Can you believe that we’re already halfway through summer? Are you making good use of the season? The weather? The kids being out of school? Are you vacationing? Relaxing? Spending time in the great out-of-doors? And the big question is, are you writing?
Last year at this time, it was HOT in Ojai. It was the longest hottest period I can remember here in the valley. This summer has been mild in comparison—high 80s to mid 90s. It’s heavenly by comparison. If you’re having one of those horribly hot summers and the heat is keeping you from writing, you might want to read my blog entry for July 26, 2006, How to Write Anyway When it’s Just Too Hot.
News Flash: This week, I came up with another way to get exposure for my work and my books. I’ve been telling you about my article, The Post-Publication Book Proposal. As you know, I’ve offered free copies of it to anyone who will email me and ask. Plfry620@yahoo.com. I’ve had quite a bit of interest. Hopefully, the article will help folks who are having trouble promoting and selling their books.
Here’s my new idea for getting exposure: Yesterday, I spent a couple of hours sending announcements to editors of writing/publishing-related newsletters and magazines and appropriate Web site hosts offering their readers/visitors a FREE copy of this article. Many of these editors/hosts have agreed to post or publish my announcement. Already, I’ve had several more requests from authors who indicate that they are pretty overwhelmed and/or stumped by the process of promotion. (Why don’t hopeful authors do their homework BEFORE they enter into the highly competitive publishing field?????)
Unfortunately, some authors, even when they have the opportunity to hear or read sage publishing advice, ignore it. Gosh that’s frustrating for those of us who truly want to help authors experience the level of success they desire. It’s similar to that helpless feeling you get when you can do nothing but sit back and watch your youngster make some of the same mistakes you made because he won’t heed your warnings and hear your wisdom.
I made a mistake this month. I ordered 500 business cards with a typo. Fortunately, I haven’t handed too many of them out, yet, because, horror of horrors, an astute editor pointed out that the cards have a blatant error. How embarrassing. Of course, I’m tossing these cards and I’ve ordered a new, very carefully proofed batch.
I’m spending my summer revising my book, The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book, trying to help hopeful authors avoid costly mistakes and attempting to bale authors out of the mistakes they made, anyway. I’m doing this in between gardening, picking peaches, making cobbler and trying to beat the heat for early morning walks every day.
Are you accomplishing anything this summer? Are you writing, studying the publishing industry, submitting articles for publication, learning the ropes of self-publishing, spending time promoting your book? If so, good for you. If you’re relaxing and vacationing, I urge you to use some of that down time to further your writing/publishing career. Here are my recommendations:
For Freelance Writers:
1: Join SPAWN (www.spawn.org)
2: Be always on the search for article ideas.
3: Think up new ways to earn money through writing.
4: Research new and different magazines, newsletters, Web sites.
For the Hopeful Author:
1: Join SPAWN (www.spawn.org)
2: Study the publishing industry.
3: Write a book proposal.
For the Author With a Book to Promote:
1: Join SPAWN (www.spawn.org)
2: Read several articles and at least one book on book promotion this summer.
3: Try two new book promotion ideas or opportunities each week.
For those of you who don’t know or don’t remember, SPAWN is Small Publishers, Artists and Writers Network—a networking organization and resource center for anyone interested in or involved in publishing. Visit us at http://www.spawn.org Spend time reading the articles and newsletter archives. Check out the resource lists. Subscribe to the FREE monthly newsletter and consider joining. It’s only $45/year and you get a free book as well as access to the member area of the site where there are boo coo advantages and opportunities for all writers and authors.
Depending on your commitments and your children’s school calendar, you have anywhere from three to six weeks of summer vacation left. There are eight weeks of the actual summer season remaining. What will you do with this time? What steps will you take to move your career forward? One giant step you must take is to sign up to be notified of the pre-publication discount I’ll be offering for the revision of The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book. Publication Date is right around the time summer hands the baton to autumn—September 23. Contact me, Patricia Fry, plfry620@yahoo.com