Who Writes For Love Of Writing?

Last night I was thinking about the question that titles this post. A few years ago, I heard a University of Houston Literature professor, who is also a published poet, say that only poets wrote for the love of writing. His reasoning was that poets never make any money from writing so they do it strictly because they love stringing words together.

I disagreed with him then, and I disagree now because I know many, many writers who have written hundreds of thousands of words and have never been published yet they still keep writing. Sure, they submit to publishers, but they've been rejected time and again - not because their writing isn't worthy of publication.

Why, Oh Why

They don't get published because of myriad reasons, many of them subjective. Perhaps the publisher just bought a manuscript with that premise or that same setting. Maybe the editor doesn't think the marketing hook is high concept enough or the editor's personal opinion is that no one could ever be caught in the situation that's in the opening scene of the book.

Maybe the publisher has an author who already writes that type of book, and they don't see a need for another author writing it. Maybe the industry is downsizing. Maybe the editor doesn't like women like the heroine of the piece. Or, maybe the hero's name is Brian, and the editor just split from her husband named Brian. The "maybe's" go on forever.

For those who are reading this and saying, "Amen," they can attest to the fact that, sometimes, good writing just never lands on an editor or agent's desk who "get it." Do they give up? No. Do they outline another book and start writing? Yes. Why? Because they can't not write. They love writing.

Cynthia Wicklund Writes For Love

Last night, I had the pleasure of visiting the website, still under construction, but now live, of Cynthia Wicklund, an author who has written a dozen great stories. Cindy has written for years, persevering in the face of rejections. Why? Because she loves writing. She's a storyteller. She can't not write. She's tried, believe me, but the love of telling stories, in her special way, makes her continue.

On June 24, Cindy's first book Lord Of Always will be published by Cerridwen Press. I'll be interviewing Cindy for this blog later. In the meantime, I ask you to mark your calendars, and, please, buy her book!

Takeaway Truth

Maybe Calvin Coolidge is still right. "Persist. Persist. Never give up."

Og Mandino On Clutter

Though it's rather late this Sunday afternoon to be posting a Quote for the Week, I have the perfect one. It's in keeping with what I spent from most of this afternoon doing: clearing out clutter.

American Essayist and Psychologist Og Mandino said: "Never again clutter your days or nights with so many menial and unimportant things that you have no time to accept a real challenge when it comes along."

Though he's speaking about the trivial we all seem to pursue too much of the time, it also applies to the physical kind of clutter I've been sorting through this afternoon. Next weekend we're moving furniture from storage into the house we bought at the golf resort. Unfortunately, to get to the furniture, we have to unload dozens of packed boxes. We made a start today.

I realized that all those boxes of things suck the life out of me. I felt so overwhelmed and depressed when I surveyed them. It's going to take a lot of time to go through what we've inherited from family members who passed, things we saved because we might need them some day, and other sentimental odds and ends, but I'm determined to clear away the clutter. It sucks the life out of me and takes precious energy, not to mention a chunk of money each month in storage rent, to deal with all this. Storing it all is just procrastination.

I want to take what Mr. Mandino said to heart. I don't want to clutter my world with "stuff" any more than I want to clutter my life with trivial matters. I want the energy to tackle real challenges as well as the energy to have more fun.

Takeaway Truth

I'll heed Thoreau, and simplify. Simplify!

Choose The Right Word

I had to laugh when I read recently that there are about 2,500 words for drunk, a word meaning inebriated. Good Lord! Can't you just imagine Bubba from the Forest Gump movie as he tells someone that he's drunk - in the same way he held forth on the many varieties of shrimp dishes?

"I was drunk. Snockered. Pickled. Hammered. Messed up. Trashed. Looped. Ripped. Sloshed. Wasted. Plastered. Tight. Zonked. Tanked. I could go on and on, but the point isn't really all the synonyms for drunk. The point is that you, as a writer, need to pick the best word for what you're writing.


So Many Words

There are thousands of words, proper and slang, for every object and action. You have a lot of choices so don't take the easy way out. Search out the right word that expresses the layers of meaning attached to the word. Also make sure that your character would use that specific word based on his or her economic and educational background, personality, attitudes, and vocalization patterns.

That's a long way of saying that someone who possesses three advanced degrees and is a Harvard professor from a long line of professors would be less likely to say, "I'm totally wasted, dude." He'd be more likely to say, "I'm rather intoxicated."

Unless, he's trying to fit in with a young, urban crowd to impress a girl perhaps. There are many scenarios, but the point is that word choice is organic to the character you write.

Takeaway Truth

Listen to people talk. Try to imagine their backgrounds based on their word choice. Then use that technique in your writing.

Basic Amazon Promotion

I find I'm doing a lot on Amazon now. Once I received my Kindle and discovered how much I love it, I started learning more about the many ways an author can promote using Amazon.

I've authorized both Sling Words and Joan Slings Words to be published in Kindle editions. (Look for a blog post next week on how to do this.) I'm also working on getting some of my previously printed books and original manuscripts on Kindle too.

Using Amazon

However, I wanted to talk today about the most basic way someone can promote using Amazon, and that's with a review of a product sold on Amazon. Last month I posted about this in How To Publish Reviews On Amazon so I won't repeat the information here. However, I will encourage you to get started doing this.

With each review you post, you have an opportunity to increase name recognition and website awareness. Use the review itself to slip in a very brief promotion message, BUT make sure what you insert is organic and flows with your content. Don't be blatant and obtrusive because that marks you as someone no one wants to know. Be subtle. Then use your signature line as a promotion tool also.

Takeaway Truth

Amazon can be a tool for you. Learn how to use it.

3 Podcast Sources

One of the gifts I received last Christmas, which I've thoroughly enjoyed, was an iPod Nano. It didn't take long to discover the wealth of entertainment available for this device.

Immediately, I subscribed to several podcasts about writing, books, and authors. Now when I do my exercise walk each morning, I've got great entertainment/education in an easy to carry device.

I haven't ventured into podcasting yet, but I figure I will eventually. Therefore, I've been researching the subject. Like most of the Internet, there are many websites that allow you to submit podcasts. You can widen your circle of influence and work on your name recognition by posting podcasts.

You can use the search string "free podcast hosting" and find lots of choices - over 5 million SERPs. To begin, explore these 3 websites to post your podcast and grow your audience. If you don't find what you need there, move on. There are lots of choices.

Visit Tutorials to learn how to do each.

Podbean has a user-friendly interface that doesn't require a lot of tech knowledge.

My Podcast is another website that seems to be user friendly.

Takeaway Truth

There are a lot of new ways to promote one's name and one's product. Try each, and see if it works for you.

Promotion Game

Competition for attention and spendable dollars is fierce today. Conventional wisdom says that promotion and publicity can give you an edge. Chances are you're already using your websites for promotion.

You're also using your signature file in emails, forums, and social networking to promote the URL of your sites. You probably have even included your URLs in your hard copy materials like business cards and letterhead as well as bookmarks, post cards, flyers, and other print media.

You're probably putting your website info in your press kits and other media contacts too. If you meet the public for speaking engagements or book signings, you're using that opportunity to hand out print material that promotes too.

What Else

What else can you do as an adjunct to these standard means to promote your name and/or product. If you're an author, you know that means you and your writing. If you're a manufacturer or a retailer, of physical or digital products, that means your name and your thingamajigs.

Here are a few ideas I've thought about. I think these will work, but I don't know how effectively because it's difficult to measure results from promotion efforts in an objective, quantitative way. If you try these ideas, let me know what you think.

License Plate Frames

You can get these stamped with your website URL or the name of your book or product. A lot of companies, probably in your own locale as well as online, offer this service. I even offer them on my Cafe Press shop if you just need one or two.

I like the idea of the exposure one gets if stuck in traffic every day. I know when I'm in gridlock, I'm reading bumper stickers, car badging, billboards, and anything my eyes find. I'm going to get a couple of frames made with my blog URLs and test it for myself.

Bumper Stickers

Same reasoning as the license plate frame. I used to have a Suburban with "Caution: Writer Aboard In Creative Trance" stuck on the bumper. That bumper sticker actually got me out of a speeding ticket out of state when the trooper asked what I wrote. He was kind enough to give me a warning instead of a ticket. (My shop sells those bumper stickers. I'll even design one just for you with a URL on it if you email me.)

CD/DVD Video

Produce a video about you and your product with info on your websites. Hand that out when you meet the public. Make sure the disk and/or the jewel case has an appealing cover design. Certify that there are no bugs, viruses, or other kudies in the file.

Podcasts

Produce a podcast with the same goal as the video. Promote the URL in the conventional and unconventional ways.

Takeaway Truth

Don't hesitate to try new ways to get the message out.

In Plain Sight

Have you been watching the new season of USA's crime "dramedy" In Plain Sight starring Mary McCormack as U. S. Marshal Mary Shannon and Frederick Weller as U. S. Marshal Marshall Mann. (Poor guy! His conflict is instant, isn't it?) It's on our family's must see list.

These two characters are with the Federal Witness Protection Program (WITSEC) so you can see why this is a crime drama. The comedy is in the characters and their relationships. Last year when we were introduced to Mary, we learned she loves her job, and she's the best at it. We also learned she comes from a family of alcoholics, bank robbers, and losers with a dysfunctional mother and sister in tow.

Marshall, on the other hand, is Mr. Nice Guy. We suspect he's in love with Mary, but she's his partner so it's hands off. She dishes out crap to everyone, and Marshall simply flings it back at her. Very neat and believable relationship. Set in Albuquerque, New Mexico, it's a delight from first word to last.

When the show went into hiatus last year, there was a mass "off with their heads" revolution. The show's creator and writer David Maples and his actress wife Holly who played Eleanore in the series were the first victims.

Then came the news that they were going to cut the very appealing secondary characters who gave the show its depth. I feared the worst. True to that prediction, beginning with the first episode of the new season, Lesley Ann Warren who played Mary's mother Jinx, Nicole Hiltz who played Mary's sister Brandi, Cristian de la Fuente who played her love interest Raphael, and Paul Ben-Victor who played her boss Stan have all left.

Gosh, all those talented people really contributed to the show's appeal. I'm sorry to see them go. However, based on the first few episodes, the show will live on. The essence of the main character and her sidekick remain. Time will tell whether the show will maintain the "viewability" it had under Maples and with the original cast.

Takeaway Truth

If you haven't watched In Plain Sight before, check it out. I think you'll find it a good time investment.