Elf Red Glisten Menorah Sideways Fly Gifted Hark Resolution Kamikaze Beard Tranquil Solstice Porsche Cheer Caroling Stuff New Twelve
Use the words in the pool above any way you like and in any order you like, to create a story, poem, song, etc.
Hark!
(That’s the title ‘cause I couldn’t figure out how to get the darn word into the story)
The twelve new Porsches on the lot glistened as the sunlight reflected off the snow and bounced iridescently off the chrome and freshly-painted auto bodies.
Each one of the sportsters was painted a bright, shiny red- the most-bought car color of every December. They looked confidently snazzy, featured prominently in the front part of the lot facing the Boulevard.
It was early morning- seven o’clock- and the dealership was enjoying its last tranquil hour before it opened for its seasonal fifteen hours-a-day of deal-making/deal-breaking pandemonium.
It was December 21, winter solstice, but it couldn’t have been a more dazzling morning if it had been June 21. The sun shone with such a brilliant light, it was as if it was the dealership’s own personal cheerleader.
Like a kamikaze crashing out of nowhere, a small, spry elf descended upon the car lot, caroling Christmas songs at the top of his lungs, breaking the serenity of the early morning stillness.
He landed betwixt the Porsches, in a grand balletic plié, juxtaposed by an upward leap of his beard, which landed in his mouth, nose, and eyes.
Brushing and blowing his unmanageable facial stuffs from his visage, the mischievous imp set about playing his annual practical joke.
With glee, the elf went from car to car, replacing each Porsche emblem with that of a mini-metal menorah, engraved in a tablature that looked just like the Porsche’s: red and black stripes set in a golden background.
He glanced sideways, from time to time, making sure no one was watching, flying around the lot at record speeds as if he was propelled by an inner-Porsche engine.
He gifted every automobile on the lot with his special insignia, and when he was satisfied that his work was complete, he made his annual resolution to come back and do the same thing the following year.
He left the lot just as he came, with a grand plié and a kamikaze shot upwards.
No one at the dealership knows how the Porsche logos get removed every year and why they are replaced with menorahs. But every year it happens. It has now become a tradition, and now you, dear reader, know who’s behind it. You just don’t know why. That may be a mystery to uncover next year. ‘til then, you’ll just have to wait.
Monday, December 19, 2005
You Are Your Own Best Marketing Rep!
It doesn’t work to leap a twenty-foot chasm in two ten-foot jumps.
American Proverb
Steppin’ On
In keepin’ on with last week’s tip One Small Step, this week we’re moving on, perhaps, just a half-step.
In her monthly Muse Letter this December, Jill Badonsky, M.ED. offers a Creativity Manifesto for 2006 (which she suggest you “modify according to YOUR authentic nature”):
In the face of adversity, uncertainty and static in my soul’s receiver, I hereby pledge to remain ever mindful, ever grateful of the magical, infinite, loving reality I live in. This reality conspires tirelessly in my favor especially when I take tiny steps…ever so tiny, daily or even weekly down a path directed by my creative intuition.
I further recognize, that living within space and time, as a creation amongst creations, is the ultimate adventure, because I create my reality with the colors I choose from my palette of thoughts. Dreams come true when I am authentic and courageous, when I say “So what I’ll do it ANYWAY” to any obstacle rearing its silly head and so many things, so VERY MANY things remain forever possible. So there!
For some of you, the above may be a little too whimsical, or “out there”. Please take what you like and leave the rest (and, as Jill suggested, modify it for yourself in any way you like).
The reason I chose to include Badonsky’s “Manifesto” is that I find it incredibly helpful connecting how I approach my craft to how I approach self-promotion: with creativity, persistence, and gratitude.
Did you try that one small step last week- asking yourself:
What is ONE small thing I can do, starting today, to promote my book?
If you did- bravo! Were you able to visualize one small thing? Were you able to write it down?
If you didn’t or you couldn’t, practice asking yourself that question ONCE a day (or more, if you’d like). You might be surprised at the answer/answers that begin to come simply by continuing to ask. That’s persistence. The same kind of persistence we continue to practice in our craft.
By continuing to ask the question daily what is ONE small thing I can do, starting today, to promote my book you might find that your mind authentically becomes a creativity factory. Our mind likes to solve problems, find solutions. Robert Maurer, Ph.D. advocates dropping the same small question into our conscious thinking every day. Every time we do, our mind strives to come up with a solution.
It’s the same kind of creative thinking that goes into our work (well, at least it’s the same kind of thinking that goes into mine). I am constantly asking and re-asking myself the same question(s) over and over, like “what would this character do in these circumstances?” I continue to ask and re-ask that question until I come up with an answer I’m satisfied with. And then I keep working that question out within my writing.
When I apply the question-asking technique to self-promotion, I come up with all kinds of answers. Undoubtedly, some of my brainstorming is silly and way too out there- but I typically come up with one completely terrific idea, and then I brainstorm on that idea until I figure out exactly what I can do to bring it to fruition. Before I know it, I’ve come up with a fleshed out step for marketing my work.
And then gratitude sets in. I’m grateful for my creativity and my tenacity, not only for the joy I get from doing my work (and completing it), but my willingness to walk the walk to get it out there. As I’ve said before, I don’t write in a vacuum.
So keep dropping in that small question over the holidays: what is ONE small thing I can do, starting today, to promote my book? You might get a fabulous gift by doing so: an answer.
American Proverb
Steppin’ On
In keepin’ on with last week’s tip One Small Step, this week we’re moving on, perhaps, just a half-step.
In her monthly Muse Letter this December, Jill Badonsky, M.ED. offers a Creativity Manifesto for 2006 (which she suggest you “modify according to YOUR authentic nature”):
In the face of adversity, uncertainty and static in my soul’s receiver, I hereby pledge to remain ever mindful, ever grateful of the magical, infinite, loving reality I live in. This reality conspires tirelessly in my favor especially when I take tiny steps…ever so tiny, daily or even weekly down a path directed by my creative intuition.
I further recognize, that living within space and time, as a creation amongst creations, is the ultimate adventure, because I create my reality with the colors I choose from my palette of thoughts. Dreams come true when I am authentic and courageous, when I say “So what I’ll do it ANYWAY” to any obstacle rearing its silly head and so many things, so VERY MANY things remain forever possible. So there!
For some of you, the above may be a little too whimsical, or “out there”. Please take what you like and leave the rest (and, as Jill suggested, modify it for yourself in any way you like).
The reason I chose to include Badonsky’s “Manifesto” is that I find it incredibly helpful connecting how I approach my craft to how I approach self-promotion: with creativity, persistence, and gratitude.
Did you try that one small step last week- asking yourself:
What is ONE small thing I can do, starting today, to promote my book?
If you did- bravo! Were you able to visualize one small thing? Were you able to write it down?
If you didn’t or you couldn’t, practice asking yourself that question ONCE a day (or more, if you’d like). You might be surprised at the answer/answers that begin to come simply by continuing to ask. That’s persistence. The same kind of persistence we continue to practice in our craft.
By continuing to ask the question daily what is ONE small thing I can do, starting today, to promote my book you might find that your mind authentically becomes a creativity factory. Our mind likes to solve problems, find solutions. Robert Maurer, Ph.D. advocates dropping the same small question into our conscious thinking every day. Every time we do, our mind strives to come up with a solution.
It’s the same kind of creative thinking that goes into our work (well, at least it’s the same kind of thinking that goes into mine). I am constantly asking and re-asking myself the same question(s) over and over, like “what would this character do in these circumstances?” I continue to ask and re-ask that question until I come up with an answer I’m satisfied with. And then I keep working that question out within my writing.
When I apply the question-asking technique to self-promotion, I come up with all kinds of answers. Undoubtedly, some of my brainstorming is silly and way too out there- but I typically come up with one completely terrific idea, and then I brainstorm on that idea until I figure out exactly what I can do to bring it to fruition. Before I know it, I’ve come up with a fleshed out step for marketing my work.
And then gratitude sets in. I’m grateful for my creativity and my tenacity, not only for the joy I get from doing my work (and completing it), but my willingness to walk the walk to get it out there. As I’ve said before, I don’t write in a vacuum.
So keep dropping in that small question over the holidays: what is ONE small thing I can do, starting today, to promote my book? You might get a fabulous gift by doing so: an answer.
Newsletter, Edition VII
THE AUTHOR’S ADVOCATE
The DPP Authors’ Newsletter
EDITION VI
December 19, 2005
"It is better to write a bad first draft than to write no first draft at all."
Will Shetterly
YOU ARE YOUR OWN BEST MARKETING REP!
It doesn’t work to leap a twenty-foot chasm in two ten-foot jumps.
American Proverb
The DPP Authors’ Newsletter
EDITION VI
December 19, 2005
"It is better to write a bad first draft than to write no first draft at all."
Will Shetterly
YOU ARE YOUR OWN BEST MARKETING REP!
It doesn’t work to leap a twenty-foot chasm in two ten-foot jumps.
American Proverb
Steppin’ On
In keepin’ on with last week’s tip One Small Step, this week we’re moving on, perhaps, just a half-step.
In her monthly Muse Letter this December, Jill Badonsky offers a Creativity Manifesto for 2006 (which she suggests you “modify according to YOUR authentic nature”):
In the face of adversity, uncertainty and static in my soul’s receiver, I hereby pledge to remain ever mindful, ever grateful of the magical, infinite, loving reality I live in. This reality conspires tirelessly in my favor especially when I take tiny steps…ever so tiny, daily or even weekly down a path directed by my creative intuition.
Check the Blog for more on Steppin’ On…
http://digitalpulppublishing.blogspot.com/
FEATURED AUTHOR-Of-THE-MONTH…
Feature Yourself!
This week, take some time out to celebrate yourself. The last month of the year is always a great time for self-reflection. Think over your accomplishments, think about where you were last December and what you’ve done since. What’s been wonderful about your work? Challenging? What are your plans for 2006? Don’t forget that your book is going to be out there in January- available all over the world, 24/7. HOW COOL IS THAT?! Bask in your own personal writer-hood. And thank yourself for your talent!
Look for our featured DPP Author of the Month, Ian McKinley, in our January Newsletter.
PUBLISHER’S PROMPT
Writing Prompt
Word Pool
Elf Red Glisten Menorah Sideways Fly Gifted Hark Resolution Kamikaze Beard Tranquil Solstice Porsche Cheer Caroling Stuff New Twelve
Use the words in the pool above any way you like and in any order you like, to create a story, poem, song, etc.
Use the prompt. Don’t use the prompt. If you decide to play with the prompt, and you’d like to share it, please send it to me (DigitalPulp Pub@aol.com or nicpit@digitalpulppublishing.com) and I will post it in the following week’s Authors’ Advocate. You can find my response posted on the blog:http://digitalpulppublishing.blogspot.com/
P.S. I did NOT post my response to last week’s prompt because it bordered on X-Rated, and didn’t seem like the best idea for me to post it. However, if you would like to read it, let me know and I’ll send it to you.
WHAT’S GOING ON AT DPP…
The Bookstore
For the third week in a row, I am reiterating that everyone here at DPP is CONTINUING to work their little patooties, brains, and fingers off to ensure that the DPP Store (www.dppstore.com) is completely up, running, and beautiful for its January 1, 2006 opening. 12 more working days ‘til opening! YES- we’re still counting!
On Holiday
Just a reminder: DPP will officially be closed the week between Christmas/Hanukkah and New Years’ Day (Saturday, December 24-Sunday, January 1). The Authors’ Advocate will be on hiatus for that week.
On the Holidays…
Quotes
For holiday cheer, humor, and inspiration.
Roses are reddishViolets are bluishIf it weren't for ChristmasWe'd all be Jewish.~Benny Hill
I do like Christmas on the whole.... In its clumsy way, it does approach Peace and Goodwill. But it is clumsier every year. ~E.M. Forster
Perhaps the best Yuletide decoration is being wreathed in smiles. ~Author Unknown
In the depth of winter, I finally learned that within me there lay an invincible summer. ~ Albert Camus
One kind word can warm three winter months. ~Japanese proverb
There are two ways of spreading light: To be the candle or the mirror that reflects it. ~Edith Wharton
Christmas, children, is not a date. It is a state of mind. ~Mary Ellen Chase
So, have a merry Christmas, a happy Hanukkah, a kwaazy Kwanza, a tip-top Tet, and a solemn, dignified, Ramadan. And now a word from MY god, our sponsors!
~Krusty the Klown (The Simpsons)
Happy Holidays!
Write on,
Nicky
Tuesday, December 13, 2005
You Are Your Own Best Marketing Rep!
Any small step taken toward reaching a goal is better than none at all.
Lamar Cole
One Small Step
Self-promotion, though daunting for some, can be accomplished (and accomplished well) by taking one small action step at a time. If you look at the whole, big, whoppin’ picture of marketing your book, chances are you’ll decide that it’s all too much, and it would be a much better idea to just give copies of your manuscript to your friends for Christmas/Hanukkah/Kwanza/Other Holiday of Choice and be done with it.
Overwhelm. I don’t know about you, but sometimes, actually, most times, I become paralyzed by overwhelm when I have to deal with the bigger picture, or the end result. This happens to me when I get into the “I’ve got to finish my book” (or finish my weekly newsletter, truth be told), or I have to clean the whole house- pretty much when it comes to anything I want to complete.
By just biting off a piece, taking one small step, or obliging myself to a short increment of time (fifteen minutes, let’s say, or five, or just one minute if that’s all I can muster)- I can begin, and the overwhelm usually passes. I didn’t learn this all by myself, mind you.
Jill Badonsky, M.ED., inspirational seminar leader, artist, and creativity coach, channeled a specific muse to help with the problem of overwhelm and gaining inspiration to take small steps: Marge.
In her book, The Nine Modern Day Muses (and a bodyguard) Badonsky introduces Marge (named for the protagonist in the Coen Brothers movie Fargo), who personifies the attitude of “okay now, let’s get started,” suggests tackling any goal by taking small steps in small increments of time.
In his book One Small Step Can Change Your Life: Using the Japanese Technique of Kaizen to Achieve Lasting Success, Robert Maurer, Ph.D., explains how successful one can be in any area by applying the process of taking one small step. This technique has proven time and again to work whether it’s applied to a personal goal (such as losing weight) or to big business (like a Japanese car manufacturer).
Let’s go back and take a look at the question I posed in last week’s marketing tip:
What are some things I can do, starting today, to promote my book?
Do you feel any resistance when you read that question? It’s okay if you do. Do you know what the resistance is? If you can name it- great. If not, that’s okay too. Regardless, maybe it’s just too big a question. Try making the question smaller:
What is ONE small thing I can do, starting today, to promote my book?
Last week, I shared Bob Barker’s suggestion about brainstorming. If you’re up for it, try brainstorming ONE idea. Write it down (putting the idea on paper, or your computer, can help you see it better). If that feels like too big of a step, see if you can come up with an idea in your head. Try to visualize the idea. Let it brew and manifest itself in your imagination.
See where that takes you. Can you expand on that idea? Can you see yourself actually utilizing the idea? If you weren’t able to write it down before, try doing that now.
If you can’t, that’s okay. Congratulate yourself on simply thinking about it. If you were able to write it down, congratulate yourself for doing that.
If you feel like it, try jotting down one, small action step you can take to get your idea moving. Write as much as you can or as little as you can.
Whatever you were able to do, know that you accomplished something. Congratulate yourself…because you took one step towards promoting your book!
Recommended reading:
One Small Step Can Change Your Life: Using the Japanese Technique of Kaizen to Achieve Lasting Success, by Robert Maurer, Ph.D.
The Nine Modern Day Muses (and a bodyguard), by Jill Badonsky, M.Ed.
Both are available at Amazon (as far as I know they’re not available digitally…yet)
Lamar Cole
One Small Step
Self-promotion, though daunting for some, can be accomplished (and accomplished well) by taking one small action step at a time. If you look at the whole, big, whoppin’ picture of marketing your book, chances are you’ll decide that it’s all too much, and it would be a much better idea to just give copies of your manuscript to your friends for Christmas/Hanukkah/Kwanza/Other Holiday of Choice and be done with it.
Overwhelm. I don’t know about you, but sometimes, actually, most times, I become paralyzed by overwhelm when I have to deal with the bigger picture, or the end result. This happens to me when I get into the “I’ve got to finish my book” (or finish my weekly newsletter, truth be told), or I have to clean the whole house- pretty much when it comes to anything I want to complete.
By just biting off a piece, taking one small step, or obliging myself to a short increment of time (fifteen minutes, let’s say, or five, or just one minute if that’s all I can muster)- I can begin, and the overwhelm usually passes. I didn’t learn this all by myself, mind you.
Jill Badonsky, M.ED., inspirational seminar leader, artist, and creativity coach, channeled a specific muse to help with the problem of overwhelm and gaining inspiration to take small steps: Marge.
In her book, The Nine Modern Day Muses (and a bodyguard) Badonsky introduces Marge (named for the protagonist in the Coen Brothers movie Fargo), who personifies the attitude of “okay now, let’s get started,” suggests tackling any goal by taking small steps in small increments of time.
In his book One Small Step Can Change Your Life: Using the Japanese Technique of Kaizen to Achieve Lasting Success, Robert Maurer, Ph.D., explains how successful one can be in any area by applying the process of taking one small step. This technique has proven time and again to work whether it’s applied to a personal goal (such as losing weight) or to big business (like a Japanese car manufacturer).
Let’s go back and take a look at the question I posed in last week’s marketing tip:
What are some things I can do, starting today, to promote my book?
Do you feel any resistance when you read that question? It’s okay if you do. Do you know what the resistance is? If you can name it- great. If not, that’s okay too. Regardless, maybe it’s just too big a question. Try making the question smaller:
What is ONE small thing I can do, starting today, to promote my book?
Last week, I shared Bob Barker’s suggestion about brainstorming. If you’re up for it, try brainstorming ONE idea. Write it down (putting the idea on paper, or your computer, can help you see it better). If that feels like too big of a step, see if you can come up with an idea in your head. Try to visualize the idea. Let it brew and manifest itself in your imagination.
See where that takes you. Can you expand on that idea? Can you see yourself actually utilizing the idea? If you weren’t able to write it down before, try doing that now.
If you can’t, that’s okay. Congratulate yourself on simply thinking about it. If you were able to write it down, congratulate yourself for doing that.
If you feel like it, try jotting down one, small action step you can take to get your idea moving. Write as much as you can or as little as you can.
Whatever you were able to do, know that you accomplished something. Congratulate yourself…because you took one step towards promoting your book!
Recommended reading:
One Small Step Can Change Your Life: Using the Japanese Technique of Kaizen to Achieve Lasting Success, by Robert Maurer, Ph.D.
The Nine Modern Day Muses (and a bodyguard), by Jill Badonsky, M.Ed.
Both are available at Amazon (as far as I know they’re not available digitally…yet)
Newsletter, Edition VI
THE AUTHOR’S ADVOCATE
The DPP Authors’ Newsletter
EDITION VI
December 13, 2005
"I just sit at a typewriter and curse a bit."
The DPP Authors’ Newsletter
EDITION VI
December 13, 2005
"I just sit at a typewriter and curse a bit."
P.G. Woodhouse
(after being asked about his writing technique)
YOU ARE YOUR OWN BEST MARKETING REP!
Any small step taken toward reaching a goal is better than none at all.
Lamar Cole
One Small Step
Self-promotion, though daunting for some, can be accomplished (and accomplished well) by taking one small action step at a time. If you look at the whole, big, whoppin’ picture of marketing your book, chances are you’ll decide that it’s all too much, and it would be a much better idea to just give copies of your manuscript to your friends for Christmas/Hanukkah/Kwanza/Other Holiday of Choice and be done with it…
Check the Blog for more on One Small Step…
http://digitalpulppublishing.blogspot.com/
FEATURED AUTHOR-Of-THE-MONTH…
A big thank you to Patrick Stafford for his insightful interview, printed in last week’s newsletter!
A Departure from DPP Authors
This week I give you three websites to visit. The first two feature authors that you may, or may not have, heard of before. Regardless, you might want to check them out and gain some insight, inspiration, and/or entertainment from them.
The third site is one I just stumbled across that I thought you might find interesting- lots of good information about all that’s going on in the writing world.
Just thought I’d offer a petit smorgasbord of what’s out there author-wise. Bon ape-reading-tit!
British Council Arts: Contemporary Writers
http://www.contemporarywriters.com/authors/?p=auth52
This unique, searchable database contains up-to-date profiles of some of the UK and Commonwealth's most important living writers
Right now the site features a bio and perspective on author Kazuo Ishiguro.
Scottish Writers
http://www.slainte.org.uk/scotwrit/
Scottish Writers: Authors’ Views
http://www.slainte.org.uk/scotwrit/Views.htm
This is where you have the opportunity to find out more about writers, their method of writing and to read the answers to the questions posed to them during the course of the Project.
BookReporter.com : Where Readers and Writers Click
http://www.bookreporter.com/
A great site for all of you writers to check out!
PUBLISHER’S PROMPT
Writing Prompt
OOPS! The picture wouldn't copy into the blog!
Write a poem, story, interview, ditty, or a headline about the man in the picture above.
Use the prompt. Don’t use the prompt. If you decide to play with the prompt, and you’d like to share it, please send it to me (DigitalPulp Pub@aol.com) and I will post it in the following week’s Authors’ Advocate. You can find my response posted on the blog:http://digitalpulppublishing.blogspot.com/
WHAT’S GOING ON AT DPP…
Press Releases
Last week I told you that new press releases were being posted online, one for each of our authors, announcing the release date (January 1, 2006, available at the DPP Store: http://www.dppstore.com/), ISBN number, and the publication date (March 31, 2006) and a synopsis of your book. They’re all out there and daily we receive Google Alerts letting us know. They’re popping up everywhere- very exciting!
The Bookstore
Everyone here at DPP is CONTINUING to work their little patooties off to ensure that the DPP Store (http://www.dppstore.com/) is completely up, running, and beautiful for its January 1, 2006 opening. 19 more working days ‘til opening! But who’s counting? WE ARE!
On Holiday
Just a reminder: DPP will officially be closed the week between Christmas/Hanukkah and New Years’ Day (Saturday, December 24-Sunday, January 1). The Authors’ Advocate will be on hiatus for that week.
Write on,
Nicky
Monday, December 05, 2005
You Are Your Own Best Marketing Rep!
I am only one, but still I am one.
I cannot do everything, but still I can do something.
And because I cannot do everything
I will not refuse to do the something that I can do.
Edward Everett Hale
Commitment
As writers we make a commitment to ourselves- to make time to write, a place to write, and to what we will write. Eric Maisel asks, “Is commitment more about duty or love? Is it something one demands of oneself or does it flow naturally, given the right circumstances?”
For myself, I know that I am committed to what I love- which is writing. But there are days when inspiration is nowhere to be found and motivation won’t kick in no matter how many times I try to jump-start my inner motivator. That’s where “duty” comes in.
It is my duty- to myself and, of course, to my job to write. Sometimes that simply means sitting down, putting fingers to keyboard, and writing…anything- even if it looks like, feels like, and sounds like, down-right doo-doo. This is because just getting something on the page is better than putting nothing on the page. And typically, though not always, I usually find a little gem among the muck, or at least an idea for a gem.
The same can be said for self-promotion of my writing- though I can’t say I love marketing myself, I do love the results. And I believe it is my duty to market my own work. Though I do write for myself a good deal of the time, it is not my desire to write in a vacuum.
“Marketing” sounds like a big word. It sounds busy. It sounds like a lot of work. It sounds like something somebody else should be doing who has connections and knows how to hobnob. It sounds slick. And most of all, it sounds like something I don’t want to do- ugh! Put myself out there, scheme and sell myself? No way!
But maybe I have to think out of the box a bit. Maybe marketing isn’t the big corporate monster I think it is. Maybe there are some strategies I can use that are, well, maybe a little more non-traditional than the typical marketing I am so accustomed to thinking about.
In his book Unleash the Artist Within, Bob Barker suggests the employment of brainstorming. I have used brainstorming to help me in my writing, so it makes sense that brainstorming could be used in terms of exploring marketing ideas.
You could start by asking yourself one question. Try this one:
What are some things I can do, starting today, to promote my book?
Write down as many things as you can think of. Let them be silly, wild, quirky. Let them be serious. Let them be small, medium, or big ideas. Let them be fantastical. Just write them down!
If you allow yourself to come up with ideas to promote your book, you’ll probably stumble upon at least one that you like, that you think is doable, that you can commit to. I know that I am more amenable to my own ideas than being told I “should do this” or even that I should “try that”.
Barker also suggests writing a commitment statement. I’ve written commitment statements (or “personal mission statements”) for myself and my work, but I really appreciate the marketing commitment statement that Barker shares in his book:
When marketing and promoting my [book], I resist the urge to stick only with obvious methods. There are gold mines of overlooked promotional opportunities waiting to be discovered. And I have an ongoing burning desire to find them.
You could borrow Barker’s statement or create one on your own. But I can tell you, from my own experience, if you create a commitment statement and commit to one marketing idea- even if it’s a small one (especially a small one- the smaller the idea, the easier it will be to accomplish), you will have fulfilled your duty to yourself to promote your book. After all, you’re not writing in a vacuum.
*Next week, I’ll share one small self-marketing strategy with you.
I cannot do everything, but still I can do something.
And because I cannot do everything
I will not refuse to do the something that I can do.
Edward Everett Hale
Commitment
As writers we make a commitment to ourselves- to make time to write, a place to write, and to what we will write. Eric Maisel asks, “Is commitment more about duty or love? Is it something one demands of oneself or does it flow naturally, given the right circumstances?”
For myself, I know that I am committed to what I love- which is writing. But there are days when inspiration is nowhere to be found and motivation won’t kick in no matter how many times I try to jump-start my inner motivator. That’s where “duty” comes in.
It is my duty- to myself and, of course, to my job to write. Sometimes that simply means sitting down, putting fingers to keyboard, and writing…anything- even if it looks like, feels like, and sounds like, down-right doo-doo. This is because just getting something on the page is better than putting nothing on the page. And typically, though not always, I usually find a little gem among the muck, or at least an idea for a gem.
The same can be said for self-promotion of my writing- though I can’t say I love marketing myself, I do love the results. And I believe it is my duty to market my own work. Though I do write for myself a good deal of the time, it is not my desire to write in a vacuum.
“Marketing” sounds like a big word. It sounds busy. It sounds like a lot of work. It sounds like something somebody else should be doing who has connections and knows how to hobnob. It sounds slick. And most of all, it sounds like something I don’t want to do- ugh! Put myself out there, scheme and sell myself? No way!
But maybe I have to think out of the box a bit. Maybe marketing isn’t the big corporate monster I think it is. Maybe there are some strategies I can use that are, well, maybe a little more non-traditional than the typical marketing I am so accustomed to thinking about.
In his book Unleash the Artist Within, Bob Barker suggests the employment of brainstorming. I have used brainstorming to help me in my writing, so it makes sense that brainstorming could be used in terms of exploring marketing ideas.
You could start by asking yourself one question. Try this one:
What are some things I can do, starting today, to promote my book?
Write down as many things as you can think of. Let them be silly, wild, quirky. Let them be serious. Let them be small, medium, or big ideas. Let them be fantastical. Just write them down!
If you allow yourself to come up with ideas to promote your book, you’ll probably stumble upon at least one that you like, that you think is doable, that you can commit to. I know that I am more amenable to my own ideas than being told I “should do this” or even that I should “try that”.
Barker also suggests writing a commitment statement. I’ve written commitment statements (or “personal mission statements”) for myself and my work, but I really appreciate the marketing commitment statement that Barker shares in his book:
When marketing and promoting my [book], I resist the urge to stick only with obvious methods. There are gold mines of overlooked promotional opportunities waiting to be discovered. And I have an ongoing burning desire to find them.
You could borrow Barker’s statement or create one on your own. But I can tell you, from my own experience, if you create a commitment statement and commit to one marketing idea- even if it’s a small one (especially a small one- the smaller the idea, the easier it will be to accomplish), you will have fulfilled your duty to yourself to promote your book. After all, you’re not writing in a vacuum.
*Next week, I’ll share one small self-marketing strategy with you.
Newsletter, Edition V
THE AUTHOR’S ADVOCATE
The DPP Authors’ Newsletter
EDITION V
December 5, 2005
"It is perfectly okay to write garbage- as long as you edit brilliantly."
The DPP Authors’ Newsletter
EDITION V
December 5, 2005
"It is perfectly okay to write garbage- as long as you edit brilliantly."
C.J. Cherryh
YOU ARE YOUR OWN BEST MARKETING REP!
I am only one, but still I am one.
I cannot do everything, but still I can do something.
And because I cannot do everything
I will not refuse to do the something that I can do.
Edward Everett Hale
Commitment
As writers we make a commitment to ourselves- to make time to write, a place to write, and to what we will write. Eric Maisel asks, “Is commitment more about duty or love? Is it something one demands of oneself or does it flow naturally, given the right circumstances?”…
Check the Blog for more on Commitment…
http://digitalpulppublishing.blogspot.com/
FEATURED AUTHOR-Of-THE-MONTH…
Inner View
DPP interviews and gets a better “inner view” into DPP author, Patrick Stafford.
(DPP) What is your ideal writing environment?
(Patrick Stafford) As a poet, for years now I guess I have followed in the footsteps of Dylan Thomas and Jack London who both liked to do some of their most inspirational writing at the local pub or tavern while imbibing the drink of choice. Mine is rum 'n coke and my home personal bar is the pub of choice! Thus, when I'm in the poetic mood and The Muse has seized me I enjoy sitting at my bar and listening either to Chris Isaak, The Moody Blues or The Gee Bees. Not the disco Bee Gees, mind you, but their later music from over the last 20 years which, like Isaak and Justin Hayward's band, I find very moody and conducive to writing verse. Besides, at my personal bar there are plenty of tasty appetizers, proper ambience and just the right kind of stiff rum 'n coke. And all are free!
Describe your writing routine…if you have one.
Most of all the prose I scribe is done on my computer as well as when I am ready to type and edit the poems I write in longhand at my personal bar. It is during the day when I enjoy writing journalism, film script and other genres of prose. And I assiduously spend at least five days a week--anywhere from three to seven hours a day--at my computer engaged in the creative writing process. But with no music nor other extemporaneous sound or noise to distract me at this time. Selective music only works for me when I'm penning original verse, not when I'm doing real writing!
What do you do when you aren’t feeling inspired or motivated to write?
Naturally, there are times when I am not inspired or motivated to be a writer or creative. I do not consider these times a case of writer's block, not that I don’t suffer from this plague upon all artists at one time or frequently. Poems, novels, articles, film scripts--you name it--all come from ideas. And no doubt artistic ideas often come from inspiration or emotional impetus. This impetus I believe can be self-generated. I accomplish this by reading and through discourse. And from what another writer has created, be it a novel or a poem, an idea is formed and takes seed in me. Often it is no more than an image or a short phrase or even one word. But throughout a day when I'm busy with domestic chores or just relaxing I let this idea fester--so to speak--in my mind, until it develops into a blueprint or outline for a complete poem or article or story that needs to be put to paper. And needs to be put there as soon as possible and while the fire is hot and the passion for writing is dire!
What authors inspire you most?
My two favorites poets are at opposite ends of the romantic spectrum, at least historically speaking. They are Robert Frost and Lord George Byron. But many others have also influenced me and continue to enwhelm me with their timeless verse. Particularly inspiring and emotionally charging are two whom I consider the two greatest female poets ever: Laurence Hope and Sara Teasdale. But I've learned my craft from a number of giants other than these enumerated- Poe, Tennyson, Longfellow, Whitman, Kipling, Keats, Shelley, Woodsworth, Service, Thomas Wolfe and Dylan Thomas, to name a few.
Your father, Elsan Stafford, is a novelist. In what ways has he and his writing influenced you and yours?
My father's teachings to me in all things, and not just in writing and poetry, have been invaluable to me. His being a writer and published author has no doubt been even more invaluable to me than any formal education or self-education I have acquired. Steady, disciplined writing precedes good writing. And this was my first lesson from him: write regularly and be self-disciplined in the craft and profession of a writing. Writing once a week or once a month doesn't cut it. Like being successful at any avocation, one must do it regularly and geared to always completing what you write. For writing is damn hard work most of the time, although a lot of fun some of the time. But it takes discipline and dedication and sticktoitness. A rocket scientist who only looks at his rocket once a month won't ever see his rocket make it off the ground. Unless he manages to live a few hundred years. But by that time, his new rocket might seem like horse and buggy!
Asian Darkness covers so many different aspects of the Vietnam War, and each one seems so personal. What piece in the collection would you say reflects your personal experience the most?
In the Brotherhood of Asian Studies and the first poem, Vietnam Thesis, are two of my favorites. And two of the very first poems I penned for Asian Darkness. They incorporate my general views on the War as well as personal feelings about how the War was handled by our government and the media. Moreover, in each poem I give a feeling how the common G.I. or military man experienced and felt the War. And the bitterness, anger, horror and emotional impact the conflict had on so many who served and fought and died in Vietnam.
Poetry is such a different expression than other works of writing. How do you edit or revise yours (if indeed you do)?
I write my poems in longhand. When I type them I do so at my office computer and tend to take my time at it. I often use a Thesaurus and occasionally a rhyming dictionary, which I do not mind admitting. The great lyricist/songwriter Cole Porter was found out later in his life to have often used a rhyming dictionary. And after this became known it much distressed him. But I feel no such distress or embarrassment. All real writers use many tools to hone their craft and create their labors of love. When I'm typing my poems I am undergoing the process of rewriting. And focusing on perfecting the rhyme, meter and structure of my poem until I am completely satisfied in the finished product, and that it is the best and most accurate labor of love it can possible become. For I believe the three greatest tools a writer has in his possession are: "Rewrite! Rewrite! Rewrite!"
In your essay on Passion (published in last week’s newsletter) you talk about how passion is the most important ingredient in writing. How do you couple that with technique?
Passion does more than allow me to exercise my own manner of writing and to develop the process of it. It motivates and galvanizes me to do a good job, and a job I will become completely satisfied with. Thus, I am spurred to pay heed to all the tools of the trade. Technique is one of them. And, like personal style, I try to pay close attention to, although personal style is not an aspect I really concern myself with. But technique, yes. For technique is the procedure of establishing structure. For me, structure is vital to a good or successful poem, and towards writing and developing it. Having a passive or dispassionate interest in the composition of anything invariably leads to its demise, I believe. And another scrap of paper being wadded up and tossed in the nearby trash receptacle. One who is passionate about his work and the quality of his work, I do believe will almost always do a good job. The greater the passion, the greater the quality of a laborer's work. And the more he will pay attention to the tools with which he writes. For a wordsmith, they are technique, theme, plot, character, dialogue, atmosphere, pace, exposition, narration and structure. Telling a good story and telling it well is, or should be, in my humble opinion, the goal of every passionate writer.
PUBLISHER’S PROMPT
Writing Prompt
The following prompt is from A Creative Writer’s Kit: Prompts & Practices, by Judy Reeves
Write about a series of mishaps
Use the prompt. Don’t use the prompt. If you decide to play with the prompt, and you’d like to share it, please send it to me (DigitalPulp Pub@aol.com) and I will post it in the following week’s Authors’ Advocate. You can find my response posted on the blog:http://digitalpulppublishing.blogspot.com/
WHAT’S GOING ON AT DPP…
Press Releases
New press releases are going out this week online, one for each of our authors, announcing the release date (January 1, 2006, available at the DPP Store: www.dppstore.com), ISBN number, and the publication date (March 31, 2006) of your book.
Also included in the release is a synopsis of your book, a quote about your book from you, one from Genene, and a short bio about you, the author.
The announcements are being posted on PRWeb, and will guide search engines such as Google, Overture, Yahoo, and eMediawire to each press release- giving it the broadest search reach of any press release distribution network on the Internet.
Imbedded in each press release are links to the DigitalPulp Publishing website as well as to the DPP Store.
Congratulations- you are being EXPOSED!
The Bookstore
Everyone here at DPP is working their little patooties off to ensure that the DPP Store is completely up, running, and beautiful for it’s January 1, 2006 opening. We have already had orders and inquiries, so please make sure you tell your friends, family, acquaintances, grocer, mechanic, high school biology teacher- everyone to check out the store (www.dppstore.com) on January 1 and buy your book!
On Holiday
FYI: DPP will officially be closed the week between Christmas/Hanukkah and New Years’ Day (Saturday, December 24-Sunday, January 1). The Authors’ Advocate will be on hiatus for that week.
Write on,
Nicky
Saturday, December 03, 2005
Publisher's Prompt: Write About a Series of Mishaps
MISS HAPS
Miss Haps always started her first period class by dropping something. Sometimes she dropped a text book, sometimes a piece of chalk, and sometimes a tissue that she always kept tucked into her sleeve for her ever-runny nose.
Her students were used to their perpetually-dropping teacher. Whenever an earthquake drill would take place, commonly referred to as a “drop drill”, they would laugh and shout out things like, “Hey, Miss Haps- this is your kind of drill!” Or when the series of short bells would go off, they would say, “Under the desks everybody, we’re having a Miss Haps drill!”
They would say these things with a smile and affection, for they loved their teacher and they found her dropping habit endearing.
Miss Haps good-naturedly accepted her students’ rubs, for she knew that they weren’t criticizing or making fun of her- well, at least not making fun of her in a demeaning way.
During passing periods, on her way to grab a cup of coffee or to make copies of lesson plans, Miss Haps always tripped in the hallway. Sometimes there would be a sticky place on the floor that would catch one foot and make her lose her balance, or she’d trip on one of the stairs in the stairwell, usually as she was going up, but sometimes as she was coming down. And sometimes, she’d just trip over her own feet.
Some faculty members passing through the hallways would roll their eyes, not in an unkind way, just in a “there she goes again” way, while others would rush to help her, concerned that she might have hurt herself. The students who were passing through the hallways just would yell things out like, “Taking another trip, Miss Haps?” “You’re a real trip, Miss Haps!” And Miss Haps would just smile, and sometimes blush, and wave them off knowing that her students were just giving her a good-natured tease.
In the cafeteria at lunchtime, Miss Haps never failed to drip spaghetti sauce down her chin and onto her blouse, or knock over a container of milk, spilling it across the table, or to open a bag of chips, only to have them burst out of the bag and fly in ten different directions.
The kitchen workers would let out sighs, grab a wet cloth, a broom, or a mop, and with affable irritation (if there is such a thing), clean up yet another mess. While the lunching students would yell things out like, “Don’t cry over spilled milk, Miss Haps!” “Don’t worry, Miss Haps- just let the chips fall where they may!” And Miss Haps would just blot the sides of her mouth with her napkin, and smile a half-way-embarrassed grin at her silly foibles.
But that was just how Miss Haps was: all-thumbs, with two left feet, and a bit ham-fisted. Every day brought a new series of spills, tumbles, plunges and plummets. And it didn’t matter. Because for all her klutziness and clumsiness, Miss Haps had an inner grace. Her students knew it, the faculty knew it, and even the kitchen workers knew it. But most importantly, Miss Haps knew it. She made mistakes, and took missteps, but perhaps that was just so she could be an example for her students and co-workers. To have grace, you also have to be a little bit ungraceful- and accepting that about yourself, means that you accept your humanness. When you accept your humanness, you give others permission to accept theirs. And because of that, Miss Haps was one great teacher.
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