A Writer's Ruminations ~

Reduce Gift Giving Stress

2010-12-06T14:13:00.000-05:00

With 17% of the adults in the U.S. either unemployed or underemployed and lots of others anxious about reduced earnings or layoffs, gift giving is a heavy stress this year. Most of us don't want to put more on our credit cards than we bring in, but that emotional tug-of-war between wanting to buy-buy-buy and knowing we shouldn't can be agonizing.

To reduce spending and vastly increase the love you give along with the gift, consider these economical offers for those who are dear to you:

* A healthy growing plant makes a heart warming gift. Trim off 3" or 4" pieces of your vining plant(s) and set them in a small jar of water until a few good roots have developed. Then plant one or more of those rooted starts in a simple clay pot with a draining saucer underneath. For succulent plants like aloe, wait until new growth "babies" sprout up around the main plant and trasfer those to small clay pots.

* Buy a simple (inexpensive) personal phone and address book and fill in the contact information for every family member and friend you can track down. The more such phone/address books are used, the faster they wear out and need replacing. (A job most of us put off until the book is falling apart!)

* A set of file cards with your all-time favorite recipes. Plastic "sleeves" are available to keep the cards free of food smudges. Pick out recipes - exotic, inexpensive, quick, simple - that especially fit the lifestyle of the recipient.

All of the above are far more personal than just another plastic or electronic gadget and will be enjoyed for far longer than the generic gift-of-the-week special. And, yes, they are all economical.

Linda

Holiday & Everyday Thanks

2010-11-24T13:11:00.001-05:00

Whether you live in the U.S. and celebrate Thanksgiving as November holiday or simply take time to notice the blessings you enjoy, including love, kindness, nature, shelter, potable water, and food enough for sustenance, I wanted to share this affirmation of life with you:

My Affirmation of Life
    * Today my heart will be filled with love and joy.
   * I will be grateful for the goodness in my life, and will strengthen my sense
      of trust and peace.
   * I will welcome each day and will make a powerful effort to shift my dreads
      and negative thoughts to positive, upbeat ones.
   * I will show kindness to all I meet and feel a warm glow inside for having
      done so.

May this week be a time of family, friends and joy for all of you ~

Linda

Lecture & Analysis vs. Sharing

2010-11-22T15:58:00.000-05:00

Brace yourself! I'm going to ventilate.

There's a Newsweek article online entitled "Divided We Eat" by Lisa Miller. Here's the link: What Food Says About Class in America - Newsweek. Although obviously a skilled journalist, Ms. Miller missed out completely on the generosity gene.

She describes the everyday shopping and eating habits of three families in Brooklyn - her own and two others. She and one friend are devotees of one or more of the organic, free range, free trade, high-end eating preferences. And it evidently never occurs to them to eat thoroughly healthy foods in a more modest price range. Another woman lives in "subsidized housing," but is fairly well versed in shopping for nutrition.

Then she peeks in at the food stamp folks who are fat, lazy and stupid. (Did I read that correctly, Ms. Miller?) The article would lead one to believe that includes all of those who live in poverty.

It's a long article, filled with good detail and, might I say, none too subtle attitude. Some of her points are well taken, but often harken back to one's upbringing. If everybody grew up in a family where healthy (not exotic) cooking played a natural part in their everyday lives, if they were taught the basic concepts of that gentle art - and even given a cookbook for a birthday, then the nutritional playing field would be a whole lot more even. But that isn't the case.

One reader made a great point: some of us took a Home Economics class in school, and there learned to read recipes, cook and even sew a bit. Those have long since fallen by the wayside. And, truly, mom and dad might have scant energy for teaching when they finally get home from work.

But home skills like cooking and simple budgeting are essential to building a solid foundation for family life - even for a family of one. If that isn't going to happen at home, how about upbeat, fun classes held on Saturdays in community centers, YMCAs or church kitchens? Cooking can be playful! And cooking nutritious foods on a budget is a fine challenge that gives the "doer" a powerful sense of one-upmanship on the economy.

Now my editorial: I don't recall any mention in that long article about the drinkers of imported, free trade, organic coffee picked by literate, well-groomed Columbians offering to teach economical nutrition and cooking or to offer a helping hand in some other way.

It would seem that judgment is the alpha and omega of Ms. Miller's writing.

Perhaps we could all set an example for that writer by offering to help in our own ways rather than wisely shaking our heads and tut-tutting about the inadequacies of others.

What do you think?

Linda

ps ... There is also a psychological tendency of poverty parents to feel guilty for not being able to provide more for their children. So they may show their love through sweets and other treats or by handing the child a $5 bill now and then. No, those are not economically logical, but they are understandable.

Ease Stress with Positive Mindset

2010-11-19T15:12:00.000-05:00

According to Martin E. P. Seligman, Ph.D., author of Learned Optimism: How to Change Your Mind and Your Life, optimism can be learned even by those who tend to be pessimistic. What an empowering concept! The above, his seminal book on positive psychology, sets forth various ways we can begin to move towards a brighter outlook on life.

Although I’m a dedicated optimist by nature, I still have my times of dreading future events if I think they’re going to be emotionally draining. And for a quiet person, that means any combination of noise, big bunches of people and the ensuing chaos. (Yes, those would be energizing for some. But not for me!)

Initially, my grandson’s 4th birthday party looked to be one of those chaotic times. Not only could it wear me out, but I wouldn’t really have any quiet family time with my two offspring and their children.

But somehow, on my way there, my thoughts shifted to happily hugging my family and being with them. By the time I got to my daughter’s house, I was actually looking forward to the afternoon with a huge smile on my face.

That afternoon turned out to be one of the happiest, most emotionally nourishing gatherings I’ve enjoyed in months. Perhaps it would have been no matter what my mindset was going in. But I do believe that anticipating and looking for the positive, the good fun, goes a long way to helping us focus on those things and ignore the rest.

Do we experience what we expect to experience? Possibly. Probably. I do.

It seems to be a matter of reconditioning our expectations.

Try it. You may really like it!

Linda

Offering Kindness

2010-11-15T14:34:00.000-05:00

An acquaintance just told me he was going to give a 12YO boy 2 cans of his favorite soda as a birthday gift. But the boy had been receiving really bad grades in school and had been given in-school suspension. (Whether that was for the bad grades or a different infraction, the man didn't say.)

However, because of the problems the boy was experiencing, the man was only going to give him one can, and it was an obscure off-brand instead of his favorite.

I said maybe what the boy needed most was that 2nd can as an AttaBoy, a vote of confidence that showed the giver believed the receiver could do it - a kindly boost to the child's self-confidence. But the man said, Oh, no! This one can is my AttaBoy. He doesn't even deservce that.

Even my saying it seemed like there had been punishment enough failed to sway him.

And I wondered - how many people try to make themselves seem superior by punishing and putting down another person. No one who demeans another can be superior or even appear to be.

It seems to me that kindness freely given is usually returned many fold in one way or another.What do you think?

Linda

Stress Relief & Socializing

2010-11-01T11:49:00.000-05:00

This is written especially for those who, like me, enjoy socializing with friends, but can't quite face large (over 6 people), noisy gatherings when we're feeling stressed. Such get togethers simply drain our inner batteries more quickly during unsettled times and wear us out.

In the past, I followed the go-or-no principle. Since I really don't care for the shallow interactions of "cocktail party" events, they were easy to decline. But still I was left feeling a little left out if it involved friends or family.

After a lifetime of yes or no, I finally realized that the social gatherings that nourished me weren't all or nothing. Enjoying a 5-hour party for 2 or 3 hours and then leaving is sometimes just right. And theimportant people in my life don't think twice about a slightly early departure.

If you choose that route, I suggest you arrive at the start. Otherwise, you come into the middle of conversations and activities. Leave gracefully when you feel happily satisfied. You will return home refreshed but not drained!

Happy socializing ~

Linda

An Autumn Retreat Beckons

2010-10-14T11:39:00.000-05:00

Saturday morning will find 49 of my church buddies and me breathing in the peace and autumn air at Pere Marquette State Park at the confluence of the Illinois and Mississippi rivers. What a euphoric place of trees and rocky hillsides and small, wild critters. The greenest of baby lizards and the most luxuriant of tree tops can be found there.

It's also a primo place for relocating your inner peace and joy. And I'm reveling in the anticipation ~

Linda

Let Color Ease Your Stress

2010-10-13T11:32:00.000-05:00

Ongoing stress can turn our whole world to shades of gray, both emotionally and physically. We neither see nor think in colors. Conversely, we can oten lighten the emotional load through simple splashes from the color wheel.

Use Crayons to write the reminders you put on your refrigerator door.
Tie a red scarf or bandana around your neck, head, wrist or ankle. Each time you glimpse it, smile at the inner, free spirit that lives along side your practical working self.
Stick a large canary-yellow posterboard on your office wall, and with the help of clear tape, use it as a bulletin board. Add a few children's stickers for fun.
Choose bright, kindergarten colors, i.e., red, yellow, green, orange, blue and purple, for your knitting and crocheting projects. (Making gifts for others that way will futher lighten your mood.)
Find a fairly smooth rock and using those bright markers, draw a smiling or silly face on it. Keep that Joy Rock on your desk or chair-side table as a good luck token.

Let both the colors and the creativity lift and warm your heart.

Linda

When Selflessness is Selfish

2010-10-04T15:28:00.001-05:00

One more life lesson came my way last night. A dear, longtime friend and I had had trouble finding a good time for her to bring a "quesadilla party" to my kitchen. So rather than cancel yet again, I didn't let on that I was wiped out from a minor touch of something unpleasant and short on sleep because of it.

Have you ever thought, "I can do this. I don't want to rain on our party again!" - and stuck with the plan? It feels like a giving thing. My friend and I could still have our quesadilla feast and watch "Treasure Island." All I had to do is sit in my chair. The thing is, I never considered that maybe I wouldn't be very good company.

This morning we talked on the phone about something entirely different. But her first words were about last night: "You should have told me you weren't feeling good! I watched you during the evening and you looked like you were dragged out and miserable."

Hmmm ... I'd say the lesson to be learned from that is that if I'm not feeling up to a fun evening, I'll probably be lousy company. Which is pretty much a lose/lose situation.

The next time I'll consider my friend's comfort and enjoyment as well as mine and make my decision based on that rather than my usual "tough it out" philosophy.

Thank you, Vera ~

Linda

Kindness for Stress-Relief

2010-09-27T10:07:00.003-05:00

I recently stumbled upon an old fashioned sort of stress-reliever: kindness through giving. It started out as one of those chores we put off for years - cleaning out my bedroom closet. The reasons to put it off seemed to far outweigh my reasons to just do it.

1. I don't have time to tackle such a big job.
2. Once I start, I'll have to either finish the job or step over a massive pile of old clothes for weeks (or months) to come.
3. If this new-found self-discipline sticks, I'll lose enough weight to fit back into that.
4. That embroidered vest holds such loving memories for me, I can't bear to part with it!

Eventually, I realized that I only had to deal with one section of the closet at a time, that even if I could wear those outfits again, they were no longer my style, and that it was time for me to either pass that vest along or have it framed, I slid open the door and dug in.

Once those realities had sunk in, it took an amazingly short time to fill up two large trash bags with skirts, jackets, blouses and shoes for the clothing donations box a couple of miles away.

I drove down the street and pulled over beside the yellow, house-shaped container, and with a fine sense of accomplishment, I deposited first one plastic bag then the other. (Although I very nearly dove in after them to reclaim that vest!)

By the way, the vest was a lush dark green lined cotton with swirls of white and rust colored ribbon embroidery on the front~

But somehow, on the short drive home, my thoughts shifted from my loss of the vest to hoping that whoever wears it next will feel just as grand and self-confident as I had and create her own glowing memories. And I smiled right down through my heart!

It's a fact that kindness given stirs our body's production of seratonin (the calming hormone) and oxytocin (the snuggle hormone), but little did I realize how powerful it could be against long-term stress.

When you do decide to bite the bullet and tidy up your closet, think of it as a giving opportunity rather than a chore - it's a definite feel-good!

Happy giving ~

Lin

Economical Stress-Relief

2010-03-05T12:27:00.004-05:00

As I recall, my physical body and remaining brain took months to relax after the rigid catatonia of autumn 2008. The term "stress relief" wasn't even amusing, much less helpful until the flinching stopped.

Eventually (1) my daughter began getting the treatments she so desperately needed, and (2) I noticed that so far, I wasn't homeless. Plus my survival strategy had included stocking up on a whole lot of various dried beans. So I wasn't going to starve either. And I discovered I had an inborn ability to hunker down.

But it took several more months to admit that the remaining high stress was still bad for my health. I was too work-driven to take time out for renewing daily walks, but I would sporadically treat myself to a 30-minutes meditation time (more or less) between the end of my work day and beginning of Brian Williams. Not that I was able to stick to a regular schedule. My free-style meditation times would come in three or four-day chunks, then be superseded by business networking or grandkids' visits. I now know that an erratic relaxation schedule is far better than none. (At the time, of course, I beat up on myself for not sticking to A Plan.)

I've now added another thrifty stress-relief remedy to my repertoire and have vowed to do one or more of the three every day. So far, so good. They are:

A walk outdoors. Even 15 minutes lifts my spirits and turns my focus from anxious enterprise to bird-watching.
Meditation time. I don't follow a formal method, often simply doing a self-guided meditation to a place in nature, real or imagined.
A long Epsom salts bath. My personal rule is 20 minutes or longer. (I warm up the water after a while.) The package says to use 2 cups per tubful, but 1 to 1 1/2 seems to work fine. Making a gentle effort to stop thinking, I try to get to a floatie-zone mentally as my hands float in the water.

If I weren't still budget-watching, I would add an occasional massage and a Reiki treatment. (Hey, even a seasoned Reiki Master appreciates being a receiver sometimes!)

Happy relaxing ~

Linda

The Great Recession & Me

2010-02-19T11:52:00.005-05:00

It's been awhile since I last wrote. So much has happened since October 2008. For many people worldwide, our relative security collapsed. We stumbled through the hours dazed and confused. Rational planning seemed useless because of the employment situations, market plunges, and the nauseating feeling that we, individually and collectively, were teetering at the edge of a bottomless abyss.

For many of us, non-recession shocks kept piling on, heedless of our percarious balance. That wrenching feeling of utter loss of control can make babbling lumps of the most competent people we know.

An independent business owner loses one client after another at the same time her health insurance premiums shoot up. The 39 year old single mother of two is confined to a wheelchair, yet dozens of tests and doctors cannot nail down which type of neutopathy is responbile, therefore no treatment can be given. It's 0 degrees on a December night in St. Louis. There's a sleeping two-year old angel in the back seat; the car overheats for the first time ever; and there's no one to call to come and help. Spinning out out control...

And yet we cope, and don't do so badly after all. Hindsight can be so comforting!

Enduring, and continuing to deal with, such reversals in life have taught us a lot both about our own strengths and about becoming more flexible in our problem solving. Lately, I've come to realize that much of what we've learned is worth passing along - both to each other and to future generations.

With that in mind, I'll be writing my own ruminations about practical, empowering actions, attitudes and mantras for a few months, as well as the solutions and toe-stubbings others have experrienced.

It would be wonderful if you shared yours with us by way of "comments." Your stories might just be the help the rest of us need in the future.

More ruminations coming soon ~

Linda

Journal the Intimate Story of Chaos

2008-10-18T15:03:00.003-05:00

Grab your pen or keyboard. This is the time to journal about your experience of the current economic chaos. Your written record of this historic time will produce the only realistic, human vertion of what will eventually be told in cold, impersonal terms in our grandchildren’s school books.

But that’s one thing it definitely is not. Impersonal? Hardly.

This economic blitzkrieg will have maimed virtually everyone before it’s over. The young couple who loses their home, the abruptly terminated midlife exec or the older almost-retiree all stand stunned at the suddenness.

We each will experience it our own unique way, perhaps concerned about different challenges, or more likely a combination thereof, than a neighbor will. But how you deal with it will become part of your legacy as surely as your DNA.

Write it, help the future readers understand how devastating the uncertainty has been, how demoralizing to be forced to cut back on newspaper delivery, church donations, small gifts for grandkids and the sick feeling of the earth still quaking under our feet.

Tell them. And don’t be surprised to discover you feel some relief of tensions from writing it out!

Good luck with your writing ~

Linda

Why I Chose to Publish My Own Books

2008-09-14T19:53:00.004-05:00

As promised, here's the story behind me opening my own publishing company, first to self-publish, then to publish other authors' books as well.

Around 1990, my writing partner, Bev, and I were on a creative tear. One of our projects dealt with dealing with the recession on the home front, and we needed an agent to present the manuscript to the Big Houses (the large publishing houses in New York). First we searched for one who specialized in nonfiction. Then we bent our brains around writing the most intriguing query letter we could create. (You have to convince an experienced agent to even read your manuscript. And the legitimate ones will not charge a reading fee!)

Mike S. in Massachusetts asked us to send "the book" to him. (Holy mackerel!) But there was a standard, fairly rigid book proposal format in which it must be submitted. Off I went to Barnes & Noble to buy the then-bible of formal proposal writing, and we embarked upon the long and I think grueling process of of producing said proposal which included:

A brief summary of the book.
Table of Contents with Chapters and subchapters.
A brief author bio, emphasizing the credentials qualifying him/her to write this book.
Two or three sample chapters.
An exquisitely tasteful but irrestible sales pitch.
A comparison, title by title, of similar books on the bookstore shelves and the popularity thereof.

Those were the primary points, and of course had to be the most near-perfect writing we'd ever done! It ran about 60 pages.

Then we had to take the whole thing to Kinko's and have 5 copies run and comb-bound.

After a couple of tantilizing nibbles, he finally got a letter from an editor at Fireside (Wow!) saying that it was "well done and marketable," but they felt they already had titles that would complete for the same customer dollars.

Did you get that? Fireside Press thought the book was well done and would sell ... but they still wouldn't take it! Well, friends, that just felt so wrong. If it had been poorly done or was otherwise a poor excuse for a book, it would have been one thing. But well done still wasn't good enough.

A few years later, I began writing the divorce books -- books that were meant to help people who were going through the painful and confusing process of ending their marriage. But it couldn't help anyone until it was on the bookstore shelves (or on the Internet). So I studied and went to seminars and meetings and read about a dozen books and learned how to set up a publishing company. Was it hard work? You bet. But it was the way I could get my helpful words into the readers' hands in a reasonable amount of time.

And that is the story of the birth of Pen Central Press, the publishing division of Pen Central Communications. I thought you'd like to know ...

Happy writing ~

Linda

Book Publishing & the Time Factor

2008-09-07T19:40:00.003-05:00

This time we're going to look at a few aspects of the time involved in self-publishing your book. My thoughts are based on you wanting to produce a commercially viable book (classy enough for the local Borders) through basic self-publishing. That means opening your own publishing company and performing all the functions of a book publisher including paying for the printing and binding. Here are some of the primary preparations:

Read authoritative books on self-publishing a top quality book. As mentioned earlier, the most thorough manuals are Dan Poynter's Self Publishing Manual now in its 16th edition and the Ross's book, Complete Guide to Self-Publishing, 4th edition. There are others, and I encourage you to read 2 or more in addition to those. Yes, there will be some repetition, but you'll pick up new lessons from each one.
Write out your business plan, even a rough one, to include sending requests for quotation to at least 10 reputable book printers, figure out your company name, file that as a DBA (doing business as) with your state, and begin devoting a portion of your brainstorming time to producing and selling the book, on top of writing it.
Hunt for and interview graphic artists who have experience in designing book covers. (More on that quest later.)
Rewrite your manuscript a minimum of 3-4 times before you even think of sending it to an outside editor. Polished text is the name of the game.

In other words, study the business of self-publishing and put that knowledge into play!

X Major caveat: Having experience in the business world
will be more valuable to you than all the sparkling reviews
in the world! If you don't have it, invite a business-savvy
friend to guide you.

When I received my very first sizeable fax order from Ingram (book wholesaler), I danced and cavorted like a writer possessed - OK, that's exactly what I was. Then I realized I hadn't designed my company invoices yet or packing list. But I was doublely fortunate. I'd work in a purchasing department long, long ago, and remembered the documents and procedures I'd learn then.

Therefore, if you feel a strong pull to publish your own book as I did, plan to invest some time in learning the business. It's actually fascinating to some of us! But it does cost a lot of hours and days of personal study.

As you read the books and consider the time involved in setting up the business, taking and invoicing orders, shipping books, marketing and other duties, think about whether these activities intrigue and attract you, or if you run ascreaming into the great hereafter. Thsi isn't a pass/fail situation. Listen to your gut.

Next time I'll share my story of why I chose to open my own publisihig company, Pen Central Press.

Happy reading - and writing ~

Linda

Money & Book Publishing

2008-09-02T15:21:00.004-05:00

Today we'll look at the money angle. It's all well and good to say you're "simply investing in yourself" during healthy economic times. But we're far less glib when we're pinching pennies.

Here are some basic figures according to my 2008 experience and book industry estimates:

My newest book, The Many Faces of Journaling: Topics & Techniques for Personal Journal Writing, 2nd edition:

2,000 copies - paperback - 6" x 9" - 192 pages - recycyled paper.
All black & white interior with 4-color glossy laminated cover

MY PER COPY COST = $1.94.

(That's just for printing and binding at a large book printer, and doesn't include cover art, formatting, typesetting, editing or proofreading, which I contracted for separately.)

It's extremely tricky to estimate your cost per book with a POD (print-on-demand) Online Book Publisher because the services included in their basic book "packages" vary so much. The Packages themselves start around $500 and go up to $1,200 or more. One publisher may include manuscript evaluation or copy editing, another may make it available for an additional fee. But here's a ballpark figure:

For each copy of an 8 1/2" x 5 1/2" paperback book - 160 pages.
Black & white interior - 4-color cover

YOUR PER COPY COST = $5.25 - $6.75.

The 2,000 book print run for my book obviously cost me far less per copy. However, I pay monthly storage and insurance fees on each book until it's shipped to a customer.

Time is another crucial factor in choosing a publishing method. We'll examine tht next.

Happy writing~

Linda

Goals for Your Published Book

2008-08-30T14:13:00.004-05:00

In the last post, I mentioned some of the factors you need to take into consideration in deciding on which avenue to book publishing is best for you for this book. The first of which is your goal for it.

Before I get into that, you might want to go back to my May 14thm '07 posting on this blog entitled What is a book? Most authors think first (and only?) of a standard paperback or hardcover book. But other formats and bindings may better suit your book. That post described alternatives.

Now back to Goals. Consider these questions:

Will this version of this book be only for distribution to family and friends?
Is it a church, community or work project for which there will be limited demand?
Will it be offered only as a back-of-the-room sales item at workshops and seminars?
Are you testing the market with this one, figuring you might want to go to a larger print run later after you get some reviews and reader feed-back?
Do you expect to place your book in bookstores alongside the ones from big publishers like Wiley, Writers Digest and Hay House?

Self-Publishing (by the highest professional standards) will accomplish all five. With POD (print on demand) online publishers like iUniverse and AuthorHouse, you can accomplish the first four very nicely. (It's my current belief that POD books aren't quite up to the quality of a print run on an off set press.)

Either high quality self-publishing or a traditional author-publisher contract with a "big house" will satisfy your needs.

If you are at all interested in self-publishing, I encourage you to devour Dan Poynter's fine Self Publishing Manual now in its 16th edition and the Ross's book, Complete Guide to Self-Publishing, 4th edition. Publishing is a business with it's own rules, quirks and terminology, and walking that path requires study.

Next time, I'll talk about the money angle.

Happy writing~

Linda

Publishing Choices

2008-08-27T16:57:00.004-05:00

Book coaching clients and writing students often ask me what I think of Print on Demand (POD) printers and online publishers versus opening their own small publishing company (self-publisher) versus sending their manuscripts out to big publishing houses.

There are pros and cons to all of them, depending on (1) your goals for you book, (2) your patience, (3) the money you’re willing to invest, (4) the desired appearance of the finished product, (5)the amount of time and work you want to invest, and last but not least, (6) your experience in the business world.

That’s just a start. Which is my point. There are many aspects to the original decision on publishing. I teach a 3-hour class on self-publishing and am able to only address the primary steps. So …

I invite you to send me your questions about publishing. I'll answer those first, then I’ll fill in the gaps.

You can either send your questions as “comments” at the bottom of this post or you can write me directly at WriterLin@aol.com. No question is too dumb. No one is born knowing this stuff.

Tomorrow, I’ll look at the various goals different authors may have for their books.

Happy writing!

Linda

Another Version of Book Signings

2008-08-23T19:13:00.004-05:00

Some of the variations on bookstore signings can be even more enjoyable. The location could be the cafe in a bookstore or a book night at a cafe (so to speak). Presentations at non-book retail locations often yield more book sales than in more traditional stores and can build a rich bond between author and readers . For example:

You could give a nature journaling talk at a gardening store and sell copies of your nature-oriented book before and after the talk.
A travel shop (maps, blank journals, packing gadgets, suitcases and such) would be a great place for a presentation on vacation and travel journaling, followed by sales of your book on journaling or travel.
Because I'm a nonfiction writer, my mind always leaps to those kinds of topics. But for a historical novel, the author might speak at a history museum about the historical research she did for the book.

The store owners and directors of such place are usually passionate about their (and your) topics and are a joy to work with.

I have another idea that I want to present to a local shop manager: a monthly "Night with the Author." Initially, of course, that author would be me. But other authors might want to sign on, too. The evening (or morning or whatever) might begin with an overview of how the book came to be written and any significant challenges along the way. After that would be a book signing time, followed by a casual, kicked-back Q & A time, during which visitors could ask questions about books and the creative writing process. I'll let you know if I can sell that idea. But really, before I was published, I would have dearly loved a chance to pick an experienced author's brain in a cozy social setting.

Wish me luck and happy writing ~

Linda

The Author Publisher Team

2008-08-20T15:39:00.005-05:00

There's a common misconception among new authors and writers that says, if you can just get your book picked up by a Big Publishing house, they'll take care of the promotion. Furthermore, they'll pop for a glamerous national book tour with bright lights and huge sales, and possibly local TV coverage.

Sorry to break it to you, but that's just wrong. Unless you're a former or future president or a movie star, it doesn't happen. What you will get is a specific paragraph in your authhor's contract whereby you swear to actively promote and market your book(s) to the buying public. They should have it in their book catalog, but don't look for a swarm of eager salepeople to fan out across the U.S. to hype your printed and bound baby. Of course, if you self-publish, you'd be rowing that marketing boat yourself anyway.

So what can a scribe do to move book sales? Bookstore appearances are a start.

Bookstore Marketing

#1 Schedule a short workshop, discussion or presentation based on your book, and autograph copies of your book at the end of it.

Do not simply plan a book signing! Your signature alone isn't that tempting to the public. You need to offer something of value. For a new book, you can describe how you came to write the book and give an overview of the whole process of writing, getting published or self-publishing it.
For a book that's been out for a few months, present a topical workshop to give visitors a reason to sit down and will spark their interest in the topics. I've given various journaling workshops to promote my journaling books.

#2 Create your event promotion signs for the bookstore to put on their counters. Include the time, date and topic of your presentation, a photo of you and of your book's cover. Include a sentence or two from a positive book review, and take the signs to the store manager. (Check back after a few days to see if the sign is up or if it's gotten buried in the store room.)

#3 Send out News Release announcements to the calendar sections of your local newspapers. It's fine if the bookstore does it, too.

#4 Arrive at the bookstore at least 30 minutes ahead of time, set up whatever props you have and amble around the store inviting shoppers to come to your presentation.

Be professional from the first visit or phone call until after the presentation. (You did remember to send a thank You note to the store's managers, right?)

Send out email announcements to all of your friends and family, post notices on bulletin boards around town, and cross your fingers.

Happy writing and marketing

Linda

The Writer's (Cramped) Idea Box

2008-08-16T13:33:00.004-05:00

How often do we hear "think outside the box?" It's embarrassing to recall how often and glibly I tell others to do that. (Don’t you?) Well, I just had one of those 2 x 4 moments -- that's exactly what I'm not doing!

The challenge is marketing my new The Many Faces of Journaling: Topics & Techniques for Personal Journal Writing, 2nd edition. Who knew it would be so different from promoting the original 1st edition?

But think about it. When did you ever an announcement in the calendar section of your newspaper proclaiming: “Joe Schmoe presents and signs the new, 2nd edition of his popular book Schmoe Knows?” It just doesn't happen - at least around here.

So I've broadened my current approaches to marketing. But it still feels like I'm just expanding on existing newsprint and Internet avenues. (Or old ruts?)

I'd love to hear any suggestions that you, my clever blog visitors, have beyond these that are already on my "done" or "to-do" list:

a Set up my Experts Page on SelfGrowth.com.

a Tripled the number of newspaper editors around the country to whom I submit News Release Articles.

a Started blog, The Many Faces of Journaling blog, specifically for journaling fans.

a Bought a 1/4 page ad in my distributor's 4-color "booklet" that goes to librarians and book stores.

a Sent announcements to the organizations to which I belong.

They’re all good but not inspired.

So, feel free to send me your (frugal or free) suggestions via the comments button below, and I promise to reply with an exquisitely flattering email Thank you ~

Happy writing ~

Linda

More on Writing Friends

2008-08-13T11:04:00.004-05:00

Time spent with writing friends, especially those who are at approximately the same point in their careers as you are, can produce exciting Aha! moments. One writing friend and I always have our notebooks open at the lunch table and our pens at the ready. Going back over those brief notes renews the creative boost we got in the first place.

Sometimes at such get togethers, though, the ideas start flying before we've unholstered our notebooks. At that point, you're too wrapped up in the moment to start a search. So you cross your fingers and hope you'll remember the Ahas when you get home.

(This is the authoritative voice of experience speaking ...) As soon as you get back to your desk, write out all you can remember. Then email or call your friend, relay your notes and see if he/she can recall anything else. Two heads and all that good stuff ... Corral those gems before they get dead-filed with the day's junk mail.

It's a great way to relish your mutual growth.

Happy writing ~

Linda

Get to Know a Writing Buddy

2008-08-11T10:13:00.002-05:00

Some clichés are true. Take Writing can be a lonely profession. Not only do we work alone, but there just aren't that many people who are genuinely interested in our process. The reasons for that lack of connection vary, but may include one of the following ...

1. Non-writers don't understand much about the creative process, so have no clue about why your frustrations feel so deeply discouraging to you. Sould they get it if you told them - What if I've already written all I'll ever be able to write? What if I'm really used up? Will I ever get another viable book or article idea again? Maybe I can’t get the tone right because the book was a bad idea in the first place!

2. They think you already have the best of all worlds, so they can't work up any sympathy for your whining. Come on admit it - we do whine. Of course it’s always for good reason, but that may not be so obvious to people in other lines of work.

3. They'd far rather talk about the gilded widget problems at their office. What are gilded widgets? Are readers interested in them? Where can I research the history and future of the global widget markets?

4. They're just tired of hearing it. OK, that may be a valid point.

So you go home feeling mildly martyred and vastly underappreciated. And then beat yourself up for feeling that way. Right?

But wait! There's help available. Find a writing buddy with whom you can swap stories of the new project that’s still pecking its way out of the egg, share your questions about styling and formatting a book, and especially proclaim the ecstasy of a great writing session, day or month!

A writing friend with whom you can break bread is the warmest of connections. But finding an email writing buddy can also be hugely rewarding. After conversations, in person or electronic, with these friends, you’ll come away with such writing excitement and joy in your heart, you’ll race to get back to the keyboard.

It’s well worth the effort to find another writer or two, preferably ones who have at least some similar goals and experience to yours, and form that beautiful connection. Attend local writers' groups, sign on to similar interest email groups, or spread the word to all you friends.

I know whereof I speak.

Happy connecting ~

Linda

Coffee, Writing & Longevity

2008-08-07T15:10:00.002-05:00

Good news, all you java junkies! A news article from Reuters states that "long-term coffee drinking does not appear to increase a person's risk of early death and may cut a person's chances of dying from heart disease" according to a published study.

Most of us morning writers require an IV or two of full-bodied, dark Columbian brew to grease our mental wheels. Over the years, veiled warmings from the medical community would hint that too much coffee - say, over 6 ounces a day - would gradually work it's evil way on our chances for longevity. Now you can put that worry behind you and enjoy

Still, if your resting pulse rate goes above 125 or so, you might want to cut back by a quart or two.

Happy, wide-awake writing~

Linda

Journaling Quotations

2008-07-28T13:14:00.001-05:00

Have you ever read a quotation and thought, “Man, those are words to live by!” You don’t have to be a quote fanatic (like me) to appreciate someone else’s pithy insights. Whether you smile, groan, nod your head or shake it, the good ones resonate. Whether they’re funny or simply speak to our own life experiences, they can brighten our day.

When you run across one of those gems, run-don’t-walk to your journal and write it down. If we immediately react to it, chances are it will grow on us, especially if we can read back over each one in our journals.

Here are a few of my favorites:

a Someday we’ll look back on this moment and plow into a parked car. ~ Evan Davis

a The heroic life is living the individual adventure. ~ Joseph Campbell

a Sometimes the secret of happiness involves breaking things. ~ Venus Veritas from
The Divorce Recovery Journal

a Did you ever consider – maybe the glass isn’t half empty or half full. Maybe it’s just twice
as big as it needs to be. ~ George Carlin (loosely quoted)

Happy journaling!

Linda