Home » Writer's Blogs » Jean-Purcell

Jane Bullard's blog

Jean Purcell ^(1,882) Canada

Jean Purcell

OpineBooks.com

BlackBerry Notes Away From Home

Posted Monday, November 02, 2009 (18 days 13 hours ago.) Viewed 92 times.

Virginia Beach VA looks cool, foggy, and rainy this morning.

From a third floor balcony I look over two pineapple-shaped pools.

There's relaxation here off-season. A smattering of guests at "Turtle Cay" have no competition for garage parking. (Which makes me wonder why they did not allow my daughter's car to use the garage too.)

One of my daughters and I came here on time share swap for a bit of R&R. We drove separately due to her school schedule and earlier return home, tomorrow already. I stay till Thursday morning. We drove in rain all the way yesterday, till after eight at night. Heavy traffic slow-downs plagued the interchanges south of Washington DC. From the hundreds of headlights of stopped or creeping cars on the northbound route, I was glad we were headed the other way.

Our different GPS systems got confused, too, but we found our way, of course. That was after our cars turned onto a road that led to a military area. Thankfully, friendly armed guards men directed us from the gate back to the right road.

We reached the hotel tired, wet (running from cars to reception area), and relieved. Before collapsing into sleep we listened to a program about politically, or rather gender, correct language. So of course I dreamed about a long debate on opposite sides of words like "guards men" and "guards persons." "Guards people"? (Which view did I make the case for?)

Right now, dear reader, my unscrambling and sleep-blessed mind remembers that this note began as comments on relaxation reading.

So, finally to the point, here is a list of books I brought with me for three undisturbed and quiet days:

BIBLE, from beloved husband for travels, given years ago

HOW THE IRISH SAVED CIVILIZATION-Thomas Cahill (copy on loan);

GEORGE and MARTHA WASHINGTON-biography of a marriage; book still in car; I forget writer's name; rereading Rev. War days);

FAITH'S CHECKBOOK-Spurgeon;

ICED (almost finished,easy-read mystery by Carol Higgins Clark).

Now I leave you. Daughter back in bed in living room. Daughter up north having another busy day. Beloved husband to join me here day after youngest daughter returns home. He'll stay till Saturday AM. Dear Mary Helen Purcell stays at home now except for short car rides. Did I say she's now 90 and 3 months? God bless her. Last I heard, she was reading another book on tape, compliments of MD services to the blind. Good books help the interested, active mind!

Wonder what you're reading these days!

Bye for now.

Permalink Comments (4)

Writers, Why and How to Stop Dread of Marketing

Posted Thursday, October 29, 2009 (22 days 8 hours ago.) Viewed 927 times.

"Ugh! I hate marketing! There's nothing but suspicion and rejection!" Many writers feel this way about marketing.

Yet, writing requires, even demands, it. We've got to face up to it, somehow. Shyness, feelings of guilt, and repulsed or apologetic attitudes should not get us down!

Why is it important to readjust attitudes about marketing away from shyness, guilt, or apology? You've heard the expression "times have changed." Book publishers used to publish fewer books than the mountain published now. They once set up book tours and signings for their select family of writers. Today, the publishing family has changed. While some authors are treated as close kin, others are treated a bit like distant relatives. That leaves more up to the author.

Most writers today must study and learn how to be part of active marketing of their works, ongoing. This now even includes Social Networking sites like:

Twitter

FaceBook and

LinkedIn.

Marketing books is now far more than a six-month effort. Every book's marketing life span should be at least one year to 18 months, starting several months before the book is released. Hence, writers that do not readjust attitudes about marketing do not get much exposure, which means low readership.

Toastmasters - Authors must strive, including perhaps joining Toastmasters f or speaking experience or studying book marketing through libraries and conferences.

John Kremer - The best way is to commit, jump in, and find good expert advice. Many book marketing experts, such as John Kremer , make money marketing their books so they can help writers learn marketing plans that work.

SPAN - The Small Publishers Association, has been around a while, helping authors and small press publishers like my company.

How can a writer handle marketing as a professional skill deserving respect? It becomes easier to think and convey marketing as something that deserves respect when shyness, guilt, and apologies are dropped. Marketing is a professional area of the writer's life that does not have to be cold, calculating, self-serving, or dishonest. It does not have to use trickery.

Honest marketing works. This comes through if the writer as marketer remembers to keep it simple, personal, friendly, and real. This can become easier through study, trial and effort, willingness to endure suspicions of others, along with continued work to find what works. This includes what reassures and tries to answer doubts.

Marketing involves personal skills, starting with looking outward, to the audience, rather than inward, to one's own reluctance about "marketing," which is really "getting out there."

Pat Brannon,a children's author I know, finds her key audience in schools. Of course. And schools touch not only children but also teachers and parents. Parents and teachers are always looking for uplifting, wholesome, and outstanding books for children. That is what Pat gives, and when she visits schools she adds dramatic effect in her presentations, and that just adds to the fun. All of this is "marketing," yet Pat has made it a very personal outreach to an audience she really cares about.

How do you help others get over suspicions or even revulsion about your marketing efforts?

Can your reading and buying audience be suspicious of you if you give a lot of yourself and enjoy writing and bringing joy, entertainment, or help to others? Almost all writers whose work is worth the ink have a sense of wanting to reach others, to connect, and to communicate. Writers are not heartless and money-hungry people. They would be in another profession. They love what they do, as you and I know, as writers.

Every writer must find a way, uniquely and fitting with their personality, to convey genuinely to editors, booksellers, and their reading audience that they love what they do. They must come out of their shell, the closed office or corner where writing happens. They must physically-as well as in print, audio, and digital format-touch the lives of their readers.

One deep desire - One big test for many writers is to show their deep desire to connect with readers. Writing that sincerely reaches out, connects, draws people always works. It's the best, in my view. It links writer and reader in special ways. Whether it's a poem, a news column or opinion piece, a commentary or informational report, the same applies as for book writers. The person unseen on the other side of the writing, seeing it, holding its medium whether print or iPOD, and reacting with feelings and interest is every writer's point of interest. That is the desired contact.

If you wish to call marketing something else, that's fine. I've called it "reliable and true communication about something of value." Let's add "enthusiastic" communication to that list, too! How can shyness, guilt, or apology remain when you have something of real value to share? That's not something to dread. That's something to get excited about that makes the hard work of doing it worthwhile.

(c)2009 Jean Purcell

Permalink Comments (13)

A Poem With Music (in My Head) To a Daughter Far Away

Posted Monday, October 26, 2009 (25 days 7 hours ago.) Viewed 142 times.

I borrow from a real poet, David Pekrul of SearchWarp, to write this introduction. I like David's intros to his poetry, telling what inspired him to write. I'm not a poet, as you will see, but I hope the lines mean something to others, and most especially to my daughter who lives far from Maryland where she grew up. Boston is not as far away as Europe, yet it's too far to drop in or see her coming up the walkway here at home, on any given day.

What is in the heart is always close. That includes our son in law and wonderful grandsons, who are now two young men and one still close to childhood's innocence. Writing a note to her and looking at her photo on Facebook, I felt happy, proud and...yes, a bit sentimentally sad. It's okay, though, 'cause we make the most of times together and away. And I will not apologize for any violation of iambic pentameter. I feel sure David will excuse that and so will you, dear reader. Most of all, to my daughter in her northern clime, Massachusetts.

To Daughter in her Northern Clime

You are more than a photo in our hall

(Or a joyous face on a FaceBook wall).

You are more than a video from afar.

You are more than a dream or a thought or whipped cream

Of delicious phone calls and visits I know.

You are more than a woman or girl.

You are more than a citizen of the world.

You are more than a number, address or some code

You are unique, hmm, you're special…and loved…

Darling, bright as a Cardinal Bird…(that's our code),

Love's the word.

Permalink Comments (9)

Archives:

November 2009
M	T	W	T	F	S	S
1	2	3	4	5	6	7
8	9	10	11	12	13	14
15	16	17	18	19	20	21
22	23	24	25	26	27	28
29	30
« Oct

All Posts by Jean Purcell

Jane Bullard's blog

BlackBerry Notes Away From Home

Writers, Why and How to Stop Dread of Marketing

A Poem With Music (in My Head) To a Daughter Far Away

Archives:

Previous Posts:

Related Posts:

Blogroll