July 30, 2010

Over the weekend, I hope you’ll have time to check out some very helpful and thought-provoking blogs I read this week.

Kick back, relax, and enjoy these gems!

Gems of Wisdom

**Agent Wendy Lawton wrote a series called “Career Killers.” Full of wise advice! One post is on speed writing. Other “career killers” included impatience, playing “around the edges,” sloppiness, and skipping the apprenticeship. If you avoid these mistakes in your career, you’ll be miles ahead of the average writer.

**Are you trying to combine babies with bylines? Try “Writing Between Diapers: Tips for Writer Moms” for some practical tips.

**Is your writing journey out of whack because you have unrealistic expections? See literary agent Rachelle Gardner’s post “Managing Expections.”

**Critique groups are great, but you–the writer–must be your own best–and toughest–editor. See Victoria Strauss on “The Importance of Self-Editing.”

**We’re told to set goals and be specific about what success means to us. Do you have trouble with that? You might find clarity with motivational speaker Craig Harper’s “Goals and Anti-Goals.”

**And finish with Joe Konrath’s pithy statements in “A Writer’s Serenity Prayer.” You may want to print them out and tape them to your computer!

Share a Gem!

What have you read lately–online or off–that you felt was particularly insightful or helpful or thought-provoking? I’d love to have you share a link of your own!

June 12, 2009

Do you need to market your book, but speeches make your knees quake? Is some of your “fear of success” wrapped up in the marketing and promotion you might be expected to do? If so, don’t overlook the power of the Internet. Promoting your book via the Internet can be done from the comfort of your home. I gave it a try recently with this video book trailer.

Preview of Coming Attractions

Book trailers, like movie trailers, are to spark interest in your product. In the coming week, I’ll be doing a variety of things with this trailer (created by Misty Taggart, a very talented lady.) Book trailers can be used to promote your book (fiction or nonfiction, adult or juvenile, single title or series) in the following FREE ways and places:

• posted on your personal website and blog
• posted on your Amazon Author Connect page
• added to your email signature
• added on your Facebook author page
• added to your publisher’s website
• burn DVDs and CDs for give-aways at book signings and elsewhere
• send to anyone who will/has reviewed your book
• and many other uses!

Don’t let a fear of public speaking stop you from pursuing your publication dreams. Book trailers are only one way to promote your books. What are some other ways you’ve seen (or done) that don’t require a public performance? Let’s share some ideas!