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)

Wednesdays With Joanne - "Table for Five"

Hi All,

No, I'm not resurrecting last season's tv fare (pardon the pun), but extolling the virtues of "partners in crime and in romance!"

I've learned that I'm not alone...there are others out there...waiting and watching and writing...just like me. Other Five Star-Thomson Gale published authors in Colorado that is. How much fun is this! And guess what? The natives are friendly. Not only are these other writers friendly, but they're generous with their time and their ideas. We're sharing our marketing toys. I like this play group!!!

They are:
Leslee Breene - Leadville Lady
Beth Groundwater - A Real Basket Case
Janet Lane - Tabor's Trinket
Pat Stoltey - The Prairie Grass Murders

Please feel free to visit Beth Anne's Book Corner site at www.bethannesbookcorner.com/sign.html and check out their blurbs and covers. I'm very pleased to be counted among them.

Hey, there's more room at our table. BYOB(books)!!!!

Shalom,
Jo(anne)

Wednesdays With Joanne: "For All the WRITE Reasons"

Are there any other kind when it comes to writing?

Yes, I think there are.

If you're writing for the market only, and not for yourself, that's THE wrong reason. Of course the market is a primary consideration, but not the more important. The more imporant is to write from our heart and from our head, hoping the passion in us will translate into something marketable, but not with the market being our driving force.

If you're writing because you know you have bestsellers in you, you probably do, and that's great, but...if you're unwilling to allow critique and the editorial opinion of others (future readers, all) then you're not serving your own interests well. We must listen to those who've gone before us. We must listen and learn.

If you're writing without the reader in mind, without respecting their intellect, without being mindful of their feelings, you're writing for some other reason that will only get you in trouble.

If you're writing, thinking you don't need to put in hard work all the way, from manuscript-to sale-to publication-to marketing and beyond, then you're mistaken, my friend. Leastways, I think so.

Okay, so now let's all get to it! May 2007 be the WRITE year for us all!

Shalom,
Joanne

Wednesdays With Joanne: "It's the heroine, stupid."

I say that with all due respect and nothing but love in my heart!

Of my two books sold to Five Star-Thomson Gale, while the hero and heroine both figure prominantly (as is requisite in any romance), much of the story falls on the slight but strong shoulders of the heroine. It's up to her to get the romance off the ground and keep it going through every conflict, no matter how black the moment. Of course it takes two! It takes both the hero and the heroine to create the romance "that dreams are made of," with the plot often taking twists and turns made by the hero. I believe, however, that it is the heroine with whom the reader first identifies, first takes note of, and keeps the reader "reading."

In Matchmaker, Matchmaker, the heroine is a young, unwed, Jewish doctor struggling to make a life out west for herself and her ailing father. Five identifiers right away: young, unwed, Jewish, doctor, daughter. In A...My Name's Amelia, the young heroine is unwed, deaf, and trying to make a living in the non-deaf world. Four identifiers here: young, unwed, deaf, strong-willed.

While I can't wait to have the hero and heroine meet, more important is to have the reader first meet the heroine. Will you love to love her, or love to hate her?

Happy Reading & Happy Holidays!

Shalom to all, and to all a good night,

Joanne

Wednesdays With Joanne : A "signing we will go!"

Still happy to snag a few signing appearances, given that Matchmaker, Matchmaker has been in release since January, I happily took my Mont Blanc in hand and showed up at B & N in Denver this past Sunday. What a fun time! I call my signings "cold calls" as I show up and see what happens (as opposed to having an agent or publicist contact newspapers, radio stations, etc, to announce my comings and goings. Maybe in my next life, huh). The community specialist at B & N in Glendale was wonderful, giving me a huge publicity sign and a comfortable chair. Of course a chair is a no-no at a signing. You need to engage and energize the literary public that happen by; hard to do if you're sitting down I think. With props (Chanukah sugar cookies and signed bookmarks) in hand I had so much fun conversing with history buffs, medical folks, teachers, and lovers of historical romance. It doesn't get much better than that. I sold some books and signed a few to leave in-store.

My library booktalk in the mountains, while not as well attended as my Denver signing, taught me a thing or two about marketing. No matter how much you publicize things (despite the local newspaper not listing the word "signing" in the promo blurb, daggone it), don't plan any events during the month of December, especially in the mountains, on a freezing night in the snow, and expect the folks to come. If you build it, they don't necessairly come! I'm learning, albeit slowly. A brave, sincere, few showed up for my booktalk and some even bought books. Thank you!!!! You all know who you are. Although my ego is a bit bruised, I don't fault mountain kith and kin. I blame myself for my ill-timed marketing effort.

The "marketing sweats" come in all kinds of ways; not just waiting for reviews to come in. Oy vey! I experienced a few anxiety pangs Monday night but such is the nature of the marketing beast.

Shalom,
Joanne

Wednesdays with Joanne ... on Friday?

Hi guys,

Been caught up in a bit of web trouble. Sorry for the posting delay.

I'm trying to find time each day to "surf the blogs" and find out what's what. I have learned that apparently there's a whole new category of us out there: bloggers and non-bloggers. If one dives into blogging, one should commit to weekly, if not daily postings. And these postings need to be substantial, or at least, gritty and informative. Then, if one decides to take the plunge into the blogging pool, one should link to other blog sites, share information, and even set up interviews, and blog tours. Whew! See why I'm still overwhelmed at the prospect of blogging?

That being said...

I'm still going to be Wednesday's Child here, and do my best to entertain, inform, and hook you on historical romance; especially historical romance set in the West. Hey, there are so many talented, successful, historical romance writers here in Colorado. Joan Johnston kindly gave me an author quote for my upcoming romance, A...My Name's Amelia, and I met Sandra Dallas at the recent Women Writing the West Conference, where her book, New Mercies, took top prize. Isn't name-dropping the best! (network-speaking, that is) I met another amazing author there as well, Harriet Rochlin.

There are three Romance Writers of America chapters in Colorado: Heart of Denver, Colorado Romance Writers, and Pikes Peak Writers. I'm a member of CRW, living 2 hrs away in the mountains. A new member, I've run into some old friends and am making new ones! Couldn't ask for a better support group, or writing resource.

I'm gearing up for a signing at B&N in Denver this Sunday, and a booktalk/signing at one of our local libraries on Monday. I hope to meet other writers here in Grand County. WE ARE NOT ALONE!

I'll be back soon.

Joanne

Wednesdays With Joanne: A Balancing Act

Almost holiday time, family time, taking vacation time, shopping time, cooking time, down time, up time (TIME being the operative word), I'm keenly aware of time these days, and how very little any of us have left over at the end of our busy day. Notice, I haven't mentioned writing time as yet, or the balancing act writers are asked to perform on a daily basis.

A big part of writing is about time management, I believe. For my part, I'm involved in a daily, almost schizophrenic balancing act of just how to best use my time. Speaking of best, the best book I've ever read on writing and how to use one's time is called, On Writing by Stephen King. I highly recommend it! Find a time and a place to write, and write. Great advice. Then make time to read other writers. More great advice. Be disciplined, then go for it. Great, great advice. But...

If one is fortunate enough to get published, then, naturally, more time is asked of you for marketing and promotion---time taken away from working on that new book, polishing up a manuscript for submission, looking for an agent, networking with readers and authors, attending conferences, attending writing groups, updating websites for the Internet, or (dare I say it) blogging! Here's where the "balancing act" comes in. Here's where listening to Stephen King's voice comes in. Find a time and place...and just do it! (I'm paraphrasing, of course.)

I'm working on "working on" how best to use my time now that I have two books out, one in release and one soon to be. I'm itching to get to that next book, but find I have an obligation to my first two. I have to do my best to promote and market them. The publisher does their part, but we as writers must also do our part. We must set up booktalks, signings, radio spots, newspaper spots, reviews, secure notable author quotes/blurbs, mail out press releases, mail out extra galleys, place ads where and when we can, etc. And so...

Balancing my time amid the upcoming, busy holiday season becomes even more of a challenge now. Ah well, I've decided to "just do it," albeit in schizophrenic bits. The early morning hours will be devoted to the new book, the mid-morning hours to internet duty, the afternoon hours to outside fun and games (hey, I live in the Colorado mountains...we are obligated to be outside playing in the snow), and the evening hours to figuring out how best to garner that next signing or appearance. Hmmm...that just leaves the midnight hours for holiday baking and watching A Wonderful Life. No worries, I'll just keep the coffee going. Helps me with my "balancing act" you know.

I'd love to hear what you're doing with your time these days! Feel free to post! Key ya!