Money, Money, Money Wednesday, Feb 18 2009

When you live in a capitalist society, it’s hard sometimes to appreciate the value of things that don’t come with a price tag.  But if you’re willing to put dollars and cents aside for a moment, here are some things you can do:

Write every day—even though it doesn’t earn you a dime.

Finish the draft of a novel, a screenplay, a poetry collection, an article or essay.

Take you Starbucks money for a week and make five copies of your manuscript to hand out to friends.

Make five more to hand out to strangers. 

Congratulate yourself: you’re now a published author!

Take the feedback you get and revise your draft to make it stronger. 

Write a children’s book, get your artistic neighbor to illustrate it (the one who also understands the value of willing to work for free), call the librarian at your local elementary school, and make an appointment to come in and read your book out loud to the kids.

Congratulations!  You just gave your first reading.

Take your vacation money and instead of going away for a week, stay home and publish your book through a print-on-demand service.  Give copies away to six of your friends.  When they’re done reading it, invite them over for wine and cheese.

Congratulations!  You’ve just hosted your first book party.

Tell your friends to list your book on Goodreads.

Congratulations!  You just got your first reviews.

When the summer comes, pack the kids in the back of the car and drive them to Florida/Arizona/North Dakota to see that aunt/cousin/college roommate you’ve been meaning to get around to visit for years.  While you’re there, ask your aunt/cousin/college roommate to hold a barbecue so that you can meet all of her friends.  While you’re all together eating chicken and ribs, tell them about your book.

Congratulations!  You just gave your first book talk.

Be sure to have a few copies in the trunk of your car to sell. . .just in case. 

Congratulations!  You just made your first sales.

Well, we never said money didn’t matter—just that it shouldn’t stop you from doing the things you want to do.

When you get back home, start on a new book.  Congratulate yourself!  You’re part of a new grassroots movement made up of writers who have decided to take their destiny into their own hands and bring their work to audiences on their own.

There are people out there waiting to read what you have written.  All you have to do is find them.  So put your money where your mouth is.  Get your work out there.  You know that you want to.  What are you waiting for? 

One Response »

 

Writing and the Internet Wednesday, Sep 3 2008

The internet has changed the world of writing.  We all know that.  Sometimes for the better, sometimes for the worse.  As writers we have all certainly benefited from the opportunity to do research on the web, to use email to keep in touch with our friends and colleagues, and to build an audience for our work through blogs and social networks.  Here at Screw Iowa, we’re particularly excited about using the internet to connect writers to one another, no matter where they live or what they write.  Check out our forum, if you haven’t already—you just might find the kindred spirit you’ve been looking for, to read your work and share your enthusiasm. 

 

At the same time, however, we all know that the internet has created tremendous challenges for writers.   Journalists are losing their jobs as print newspapers and magazines go out of business.  People have replaced reading books with reading online.  Sometimes it seems as if the younger generation isn’t reading books anymore at all.

 

That’s why it’s particularly heartening to hear of a publisher who’s figured out a way to harness the power of the interent to engage children in books.  Check it out—the writer’s name is Rick Riordan and his new book,  “The Maze of Bones,” has just been published by Scholastic.  “Bones” is the first of a mystery series for children, each one highlighting a different historical figure.  What makes the series unique is that Scholastic is partnering with the internet by creating a website where children will be able to enlarge their reading experience with a game. Educational and fun.  What could be better?

 

We all have a tendency to—let’s be honest here—whine about the internet and how it’s taken our readers away from books.   But wise writers will stop thinking about the internet as competition and start thinking of it as an opportunity.  What can you do to engage readers in your work?  How have you found the internet helpful in your writing life?  Let us know—we’d love to hear.

 

You can read more about Scholastic’s new series on The New York Times.

 

One Response »