Monday, August 16, 2010

Writing & Marketing 101 - by a Writing Novice

I am so pleased that my posts about my parents inspired some of you to share a bit of your history. That's what I strive for in my writing....that it will touch people, either humorously or poignantly. Thank you again for your comments and e-mails.

I've written quite a bit today, in spite of my back acting up again. I guess cleaning out the cabinet underneath the kitchen sink over the weekend didn't help. Fortunately, my chiropractor's office is about a mile from my house and my car knows the way by heart. (No, it doesn't have or need a GPS.) Another fortunate thing is that my office chair is an old wooden kitchen chair. It's the best thing for a bad back. I'm forced to sit up as straight as possible and can use my ice pack without any problems.

Since I was such a novice when I began this whole writing-a-book process, I think I've pretty much done almost everything 'a**-backwards', as the saying goes! Cases in point:

1)  A publisher agreed to publish my book before I'd written more than a couple of chapters.
2)  I've got contacts lined up with different medias for promotion of my book, when the time comes.
3)  I'm getting closer to having the book cover chosen.
4)  I've got some well-known friends/acquaintances who said they will write a blurb for my book cover.
5)  I'm beginning to set up Blog Interviews and Book Signings for my book.

So, it looks like all I have left to do, at least for now is.....finish the book!

I'm not sharing this information because I want everyone to think how smart I am, or lucky, or a big show off! No! I'm sharing what I have learned, because maybe it will help YOU achieve your dreams!
I submitted my writing without fear. If they didn't like it, what were they going to do? Come to my house and beat me up?! Heck no! I can take rejection. (I learned how to do that when I was in school!)

When my first Chicken Soup for the Soul story was accepted, they provided great marketing info. They are the ones who taught me to be confident, and how to go about contacting the media, etc.

Something else I've done is e-mail authors whose books I've read and admired. I tell them how much I enjoyed their writing and that I'm a writer, too, etc. Sometimes I hear back from them, and sometimes I don't. But you'll never know, IF YOU DON'T TRY!

"Do not judge yourself until you're done. And if you judge yourself a failure, you're not done." - Robert Brault

18 comments:

  1. Yes it does! Looking forward to seeing your book in print and hoping you will do a book tour and come to Atlanta!

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  2. Wow! Now THAT makes me feel like a "real" writer!! Thanks, Linda!! I'll be there!

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  3. I love that you are bold enough to contact writers and that they write back! I can't wait to see your book out there. I know you will do an awesome job promoting it!

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  4. I am really proud of you, Becky! I am so looking forward to buying your book, and I know it won't be long now. Yay!

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  5. Being gusty is good. I need to work on that. Goal for this week...take a risk. Thanks.

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  6. I tend to do many things backward too. If there is a difficult way to do something, I'll do it that way first.

    Like I always tell my kids, you don't know what you can do if you don't try! Great advice, Becky.

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  7. I'm looking forward to reading your book!

    =)

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  8. Oh! You're so smart and lucky - you big show off! *wink

    So... you actually have to put your work out there in order for people to see it?! Whoa! Yep, thats a hard part.

    And, I'm not so sure about the "coming to your house and getting beat up" part - I'm pretty sure that could happen if you added enough semi-colons.

    Thank you for sharing, it IS inspiring.

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  9. Becky, thanks for the tips and for being so kind and generous. I will love to read your book soon! blogging is great but nothing compares to a real book: the smell of paper, feeling its weight on your hands, taking it with you everywhere...I am very happy for you! don't forget us followers once you are famous, ok?

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  10. What you say about telling your story empowering people I think really resonates with me. Sometimes you have to jump in. Doesn't always work, but it often does. There is much to be said for confidence to help things come to pass!

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  11. I can't wait to read your book!

    This post is amazing on so many levels. Not just that you have gone out there and made it happen, but that it will inspire others to do the same.

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  12. I love that you are always teaching us and you are so modest about it all! Love to hear how this happened for you, because as fall approaches, I keep thinking I need to get back to my novel and this post makes me see I can do it too!

    Thanks for continually inspiring me.

    Smiles

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  13. I'm so proud of you! Ditto on the coming to Atlanta for a book signing. I'll be there with bells on.

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  14. Good advice, Becky! You are always so encouraging and supportive! :)

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  15. Hi Terri, Kathy, Jennee, Janel, Sue, Jennifer, OJ, Jeanie, Ellie, Julia, Lisa and Daisy!...Gosh, you wonderful women are making me feel really...special. I'm honestly at a loss for words! Imagine that!Thank you all so very much!

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  16. I'm your newest bliss follower. I love what you write I find many of your posts inspirational to a young writer, though not so young a woman.

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  17. I'm so glad you posted this: "If they didn't like it, what were they going to do? Come to my house and beat me up?!"

    When I heard you say that, I laughed so hard! How true!

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  18. Oh Hi, Myrna and Tammy! Please forgive me, I forgot to stop and comment and YOUR comments!

    Thank you so much, Myrna! I'm thrilled that you find my writing inspirational! Wow! That means so much to me!! Thank you!

    Hey Tam! I know you laughed when I first said that, and I almost forgot to post it!! Glad I did! :)

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I'm still getting quite a few spam comments that are Anonymous, so I'm trying "User with Google Accounts." If anyone tries to comment that I know, and it won't let you, send me an email, okay? Thanks so much.