I love helping other people spread the word about what they are working on. I even like talking about what I’m working on. What (I think) I am terrible at is promoting my own finished work. In this case, I’m talking specifically about Mik Murdoch, Boy Superhero. As you probably know, Mik Murdoch was released last August. I have tweeted about it. I have created a Facebook Group and I have received several great reviews about it. What I haven’t done is managed to spread the word well to the target demographic (youth 9 – 14, in case you are wondering). That means doing school visits, readings at the public libraries and even bookstore signings. The challenge for me has been […]
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My Achilles Heel
I think there are several things that I do well (although I usually don’t dwell on what they are). On the writing front, I am able to knock off words that make sense relatively quickly. I’m a good line editor and a passing developmental editor on other people’s work. I’m even pretty good at talking to people about writing and pitching my work. What I am VERY bad at (and hence the title of this post) is promoting my work once it is out there. I don’t know what it is. Maybe I’m worried that I will talk TOO much about my writing and drive people away. I’ve seen many other people do exactly that. All I get from them […]
Read moreBuilding an Author’s Signing Survival Kit
Let me begin by saying, the ideas that follow are not wholly mine. The idea of the survival kit was given to me during the “When Words Collide” writing conference. A very nice lady came to talk to me while I was manning the publisher booth and she asked me if I had a kit put together. She then explained what it was and some of the items that should go in it. Essentially, the purpose of the Signing Survival Kit (SSK) is to give the author the best flexibility and preparedness for any possible signing opportunity. It should be constructed in such a way that it is easy to carry, and store. So, here is the SSK in its […]
Read moreLearning as I Go
There are days when I think I know quite a lot about being published and the trials and tribulations of being a writer. That is largely because I’ve had the grand opportunity to meet and speak with many fantastic authors and edits and publishers and…well you get the idea. Then there are days when I know I’m a fledgling writer N00b who has a lot to learn. For example, I naively thought I could walk into my local public library, introduce myself to one of the librarians and offer to come in to do readings/signings/whatevers and they would fall over themselves (okay, be receptive at least) to book me in. The reality is, I am now 0/4 on my attempts. […]
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