Turning Writing Research into a Blog by Gale Martin, founder Operatoonity.com

Why blog? Visibility Increased followers across platforms Opportunities Rewards/Fun Prestige Who wrote the opera Don Giovanni?

About those rewards… Review tickets to 60+ operas in 6 years Valued at $7,500 Show talks VIP receptions and VIP status Cultural edification

So, what’s in it for you? You will never know until you try. I didn’t.

The Operatoonity.com story…

Where do I begin? Doing research for this novel Republished by Northampton House Press in 2016 Doing research for this novel Wilkes program presenter on social media Conceived of theme, approach Atomize content (present research bits) In the Wilkes Creative Writing program, you must do a semester of research to include secondary and primary while writing your capstone project.

The birth of Operatoonity.com Madame Butterfly , 2014 photo courtesy of Glimmerglass Festival

What assets did I bring to the project? Blogging experience Theatrical experience Body of knowledge about opera Desire to succeed

LUCK! La bohème, 2016 Photo courtesy of Glimmerglass Festival What did the opera universe bring to the project? Who wrote  La bohème?  La bohème, 2016 Photo courtesy of Glimmerglass Festival

In firsts … First post on site February 10, 2010; 186 posts thru Dec. 31, 2010 First live performance review July 11, 2010 First place in Washington National Opera songwriting contest August 10, 2010 First Metropolitan Opera review posted February 2, 2011 First Metropolitan Opera press conference February 18, 2011 First star interview posted July 14, 2011

In firsts (continued) First interview with a major house exec posted August 10, 2011 First press release received in December 2011 First classical CD review 2013 First book review request 2014 First Broadway review request April 2015 143 press releases in 2016 What’s the name of the one-act opera by Leoncavallo featuring a homicidal clown?

The value of social media? Inestimable The Elixir of Love, 2011 Photo courtesy of New York City Opera

Simultaneously created Twitter account: The community of opera heads loves Twitter. It is an international community, and I quickly met and learned from a lot of people on Twitter about opera.

And Facebook page for content distribution What opera premiered in 2010 featuring baritone Jonathan Lemalu as Queequeg?

My very first post…

Learning moment! Cold Mountain, 2016 Photo courtesy of Opera Philadelphia

Opera people LOVE to talk opera

I mentioned fun, didn’t I? Who was the third of the Three Tenors (Pavarotti, Carreras, and ?)

Even rude entertains!

Most memorable moments! Who wrote La Traviata? La Traviata, 2015 Photoo courtesy of Opera Philadelphia

Proudest moment?

Also proud of… What male voice part is equivalent to a mezzo soprano?

Worst moment?

Most engaging moment! #Operaplot Contest on Twitter 140 characters only #operaplot

“Where do I begin?” Manon, 2014 Photo courtesy of Academy of Vocal Arts

My process Create a blog on Wordpress (free at wordpress.com) Post A LOT of quality content to start (increases organic search rankings) Cultivate engage friends/followers on social media Go with the flow

How to carry on! Be flexible Seize the day! Don’t be bashful Be grateful What’s the name of the world-famous opera house in Milan?

What’s next Nonfiction book? Monetize? Sequel to DON JUAN IN HANKEY, PA!

Questions? Ariadne auf Naxos, 2011 Anyone know who wrote Ariadne? Ariadne auf Naxos, 2011 Photo courtesy of The Metropolitan Opera