Persnickety Penman: Promoting Yourself

         I'm very pleased to announce that a very short article that I have written appears in the current edition of Jackson Brigade Quarterly (Vol. 18, No.2 issue dated February 2010).  Actually it is a self-promotional piece about me and my blog.  I plan to discuss this in more depth in my posting for this coming Wednesday, February 17.  But this inspired my post for today:  How are you at promoting yourself?

         Over the course of my various careers, I have had several instances where my writing has appeared in print, primarily in the form of press releases or feature stories that have promoted myself, someone I know (usually a family member), or a business enterprise in which I was involved.  Often this was just a matter doing what I needed to do to promote business and I didn't really think of it as my writing--after all my name didn't appear as an author of the piece and nobody probably even thought about who wrote it.  Some of these articles were clipped and sit in a box or a file somewhere in my house and some I probably never even actually saw. 

         The press release is standard procedure for anyone who is trying to promote themselves or their agenda.  Usually if the release is formatted correctly, sent to the right person, and has some relevant topical interest it will appear in the pages of a newspaper.  But is that all you really want?  Is it adequate enough to just have a little blurb hidden away somewhere in the newsprint pages announcing the publication of your book or a book signing where you will be appearing?  As far as I am concerned that is better than nothing, but why not shoot for more?

       In my many years in show business I found that a newspaper would like to see a show buy some advertising to promote the appearance of that show in their town, but they are also hungry for interesting stories that can appear on their pages.  It was standard procedure for our show's advance team to provide local media with press kits with press releases and photos.  That was often enough to get at least one story in print. However, sometimes when I could see an additional tie-in with our show, I would write up a special story to send to the appropriate editor.  Sometimes they would use that story and more often than not they would send a reporter and photographer to do their own feature story.  If I hadn't taken the effort to promote myself and my agenda nobody else would have.

      For example, if our show was going to play a town where I or one of my cast members had come from or gone to school, I would let the local media know.  This was an item of local interest.  Or, my wife and I were traveling with our children and sometimes there might be a story related to that--human interest.  Occasionally, we would visit a hospital or school and media would show up to capture those special charitible moments which in turn called attention to our show.  Somebody had to make the contacts to make these connections that in turn inspired stories in which people would be interested.

       If you want to become a more widely known writer and you don't have someone doing the work for you, you should definitely consider more self-promotion. Come on--it's not that bad of a thing.  Sometimes we might think we are bragging or being egotistical.  Is there anything wrong with that if it is true?  Get over any embarrassment or fear that you might have about self-promotion.  Distance yourself from the project of promotion if you must; in other words make you, the author, and you, the promotional business person, two seperate things.  However, if you are truly confident in your book, you should be proud to get it out into the hands of the public.  Let's face it, if the public does not know about you and your work, then you are going to have a much more difficult time in getting your product into their hands.

      While you are out there promoting, try to find exceptionally creative ways of getting yourself and your book known.  Make yourself and your book relevant to the reading public.  Part of this is your platform and you should take advantage of that to the greatest extent that you can.  The other part is creatively finding opportunities to which you can connect yourself.  Contact media in locales where you may have connections to do a story about you and your book.   If you have written something historical,  connect your piece with a local celebration of the event or in conjunction with a feature about a historical site or the like.  Call attention to something notable that you have recently done or been involved with and casually mention your book in the process.  Your opportunities are really unlimited.  You just have to find them and exploit them.

        You can spend all the money you can get your hands on to promote the sales of your books and there is no guarantee that you'll make back a penny of it.  You can invest in book fairs and conferences--it can help but it's still self-promotion.  If you don't have a big bankroll to spend on these things, the best thing you can do is start investing your time and creativity into what is essentially free advertising.  After all, the best advertising is the free advertising you get through word of mouth and stories in the press.  More than likely this will all have to start with you.

       Whatever your circumstance may be, you should not be embarrassed to self-promote yourself.  All businesses do it to generate sales.  If you are trying to sell your books, then you are a business.  For most of us our books aren't going to sell on the basis of our names and good looks alone.  That's why we have to get out there and make our names known and convince people that there is something about us and our books that they might--no should!---be interested in. 

Unity Among Believers

        I am going to deviate from my normal course of Bible study this week to make reference to a topic that caught my attention on a blog called The Christian Church Blog by Bruce Moar. I was reading an interesting post by Bruce this week on the topic of unity among followers of Jesus Christ. You can read this post and perhaps some of his other posts to get the full scope of his message, but the gist of the message is that Christian faiths need to come together in the commonality of the belief in the teachings of Jesus Christ. Please take note that Bruce's post only drew my attention and made me think. I am not necessarily promoting his agenda, but just calling your attention to it.

            Many of you have probably wondered why there are so many Christian denominations. This is not something that has happened in the last few hundred years, but it was a concern even in the early days of Christianity. Paul said the following about divisions in the Church :

I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought. My brothers, some from Chloe's household have informed me that there are quarrels among you. What I mean is this: One of you says, "I follow Paul"; another, "I follow Apollos"; another, "I follow Cephas"; still another, "I follow Christ." Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized into the name of Paul?
1 Corinthians 1:10-13 (NIV)

          Let's face it, we are a world of many individuals, each with different needs, wants, understandings, and interpretations. Our churches have in some ways become like social clubs, which in one way is fine as long as the ultimate message is true. Unfortuately this often does not happen. Even within individual churches there is often disagreement about what exactly we should believe, what the mission of the church should be, or even how the money should be spent. The disagreements are as diverse as the individuals who are involved. It is human nature; any social grouping will at one time or another face conflict. But is this what going to church should be about?

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NKJV)

          Much of the disunity of the Christiain faith comes through political divisions and agendas, while other comes from persuasive individuals who promote their visions to the uninformed and the gullible. Our individual responsibility is to educate ourselves. We need to study the Bible and pray for guidance from the Holy Spirit. Education about spiritual matters should be ongoing throuhout our entire lives. We need to have open eyes, open ears, and clear minds so we are not deceived. Everything we need to know is in the Bible, we just need to approach it with a clear and sensible mind. And remember, not all Bibles are exactly the same. There are translations from different eras and for different agendas. Careful study will help us find the one that is the most true.

Jesus also prayed this;

"My prayer is not for them (the disciples) alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. "Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world. "Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them."
JOHN 17: 20-26

         We must be cautious. Test what you hear and read with prayer, reasoning, and careful study of God's word. Falling into a trap is what the enemy Satan wants us to do. And many times that trap appears to be so right and enticing. Sometimes we even set ourselves up as easy prey for the enemy. Know your enemy and his tricks, but ultimately seek to know God and His glory and all of the truths that are of God.

For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.
2 Timothy 4:3 (NIV)

What are some of your thoughts on this?

Before and After Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine's Day


        Yes, that's what I said.  You might not have expected that from me after my Thursday Debate Day post, but I'm still recognizing the spirit of the day and after all, I don't have to go into debt or spend frivolously to express the sentiment.  And, yes, I know Valentine's Day is tomorrow--I just didn't think it would fit in with my traditional Sunday Bible study.

       Which by the way, I don't think I ever mention my Sunday post.  Often I post something relevent to the Bible study that I lead at the church where I attend.  Other times I may just post something that is on my mind.  If you are interested in Bible studies please join in and feel free to comment.  After all, I'm not a Bible expert by any means and if I need to be corrected that's important.  I also like it when readers add their insights as well.

         Last Monday's first installment of the Persnickety Penman seemed a little low on readership and I'd still like to get some opinions if you would care to go back to it and leave a comment.  I plan to continue with this series on this coming Monday.  And on Tuesday, as I promised last week, I will be reviewing Stephen King's UNDER THE DOME, so if you've read it already please see if you agree with me.

         The rest of the week is up in the air.  After my self revealing post of last Wednesday, some readers commented that they wanted me to expound upon some of my answers, so I may use them for either my upcoming Wednesday or Friday posts for this week and beyond.  If you didn't read yesterday's post, The Chilhowee Grave Robbery , you may enjoy going back and checking it out.  An especially good  anonymous comment came late in the day--it was a rather spooky account and one can understand why the commenter wished to remain anonymous.  

           Don't forget your sweeties tomorrow!  Do you have any special Valentine's Day plans?