Tuesday, December 22, 2015

Sharing Your Gifts as a Reader and Writer


This beautiful post was submitted by literary agent Michael Larsen, co-director of the 13th San Francisco Writers Conference & Open Enrollment Classes: A Celebration of Craft, Commerce & Community; February 11-15, 2016 / www.sfwriters.org  sfwriterscon@aol.com    


He who obtains has little. He who scatters has much.
– Lao-Tzu, 6th Century B.C.E.


As a writer, you have gifts that started with genes and developed with discipline. You:

Know how to combine 26 letters into words that explode with meaning and pleasure

Understand that writing and sharing your work are labors of love for your craft and your readers

Can use words to inform or entertain your readers

Can provide the advice, inspiration, understanding, empowerment, and motivation your readers need

Understand how words can affect people

Can change how your readers think, feel, act, and see the world and themselves

Can reach readers worldwide with your fingertips wherever you can connect to the Web

May be able to change your community and the world

Can share your work in more ways and places than ever in the international language of culture and commerce: books, games, articles, audiobooks, films, and merchandise

Can read and write whenever, wherever, and however you wish

Can keep writing for as long as you wish

Will keep improving as a writer

Can create a lifetime community of fans

Can read books for pleasure and knowledge, and to learn how to write better

Understand that now is the best time ever for readers and writers





Giving What You Can

Here’s how to share your gifts during the holidays and the rest of the year. You can:

Write your own greetings cards by hand and use stamps to mail them

Write a letter to share your year

Write letters for those who can’t

Read books to those who can’t

Teach reading and writing

Mentor writers

Write a memoir to share your life and create a legacy

Share your knowledge with a blog, interviews, podcasts, webinars, and talks

Support groups that give books to people in need

Ask libraries, literacy groups, and charities how you can help

Join a book club

Share your passion for the value of books, reading, and writing

Encourage other writers and writer’s organizations to help

Help organize events to support your goals

Give new or used books as gifts

            The more you share your gifts, the greater your gift for sharing becomes. Give the best in you to others, and you will receive more than you give.

About Michael Larsen, Co-Director
The 13th San Francisco Writers Conference & Open Enrollment Classes
A Celebration of Craft, Commerce & Community 
February 11-15, 2016 / www.sfwriters.org / sfwriterscon@aol.com
Keynotes: Annie Barrows, Jane Friedman, Ann Packer, T. Jefferson Parker
The 8th San Francisco Writing for Change Conference / Writing to Make a Difference
September, 10th, 2016 / www.sfwritingforchange.org / sfwriterscon@aol.com   
415-673-0939 /1029 Jones Street / San Francisco, 94109

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

2016 Book Marketing & Book Publicity Toolkit


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. This is copyrighted by BookMarketingBuzzBlog © 2015

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