April 21, 2008

Chip MacGregor of MacGregor Literary has some great marketing wisdom that he shared in two guest articles recently. I’d suggest printing them out if you keep a marketing notebook. There’s a a lot of great stuff here. Chip is a savvy literary agent, but he’s also a writer, and a former editor and publisher, so he can see book marketing from every angle. Here, then, are some great marketing insights from an industry insider, courtesy of the We Can! market out books blog.

“Words of Wisdom” gives you the first five steps with explanations.
“Words of Wisdom” Part 2 gives you steps six through ten.

April 16, 2008

My friend Terry Whalin (agent, editor, writer) was in New York recently, where (among many other things) he was on a prestigious panel discussing successful blogging. See the article here. This is a description of the panel: “If you’re thinking of creating a blog or looking to improve your current template, this is a must-attend session. Panelists will show how to achieve professional results when it comes to generating buzz, cultivating an audience, and writing the kind of content that gets you noticed by editors.”

Terry was very generous and posted his handout (which includes a free blogging e-book offer). The handout is simply loaded with links to help you make your blog all it can be. I hope you’ll take advantage of it. Thanks, Terry!

April 14, 2008

Most days if I’m stuck in my writing, I just don’t have time to read a whole chapter (or book) on breaking a writer’s block. I just want a string of short tips or ideas to quickly peruse, then try one or two, and get on with the writing. Today I found such a list! Think I’ll print it out and tape it to the computer. It’s called “Fifty Ideas to Immediately Combat Writers Block.”

“Writer’s block – the dreaded enemy of all authors. This post features ideas on how you can scale it, get over it, and be on your merry way in a flash.”

April 11, 2008

There’s a wealth of information (both in writing books and online) about querying, creating proposals, finding an agent, and selecting the “just right” editor. Using this information, you send a query or pre-submit a proposal at a conference and meet with an editor. You finally get that exciting “go ahead.” For weeks you write like crazy, half excited and half terrified, not wanting to mess up this great chance.

Finally the book is written. You print it out and package it. You proudly write “requested material” on the outside of the envelope, on both sides for good measure. You mail it off, pray for patience, and wait. And usually wait some more. What’s happening now? There is little written about this special “requested manuscript” trip through the publishing house. Today at Editorial Anonymous, the mystery is solved with “The Heroic Journey of the Requested Manuscript.” I found the article encouraging. I was glad to have it explained why even a requested manuscript takes months for a response. Thanks to the anonymous editor of this blog!

April 5, 2008

Most of my Writer’s First Aid blog deals with problems, challenges, and disappointments writers must deal with in order to build and maintain a career. So it’s a delight when I can share good writing news! Two days ago I got the final covers for my Boarding School Mysteries (middle school age)–and I love them! Yesterday I saw the first review here and then someone from Barnes and Noble called to set up a signing. Needless to say, I was really pleased by everything. Now…I need to savor the moment and find an inexpensive way to celebrate. These moments come few and far between for writers. There are months and years of waiting and rejections for most writing projects. That makes it all the more important for us to stop and celebrate our successes.

Which I will go do now…I imagine it will include some form of chocolate.

April 2, 2008

How’s your writing life? Full of exciting new possibilities? Do you wake up, rev your writing engine, and burst into your office, fingers flexed to write?

Or has it become the “same old, same old”? If so, I’ve got an article for you this morning. In Craig Harper’s motivational “Eight Steps to Getting Out of That Rut” he described some of our lives like this: “All too often it seems like one of those baggage carousels at the airport where you feel like you’re getting somewhere for a moment, only to end up in the exact same place on a regular basis. Again and again and again.”

If that describes your writing life, read his article, and then leave me a comment. What’s your writing rut? Did you try his eight steps? How did they work for you?