Accepting Writing Ideas

by Candyce Carden-Deal

Writers make connections between unrelated things all the time. If we stay at it long enough, writing weaves its way into everything we do. It becomes a natural process. And if we stay open to these connections they can often affect our writing life.  Here’s an example. During yoga class last week, my brain leaped to writing although I was doing a decent job of focusing on deep-breathing.

We were in Easy Pose. In Easy Pose the legs are crossed with hands resting on the knees, palms turned upward. The open palms symbolize a posture of acceptance, or openness to accepting whatever comes our way. It's a great way to begin or end a yoga practice.

As I sat in Easy Pose ignoring the pain in my groin, I thought about the many writing and marketing ideas that flit through my brain on any given day. And how many I reject because they don’t come at convenient times. I usually continue to the next errand or the next email and hope that I’ll recall the idea when needed. And if I don’t, well, it probably wasn’t such a hot idea anyway. But what if, I asked myself, my half-formed unaccepted idea became someone else’s article sale because they acted on it? I peered at my open hands and wondered if I could apply this same symbolism of acceptance to the harvesting of writing ideas.

I could hardly wait to get off the floor. Once at home, and using Easy Pose as a springboard, I placed an opened blank journal on my kitchen counter with colored pens nearby. It’s in a location I pass many times during the day when I'm home. After just a little while, that opened blank page started calling to me like a magnet, saying, “Fill me.” And so I do. No matter how small or hare-brained the thought seems, I capture it in my waiting journal. What’s more, as I've grown in the habit of jotting down those ideas, I'm finding that harvesting ideas begets even more ideas.

I like my journal with its unlined pages. A sketchpad might be my next option. Both seem to scream for colored markers – another plus for this artist-wanna-be. But a legal pad would work just as well. So would a composition book. If you keep it small enough so it’s easily portable, you can always have it with you. And have it open.

I begin each workday by reading through my idea journal and transferring anything that I intend to work on to my daily plan sheet. My open book is a combination of both writing and marketing ideas. Some of the ideas don’t fit into plans right away, of course.  In this case, I tear the page out and throw it in a bin or file folder so it’s there ready for harvesting, sooner or later. It may never come to full fruition, but I feel good that I at least accepted it and gave it due diligence. 

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A former educator and administrator, Candyce Carden-Deal is now pursuing the writing life full-time, which she blogs about at http://return2writing.com.

 

 

Your Blog Strategy ... You Really Need One

by Rodney Page

You’ve signed all the paperwork, and your book is headed into preproduction. Now, everything you hear and read advises you to get busy on your premarketing, particularly writing a blog.

Well, okay. Sounds good, but what is your blog strategy, what do you write about, who do you want to read it, and how do you get them to do so?

I believe the key question in developing a blog strategy is answered easily: is your book fiction or nonfiction? If nonfiction, you’ll likely pursue a direct strategy. If fiction, your strategy will be indirect.

Direct Strategy for Nonfiction Authors

1.     What is your objective? It will likely focus on establishing your expertise. (Example answer: To be perceived as a top southeastern authority on growing dwarf azaleas.)

2.     Who do you want to read your blog? (Example answer: Amateur gardeners in the southeast.)

3.     How do you make them aware of your blog? (Example answer: Share blog content with appropriate publications, websites, radio shows, other blogs, etc.)

4.     What do you want the readers to think or do after they’ve read your blog? (Example answer: Believe you are an expert on dwarf azaleas; comment on and share your blog with others who need your expertise.)

Indirect Strategy for Fiction Authors

For fiction, the steps are the same, but the objective 1 is quite different. Instead of establishing expertise, the fiction writer will establish awareness of shared interests.

My book, Powers not Delegated, is a political thriller with a decidedly conservative slant. It is my first fiction work, and the target market and key influencers don’t know me from Adam’s house cat. Therefore, using my blog to tout my great writing and plot development skills would be futile. So, what can I do?

Perhaps the best way to illustrate my point is to answer the four questions for my own blog.

1. To create name (brand) awareness at the national level and be perceived as an astute observer of current political events; provide informed political commentary consistent with the readers’ point of view.
2. Target potential buyer subsegments, influential conservative media/editorial commentators, and conservative politicians.
3. Share blog content with appropriate publications, websites, radio shows, other blogs, etc.
4. “This guy knows what he’s talking about and shares my views”; “He writes well”; “I would consider buying his book”; “I (key influencer) would consider endorsing his book.” Comment on and share my blog with others who would enjoy my views.

Lastly, I suggest several “rules” for both fiction and nonfiction bloggers:

• Stick to your plan; the temptation arises to veer off course and post something that has nothing to do with your blog’s strategy. Don’t give in.
• Set quantitative and timing goals and stick with them. I write two blogs weekly and attempt to post them on Monday and Thursday mornings.
• Always respond to any comments quickly and courteously.

I hope these strategy ideas help you. If you’re left wondering how to reach these goals, that is a separate post that I’d be honored to address in a future Suite T. Blogging is made for us writers! Now, get to it. Strategize, write, and grow your following.

(read part 2 of Rodney Page's Blog Strategy advice here)

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Rodney Page is the author of the upcoming novel Powers Not Delegated. 

A native of Georgia, Rodney's business career includes a variety of senior management positions and consulting engagements in a broad range of industries, from startups to Fortune 500 firms. In 2005 Rodney co-authored Leading Your Business to the Next Level...the Six Core Disciplines of Sustained Profitable Growth. He lives in Atlanta. His passions include hiking, photography, reading, and, of course, University of Georgia football.

Website: www.powersnotdelegated.com

Blog: http://blog.powersnotdelegated.com

Dragon or Mouse?

by Susan Reichert, Editor-in-Chief

Dragons have spiritual significance in certain religions and cultures. Some revere dragons; they feel they represent nature and or religion. Some even associate them with wisdom.

Mice we think of as a small mammal, and to some they are pets. To large birds, they are food. These little creatures also invade our homes for food and shelter.

What do you think of when you think of a dragon? I will admit I certainly would not think of them as having wisdom. They are big, and fire pours out of their mouth creating havoc and poisoning the air.

Of the two, I would think the mouse has more wisdom, certainly smarter; it sneaks into our homes for survival.

We humans are similar… either we come on so strong it turns people off or we are so timid no one hardly knows we are around.

Somewhere between the dragon and the mouse there should be balance. For a writer it is important to overcome some of your shyness and tell people that you are a writer. So don’t be a mouse. Tell them what you are writing.  If the book is at your publishers announce it to the world and give them the release date. Be a little more ‘dragonistic’ (I like this new word)! Just don’t go totally dragon on us and forget there are others who are writing too.

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Do you want to learn how to sell more books? Subscribe to Southern Writers Magazine today and find out how.

Platform Now!

by Tom Blubaugh

My publishing story is different, from most. I was busy writing a story for myself. A therapy session since both my grandfathers died before I was born. I was fascinated by the fact that one was a Cossack soldier in Russia. I took the few facts I had and began researching and writing.

I was nearly finished when a friend contacted me to help him with a website for a publishing company he was starting. Long story short, during the process they uncovered the fact that I was writing a story. They read the manuscript and asked if they could publish my story. I had not planned on this. I agreed and we signed the contracts.

“I have a platform”, I told my publisher. I believed I was telling the truth—I really thought I did. After all, I had been on the internet doing business as Grampa Tom’s Timeless Treasures since 1998. Even though I sold the site in 2005, Grampa Tom still shows up in search engine searches on over 85,000 pages. Problem: No one knows my real name.

I did business as a financial planner from 1973 through 1995. I met thousands of people. Problem: I sold the business in 1995 and turned all my client records over to the new owner—no names.

I have been a public speaker for forty years. Problem: where are all those people? How do I get in touch with them? Press releases were a possibility, but when my publisher tried to get one in my hometown newspaper, they did not respond. I did not feel very hopeful.

I have a website that has been online since 2004 to help those who are victims of abuse. Should I advertise my book on this site? I decided I did not want to mix the two.

I had less than 200 friends on Facebook. I knew not all of them would buy my novel. My platform turned out to be less than I had thought.

I think this happens to many writers. They write a great manuscript. They succeed in finding a publisher. Then the big questions, “Do you have a platform?” “How are you going to sell your book if we publish it?”

I have surmised that the time to start building a platform is before beginning to write a story. Work on both the manuscript and the platform as a two-part project. Develop a marketing/business plan up front. I have been working hard at building a platform for nearly ten months. I am just arriving at the point where I have a large following. The book reviews on Amazon.com have pushed Night of theCossack into the top thirty in two fiction categories. This is not sales. Night of the Cossack is still around 250,000 in sales ranking, but it is a start. My monthly sales on Amazon.com are in double digits. I am speaking and doing book signings. I am finally, in some measure, a successful writer.

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Tom Blubaugh is a freelance writer living in Southwest Missouri with Barbara, his wife. They have six children and fourteen grandchildren. Tom has written non-fiction most of his adult life, but has recently written a historical fiction titled Night of the Cossack, published by Bound by Faith Publishers. This is Tom’s first novel. He co-wrote a devotional journal in 2009 for Barbour Publishing titled The Great Adventure. His other writings include articles for a denominational magazine and an insurance publication. He also self-published a book, Behind the Scenes of the Bus Ministry in 1974.

Tom started writing poetry at the age of fourteen. His vision of turning them into lyrics for rock and roll songs for popular artists didn’t develop. He considers writing to be a God-given talent and feels led to develop it. His first novel was published at his age of 69. Tom says it’s never too late. He is now writing a sequel.

Tom spent twelve years as an insurance agent and eleven years as a financial planner. He is the past president of Jericho Commission, Inc., and still serves on the board of directors. 

Because I Said So...

by Susan Reichert, Editor-in-Chief

A friend and I were talking at lunch today about how important it is not just to tell people how to do something but to tell them why they need to do it.

I remember in high school, my Latin teacher told me—after I informed her I didn’t care for Latin—that I had to take it, so I might as well like it. Well, I suppose on one hand you could say her remark was a good lesson in attitude. Not!

As a high school student, I truly wanted out of Latin. No, they did not let me skip Latin and it was time spent doing something I did not like, so I barely squeaked through the lessons to make decent grades. I do remember emo, emere, emi (first, second and third person) meaning to buy, pay for, take gain, etc. And that’s about it.

By the same token, my History teacher (who was an excellent teacher despite one you could not help being just a little scared of) told our class why we needed to take history. I remember one of the things she said was, “History repeats itself.” She went on to tell us several reasons why it was important to take history and always added, “Learn History and you learn from History.”

Between the two classes, I can honestly say I poured effort into studying History, while I flitted through Latin. History became important to me and to this day, I still love reading history. I understood there was a reason for it that would help me then and in the future. We humans are funny creatures; we really need to know why we need to do something, and we need to know that the something we are doing will make things better for us.

There are many things to learn about writing. Most of us make the effort to learn all we can. Once our manuscripts are ready for publishing, then we enter into a different arena. We already know things are changing fast in the marketing and publishing area for writers. Now we have to learn how to market our books, how to become a whiz in social media, building name recognition and our images as authors. We have to bring attention to ourselves and sell our books. All these areas have become the writer’s responsibility. Now the publishers and agents are on the sidelines waiting to see which authors are making names for themselves, which ones are creating a following in the social media, how many pre-orders we are selling, and how many books we have sold before they give us serious consideration.

We need not despair though. We as authors can come together and help one another with recognition, building social media and selling our books. At Southern Writers we never cease to be amazed at the graciousness of the best-selling authors who fill each issue, willing to share their experience and expertise with other writers. They are successful authors today because they took to heart long ago the reasons "why" you market yourself and build your reputation every way you can. And they enjoy doing it.

Don't waste unenthusiastic effort blogging, tweeting and marketing because you're told you have to. Recognize the true value of it, and learn to love it. Because when we truly believe in what we're doing, we're much better equipped to carpe diem.

I guess I remembered more than I thought.

Face It: Your Book Needs Facebook

by Doyne Phillips, Managing Editor

It has been said Facebook now has over 800 Million followers. Although most of us are familiar with Facebook, I doubt any of us fully realize what a force it is today. This week Steve Harrison reposted an article from his paid printed newsletter Book Marketing Update. His newsletter is available to the members of his Million Dollar Author Club which you find out more about at his website.

Harrison revisited his article and some of his stronger points. He recommends the use of Facebook and its tools to add Friends. The prompts Facebook gives you for Friends are based on your profile. Be sure your profile is updated to reach the people that would be interested in your book. But he feels you shouldn’t add friends or join groups blindly. Harrison states it is good to have a lot of Facebook friends but they should be quality Facebook friends. 

Harrison also recommends you join groups that have shared interest in your book’s topics. If you have written about pets, join a group that has an interest in pets. These groups can be found by simply entering a subject like pets then click on the Groups tab of the results page.

Harrison tells us not to be a broken record. None of us like friends that do nothing but ask us to buy something. Your every status update should not be asking for someone to buy something. If this is done people will quickly learn to ignore you or even unfriend you. Share something of value in your post like new ideas, interesting websites, commentaries, downloads and discounts. Be interesting.

In light of Harrison’s article being a repost I feel we should add the obvious. Facebook changes made within recent months. The new setup for groups, timeline and other changes can be confusing and may cause us to miss an opportunity to share important information with friends. Take the time to understand the new format and take advantage of all the additional tools. Facebook is indeed a great tool and the price is right. Put it to good use and share with us how you are using it.  

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Do you want to learn how to sell more books? Visit Southern Writers Magazine and subscribe today!

Green Means Go

by Doyne Phillips, Managing Editor

What if you never left home until you felt certain all the traffic lights between your home and your destination were green? Don’t laugh! We do that every day in one way or another. Yes, we put things off while waiting on perfection to occur. There are two problems with this. One is perfection in one person’s eyes is not perfection in another’s. The second follows which is, and my apologies to my 9^th Grade English Teacher Mrs. Thurman, “ain’t no such thing as man-made perfection.”

One of the most common areas in which we look for green lights in writing is editing as we go. Instead of writing our blog, short story, or novel we edit it. We look for errors in grammar, sentence structure, plots, character building and the like as we write. Instead of completing our train of thought and then edit, we constantly interrupt it with the thoughts of perfection. I have seen some write as if their piece was to be used as an example of the perfectly written work for generations of writers to follow. Again pardon me Mrs. Thurman, but “chances are it ain’t gonna’ happen.”

The same is true for marketing. What appears to be the perfect marketing plan for one author may not work at all for another. That plan that appears to be perfect was most likely successful after many yellow lights and red lights got in the way. It seems to be perfection now that we are hitting more and more green lights as we go but we still have the occasional yellow and red.    

Preparing the perfect marketing plan is a great idea but you must put it into action to see if it works. If it doesn’t work we must be able to recognize the fact it doesn’t and adapt accordingly. Slow down at the yellows, stop at the reds and continue on with the greens. By the way the reds can be tricky. Abide by the laws and watch for the cameras. There is a reason you need to come to a stop so do so and think about your next move.

 

What keeps you from leaving home? What are the green lights, perfection, you are waiting on? Identify them for what they are (excuses, procrastination, nerves) and pull out of the driveway. Before you know it you will be cruising along and thinking everything is green.

Commission Free Sales

Today our managing editor, Doyne Phillips is hosting a special guest, Rob Eagar. As founder of Wildfire Marketing, Rob is an expert in spreading an author's message like wildfire.
by Rob Eagar

One of the keys to selling books like wildfire is to get other people to act as a salesperson for you. Instead of marketing all by yourself, imagine hundreds of people singing your praises to the public. A great way to make this happen is by utilizing the power of success stories.

For example, Dave Ramsey, radio host and New York Times bestselling author of The Total Money Makeover, uses the power of success stories better than any author I know. Every Friday, Dave invites listeners to call his radio show, declare how much personal debt they use to carry, explain how Dave helped them get out of debt, and then scream with glee, "I'm debt free!" Dave congratulates them, plays a funny inspirational soundtrack, and you can't help but feel happy.

However, these joyful moments aren't just for the benefit of the caller. These emotional success stories also create a powerful marketing dynamic for Dave's books. Listeners are moved by hearing Dave's readers revel in their newfound financial freedom. If you're someone who happens to be in debt, these stories create a natural attraction to check out The Total Money Makeover.

You may not have a nationwide radio program like Dave Ramsey. Regardless, any author (fiction and non-fiction) can use the power of success stories as effective marketing tools. As you gather positive feedback from readers, share them regularly through your newsletter, website, blog, and social media pages. You could even create a regular focus on them like Dave does. You may not have people shouting, "I'm debt free!" Instead, your success stories can help people see your books and think, "I want to read!"

*Used by permission. Originial source here.

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Rob Eagar is the founder of WildFire Marketing who helps individuals and organizations spread their message like wildfire through innovative marketing strategies. He has consulted with numerous publishers, non-profits, business leaders, and worked with over 400 authors at all levels, including numerous New York Times bestsellers. Click here for a sample of Rob's clients.

Rob is passionate about helping authors and organizations spread their message like wildfire. Besides his own writng experience, he has a marketing degree from Auburn University, produced seven straight years of sales increases for the American Nonwovens Corporation, and developed a $6,000,000 marketing plan for Sellars Textiles as National Sales Manager. His past success and marketing expertise unite to form a powerful advocate for your message.                               

Market the Dream

by Doyne Phillips, Managing Editor

Bruce Wilkinson in The Dream Giver told each of us we have been given a specific gift and a specific dream to fulfill. Wilkinson goes on to show us the challenges we must overcome on our journey to fulfillment. The Dream Giver was an eye opener for me. I read it from an advantage of having lived, struggled and achieved many of my dreams and could look back and see exactly what Bruce Wilkinson so accurately pointed out.

Writers are dreamers. They dream of a story to write, a career to follow and a glorious path to success. Very few of us dream of marketing our dream. Many of us feel uneasy with the thought of shamelessly taking our dream, which is such a personal thing, and exposing it to the world. We may experience the fear of rejection. This is common and I can assure you there will be rejection. It can stop many of us dead in our tracks.  You must overcome rejection and you can do so if you believe in your dream. My dear friend, author and speaker Byrd Baggett says, “Don’t quit before the blessing.”

When my writer's group needed an expert in rejection, I came to mind. I read agent’s rejection letters I had received. Having been in marketing for many years, you come to realize you can become callous to rejection. But you will find that rejection accompanied by constructive criticism is valuable. That was the route taken with the presentation. One agent had sent me a rejection letter then two days later he sent me a second letter. In it he said he had given some thought to my work and had referred me to an agent that would be interested. It turned out to be a valuable rejection indeed.

One of America's most gifted athletes, Steve “Pre” Prefontaine said, “To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the gift.” Give your best to writing and marketing. Believe in your dream and enjoy the journey. As you will find in The Dream Giver, achieving that dream is just the first step to many others.http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/159052201X?ie=UTF8&tag=southwritemag-20&linkCode=xm2&camp=1789&creativeASIN=159052201Xhttp://www.amazon.com/gp/product/159052201X?ie=UTF8&tag=southwritemag-20&linkCode=xm2&camp=1789&creativeASIN=159052201Xhttp://www.amazon.com/gp/product/159052201X?ie=UTF8&tag=southwritemag-20&linkCode=xm2&camp=1789&creativeASIN=159052201X

Creativity or Sales...Why Not Both?

by Doyne Phillips, Managing Editor

Ayn Rand, author of Atlas Shrugged, said, “A creative man is motivated by the desire to achieve, not by the desire to beat others.” As writers our desire is to be creative and to express ourselves to others in the gift of our words. On the opposite end of the spectrum are the words of Thomas Edison concerning his creations; Thomas Edison said, “Anything that won’t sell, I don’t want to invent. Its sale is proof of utility, and utility is success.” That sounds like validation of worth through sales. Both make a point and we as writers are faced with both sales and creativity.

We see it in all manner of artistry and creativity. Hollywood movies make the point with a critically acclaimed movie as opposed to a money maker. Take a look at the movies of John Wayne and in later years Burt Reynolds. There are very few critic awards given to the on screen endeavors of the two. But both made astronomical sums of money at the box office.

Robert Kiyosaki, best-selling author of Rich Dad Poor Dad, tells of an interview with a young journalist. The journalist mentioned she had written a book but could not get an agent or publisher interested in it. Kyosaki suggested she may want to go back to school and take some marketing classes. She was insulted by the idea that she, a college graduate with a degree in journalism, should go back to school for a marketing class. Robert asked why she was interviewing him. Her reply was he is a best-selling author. Robert affirmed, best-selling not best-writing. You must learn to sell yourself and your book. A few marketing courses may help you do that.

The question is must we choose between creativity and sales? Matter of fact, unless we are independently wealthy, we need both. Each fuels the other. Many times we are directed toward one or the other and must decide. In the midst of a decision, I have heard our Southern Writers Magazine Editor-in-Chief Susan Reichert say so many times, “Why not both?” “Why not both?” may be your answer.