On this, the most giving season of the year, I’d like to talk about the other end of the spectrum—receiving. It is definitely more fun to give to someone who is a gracious recipient. Right? We give in order to bring joy to someone else—to make their world brighter, thrill them, bring a smile to their face.
Through this blog, my Publishing/Marketing News and Views enewsletter, my wide array of books for authors, speaking engagements, my free ebooklets, the SPAWN Market Update and the free information and advice I provide authors who contact me, I give all year long. And I love it when I hear from authors who have benefited from my gifts.
In fact, what happens when you thank someone for helping you find a resource or link you need? You feel good and you encourage the giver to continue giving.
How often, though, do you recognize the gift, but reject it? You keep hearing and reading that you really ought to be intimately familiar with a genre before you try writing in that genre. You are bombarded with advice about the importance of understanding the ins and outs of book promotion, but you don’t have time for that—you’d rather take your chances without putting a lot of effort into marketing your book.
Are you guilty of dissing the pearls of wisdom you actually seek out? Do you read recommended books, regularly visit useful websites and blog sites, subscribe to important newsletters, attend presentations and still decline the gifts that are given out of generosity and wisdom?
If you want to write a WOW book and watch it succeed in the marketplace, start now reading what the professionals write, listening to what they say and gratefully accepting the gifts that will surely lead to your success.
The key is to understand today’s publishing industry and what it takes to succeed within it. For many of you, this means stepping outside your comfort zone into areas you’ve never before explored. It means educating yourself and being willing to take the steps necessary to achieving the goals you’ve set. You will never get from point A to point B any other way, will you? Throughout your lifetime, have you ever reached a goal without knowing which direction to go? Without effort? Without putting one foot in front of the other toward that goal?
If you have a book in the works or you are already marketing a book, take a clue from this season of giving and learn to be a grateful and graceful recipient.
This blog is presented almost daily by Patricia Fry. You can contact me at PLFry620@yahoo.com Visit my websites. You’ll see my array of published books here: http://www.matilijapress.com Sign up for my free Publishing/Marketing News and Views newsletter here: http://www.patriciafry.com You can also sign up here to receive a free ebooklet.