Making though the day is the most important thing for me today. I was able to sleep okay last night, but I still have this congestion, and I don’t relish driving 150 miles having to cough every ten minutes or so–like I just did. Damn, that hurts. Let it dry up today. Or let me go home early. Which I might ask for, since I think I have a little sick time now.
I had sixty nice birthday wishes on my Facebook wall yesterday, and I thank everyone for them. Yesterday was a bit of a strange day for me, and it was nice to have people wishing me a good time. Or, as one person said, “Enjoy the next orbit.” Which is pretty much how I look at it.
I know today is 4 May, and I know some of you–don’t know who–will be treating this as The Forth Be With You. Yeah, have a good time with that. Oh, and if you want to see what I think of today, how about you read the post I did last year? Warn you: it’s not nice. Oh, and for the woman last year who lambasted me, saying a “true wordsmith” wouldn’t use some of the language I used . . . screw you. You say what you gotta say, and there are some great writers who’ve thrown in a blue word or two.
Besides, I’m published and you’re not. Where’s your wordsmithing Noooooooowwwwww?
Published. Damn, that’s a pretty good word.
Yesterday I received my five free copies of Captivate and Control that I’m suppose to give away, as in do a promotion . . . and suddenly, I’m like, “Huh? Promotion? What am I suppose to do?” I’ll be the first to admit that I have no idea what I’m suppose to do. See, writers write. We don’t do silly things like whore ourselves to make money, to get people interested in our works.
But as I keep pointing out, there’s a lot of things a writer has to do these days, and self-promotion is one of them. And I need to come up with something this weekend, ’cause I really have no idea what I’m doing.
It’s not a comfortable position for me, because I’ve always been so calm, so cool, no lovers fool–and I’m really on the verge of looking like an idiot.
I know someone I can get with from the publishing company, ask her a few things, see what she says. I am considering something like, “Send me a picture of yourself topless and tell me how I remind you of a strawberry sunday–” Naw. That’s probably not going to work, since I’m more like a chocolate parfait.
When I get back to The Real Home tonight I can start my research, since the chances are good that I won’t be able to do anything from work. It would appear they’ve locked me up in Internet Jail, and they expect me to, you know, work.
Silly people. They really should know better.
By the way, besides editing six thousand words for Echoes last night–and, man, did I write something that really tugs at my heart so hard–I was with The Muse last night, and we were plotting out . . . a children’s book. No, really. You can stop laughing . . .
Yes, I’m going from selling sex to trying to write a story about a cute four year old.
Is this how your mind is suppose to work?
May 4, 2012 at 7:48 am
You are an author, you can write in what ever genre you wish, whether its from erotica to a childrens book. Glad to know this year is better than last year! As for marketing, you are at the right place in FB!
May 4, 2012 at 7:49 am
Yeah, I’ve never given much thought to actually giving things away. I want to come up with something good.
May 4, 2012 at 8:01 am
Then by all means come up with something good! make em work for that free book! lol, at least make it worth your while. Take care and have a great day Raymond!
May 4, 2012 at 8:02 am
But as I keep pointing out, there’s a lot of things a writer has to do these days, and self-promotion is one of them. And I need to come up with something this weekend, ’cause I really have no idea what I’m doing.
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This is where I’m stumped, too. I really need to get cracking in this arena. If you come up with any juicy tips, please share, and I’ll do the same.
May 4, 2012 at 8:06 am
I’m going to pick a few brains tonight. I think I know a couple of people who can give me some pointers.
May 4, 2012 at 8:18 am
Good luck, and by the way, Congrats on getting published. It’s a good feeling, although I must say, I feel somewhat like the dog that caught the car.
May 4, 2012 at 8:26 am
the only few things I can come up with is like what JH Glaze has done and WhatsheKnew has done. Where who ever refers the most people to a given site/book the most wins a free signed copy. And also possiby give the most shout outs about your book. Whatsheknew did abig promotional thing where they had other authors on too and asked questions about Maralyn and who ever bought their e-book, the fasted and could show a copy that it had been bought. They could get a free signed copy too. I am not a marketing person guru type..Kim Mutch Emerson and others are much better then me. Its just what I have seen done.
May 4, 2012 at 8:28 am
This is going to be fun, I think. Or bone-chilling terrifying. I’ll know more tomorrow.
May 4, 2012 at 8:31 am
Raymond, I have faith in you that you will be just as fantastic in this as you are in other things! If you need any help, like help in letting others know, I am here to help! Take care Raymond and I have faith in ya!
May 4, 2012 at 8:37 am
You are interesting!
May 4, 2012 at 8:39 am
Thank you! I try to be that way.
May 4, 2012 at 8:41 am
ha!
May 29, 2012 at 8:21 am
Self promotion is key to gettting your books sold. Most books never sell more than a 1,000 copies. There are a lot of good books about promotion on Amazon, The best one is by Brian Jud entitled: How to Make Real Money Selling Books (without worrying about returns).
He details all the places other than bookstores that books can be sold. I am not pimping his book but have read a lot of them and his is the best. But I have gotten good and different tips from every book that I have read. It is worth the investment if you actually want people to actually buy your books. They are anywhere from 250,000 to 400,000 books published each year and you have to figure out how to separate yourself from the rest and get noticed. So now where is your WORDSMITHING?