More Buyer Beware
By Jerry D. Simmons | February 20th, 2008 | No Comments » (Click to add yours!)
I’m on a rant this week, I’m tired of the self described experts taking hard earned money from the pockets of unsuspecting writers who are buying products and services that are worthless. There are more vultures in this business that I ever imagined and their ability to slice and dice loads of crap is beyond my comprehension.
I’ve written on this before and I have to speak out again–do not, let me repeat DO NOT purchase anything–book, product or service, marketing plan, distribution package, CD, book trailer, ticket to a workshop or seminar–before you check the source. Don’t fall for those who call themselves experts unless they list their credentials, background and experience. If they don’t provide a bio, walk away. And just because they happen to have written a bestselling book doesn’t make them an expert. Bestselling authors are seldom privy to the secrets of book marketing.
For the self described experts that claim to have answers to gaining distribution into the traditional marketplace, your question should be: how do they know this? Just because someone writes about something doesn’t make it factual. I’m willing to put my experience up against anyone selling “secrets” to any part of publishing, marketing, distribution, or selling books.
The latest most outrageous claim, by one of the experts, is to sell the entire New York Times list of bestseller reporting bookstores. This is analogous to buying a 2008 calendar where each month is January 2005, or February 2004, or who knows. This list changes on a rotating and constant basis. The only true source for such a list would be one of the big six publishers or the Times themselves.
Problem with this supposed list, is that once you purchase, you can never know exactly what you are buying. The list you purchase might not even be current, let alone creditable, there is no way to tell. Please, I urge you, check your source before you buy anything that claims to help you sell your book(s). Don’t let those so-called experts fool you into believing they have answers to the problem of marketing and selling more books.
Some of the best information is free, take advantage and do your homework first, before you buy!
This blog is unedited, please disregard mistakes in spelling and grammar.
Take a Break if You Need One
By Jerry D. Simmons | February 6th, 2008 | No Comments » (Click to add yours!)
We all need to take a break from writing once in awhile. Even though authors say that writers need to write everyday, sometimes the words just don’t happen….at least for me. I’ve been on a hiatus of late and haven’t been writing like I want. I just had to take a break. Now the transition time is over, it‘s back to reality.
In a recent interview, John Grisham told a reporter than he didn’t start writing until late in life, he never took a writing class, he learned how to write from reading lots books. Now he writes at least one page a day. Of course John Grisham is the exception in many ways, but his book wasn’t published until he was 30 and, we wrote about things he knew.
Authors with whom I’ve traveled over the years have similar stories. Many didn’t start writing until they were adults, they had no formal training, and they try and write something every day. Regardless of whether or not they ever use their daily writing, they write. The best way to learn to write is to write, as much as possible.
A very close friend of mine told me the other day that if you encounter writers block, change your environment. Move to another room in your house or even go to the park or a library. Don’t allow your surroundings to create a block to your writing.
If you want to read a really great book on writers block, read WRITE. 10 Days to Overcome Writer’s Block. Period. Written by Karen E. Peterson, Ph.D. The quote on the cover is from Kurt Vonnegut, “As well researched and helpful a book on writing as I’ve ever read.”
Bottom line, take a break if you need to take one. Don’t force it, for me, that didn’t work. Hopefully I will continue to be energized by all of you. If you have a writers block story you’d like to share please send it to me.
This blog is unedited, please disregard mistakes in spelling and grammar.
