If I were a nurse, I'd constantly be searching for a patient's pulse. Why do I say that?
In high school, I was never the cool kid. I was what you might call a borderline, a kid who could talk to anyone but never really got invited to parties. When I first set out to create an author platform, I felt much the same way. A wanna-be writer lurking among really cool writers.
With my first book, I didn't expect to have my finger on the pulse. But I was hoping I had learned some things when I finally published my second. I was going to know how to rock promoting that one. Right?
Well...
I still feel like I'm finding out about some really cool stuff a little too late--like utopYA. How did I not know about this? This past weekend I saw all my faves posting pics on Facebook about this amazing conference, and ... flatline--I had no clue!
But, at least I have started to find some areas to check for the pulse. I'm no longer frantically searching for it somewhere near the patient's belly.
Because when it comes to writing, I admit it... I kinda wanna be the cool kid.
How do you keep your finger on the pulse?
Wednesdays are also A Round of Words in 80 Days (ROW80) update days.
My Mid-Week Update
Well it's only been two days since I stated my Round 3 goals, but...
Write. Write. Write.
I spent one hour yesterday putting thoughts to paper for Chasing Memories, Book 2. It's a start.
Market
I just signed up for a Back to School Book Sale August 12-18 and an Indie-Celebration month in September. More to come on both soon! Plus, I completed four out of ten of my guest post/interviews for my upcoming Chasing Memories book tour. High-fiving myself. Oh wait, that's not what cool kids do.
Blog
Well, I posted Monday and this is Wednesday, so MWF here I come.
Now, I just need to get my ROW80 sponsor guest post done. It's coming, Kait. Promise.
11 comments:
I've never heard of utopyacon! And it's in Nashville! So close! Well, at least I'll know for next year. Lol!
I think those of us that need to promote our own books will always be searching for the latest pulse. Sometimes I wonder if we really have time to write with all the marketing that needs to be done. LOL!
I love that, keeping you finger on the pulse! I was a "borderline" kid, too. Not too bad a place to be. As for the pulse, as a published author who was off to a slow start, it's all about momentum. You just gotta keep putting yourself out there, doing giveaway, connecting with your readers in any way possible. It's not easy and it takes forever, but it will pay off. Mostly, you gotta keep writing.
Great post! I'm one of Alex's July IWSG minions!
Third book coming out soon and I still don't feel like I have a clue. And when it comes to my genre, I'm definitely not the cool kid.
You just have to be aware and ask people. Most writers are nice enough they will help.
If you're interested in conferences, WriteOnCon is next month online, and I think it's for young adult writers.
Tia,
I'm so far from the pulse, I'm checking kneecaps. As for high school--there's a reason I never finished! Not cool, not borderline, pure nerd. Now at least I'm comfortable being a nerd. :)
I don't think promotion comes easily to most writers--there's a clash of personality traits, to my mind.
It looks like you're off to a good start on ROW80. I finished my sponsor post yesterday, thank goodness.
Have a good rest of the weekend, Tia!
Elizabeth Anne Mitchell
I feel your pain, Tia! Just slightly left and south of center, I think maybe we are just on the way to creating something amazing, not stepping behind. And it is part of growing pains, trying and finding out where things are happening and where to find like-minded people. I still remember when we were all "You got sci-fi in my romance," and "You got romance in my sic-fi!" Now we take for granted the genre-twisting flavors of our faves, and BAM! There are cons around for them too! Disseminating the info they way you just have makes us all aware of new things too, so thanks for spreading the word!
I was never even remotely borderline (I was pretty much our school's bully magnet lol), but I never cared about being cool; I generally just wanted to be left alone. Those who were 'cool' had as much personality as a glue stick so I decided it was probably overrated. I don't have anything really to promote yet so I wouldn't have a clue how to market my book, but I think most writers are pretty friendly and would be happy to give pointers. Writing isn't really a competition, it's just lots of different people adding their stories to the pool of entertainment for the world. That's how I look at it anyway.
Krystal - If you are heading there next year, look me up. I'm going!!
Donna - Amen. It's hard to write book 2 with all this marketing!
Nancy - Thanks for stopping by and for your work as one of Alex's minions. IWSG helps me clear my writer's mind.
Alex - Thanks for the heads up. Writers are great about sharing if I'm around to listen. Finding the information, and those people who are sharing, can be hard sometimes.
Elizabeth - My sponsor post is done now, too. Yippee! Whether it's any good or not is another matter entirely.
IIyana - Happy to spread what "word" I know. :-)
RJF - I agree... I don't find writers competitive. I just wish I knew the "in" hangout spots to figure out where to be and when.
Thanks so much everyone for stopping by!!
I usually know what's going on, but not always. And I'm not sure I ever have my finger on the pulse of anything. But I try, and that's gotta count for something, right?
Good luck battling the Promotion Monster! :-)
Thanks, Lexa. I know I'll find my way eventually. Now to get to work on Book 2 so I can use that to promote Book 1. ;-)
Sheesh, what's a pulse? I've flatlined this summer. I only know about the indie writer's conference going on in Florida. I wish I could've gone/could go. But it's just not possible. I feel a bit like I'm drowning, and it has little to do with writing.
I feel ya.
WRITE ON!
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