You subscribe to writers’ newsletters and magazines. You join publishers’ organizations. You even enroll in online and face-to-face classes. But do you follow through? Do you read those newsletters, network with others in the organizations and participate in the class assignments? Many of you—if you are honest with yourself—must truthfully respond with a sheepish, “no.â€
As the president of SPAWN (Small Publishers, Artists and Writers Network), I’ve come to know three basic types of writers. There are those writers who strive to get the most out of every opportunity before them. Other writers might reach out and help themselves to information and resources only sporadically—when the inclination strikes or when they have a few spare minutes. Other writers and authors don’t participate, rarely take part, never contribute and usually eventually cancel their memberships and subscriptions. And do you know what they claim as the reason? They say, “I’m just not getting anything out of the magazine/organization/newsletter/class.†As even the intelligent say these days to express extreme sarcasm in the face of a stupid remark, “Well, Duh!â€
So which writer are you? An even more important question is, which writer will you become this year? Reach out, study, learn, glean, participate, network and share and you will more likely succeed in meeting your writing/publishing goals in 2006. Continue your habit of staying to yourself, deleting newsletters instead of reading them, avoiding ordering the latest books or reading those books you’ve ordered and you will probably accomplish the same level of success that you did last year. Now that’s a gloomy thought, isn’t it?
I run a fulltime freelance writing business. I have 24 books to promote. I help to run SPAWN, a major networking organization for those interested in publishing. I write articles for magazines, work with clients on their writing projects and I usually have at least one new book in the works. Oh yes, I also write, The Market Update, a monthly 11 to 15-page newsletter for the SPAWN Web site, which involves a great deal of research. And I subscribe to nearly two dozen newsletters and magazines which I read from cover to cover. About a dozen of those newsletters are weeklies. I’m active on about half dozen Web site message boards. I review writing/publishing-related books which means I read several new books each year. I am in constant research mode for my clients and SPAWN members who have questions. Oh yes, and I keep trying to find new ways to put myself out there—like I’m doing with this blog.
You’ll notice that I reach out for three purposes. I want to sell books and to promote SPAWN. But I am also willing to give generously to other writers. I give through this blog, through the numbers of writing/publishing-related articles posted at my Web site and through my writing/publishing books. Sit down and read my books from cover to cover, apply what you learn therein and you will get back hundreds of times the price you paid for them. I also suggest to the writers that I meet, e-mail me your question and I will take the time to respond.
I urge you to put yourself out there—network with other writers, keep abreast of industry trends and continually educate yourself about your craft and your profession. I have two suggestions right off the bat. Join SPAWN (Small Publishers, Artists and Writers Network).
http://www.spawn.org
And order my new book and READ IT. The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book http://www.matilijapress.com/rightway.html
You might also be interested in reading two recent articles. See my article in the January 2006 edition of the PMA Independent, How to Work a Book Festival So It Works For You. Writing For Dollars ran my article, Booksigning Tips For Authors in their January 3, 2006 edition.