I
confess that I watched and thoroughly enjoyed one “reality” show – NBC’s The
Apprentice. The Donald Trump showcase is a great idea. I watched the first few
seasons and eventually lost interest, mainly because like all reality shows’
weakness, they are manipulated too much. I cannot take watching something that
is not really genuine though it is passed off as if it was. But when I
suspended my belief and judgment for a few years, I found the show’s concept
rewarding. I think book publishing should operate like The Apprentice.
Imagine
every day you are tasked with a goal. You have limited resources and a deadline
for accomplishing the task at hand. You work with a team – against another team
– to achieve a quantifiable, measurable result. In the end, if your team loses
to the other, you need to justify why you should remain on the team.
Many
lessons can be derived from this that apply to promoting and marketing books.
Each
of the tasks given to the competing teams are end results. You have the
autonomy to determine how you go about achieving them. Life holds many
possibilities. When a gun is put to your head and you are told to deliver X by
a certain date and time you suddenly focus and laser in on how to get the job
done. In order to promote a book, you need to set daily goals and then
determine actionnable steps to fulfill those goals.
The
other part one should not ignore is the team effort concept. You might write a
book on your own but it takes a team to promote it. Publishers need to have
more than one book publicist assigned to promote a book, providing not just
extra hands, but additional ideas and mental support. For authors who try to
promote on their own, I would advise you work with a publicist or have an
assistant to help you tackle obstacles.
I
like how the tasks given to teams are things one can count or add. They involve
raising money for a charity, selling a product or service, or convincing a
certain number of people to do something. Life is easier when you can put a
number on something – then you either fall short or exceed it, but you are not
left to not know where you stand. When we promote a book we should use numbers
to measure performance, from total sales to Web site hits, downloads,
connections made, number of people approached, size of media outlets or groups,
contacted, etc. A task cannot simply be to “get media.” Be specific on who you
are pursuing for media coverage.
On
The Apprentice big tasks often get broken down into smaller ones. The same
holds true for your marketing efforts. Think big, but execute small. Possibly
the best part of The Apprentice is the concluding boardroom scene, where Donald
Trump determines who the winning team is and then figures out whom to fire on
the losing team. Never mind that he sits on his thrown as if he is omniscient
or that his hair overshadows the pompous blowhards blather about what it takes
to succeed. It is good drama.
The
boardroom is judgment time. Those who were team members a moment ago suddenly
turn on one another and make each other the enemy. This is a true aspect of the
business world. There is competition going on, even within a company or
department. Even within a family. Sometimes to inspire or to bring out your
best, you need to be challenged by those who work with you and are closest to
you.
Wouldn’t
it be great if there was a season where the show is turned into The Publishing
Apprentice and all of the tasks are related to the creation and selling of
books? Maybe we’d all learn a few things in the process. Trump has had a few
best-sellers, so he would be qualified to head the show. One episode can deal
with writing a book, another one on editing; then cover design, printing,
distribution, advertising, promoting, marketing, etc. There are so many
components and facets to the book publishing industry. With millions of
published books circulating out there and millions of wannabe authors, the show
could have a substantial audience.
But
first we need to launch Greenlight Apprentice, a show dedicated to convincing
Trump and NBC to create The Publishing Apprentice. Teams will be selected with
the task of getting the network to create a show that could feature bestselling
authors mentoring novices, social media experts like Facebook teaming with
traditional retailers such as Barnes and Nobel, and entrepreneurial startups
and self-published authors dueling established publishing houses.
Every
day of your writing and publishing life is like one episode of The Apprentice.
You can create your own tasks and challenges. The results will be these for you
to judge. You can internalize what Trump would say to you in a given
circumstance and then use his would-be advice or criticism to spur you on to
the next step.
If
you adopt the best features on The Apprentice you will never hear the words
“You’re Fired” but you may just get fired up all the way to the bank.
Interview With
Best-Selling Author Julie
L. Cannon
1. What
type of books do you write? I
write FLOSS - Fictional, Literary, Organically Spiritual, Southern. The two
books I've got coming next are contemporary.
2. What
is your latest or upcoming book about? "Twang" is coming out August 1 and
it's about the cathartic nature of art. The elevator pitch I kept at my
computer while writing goes - "When the 'music calls her home' one too
many times, country music diva Jenny Cloud fears she cannot deal with the dark
memories that her autobiographical lyrics evoke without losing her faith and
her sanity.'
3. What
inspired you to write it?
Conway Twitty's quote that goes "A good country song takes a page out of
somebody's life and puts it to music." I believe this with all my heart.
After I settled on a premise, I played that old 'what if' game writers love. I
asked myself, 'What if there was this girl, this exceptionally talented girl
who could write music and play the guitar, who had a childhood straight out of
a Faulkner novel. What if she makes it big in Nashville and must revisit her
past for powerful songs?"
4. What
did you do before you became an author? To hear my mother's version, I was born telling
stories. I have a degree in Journalism (emphasis in Advertising and PR) but my
work history after college is primarily sales, with a closet life as a writer
until I got my first book contract.
5. How
does it feel to be a published author? The published part is very humbling, very surreal
sometimes, that I am able to do this thing I adore and that someone would put
their faith in me enough to print and publicize my books. But, I also feel a
responsibility when I write, to those souls who plunk down hard-earned dollars
for my work. I feel I must use my gift coupled with my experiences to give them
something real. To make a difference in this world.
6. Any
advice for struggling writers? If it is your dream to write, if it makes your soul
sing, do NOT give up. Sit your behind in that chair and write! I make myself
write at least 1,000 words a day, except on Sundays and that occasional
instance I choose to take time off for family and friends. Study your craft
constantly by reading in your genre, and also by reading 'how-to-write' books.
Continually submit your work, and stay open to suggestions and criticisms.
7. Where
do you see book publishing heading? From what I've seen, I can only guess that the trend
toward self-publishing and e-books will continue to grow. I must admit it pains
me to think of the changes sweeping through our electronic-obsessed world. Are
paper books ever going to be obsolete? I hope and pray not. It's no secret that
I love, prefer old-fashioned stitched-together books made out of trees. As far
as the civil war raging right now between traditionally published vs.
self-published, I don't know how I feel. Perhaps we need more police in the
self-publishing community?
For more information, please check out: www.JulieLCannon.com
Why Do I Love Being Involved In The Book Publishing Industry?
by Saul and Dale Stanten
"After many years of soul searching, I finally put my
memoir, “The Hooker’s Daughter,” down on paper. The book, which describes
a child’s journey into womanhood, reveals a Jewish family embroiled in
prostitution, shoplifting, stolen cars, homelessness, homosexuality, and
terminal illness. This candid and shocking memoir delivers a stunning account
of shame, survival, and triumph. Additional information can be viewed on my
website, www.TheHookersDaughter.com.
Many authors love the writing process but fear the more
difficult aspect of promoting their creation. I love marketing! Selling
something that originated in my head is a great challenge and generates a lot
of satisfaction. By getting on the phone and the web, I have been able to
arrange for numerous speaking engagements to promote the book and even receive
honorariums.
However, money is not the point. Through networking, people have
been introduced to me who are involved with or who provided me with contacts in
the publishing and film making industry. This phase of my marketing plan has
already begun. Will I be able to have a film or TV documentary made out of my
book? Who knows? But, I will give it my best shot!!"
What Advice Would You Give To Struggling Writers?
by Peter Murphy
Murphy’s Laws For Writers
1.
Read! The more you write, the better you will write. The more you read, the
better you will write.
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2.
Writing is a craft as well as an art. If you rely only on your natural gifts
without working hard, you will never be more than good.
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3.
If you do not allow yourself to write badly, you will never write well.
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4.
Study the masters. Study with a master.
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5.
If you ask for criticism on your writing, don’t be upset or defensive if it
is critical.
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6.
If you write only to express yourself, you will bore others immediately and
yourself eventually. If you write to discover and understand, you have a
chance of being interesting to someone who doesn't know or love you.
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7.
Inspiration, like acne, goes away when you reach adulthood.
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8.
Learn the rules before you break them. Not after!
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9.
Like Voodoo and the Occult, Writer’s Block is only true if you believe in it.
If you don’t, it ain’t.
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10.
If you don’t know what to write, keep writing.
For
the rest ,please click on: Murphy's Laws for Writers - Part
2
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For more information, please consult: www.murphywriting.com
Did You Miss
These Recent Posts?
How To Create A Writer’s Legacy Like War of the Roses’ Warren Adler
What’s The Secret Password To Publishing Riches?
What do you have to say to get someone to buy or review
your book? http://bookmarketingbuzzblog.blogspot.com/2012/05/whats-secret-password-to-publishing.html
Do you really have the best
credentials to write your book?
Love is in the air at Book Expo
Can Book Publicists Be Heroes?
Book Publicists Blend Fantasy And Truth To
Promote Both Fiction And Nonfiction
The Grassroots Way To
Build A Following For Your Book
Brian Feinblum’s views, opinions, and ideas expressed in this
blog are his alone and not that of his employer. You can follow him on Twitter @theprexpert and email him at brianfeinblum@gmail.com.
He feels more important when discussed in the third-person.
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