Friday, January 30, 2009

HEART 2 HEART - "Leaving Our Comfort Zone"

In writing, "leaving our comfort zone," usually means "leaving our established genre," and branching out into others, yet untried. While this is the mark of a talented author (one who can write in multiple genres) this is not the comfort zone I'm talking about. I'm talking about leaving one comfortable writing spot for another.

Events are uprooting me from my comfortable, familiar, loft office in the Colorado Rockies ... where I find solace and many an idea pondering each passing snowflake ... and transplanting me, albeit part-time, to a windowless office/closet a block off busy Pacific Coast Highway, with the ocean minutes from my door. Needless to say, I don't have an office window where I can gaze out each day to watch the tide roll in and out and ponder the flight of the pelican or gathering of gulls ... where I perhaps might find the solace and fanciful ideas left behind in my mountain home.

There is another comfort zone I'm leaving, too. I'm leaving behind the local libraries and bookstores in the mountains and on the front range in Colorado, where they usually say "yes" to author appearances, and "yes" to ordering my books. I'm leaving the "hood" where most of the folks in my writing groups are members. Granted, because I live a relatively isolated life in the mountains, I'm not a frequent attendee at meetings, but I do enjoy the e-mail, snail-mail, and up-close-and-in-person-when-I-can collegial, companionable acquaintances with other authors based in Colorado. I've had the good fortune of seeing some of these talented authors at conference and hope to continue this in the future. Good luck for me that conferences are scheduled all over the country and soooo ... I'll especially try to attend those held in Colorado and in California.

I look forward to "hooking" up with some of the writing groups in California and perhaps will actually attend a meeting once in a while. Duh! I also look forward to getting a rhythm going, much like the ocean tide, of writing in both Colorado and California ... wherever GRANNY DAY CARE takes me!

And so ... I raise my 3rd cup of coffee so far today ... to you in a toast to Expanding Our Comfort Zones!

:)
Jo(Anne) Gregg Sundell

MATCHMAKER, MATCHMAKER
A...MY NAME'S AMELIA
THE PARLOR HOUSE DAUGHTER
MEGGIE'S REMAINS

Friday, January 23, 2009

HEART 2 HEART - "If you DON'T have the self-confidence gene, what really helps in writing is ..."

...to keep writing and keep selling! It's that simple and that complicated.

There are writers out there who are prettier, thinner, smarter, richer, more poised, more well-spoken, better at time management, listed in top 10 book sales throughout the land, agent-represented, signed on for speaking events at every conference, more savvy at working the Net, and far more expert in social and writing networking than moi`.

OK, that's a given. No danger in that whatsoever. I, for one, celebrate everyone's success. It's darn hard to write and darn hard to sell. Why do I insert "danger" into my narrative here? For good reason.

There's a fine line between celebrating the success of other writers and comparing ourselves to them -- setting ourselves up in some kind of phantom competition. Yes, to me that's dangerous AND whittles away at our self-esteem and self-confidence. We, none of us, have time for this nonsense.

It's critical to stay focused on our own writing and our own networking and our own place in today's writing world, doing our utmost to improve at every turn of the "crafting" page. We have only to learn from other writers, and if we're lucky enough to know writers who are also editors ... kismet! No better writing-self-confidence-builder!

Self-confidence for this writer, comes from writing and selling. I know I'm not the prettiest, the smartest, the most well-spoken nor the most talented, but darn it ... I'm selling to a fantastic publishing house and my books are selling to a fantastic library market ... and sometimes beyond. Because I know "it's darn hard to write and darn hard to sell," and because my books are selling ... I'm happy in my writing shoes and ever grateful to own a pair. A good fit builds self-confidence. It's that simple and that complicated.

A more confident `09 to us all!

Jo(anne) Gregg Sundell

www.joannesundell.com

www.myspace.com/joannesundell

MATCHMAKER, MATCHMAKER
A...MY NAME'S AMELIA
THE PARLOR HOUSE DAUGHTER
MEGGIE'S REMAINS

Saturday, January 17, 2009

HEART 2 HEART - "The Self-confidence Gene"

`Suppose there's a gene test for self-confidence? In writing, especially?

If so, one could make the argument that BEFORE one pursues a writing career, one might do well to get that gene test for self-confidence. If you have the gene, GREAT ... write on! If you don't have the gene, NOT-SO-GREAT ... but write on if you dare.

With four books to my credit, from Five Star-Gale, I'm not there yet in terms of self-confidence but I'm building up immunity against FEAR in the FACE of MARKETING as I go. With each book I'm realizing that I have to be doing something right to get published in this tough industry; especially in today's "tough" financial market. Despite the fact that I'm fortunate, indeed, to be published with such an accredited publishing house, and despite the fact that I've received national reviews for all of my books in release ... I still hem, haw, and shake in the knees during book talks, signings, and speaking appearances.

I'm remembering Stephen King's sage advice now, in his book, ON WRITING, where he advises us to turn all of our negatives and our rejections ... into positives. Because I was born without the Self-confidence Gene in "all things marketing" I, more than most, need to heed Mr. King's advice. Which I do. Uh, which I try to do.

Most importantly, I tell myself that every day tons of other writers are out there marketing and they can't all be GREAT AT IT! I do feel there's a support group out there, with many in the membership just like me, and needing to turn our fears into motivation and use all of that adrenalin for GOOD ... OUR OWN GOOD! I relax then, knowing I'm not alone.

Sooooo ... I take a deep breath, chin up chest out and all of that sort of thing, and remember that I've indeed achieved a lot, with four books published, and I owe it to myself, my publisher, and my stories to turn my chief negative --- my lack of self-confidence --- into positive motivation and go out there in Marketing Land and grab a bit of that elusive brass ring of self-confidence for myself! There should be plenty to go around on the merry go round of book promotion, right?

Let's all grab that Brass Ring of Confidence together,

Jo(anne) Gregg Sundell

MATCHMAKER, MATCHMAKER
A...MY NAME'S AMELIA
THE PARLOR HOUSE DAUGHTER
MEGGIE'S REMAINS

Friday, January 9, 2009

HEART 2 HEART - "Book Cents"

With the New Year underway and in the midst of marketing my third release from Five Star-Gale, trying to juggle time needed for completing manuscripts and time needed for well ... the rest of the "to-dos" in life ... I made a resolution to have better BOOK CENTS this year!

Yep, I "also" made a resolution to be a better blogger, too. Time will tell.

What do I mean by BOOK CENTS?

I mean that every minute of my day that goes toward writing should be a minute well spent.
I mean that every word keyed toward my WIP should be a word well put.
I mean that time and effort involved in Virtual Blog Touring should not be time wasted.
I mean that every marketing avenue pursued, should have a positive exit plan with projected sales numbers in mind.
I mean that I will try to get "booked" in stores for signing events that will showcase my latest release to best advantage.
I mean that I will work on getting out there ... whether on the Net or in Person ... and do my best to engage and interest more readers in my historical romances.
I mean that I will do my best to "dance and chew gum at the same time." I will do my best to write, while at the same time market, while at the same time, book appearances at stores and libraries.
MOST OF ALL, I mean that I will continue to value my relationships with acquisitions agents, editors, fellow writers, and readers, ever listening to their sage advice and following their guide.

Makes good "BOOK CENTS," don't ya think?

Jo(anne)Gregg Sundell
www.joannesundell.com
www.myspace.com/joannesundell

MATCHMAKER, MATCHMAKER
A...MY NAME'S AMELIA
THE PARLOR HOUSE DAUGHTER
MEGGIE'S REMAINS