Wednesdays With Joanne - I can't dance and chew gum at the same time!

Hi all,

I can't "write and market" at the same time, darn it! Fess up! There MUST be other writers out there like me.

With two books published, I'm still hovering between writing being a serious hobby and writing being a job. If a hobby, no worries about anything other than trying to create the next story, the next hero and heroine, the next historical chapter. I've only myself to satisfy, to entertain, and answer to. If, however, writing is a job, there ARE worries to consider: marketing worries. With these worries comes the "job" of promotion and sales, reviews and author quotes, edits and re-edits, booksignings and booktalks, jockeying for notice. I'm doing my best to learn how to be up to the "job," and in doing so, I've learned that I "can't dance and chew gum at the same time."

This morning I'm full-into marketing concerns for A...My Name's Amelia, and have put The Parlor House Daughter on the back burner, yet again. It's important for Amelia's story to reach not only the librarians in Colorado, but also the librarians in the deaf schools throughout the country. That won't happen unless I contact them all with my press packet and "pitch" Amelia's story to them. Thus, time must be devoted to this task. I'm also contacting, or will soon, bookstores in Colorado, hoping they'll give some attention to Amelia's story. Too, there are conferences and meetings coming up and I hope to participate and showcase Amelia's story on these occasions.

For me, I love to write in the early morning hours. I love working on "that next book," but not so easy for me when I've other tasks at hand. It's difficult to get up fresh and write if I'm worried about marketing issues. I'd love to know if other writers have this dilemma, and if they do, how they resolve it. I'm thinking the key is not to worry. The key is not to put so much emphasis on marketing, creative emphasis that is. Just do it, right? Just do it, and free up time for writing "that next book."

I just find this interesting and revealing about myself as a writer. While some can easily dance and chew gum, I'm admitting that I cannot...yet. Tune in tomorrow...

Shalom,
Jo(anne)