Welcome back, followers. I know you missed me last week, and I’m sorry for depriving you of my wit for so long a time. I drove my parents up to the suburbs of Chicago for a family reunion of my Dad’s cousins. I heard numerous family stories and wrote down many of them. History doesn’t write itself. We drove back Sunday in heavy rain until Springfield, Illinois and then sunny skies.
As mentioned in previous posts, I’m a writer, not a master marketer. Facebook tells me my author page spikes in views when I update the blog. I know people are reading, maybe not the whole thing, but I do get visitors. Is that enough for an aspiring author who doesn’t have a book yet? For me, yes, but I can’t speak for others. After all, I’m not a master marketer. I’m a writer.
Writing stories for the Ozark Writer’s Conference contest entries has kept me busy this summer. Working on them is on my calendar for this afternoon after running a few errands. The contests are challenging, one is to tell a story, with a beginning, middle and end, in only 99 words. Authors prefer to use more than 99 words. However, I did enjoy the work, and I hope the contests judges appreciate my effort.
I still have three weeks before the publishing company makes a decision on my manuscript I sent them at the end of May. I believe in my little story of a romp in the swamp at a Louisiana bordello. I hope they do to and not my inability to bring the masses to my website, Facebook page, and Twitter account. I’m a writer, not a master marketer. Granted I could increase my odds by doing multiple submissions, but I hope my preference not to put pressure on the publishing company of being in competition with others favors their view of me.
I will continue writing new stories and revising my manuscript. I will continue to excel in my woefully underachieving marketing skills. I’m a writer, not a master marketer. I believe you can liken this to the proverbial groom. He says to his blushing bride, “Just tell me what time to be there, and where ‘there’ is at.” To my future publisher just tell me what book signing to go to, what conference to sign up for and how you want me to assist your marketing department in promoting my book. I’ll be there. Let those who know how to market, market. Let the writer write. I’m a writer, not a master marketer, and history doesn’t write itself.
What I’m Reading – Many readers I know like to inquire what their favorite author is reading. At the end of each blog post, I’ll let you know what I’m reading. I may not be a published author yet, but I hope my choice of reading material inspires you to read. I finished Once, There Were Sad Songs by Velda Brotherton. My review is here on Good Reads. Currently, I’m reading Rediscover Jesus: An Invitation by Matthew Kelly. I encourage you to read a variety of topics.