BACK WE ARE AND HAPPY FOR IT
I’m going to make every attempt possible to be a little more consistent with my postings here. I do believe in consistency, but life has tossed me a few lemons of late, and that’s knocked me off my schedule and stride.
So I’m shooting for once a week from now on. Wish me luck.
I’m also going to attempt to be more helpful as we move forward, toss out some suggestions, see if I can’t help all of you as you travel along your writing path.
So let’s see how it goes!
QUOTE OF THE DAY
“Have patience with all things, But, first of all with yourself.” Saint Francis de Sales
THOUGHT OF THE DAY
That quotation hits me right between the eyes.
I am my own worst enemy. Always have been. I am never satisfied with what I do. I am always convinced I am falling just short of where I should be. Let me tell you, it’s one hell of a burden, and for a writer, who should exercise patience above all other attributes, not being patient is not a great recipe for success.
Writing is a long-term undertaking. Overnight success rarely happens in this business, and those who think that rule does not apply to them probably should not be writers.
I have to constantly remind myself of that fact.
TIP OF THE DAY
Your ultimate goal probably will not, and should not, change, but the way you attain that goal can, and probably should, change.
If your approach is not working then for the love of the gods, try a different approach. My dad used to say there is no sense in beating a dead horse. The same philosophy applies to marketing. If your marketing plan is failing then find a new one. Never be afraid of trying new marketing approaches. I recently tried selling my books at farmers markets. That idea failed miserably when measured by the sales of books, and I probably won’t do it next summer, but that doesn’t mean it failed totally. It helped to get my name out to the buying public. It put a face to a name, and allowed me to discuss writing with real-life people. All of these are good things and should never be minimized.
There are a thousand and one ways to market your writing, so if you’ve only tried five so far, you’ve got a few to go.
NEW SITE
Well, not really new, but relatively new, a couple years, but I want you to check it out if you’re interested in making a little online money while doing what you love to do…writing. It’s called NIUME and it is causing a stir, kind of like HP did six years ago. I believe the corporate entity is out of the UK, and they advertise themselves as a blogging community. They are getting well-established, or so the reports go, so it might be worth a look. Let me know what you think. I’m intrigued enough to consider it with some of my old Hubs that are gathering dust on HP.
If you are interested, use my personal referral link https://niume.com/?ambassadorID=48484 and I’ll receive money when you sign up. You have nothing to lose. It costs nothing to check it out. You know I’m a staunch member of HubPages, so I must feel pretty good to even mention another site.
What I loved first about this site is the ease with which you sign up for revenue share. You simply give your PayPal login email address and that’s it. No signing up for Google Adsense, no waiting to qualify with a certain amount of articles….ten seconds and you are in the payment system.
Anyway, check it out. This is not a recommendation as much as it is a suggestion.
SECOND QUOTE OF THE DAY
“Outlast the lucky, outwork the lazy.” Jeff Goins
ANOTHER RELATIVELY NEW SITE
I’ve mentioned this site before but it bears repeating. A friend of mine on HubPages, John, known as Jodah on HP, has started a new site specifically for creative writers and poets. That site is called The Creative Exiles. Check them out if you are tired of the constrictions and restrictions that sites like HP put on you.
This is not a revenue-based site but it is a site where you can rub shoulders with a supportive community of writers, and it is a site where your creative writing will be showcased.
What do you have to lose?
IN A PERFECT WORLD
In a perfect world, here’s what I would have happen: I would be left to just writing. I would then turn my writing over to my own personal publicist. At the same time I would hire a tech whiz who would handle the setting up of podcasts, videos and other tech gadgets so I didn’t have to sweat blood trying to learn it all.
But it’s not a perfect world, is it? What we are left with is what we can do by ourselves.
In other words, we do what we can.
CHRISTMAS GIFT IDEAS
Yes, I said Christmas! Mea culpa, Mea culpa, Mea maxima culpa!
But let’s face it, it’s getting closer, so we might as well acknowledge that fact…and for most of us, Christmas will eventually mean Christmas shopping for those near and dear to us.
Might I suggest a couple ideas for gifts? How about supporting your writing friends and give one of their books as a gift? If we truly do belong to a writing community of friends, then let’s truly support those friends by buying their books as gifts for other friends….and the circle goes round and round…sing it with me! James Patterson has sold enough books. Let’s spread the wealth a little.
Need some ideas? How about the following:
“The Carriage Driver” by Mike Friedman
“Versions of the Self” by Christy Birmingham
THREE KEYS TO SUCCESS IN WRITING
- Make personal connections
- Tell stories
- Practice and when you are finished, practice again.
THAT’S ENOUGH FOR THIS WEEK
I’m busy doing some marketing research. I’m interested in new ways of getting my name out there without shoving it down my friends’ throats and becoming tiresome to those who have already supported me….so I’m killing the rest of this afternoon scouring the billions of tons of information out there, looking for an idea that resonates with me.
I wish you a fantastic week of writing. Thank you so much for your support and friendship.
In the next few blogs I’ll be interviewing some fellow writers and picking their brains. Stay tuned for that.
And for those who inquired, the latest in the Shadow series is coming along nicely. I’m at the 1/3rd mark and it is flowing better than I had hoped. It will be titled “Shadows Over a Hangman’s Noose.”
Bill #greatestunknownauthor
“Helping writers to spread their wings and fly.”
Billybuc
Artistry With Words 
Hi, Bill. I love following you around the net. You always give good tips and offer great advice. I am on both NIUMI and on Creative Exiles. I love both sites. CE offers me the chance to get great support and comments on my poetry and NIUMI I am making leaps and bounds with my writing in several groups. So this is turning out to be a happy end of the year time.
Glad to hear it, Rasma! Thanks for sharing your thoughts on the two sites, and blessings to you always.
Nice seeing an update here and I am will you now that my girls will be going back to school to get into a more consistent schedule once again. So, here is to consistency for both of us once again! Happy Tuesday again 🙂
A toast to consistency, Janine, for both of us…and I hope it comes soon! As always, you are a doll…thank you!
Okay. I went and signed up. Taking a little break at work to eat some lunch and check it out. Glad they have lots of spheres for all my interests, lol.
And consistency. Hmm. I write everyday and inconsistently post. :’)
Glad you signed up, Lil Sis….and consistency is highly overrated. LOL
I just joined NIUMI using your link and posted a Carriage Driver story. Thanks for the tip and thanks for the recommendation.
Well Mike thanks for using my link. Every dollar helps, buddy! I hope you like the site.
Wow, Bill, you are really on point today. Good advice, tips and suggestions on where we can go with our writing. Thank you so much.
Thanks Zulma! So far I really like the two new sites.
I went over to Niume briefly before reading this, based on a suggestion in your latest mailbag. Their payout is at $10 – a much better deal than HP. Do you know how revenue is calculated for the writer? It may be a good place to move my blog posts, since I’ve not renewed my site with Weebly.
Sha, from what I can gather, revenue is determined based on $1 per 1000 reads….I may be mistaken but that’s what I’ve decoded so far…plus a dollar for every referral. I have to do some more research on that.
Bill, reading your blogs is like getting a gigantic hug – every time 🙂
I can’t believe Christmas is just around the corner again, goodness me. Definitely time to start thinking about prezzies and things, thanks for the gentle reminder.
Hope you’re having a great week my friend!
Mel, that was sweet of you to say. Thank you! Prezzies? I’ve never heard that word but I love it!
Have a great weekend, Mel!
Ok Bill, I am going to sign up and send a few of my dead hubs over.
I hope it gives better results than HP has.
Thanks.
Shoot, Greg, how can it not do better? LOL Thanks and good luck.
Bill
I read this the other day, but only now got a few moments to write a reply. Like some of the others, I think I’ll put some stuff on the new site you mentioned. I also think your idea for Christmas is a great one.
I try and buy an eBook from Hubbers I know every time I take a few days holiday so I’ll be looking to do that over Christmas as well.
Blessings
Lawrence
Hey, Lawrence, thanks for returning when you had the time. Yes, check out the new site. I think you’ll like it….and thanks for considering the suggestion for Christmas gifts.
Oh Bill, you are such a sweetheart. Thank you for including Versions of the Self in your recommended reads. That means a lot to me. I’m going to use your link to sign up for niume too because heck why not?! Like you I have work just collecting dust on old sites and it might as well make a few bucks somewhere else. I’m sending a big hug to you!!
It was my pleasure, Christy, to give your book a shout-out. I wish nothing but the best for you and your writing endeavors.
Hugs from Olympia
Least to say, I love this site, learning good stuff,as of now when you’re quoting my own thinking (haha) -“I am my own worst enemy. Always have been. I am never satisfied with what I do. I am always convinced I am falling just short of where I should be…” Ah, speaking of patience, “Achilles heel”- since long time ago as I remember I was always searching for a ‘patience seed’ to plant it in my garden. Sighing.
One more thing my friend, on the note why I am still around ? A note to myself: If you throw me out the door, I’ll come back through the window, or vice versa, and will do so until one of us gets tired.
Thanks.
Have a great and a blessed weekend.
Michael my friend, I am laughing at your image of me throwing you out the door. It will not happen. The door is wide-open and always calling your name.
HI Bill. You are the most consistent guy I know on the net. So if you are liking this new site I will be sure and check it out. I am typing this comment on an iPad and am clueless so let’s see what happens when I try to post it. Happy Sunday to you!
Well, Audrey, you were successful, so congratulations! I hope you do try that new site, and thank you for the kind words and visit.
Not sure if this post is a duplicate so please forgive me for the second attempt. Your new book title is creative and draws a reader’s attention. Thank for the new site referral. I will have to check it out. I think a few of my old hubs will post nicely there. A good book from a great writer is always a nice gift.
Thank you Dee! I hope you like those new sites. I won’t leave HP but I do have hubs that are dying a slow death there and I might as well see how they do somewhere else.