I knew a guy once, this is going back maybe ten years ago, maybe fifteen . . . anyway, he had a band, and he would use email to let us all know when his band was playing. I’m not talking about an occasional email; I’m talking about three or four emails each week giving us all date and time and location.
All well and good, I guess, although a bit overboard, but I would have persisted through that onslaught except for the fact that he never talked about anything else, and he certainly never gave a rat’s butt about those of us who had to read his damned emails. Not once do I remember him asking how I was doing, or how my family was . . . it was just the same message hammered home day in and day out.
I never did go listen to his band. There was no way in hell I was going to support him when he hadn’t taken the time to treat me like a friend he cared about.
I try to remember that now when I’m in writing/marketing mode. There is more to life than my writing career. There are far more important things in the world than some new book I’ve written, or some new article I’ve penned.
The audience for my writing is composed of real people. They have lives. They do not need me to beat them over the head with advertising, day in and day out. They are people I actually care about, and I refuse to dip so low as to become nothing more than a poor facsimile of a cheap commercial. You all know I’m a writer. I don’t need to continually announce that to the world. Read my books, don’t read my books, it really makes no difference to me.
What is important to me are relationships, and I refuse to jeopardize those relationships in order to sell one copy of my work. I just won’t do it.
The Gospel According To Bill
“Helping writers to spread their wings and fly.”
Billybuc
Artistry With Words 
Perfectly said, Bill and I agree it is the relationships that matter the most. I try so hard even when I send out my newsletters to remember that. I try to not send out more than once a week with a quick recap with seasonally appropriate articles and possibly a freebie (printable) included if I can, too. So again couldn’t agree more! Happy Tuesday now and hope your week has been a great one so far 🙂
It’s a tightrope at times, Janine….I think, if someone shares life other than writing, then the balance works…but if all we hear is blah, blah,and blah about their business, and nothing about them, and they don’t reciprocate, then there is something wrong with that balance.
Happy Tuesday dear friend!
Hi Bill – It is a shame that we are all reduced to becoming a brand. I know that there are many writers who deserve to be miles ahead of where they are on the success curve. I agree with you shouting about nothing but yourself won’t get you where you want to go. Marketing every day is a chore, spreading the word about fellow authors is a privilege.
Mike, you speak the truth. I just don’t have it in me to shout my praises from the mountaintops….oh well, I have some great friends in this business and that’s good enough for me. Thank you!
Like always… Wise words. Thanks Bill.
Thank you Greg…have a great week!
Really great stuff Bill. I have to push myself on such matters as I really should be Jeremiah Johnson living alone in the woods.
I understand completely, Eric! I am a loner by nature, but being a loner is very bad for me. 🙂
There was one guy who called me every Wednesday to ask me how he did on Tuesday night. I sppke well of him, then would tell about his books.
I used to help with edit. One day I had the flue accompanied with high fever … the usual. I text him and said I was ill and would be bit late with editing.
No response, but when he called three days latter, it was still about himself and his books … his poetry.
I lost it and told that I did not want to do anything for him any more.
Long one to say that you are so right! Higher thoughts.
Manatita, I know you and I are similar in that we will help others almost all of the time, but if we feel taken advantaged of, our generosity will stop flowing. I believe in reciprocal treatment among friends.
This reminds me that I just read that David Cassidy’s daughter said that his last words were, “so much wasted time”. Family and friends are more important.
Great point, Donna! Great truth!
Gotta treat ’em like friends. That’s a crazy amount of emails that guy in a band sent out. I think it would have gone straight to spam, lol. Hope you’re well on this Tuesday, Big Bro. 🙂
Hey, Lil Sis, thanks for stopping by. Busy time of year, eh? It sure is for me….but the temps are warm and I have no complaints. Best wishes and hugs to you!
Yep Bill
That’s ‘good news’ and we love it that we can connect, and share some of what’s going on in our part of the globe. Today, I’ve got a day off as it’s ‘Anzac day’ a public holiday in New Zealand (and Australia) so I’m just enjoying the day with family, finding out how they’re doing.
Thank you Lawrence. I hope you had a great day off and enjoyed some quality time with family.
Hi Bill,
I totally agree that you shouldn’t only talk about your books with your marketing materials but I wasn’t sure why you used my picture there! It kind of looks like I am that kind of person and I hope htat is not what you are saying!
Sharilee
*Shari**lee Swaity* *May you both dance as you have never danced before* Second Chance Love
On Tue, Apr 24, 2018 at 9:38 AM, Artistry With Words wrote:
> Billybuc posted: “I knew a guy once, this is going back maybe ten years > ago, maybe fifteen . . . anyway, he had a band, and he would use email to > let us all know when his band was playing. I’m not talking about an > occasional email; I’m talking about three or four emails e” >
Not meant that way at all, Sharilee. I’m sorry. I grabbed a picture in a hurry and didn’t think of the ramifications.
Hi Bill,
I have always respected you as a writer and a person, so please understand that it pains me to write this but I am really disappointed in your last post.
Sorry if my last email sounded curt but I felt upset at my picture being used in an article like this, without my permission. I am hoping it was a mistake but otherwise, it feels like a violation of trust. I would ask that you would kindly remove my picture from the article. It was sent to you for the guest post article that I wrote, and has the name of my book in the title.
Thanks,
Sharilee Swaity
*Shari**lee Swaity* *May you both dance as you have never danced before* Second Chance Love
On Tue, Apr 24, 2018 at 9:38 AM, Artistry With Words wrote:
> Billybuc posted: “I knew a guy once, this is going back maybe ten years > ago, maybe fifteen . . . anyway, he had a band, and he would use email to > let us all know when his band was playing. I’m not talking about an > occasional email; I’m talking about three or four emails e” >
You are absolutely correct,Sharilee, and I apologize. The picture was removed.
Right on target. Spreading words is a must for a writer. To say it with love as you do my friend though it might hurt, it teaches of those who are teachable. Thanks much for helping me.
Michael my friend,it is my pleasure to help you, and I thank you for your friendshiip.
Good for you, Bill. Not that I ever thought you were ‘that guy’. I wish more people on the ‘Net understood that we are real people with real lives and appreciate being treated as such. Have a lovely day.
Thank you Zulma! It’s just not in my DNA to flaunt myself in any way, shape,or form. I’m very uncomfortable with marketing me.
Such is the way of the shy, woodland creature. 😀
Truth!
Very well said Bill, human relations are more important than selling your book or advertising your work.Everyone knows that you’re a great writer and more than that a wonderful human being.
And we all love you for that, being real is more necessary rather than being a business poster.
You are very sweet, Nikki! Thank you so much,my friend,and blessings to you and your family.
Absolutely right, Bill. People like that are a pain in the butt. That’s why I seldom visit Twitter, as it’s majorly populated by the self-promotion brigade (or political crazies!). Okay, I’ve probably not sold a copy of either of my books for months, but so what? When I can afford it, I’ll run an Amazon marketing campaign, which enables me to sell to total strangers and not keep hassling friends, turning them into non-friends. And it’s so true that those who are most into self-promotion, are only interested in their products and not interested in yours at all. Come to think of it, it’s not just writers who do this. I have someone who regularly rings me up and only talks about themselves and rarely, if ever, asks me what I’ve done or how I feel. In fact, if I try to talk about anything I’ve done, they change the subject or I can almost hear their mind switching off, with a loud ping. One plus, such people make great fodder for becoming future literary characters, although I can envisage that murder would most likely happen in the opening pages.
Sarah, I am howling at your last sentence. Yes, kill them off, with no worries about incarceration. LOL Priceless statement, Sarah, and I have friends like that as well. Perhaps the word “friends” is a bit optimistic. Let’s say acquaintances and leave it at that.