I’m sure that this heading perked up your ears and made you feel a bit perky. We all like to use what we have to score some sort of benefit or advantage. For example, being an author brings you recognition. And it affords you opportunities that you might not otherwise have. But it’s often up to you to create and accept those opportunities.
As an author, you might be invited to special events, be able to justify trips to interesting places, land lucrative writing assignments, be treated to some unusual experiences. The possibilities are endless.
I know the author of a war story who, because of his book and his passion for his story, traveled to the South Pacific, met with dignitaries there and, because he launched an important project, has received enormous publicity. There is even a documentary about him and his story.
Dan Poynter travels thousands of miles every week to cities all over the world talking to authors about the topic of his book.
I, too, have visited many cities because of my status as an author. And I’m planning something very exciting as we speak. I told you that my friends’ screenplay will be presented next year near Atlanta. I really, really want to see it. So I am attempting to arrange some speaking engagements at local writers’ group meetings in that area during the play’s run in order to justify putting out the money to travel. I’ll let you know how it goes. Watch the “Activities Schedule” at my website for the details. http://www.matilijapress.com
In the meantime, if you belong to a writers group in the Atlanta area, check to see if they need a speaker for a February or March meeting and please let me know.
Likewise, I’ll be in Las Vegas and maybe Phoenix areas in April. Do you belong to a group in these regions? I’d like to talk to your program chairman.
I’m traveling this weekend, but it is all family—no business. I hope to be back Monday with some great tips for locating those sometimes elusive submission guidelines for writers/authors at websites.
Contact me at: plfry620@yahoo.com