Yesterday, I received a copy of FellowScript, the official magazine of the Canadian organization, Inscribe, the Christian Writers’ Fellowship. They published my piece called “Are You Writing For the Right Reasons?”Learn more about this print magazine at http://www.inscribe.org
Also arriving in the mail yesterday was a copy of Working Writer with my article, “Do You Engage in Book Promo Babble?” Maggie Frisch produces Working Writer from Illinois in the US and promotes it as a newsletter that offers solid information and a sense of humor. To learn more about this publication, go to http://www.workingwriter1.com
That makes around four or five of my writing/publishing-related articles published in various periodicals this week. That’s pretty good coverage. Why do I bother to submit articles to magazines and newsletters? For the same reason that I spend an hour or so every day writing this blog, take time out to prepare and present programs at various venues throughout the US, visit blogs related to writing and publishing to leave my comment and so forth. And I do this for the same reasons that those of you with published books or books pending should be doing the same thing: To continue building on my platform.
When I help hopeful authors write their book proposals, they always promise the publisher that they will write articles to promote their nonfiction book or memoir and submit stories to promote their novel or children’s book. Most of these authors promise me (and themselves) that they will start this process even before their book is published. But, alas, very few of the dozens and dozens of hopeful authors and published authors I’ve worked with do so. And I can tell you that those who are writing articles for publication and submitting stories for publication are selling books.
Think about it, when your articles or stories teach, inspire, inform, entertain or touch someone, you’ve made an impression. Your name enters into the conscious and subconscious minds of hundreds or even thousands of readers, most of whom are interested in your topic or genre. Multiply the effect of one story or article by six, twelve or 100 and you’ve reached portions of your audience multiple times and, perhaps, tens of thousands of new readers. Your name is becoming a household name—or at least a respected name among your peers and those who crave and/or need the information or entertainment you offer in your book. The more well-known you are, the more generous you are with your knowledge or skills, the more front and center you are, the more books you will sell. How could this not be true?
Sure, there are times when it seems as though you are talking to a wall—that there’s no one paying attention to the enormous amount of effort you expend in order to share your expertise and/or entertain your audience. You reach out and it’s silent on the other end. No one emails you notes of thanks. No one but spammers comment at your blogsite. There may be people learning, growing and succeeding at least partially because of what you share and you aren’t aware of it. Yes, it can get lonely and you might sometimes wonder why you are giving so much when, seemingly, you are getting nothing back.
Sure you are selling a book now and then—sometimes you even have a flurry of sales. But was that actually because of your efforts or a fluke, you wonder?
And then you attend a conference in another state related to your field and strangers come up to you to shake your hand and tell you how much your work has influenced their success. Or you receive an email from someone who says that you were a huge part of their decision to enter into your field, for example. And where there is one who approaches you, there may be hundreds of others who are functioning or succeeding under your direct influence.
So my message here this morning is don’t give up even when you feel as though you are all alone. Keep giving. Continue putting your name out there through articles in appropriate magazines, regular blog entries and so forth. Imagine your audience eager to receive your message and benefit of your expertise in your field. Know that you are making a difference.
I’ve been working on the new version of Catscapades, Tales of Ordinary and Extraordinary Cats this weekend. We’re almost ready to launch the revamped edition which includes photos—over 80 photos of cute, silly, gorgeous, funny, lazy, energetic, loving and crazy cats and kittens. I am having so much fun!
My webmaster should have my cat blog up one day soon, in the meantime, I’ll share tidbits about cats and the cat book here. For all of you who appreciate cats—I added this story to the new book: Pebbles is a pampered pet who lives in a home, has plenty of attention and food lavished on her by night. But by day, she lives a very different life. She hangs out with a managed colony of cats behind a 7-11 store in a drainage ditch. Pebbles is now missing. I’m trying to chase down the colony manager to see if they trapped her, of course, thinking she is a feral cat, and are attempting to place her in a home somewhere. The big-hearted colony manager doesn’t know that Pebbles hangs out with the stray cats only to get the free handouts and to counsel them. She’s their mentor—their link to a better life for each of them.
I will let you know if we locate Pebbles.
In the meantime, I would like you to let me know if you have done the right and smart thing on behalf of your pending or already published book by writing and submitting articles or stories for your target audience. If you’re already doing it, how’s it going? If you are not sure how to start, order my little $6.50 book, A Writer’s Guide to Magazine Articles for Book Promotion or Profit. http://www.matilijapress.com
While you’re at my website, check out the gorgeous cover on Catscapades, Tales of Ordinary and Extraordinary Cats. This won’t change, but the inside will change enormously, as we will soon present this fascinating book of cat stories with pictures!!!