Can you believe it? As I was writing yesterday’s blog entry about coming to Atlanta, the people of that city were crawling out from under debris left by a serious TORNADO. Exactly 2 weeks before the day that I plan my arrival in Atlanta, a tornado hits the very spot where I’ll be—the very spot where I was one year ago. I stayed at the Omni Hotel last year, directly across the street from the CNN building. The event is always held at the Georgia World Congress Center, which is out the backdoor of the Omni. All 3 of these large buildings were damaged.
There was personal property damage and injury, as well. My heart goes out to those citizens of Atlanta who suffered loss this weekend.
From what I understand, the show will go on. The Spring Book Show and Conference, that is, at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta March 28 and 29. I’ll be there on Saturday, March 29. I’ll conduct a 3-hour seminar from 9-12 and I’m speaking about the secrets to publishing success at 2 that afternoon.
http://www.anvilpub.net/spring_seminar_2.htm
Nashville, I hope you don’t have any storms on the horizon. I’ll be there at Borders West End the evening of March 31 (Monday night at 7). I look forward to meeting all you Nashville writers/authors.
Life is sometimes plagued by near misses and setbacks. We have setbacks in our publishing projects, too, don’t we? Life can get in the way of the books we want to write. Storms, catastrophes, illness, accidents, jobs, etc. can interrupt the flow of our writing work. Sometimes we just aren’t in the mood to write or to promote our published books. We are sick of rejection slips or we are too discouraged to keep promoting our books.
For some hopeful authors, the setbacks become permanent. There are many wouldbe authors who never do complete the books of their dreams.
What does it take to actually follow through with a book project? Pretty much what it takes to accomplish anything in your life—raising a child; caring properly for a pet every day; completing school; learning something new like riding a bike, driving, typing, a foreign language, a dance move, knitting, a new computer program or woodworking. It takes persistence, determination and patience. I maintain that it also takes motivation. If you aren’t properly motivated to complete or accomplish something as difficult and complex as seeing a book project to fruition, you simply won’t succeed.
Today, I challenge you to examine your motivation for wanting to write a book. Most of us want to be heard/read. We have something to say and we want to share that word, concept, information, perspective. Most fiction authors want validation for their writing. They love the process of writing and feel that they can continue only if they’re able to sell what they write—only if what they write is being read. Other authors and hopeful authors are motivated by their need to help others through their own experiences or knowledge.
What motivates you to write? If you want to write, but aren’t writing, why is that? What stops you? I’d like to hear from you on this topic. I think that the information collected from you could culminate in a book or, at least an article that might help other writers. PLFry620@yahoo.com
If you haven’t visited my site in a while, do so this week.
http://www.matilijapress.com
You will find tons of information for writers and authors, articles galore, oodles of resource and books for practically every writer/author.
And then hop over to the SPAWN website. That’s Small Publishers, Artists and Writers Network
http://www.spawn.org
If you have a book to promote, you might want to join us in the SPAWN booths at the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books April 26-27, which means you must join SPAWN. If you can’t be in Los Angeles that weekend, let us display your book in the SPAWN booths at this gigantic of all book festivals. Again, you must be a member of SPAWN. Join at http://www.spawn.org Questions? PLFry620@yahoo.com or Patricia@spawn.org.