confession Tuesday
I confess, I forgot it was Confession Tuesday until I just read January's blog. It's a 4-day weekend for us, so it feels like Sunday, one long Sunday.
I confess that the idea of "marketing" my book gives me that knot in the stomach feeling. I do not want to be the person with the "AUTHOR" nametag on, nor do I want to be the cheesy used car salesman (nor do I see my book as a used car).
I talked with a friend of mine recently, Tatyana Mishel, who is not just a writer, but also a creativity coach (and she's awesome!) who suggested I see "marketing" as "sharing," and to find the way I love to do things and how to do the "marketing/sharing" part of publishing a book while feeling authentic about what I am doing. I liked that idea. I am not a bookpusher and could never be. The idea makes me feel queasy.
I confess I will throw a party when my book comes out and there will be crafts. I may also ask my friends to come as their version of Emily Dickinson. I confess, my favorite parties involve some sort of craft or art project.
I confess what I love about my friends is do not hesitate to be part of my bizarre whims.
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I confess I have not been practicing my violin as much as I'd like.
I confess that last night I dreamt that someone had broken into our house in a Winnie the Pooh costume (the really big kind they wear at Disneyland). He had my violin and I remember that made me angrier than the fact that he had broken into our house. I grabbed my violin from him and kicked him down the stairs. I am not a dream interpreter. But I did have a late dinner with chocolate cake and creme brulee to celebrate my birthday and perhaps this extra sugar took me to a very weird world.
Dear Poohbear, I still adore you.
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Amen.
Creme brulee -- even thinking about it makes me happy. And for you, my friend - I will happily come as Emily. Perhaps I should have my friends come as their favorite kitchen utensil for "The Alchemist's Kitchen"?
ReplyDeleteOoooh, I want to dress as Emily Dickinson. :)
ReplyDeleteI agree: the marketing part is really awful. I wish you luck.
Regarding marketing one's book -- some years ago a poet acquaintance here was crossing the street (a fairly busy street), and she suddenly spotted her book displayed in a bookstore window, and she became so distracted by that for a moment that she stepped just a little too far into traffic, and a car ran over her foot, and broke her foot. (Ouch!)
ReplyDeleteInteresting, the dream about Pooh and the violin. Distractions again, maybe. But what do I know?
I will be the lone dissenter on marketing your book. If you want more readers to find your book, you have to do basic things to attract their attention. The nice part about marketing, or sharing, is that you're doing some of these things already.
ReplyDeleteJust wrote a RWP piece that should post next week about this very topic.
Susan, I'll come as a spoon!
ReplyDeleteMolly, maybe you can have a Minnesota Emily party or hop a plane to the NW... You can be a virtual Emily D for the party. ;-)
Lyle, that sounds like something I'd do. And good interpretation.
January-- I definitely agree and you are someone (as is Aimee N.) on letting people know about your book and doing it in a way that is positive and authentic. I am all for the idea of marketing a book, if it's on my terms. I like how you do it, you can be a role model. You and Beyonce. ;-)
i confess i want people to read my poetry book when it comes out but i also confess that i do become tired of people who only ever market their book and never want to discuss anything with you (via blog, facebook whatever the source is) except their book. there is nothing worse than meeting a writer at a gathering of some sort and the only thing they do is say hello and shove their book into your hands. can i at least get a little foreplay? like a how are you? or what do you write question before you start selling?
ReplyDeletenote - this isn't everyone, just a particular experience i had at a local writer's club.
yes - i confess i am venting :)
Jessie--
ReplyDeleteRE: there is nothing worse than meeting a writer at a gathering of some sort and the only thing they do is say hello and shove their book into your hands. can i at least get a little foreplay? like a how are you?
Loved that!
Yes! Give us some foreplay before you expect us to sleep with you (and your book!) Sheesh, if you're going to request a threesome, then at least pretend to be interested in us! ;-)
OOh--I can't wait to see what crafts you have at your book party! I, too, love crafty parties. I find people mingle more when they have something to focus on.
ReplyDeleteI find the opposite at the open mics I run- the writers are afraid to bring their books in fear of self-promotion, I encourage it.
ReplyDeleteI am also a chef and find the first thing people WANT to talk about is my field, do I have a book, and I would rather talk about life in general, so I re-direct it to the fact I write poetry and use it to my advantage...a balance in conversation.
I love that you do the party thing with crafts...I also encourage gatherings, and also readings in venues outside of open mics...retirement homes, and other places so the public gets more of your work...feed them your words!
Venues like this and Jessie Carty site were not possible or even around when I was younger, so this is exciting...I confess!