Tell the World You Write

Until I became published in non-fiction, as a magazine article writer and newspaper columnist, I didn't share with the clients of my "day job" that I was a writer. Part of it was, of course, that I was unpublished and a bigger part of it was my concern than my clients wouldn't take me seriously.

Bad decision.

I wound up being solicited by a magazine publisher as a writer for her brand new magazine earlier this evening--at an event that had nothing to do with publishing and everything to do with my "day job!"

The publisher had attended a business meeting earlier this month where I pitched myself as a candidate for president of the organization. After the election, when she was milling around chatting with people, it was mentioned to her that in addition to the resume I'd recited in my speech, I was also a published writer. (My recent mystery release was circulating, since a couple of people had recently purchased copies.) Between then and this evening, when she'd been asking around to see if people knew any local writers, several people referred her to me.

How thrilled do you think I was when she tapped me on the shoulder and asked me to join her staff? How thrilled do you think I am that I finally started marketing myself as a writer to the clients and business associates of my "day job?"

Tell the world that you write. Once it wakes up and takes notice, it'll do so in a big way!

Why Fathers are Terrific

Just have to share this story about my father...

He's one of those guys who isn't given to compliments. Or praise. When I was in high school, I was thrilled to bring home a report card with 4 As and 1 B+. What did Dad say after looking at it? Yup: Why didn't you get 5 As?

As you can imagine, I sure wasn't holding my breath waiting for compliments after he read my mystery, Second Time Around. In fact, I figured the only way he'd read it was to give him a free copy--which I did, after securing the promise that he'd pass out 25 marketing postcards in return.

Not only did he tell me he enjoyed the book (his exact words were: It's good. I was pleasantly surprised.), he went nuts passing out those marketing post cards. He brought some with him to the casino where he meets his buddies once a week and passed them out to strangers, wait staff, and lots of other people. But only those who were really interested, he shared with me later. He didn't want to "waste" them on people who weren't serious readers.

My sister shared these two stories about Dad and his super marketing efforts: (1) One of the strangers at the casino went up to him and thanked him for referring "that mystery." The man claimed he bought it, read it, and liked it. He asked my dad for other recommendations--so now Dad has the reputation for personally knowing terrific writers. (2) He actually passed the postcards out at a wake! True, it was to long-time friends of my late mother, whom he hadn't seen in a while (probably not since the last wake of a mutual friend). And it was as everyone was leaving the funeral home. But still...

My Dad has had his moments. The older he gets, the nicer they are.

The Hardest Thing to Write

While I've never had writer's block, I'd be a liar if I said I didn't sometimes have difficulty writing. Like now, for example.

I'm starting Chapter One of a new book - the sequel to Second Time Around, which is titled, Two-Timed. I've got most of the book outlined, I know the characters, I know exactly how I want the story to begin and...

Poop. That's what I'm writing.

If I were finished with the research and prep phase for my new mystery series, I'd start writing that. But I'd probably have the same problem.

You see, the toughest thing for me to write is the opening scene. Doesn't matter if I'm writing a novel, a short story, a magazine article, or my monthly newspaper column. Those opening few words or paragraph are a killer. For every other part of my writing, I simply rattle it off and worry about spelling, grammar, and editing after the first rough draft's done. But for the opener, I angst. I believe in really good opening hooks and, let me tell you, they just don't dream themselves up.

Now that I've procrastinated by writing this post, I think I'll go back to it.

Law Enforcement in Providence, RI or Washington, D.C.

Well, now that I'm back full-strength after my surgery, I'm in the research phase of putting together a mystery series. My main character will have a background that involves law enforcement in both Providence, RI and Washington, D.C. If you, or someone you know, works or has worked in either department, please let me know!

Thanks!

Author Signed Copies of "Second Time Around" Now Available

In addition to being able to purchase your copy of Second Time Around directly from Amazon or Fictionwise, you can now purchase signed copies from Linda's web site. Click the BUY BOOKS link from the home page.

www.lindamfaulkner.com

Linda interviewed on "Mysterious People"

Linda was interviewed by Jean Henry Mead recently on her Mysterious People blog and her article, Marketing Your Book also appeared.

Click here to read the interview.

Click here to read the article.

Thanks to Jean for the opportunity!

Appearance - March 5th - 5:30pm

Linda will be co-hosting the Business Referral meeting of the Missoula Businesswomen's Network with cover artist, Steph Lambert, at 5:30pm on Thursday, March 5th. Their topic: Marketing Anything.

The meeting will be held at the offices of Lambert Family Chiropractic at 1320 South 3rd Street, West in Missoula and books will be available for purchase and signing by both Linda and Steph.