Have you ever received outstanding marks on your book before it was actually released? Did the reviews just knock people off of their feet? I bet your friends and peers made you feel that it was the best thing since sliced bread. During the creation of this project, you felt strongly that your writing skills had improved and that you took the necessary steps that a good writer should take in elevating the writing to the next level. Your character development was phenomenal. You segued from chapter to chapter like a champ. You gave the readers everything they desired as you highlighted the five senses in each scene complimented by “edge-of-seat” elements. Thus creating a quick page turner. The bookclubs love it. Your Facebook and Twitter followers are maintaining the good e-chat about your book to sustain you for a while. After a few blogtalk interviews, you feel that you are on your way.
One day as you flipped through the channels on cable tv, you decide to see what is on C-span. It just so happens that there are authors on there pitching their books. You notice that there is one author who has a corny title: “How not to Eat Your Cat.” This elderly lady of 90 years who looks like she does not know anything about writing or books is on national tv and apparently making a killing…and She is not the only one. You then begin to say to yourself, “I’m probably a way better writer than this elderly lady and perhaps several other authors who are getting big tv and radio appearances.” Funny thing, you are probably right! You could perhaps run circles around them as far as raw writing ability is concerned. Secondly, you could certainly facilitate a better book discussion/presentation then most people as well. But guess what? They had a serious marketing plan. And there is a sad reality in the literary world…one can have a mediocre book as far as writing quality is concerned along with a cover and title that may not be that engaging either. But they also had a budget to execute a serious marketing campaign. Whereas, some great writers out there produce excellent reads; but as soon as the child is born, it is just there. What about raising that child? Merely publishing a good book alone is not going to do the trick. Yes, it can be time consuming and maybe strenuous. However if you do not have a robust marketing plan, you may as well be arrested for abandoning a child.
Man, I tell you, in this day and age “everyone” has something to say. I mean freedom of speech “seems” like it is being stretched to its furthest limits. To some, this particular right in certain instances may encroach the threshold of anarchy and/or maybe even defamation. A reader may partake of an article which [...]
Let’s face it people, with the current age in which we are living, if one were to say, “Computers are taking over;” that may be one of the biggest understatements next to Roy Scheider’s comments in the movie Jaws when he said, “We’re gonna need a bigger boat.”
Computers have completely taken over and are continually [...]
No attention? I know this is not coming from you because your friends and family are ecstatic at the fact that you’ve written a book and are a published author. Your former high school English instructor and her current writer’s guild have been following you as you’ve become versed in article publishing and blogging. Meanwhile, [...]
It is so funny how some people make a big to do about the fact that they decided to step out on faith and write full time. But what they failed to mention, is the fact that their spouse is making $300,000 a year. With that being the case, not only are the ends meeting [...]
If you are a self-published poet, or an aspiring poet considering going that route for your first publication, I’m sure you’ve just about heard it all by now. “Poetry doesn’t sell.” “You’re better off writing a novel.” “You will not be accepted as a legitimate writer while writing poetry.”
Well, I know I have. People have [...]
