"Sandman" writer Gaiman hits the snooze button on his social-media accounts for six months to concentrate more on "making things up." January 1, 2014 10:35 AM PST Neil Gaiman at the San Diego Comic-Con 2013. (Credit: Seth Rosenblatt/CNET) Author Neil Gaiman will temporarily bid adieu to his millions of followers on Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr, and Google+ as he takes a break from social media to focus on his upcoming projects. "I'll be taking about six months off," Gaiman told The Guardian, "a sabbatical from social media so I can concentrate on my day job: making things up." The break starts this month. In 2013 alone, Gaiman released two best-selling books: "The Ocean at the End of the Lane" (named the National Book Award's 2013 book of the year), and "Fortunately, the Milk." He also published a prequel comic "The Sandman: Overture," not to mention guest writing episodes for the hit sci-fi TV show "Doctor Who" and his frequent book readings and tours. It will be interesting to see how much more the prolific writer can accomplish when he's not regularly tweeting. "I feel that I'm getting too dependent on phones, on Twitter," he told The Guardian. "It's a symbiotic relationship. That instant ability to find things out, to share. I want to see what happens when I take some time off." Fans worried they'll get the shakes from Gaiman withdrawals shouldn't fret yet. While Gaiman will be absent from his official social-media channels, he still promises to keep everyone updated on his life occasionally through his personal blog at NeilGaiman.com. "If you are used to hanging out with me on Tumblr or Twitter or Facebook, you are very welcome here," Gaiman wrote on his blog. "Same me, only with more than 140 characters. It'll be fun. Or it'll be like watching someone giving up smoking." Preview: 'The Sandman: Overture' (pictures) 1-2 of 7 Scroll Left Scroll Right
"Sandman" writer Gaiman hits the snooze button on his social-media accounts for six months to concentrate more on "making things up."
Neil Gaiman at the San Diego Comic-Con 2013.
(Credit: Seth Rosenblatt/CNET)
Author Neil Gaiman will temporarily bid adieu to his millions of followers on Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr, and Google+ as he takes a break from social media to focus on his upcoming projects.
"I'll be taking about six months off," Gaiman told The Guardian, "a sabbatical from social media so I can concentrate on my day job: making things up." The break starts this month.
In 2013 alone, Gaiman released two best-selling books: "The Ocean at the End of the Lane" (named the National Book Award's 2013 book of the year), and "Fortunately, the Milk."
He also published a prequel comic "The Sandman: Overture," not to mention guest writing episodes for the hit sci-fi TV show "Doctor Who" and his frequent book readings and tours.
It will be interesting to see how much more the prolific writer can accomplish when he's not regularly tweeting.
"I feel that I'm getting too dependent on phones, on Twitter," he told The Guardian. "It's a symbiotic relationship. That instant ability to find things out, to share. I want to see what happens when I take some time off."
Fans worried they'll get the shakes from Gaiman withdrawals shouldn't fret yet. While Gaiman will be absent from his official social-media channels, he still promises to keep everyone updated on his life occasionally through his personal blog at NeilGaiman.com.
"If you are used to hanging out with me on Tumblr or Twitter or Facebook, you are very welcome here," Gaiman wrote on his blog. "Same me, only with more than 140 characters. It'll be fun. Or it'll be like watching someone giving up smoking."
