of how you have to run your events. Perhaps FB blocked me because I contravened some rule of their Giveaways/Promotions, so I want to share the guidelines here so you don't make the same mistake I did (though I still don't know what happened…):

D. Offers

If you create an offer using Facebook’s offer creation tool, the following policies apply: i. Facebook offers must be available for a limited time. ii. You may only run an offer if you are the merchant for or the manufacturer of the product or service you are promoting. iii. You must clearly and prominently disclose any restrictions on your offer (such as expiration date or limitations on redemption). iv. You are solely responsible for improper redemption, fraud, disputes or other issues that arise from the distribution and/or redemption of your offer. v. If your offer may be redeemed at a merchant not operated by you, it is your sole responsibility to communicate with the merchant and ensure they honor your offer. vi. You must only use the offer creation tool for its intended functionality and not to promote your website or other contact information, or to offer the equivalent of a gift card, gift certificate or stored value card. vii. You are responsible for ensuring that your offer complies with these terms and all applicable laws, rules and regulations. Offers are subject to many regulations (such as alcohol discounts and offers marketed to minors) and if you are not certain that your offer complies with applicable law, consult with an expert.

E. Promotions

1. If you use Facebook to communicate or administer a promotion (ex: a contest or sweepstakes), you are responsible for the lawful operation of that promotion, including: a. The official rules; b. Offer terms and eligibility requirements (ex: age and residency restrictions); and c. Compliance with applicable rules and regulations governing the promotion and all prizes offered (ex: registration and obtaining necessary regulatory approvals) 2. Promotions on Facebook must include the following: a. A complete release of Facebook by each entrant or participant. b. Acknowledgement that the promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook. 3. Promotions may be administered on Pages or within apps on Facebook. Personal Timelines and friend connections must not be used to administer promotions (ex: “share on your Timeline to enter” or “share on your friend's Timeline to get additional entries”, and "tag your friends in this post to enter" are not permitted). 4. We will not assist you in the administration of your promotion, and you agree that if you use our service to administer your promotion, you do so at your own risk. (Taken from Page Guidelines)