Been drinking around AZ, NM, and CO in the sweet rain. Home again.
How about you? Been taking some vacation time? You need a break, too. You cannot just sit and write even if you are wheelchair bound. Life is a roll and if it isn't moving it, or rather, you are dead. Your writing will get stagnant without new experiences.
Go play. Then write.
How do you edit? Do you hire an editor? Do it yourself? Good friend? Beta readers? Never make mistakes?
Slowly but surely copies get sold. How you doing on marketing? What's your target audience? Mine is basically men. That held very true when I was called to be the speaker atca men's retreat. The books sold well there. Didn't do so hot in a ladies books and geegaws store.
Target target target is the message.
Now go write for your target audience.
Anybody interested in an on line writer's group????
Had the first stand up and be counted sale at the city library yesterday. It was about what I expected and not what I hoped. Got copies of my westerns in the library and had a lot of fun.
Sales and advertising are tough. Harder work than edit/rewrite. Set your mind to tough decisions and stubborn business owners.
Then, go write and have fun.
Started reading PLOT WHISPERED by Martha Alderson last week. Nuggets all over the pages. One was set goals for yourself. How much. How long. Long term goals like NANO. Or, short term for today. I would add rewarding yourself when goals are met.
Love writing, hate rewrite/edit.
Go write.
How did your day go? Did you get a bunch of words on paper?
Big city book store took my books on consignment. They are setting up a display of local writers and working on a promotion day in May when the valley folks run to the mountains to escape the heat. Three other local writers arr involved.
As a team, four of us are working on places and events where we can promote (sell) our books and get acquainted with folks.
I'll keep you posted.
Reading books about writing books as never been a favorite activity. BUT, I have gotten at least a nugget out of each book. Today I started reading MANUSCRIPT MAKEOVER by Elizabeth Lyon. Got three nuggets in the first two pages. I think this book will be of great help. I'll keep you posted.
Do you use the pod-a-sphere? Try WRITING EXCUSES. And, I SHOULD BE WRITING, with an emphasis on the older ones.
Now get to writing.
Today we journey to the big city to talk to a bookstore owner who is listening to the sales pitch and may carry my books. Next week another.
As of today, there are three opportunities on the calendar and two in the works.
What have you tried? Library's like books and new authors. Local events. Fairs. Races. School collections.
Your writing is special. Point that out. Ypu are local. Your friends will flock to a place to buy your writing.
Now, go write, edit, sell, and write some more.
Got something I'm going to try. I have contacted a few other local writers about doing a book sale/signing at the local library. So far 3 are on board counting myself. Library is hot for it.
Anyone else? I'm talking northeast Arizona, but if you wanna travel, come join us.
To do Camp Nanowrimo or not to do, that is the question. Pro - I set my own goal. Com - I am already busier than I want to be.
DO!
Life ain't easy for a boy named Sue.
In trying to get my books in retail outlets I have had zip for positive results. None of the bookstores I have taken my smiling face and stack of books to has responded with, "Why sure. We'll set up a display right here in the middle of the path to the coffee corner." Or, even a, "Yeah, we'll stick a couple in here with the rest of the stuff nobody looks at."
But, I am working on an author's book display and signing at the local library. So far, 4 authors joining the party.
Keep writing. Mucho.
It is official. I am now an author. Amazon says so. Http://www.amazon.com/author/dougball is on the air.
All three if my current books are listed in kindle format and one in print. The other two will be listed in print as soon as tomorrow.
It is a great thrill to see your name in lights. Now the idea is to sell a few and get some reviews. Obviously I would love for you to buy my books and give me great five star reviews, but I would rather you read them and gave me honest reviews so I can grow in my writing.
Stay tuned as I share the tips I learn for marketing. I live in a very rural area and do not have the normal avenues available to me with out hundreds of miles of travel. So, from scratch we go.
The first tip is www.createspace.com. That was my starting point.
Take a dream or goal in life you would die for. Write the story. That's what I did. My dream came true for me, but way later in life than I had hoped. My book "GENTLE REBELLION" is that book. It is a fluffed up, never happened memoir. It is the original dream. There is little reality in this story, but all the excitement that feeds a young man's ego.
The buzz phrase of writing is WRITE WHAT YOU KNOW. What do you know better than your dreams.
Try it. This works for articles and shorts, as well as novels.
How long does it take to write a book? Great question. It takes as long as it takes. From first word in 1981 until the middle of February 2014 my first book was in the mill. With the crash of the western market it was rejected and otherwise abused 45 times, with over 75% of those being the old familiar, "Does not meet our needs at this time. Try us again." 20 of them said, "Liked it. No market, sorry." or something similar.
It is now in the proofing stage with createspace.com.
Never give up.
