Artistry With Words

And a very Happy Tuesday to you all!  Today I want to talk about self-promotion.  First, a quote.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

“Without promotion, something terrible happens… nothing!”
P. T. Barnum

I get a kick out of that quote and old P.T. was right…without promotion and marketing very little good can happen.  Of course, isn’t he the same one who said there was a sucker born every minute? So I guess we take the good with the bad with regards to P.T. LOL

There is no doubt that writers need to be their own marketing department. Unless a writer is lucky enough to have a publisher and agent, the marketing chores fall squarely in the lap of the writer himself.  There is no avoiding it.  If you are to be known then you need to make yourself known.

However…..and there is always a however now isn’t there…..beware of over-promotion.  Speaking as a person who spends a great deal of time online, over-promotion is a turn-off of the highest order for most readers.   If the only time I hear from someone is when they have something of their own to sell, well, I’m not going to be very receptive to their sales pitch.

Let me give you a real-life example.  I have a hard copy novel and seven ebooks published.  I rarely talk about them. When I first published my novel I spent about two weeks mentioning it; it’s been two years now and there is no reason for me to continue ringing my own bell.  It is boring and it is egotistical and I don’t want to be accused of either.  If someone wants it fine; if not, also fine.  I have bigger goals than that novel or those ebooks, and I have a much stronger desire to support other writers. My rewards will come in time and there is no reason to risk annoying the hell out of people by continually self-promoting.

The bottom line of this little diatribe:  walk a fine line between promotion and over-promotion. Choosing wisely might make a big difference in the long run with regards to your career as a writer.

SITE OF THE DAY

It’s my email address.  Part of my professional writing services is a writing evaluation.  If you want a five point writing evaluation of your skills as a writer, drop me a line at holland1145@yahoo.com and for $25 I’ll give you an unbiased and totally objective opinion of your writing abilities.

SECOND SITE OF THE DAY

It’s my email address. If you want advice or help, write me at holland1145@yahoo.com.  I’ll be more than happy to help in any way that I can and as always there is no charge.  Friends help friends; writers should help writers.

PROMPT OF THE DAY

Go ahead. Get into this picture. What do you see? Describe it using your five senses.

MORE ON THURSDAY

My article on HubPages tomorrow will be a writing exercise in describing characters.  Stop in and give it a look; you should find it helpful.

Until then, have a great week of writing and feel good about what you are doing. The world needs more writers and you are part of a wonderful tradition.

Bill

“Helping writers to spread their wings and fly.”