When I got the idea to write a novel that was a modern twist on You’ve Got Mail, I was immediately excited. It wasn’t until later when I started thinking about the logistics of it.
In this day and age, how do I explain two people chatting online for months without exchanging so much as a photograph?
It got me considering the way social media has infiltrated nearly every aspect of our lives. Online dating would fall into this category as well! Most of the time, my characters acknowledge it’s existence, but don’t spend much time on it. They might see a photo while scrolling that triggers them to think about something crucial to the story. Or I’ve had characters go on bad online dates to show how they desire a relationship so much they are willing to try whatever they can!
But I started wondering what other authors had done.
![What Makes a Home (Everyday Love Book 3) by [Jaycee Weaver]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41griEor-IL.jpg)
In What Makes a Home, Jaycee Weaver’s character Jobie is measuring her worth by the likes and comments at the beginning of the story. As her identity changes after finding Christ, she overcomes this unhealthy obsession.
I love that! It is an easy trap to fall into, along with the trap of comparing ourselves with the friends we see online. One of the reasons I think it can be good to include social media is to show characters who struggle with the very realistic temptations that social media carries!
![Believing in You: A Sweet, Brother's Best Friend, Military Romance (San Diego Marines Book 4) by [Jess Mastorakos]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51Vfy45qhKL.jpg)
Jess Mastorakos (one of my newest favorite authors), who recently started including more Christian themes in her books, has a super fun brother’s best friend story, Believing in You. A good portion of the relationship happens through a dating app while the hero is stationed overseas with the Marines. The fact that he’s keeping his online relationship a secret from her brother–who is also stationed with him!–is a perfect modern-day twist.
In my most recent release, Lavender and Lace, Lavender Bloom is a social media marketing expert and consultant, hired to overhaul the reclusive author E.M. Drake’s online presence. They immediately clash over their beliefs about social media’s value (or lack thereof). Of course, it only gets more interesting when you realize that the two have been chatting anonymously online for months.
I know some people prefer to ignore social media is even a thing in novels. There is something nice about the difference between fiction and reality. I don’t want any mention of a pandemic in my fiction! But for me, social media has been a growing part of our world for decades and I don’t see it going anywhere. I suspect we will see more casual mentions and more storylines involving social media.
What about you? Does it pull you out of the book if an author talks about social media? Or is it expected at this point? Do you have any good examples of books with social media or online dating as key plot points?
Tara Grace Ericson lives in Missouri with her husband and two sons. She studied engineering and worked as an engineer for many years before embracing her creative side to become a full-time author. She loves cooking, crocheting, and reading books by the dozen. Her writing partner is usually her black lab - Ruby - and a good cup of coffee or tea. She loves a good “happily ever after” with an engaging love story. That’s why Tara focuses on writing clean contemporary romance, with an emphasis on Christian faith and living.
I would expect a book set in today’s times to at least touch on social media. It does not have to be intrusive.
I think social media plays a large role in today’s society! You’ve got mail is one of my favorite movies!
I think if you’re keeping the books real and they’re contemporary, you have to mention social media. However, they don’t have to be online ALL of the time, and I think it should show that you don’t text other people while on a date. Two friends and I were at lunch one day, and we were the only people sitting and talking to the people we were at the table with! Everyone else had phones out texting people not there, and ignoring the ones sitting at the table with them!
I don’t mind social media or texting or anything like that in a contemporary romance. I expect it now. I loved You’ve Got Mail!
So far my characters haven’t done more than take a peek at each other’s Facebook profiles! In general, they go out and do things, not sit at the computer all the time (like I’m personally guilty of, too!) But you’re very right that a balance can be struck, even in StoryLand, like your idea of them connecting online AND in person and not realizing it’s the same person they’re dealing with. Elizabeth Maddrey did something like that in one of her Baxter Family Bakery stories, but it was an online gaming environment not social media per se.
Now you’ve got me noodling on ideas for an upcoming story of my own!
The few stories that I can think of that feature social media have already been mentioned. As a reader, I can take it or leave it so long as it plays a legitimate role in the story. As a person, I have only a very limited presence on line. When I worked as a government contractor, we were told to avoid on-line environments for security purposes. Even now, I don’t do anything more than a Linked-In account. Yes, that means no Facebook (gasp). I’m too easily distracted as it is and I’m pretty sure that I’ve already exceeded the average length of a post on Facebook with just this comment. I prefer my communication with more meat on the bones. So give me a nice email or phone call, or better yet, a conversation over coffee and pastries at Panera Bread (no phones on the table) :).
Social Media is part of life, so it is expected, so I don’t mind it at all. Your book sounds like a great read. Have a Great week and stay safe.
Thanks for your thoughts!
Mine too! Yes, social media seems to touch everything these days!
Oh great point! I’ve seen restaurants that reward you for locking your phones in a box during the meal. It’s an interesting concept, but also strange to think it has become necessary!
Thanks for sharing!
I loved that book of Elizabeth’s!
Can’t wait to read what you come up with ;)
I deleted Facebook from my phone this week. I definitely prefer other means of communication as well, and it is easy to let it be a time waster!
Thanks, Alicia! Same to you!
I read a lot of historical, so I wouldn’t expect to see social media in the pages of those types of books. :-) But I’m getting more & more into contemporary and a lot of those do mention social media like Facebook or Instagram, even dating sites (Christian). I don’t mind reading about it in moderation, as long as I feel the characters have a life outside of the virtual world. I’m old fashioned (or maybe just old, lol) so the vast majority of my life is spent in “real” time. Whereas a 20 or 30 something person would probably spend more time on social media, texting friends or family, Googling just about everything on their phone (my 23 yr old son does, lol!), and possibly looking for love on a dating site.
So in answer, as long as there’s a good balance of real life & online life I don’t mind the inclusion of social media in a book. :-)
I think it’s better to mention SM in generic terms, otherwise, a book may have a harder time in the future without a major update. Imagine a book written 15 years ago with myspace, and it no longer exists; vine is gone, and so many things lose popularity. I don’t think it’s going anywhere, but it’s so malleable and forever morphing.
I have read a few books where they use SM but they have a different name for FB and Twitter etc. (Like an Aussie soap which has a different name for tinder).
When I first started using the internet I joined a penpal group and had a penpal. I didn’t have the internet at home so it was a while before we shared photos. I could see it happening. The couple could start chatting and maybe they don’t want to share to much info and have a book, flower, pet etc as a profile picture. I know on FB I have some friends who don’t have any personal photos of themselves partly due to the fact they have been bullied in life. I have been friends with one lady for awhile now and only just found out a bit more about her. I pictured her as very tall but she is actually under 5 feet. So I can see a Your got mail story working.
it doesn’t pull me out of the story as its what happens now days. But I agree don’t want to read about the pandemic. I think it is a story that will work much better once there is a cure etc. I am sure people dealing with the polio pandemic when it first started didn’t want to read books about polio but once there was a treatment and vaccine and cure it would have made a more positive story
I don’t have a problem with social media being present in books. In fact the way people can be obsessed with it I think it can make a good plot point.
It’s part of our lives, why would you take it out ;) Sometimes it can add a little surprise or a twist to the story and make it even more interesting! The Conflicted Billionaire has online dating mishap ;)
Great points! Balance is essential :)
That is a great point, the specific platforms are ever-changing!
That was what I ended up going with. They both agreed to keep it anonymous and protect their privacy. Their non-specific sharing of details of their lives also made the whole plot a bit more believable!
It is definitely something that can cause a lot of struggle for people!
There is so much potential for interesting situations when technology and strangers get involved!
It probably depends on your reading audience, I would guess. I really don’t care to read about characters on SM unless it relates to the story, because it isn’t that particularly important to me. There are so many other things I’d rather do with my time. I have read books where the characters are txting back & forth & that works like a dialogue of sorts, another story had a character “swiping” right & left on a dating app just before they met the person they swiped “away” in person – opps. Those worked well enough but I think I lean more toward Westerns, Historical, genres & stories that step away from the complications of reality. ;)
I still have my penpal from when I first started on the internet. We use to send emails but also snail mail (she was in America) That would have been when we exchanged photos.
As long as it fits within the story line I think it’s fine. Though I imagine one day there will be a book which simply consists of posts/tweets or whatever the next big thing will be. Interesting topic for a post. I wouldn’t have considered it otherwise.
I love this. I think it should be mentioned more. But some small presses worry about copyright and won’t allow it to even be mentioned at all. I think it’s unrealistic not to mention it because as you said, it’s such an ingrained part of our life. Of course, it will depend on the ages of the characters in the story.