Decades ago, a slick-covered magazine catering to the libidinous interests of some folks published a short story of mine—my first published work—for which I received 75 dollars. That publisher, as well as a couple more, said yes to additional short story submissions and, certainly proud of those achievements, I cut out the cover pages for…
Tag: writing career
Books don’t sell themselves–or do they?
No, they don’t. They really, really don’t. I hear writers say all the time how great their book is, and yet, no one seems to be buying it. And they can’t figure out why? As a writer, no matter where you are in your journey, it’s important to remember that like most consumer products, your…
Reformation
No, not that one. But they’re related. Part of my semi-regular practice as a professional is a periodic marketing scan. I try to remember to do it at least once a year, but I sometimes forget. I tend to discount changes that challenge my assumptions, until I get clubbed upside the head with a clue-by-four….
My Top Ten, Revisited
I recently came across a workshop presentation I gave many, many years ago on the “Top Ten Things to Do to Sell Your First Novel.” It was interesting to see what I thought were the keys to publishing success back then: 1) Finish your book. This seems obvious, but I still encounter writers who get…
Return on Investment
Event: A four-hour slot to sell books at Off the Beaten Path bookstore in downtown Steamboat Springs. Date: Friday, February 15. Time: 4 to 8 p.m. Expenses: Seven hours of driving (354 miles round-trip, including the return home through a major snowstorm via Wolcott and Interstate 70). $79 for a room at the Travelodge in…