Blogging is a big subject with most businesses and entrepreneurs (like writers and authors).

It is one of still ongoing confusion and questions arise around when should someone start blogging and why should a business or entrepreneur, such as a writer or author even blog?

Well, in this week’s Tuesday Book Marketing Minute Tip I answer both of these questions to help clear away the confusion.

July 26th 2010 TMT

Last year a show came on TV called, GLEE. Now, when it first was publicized I wasn’t sure if I would watch it or not but my daughter said she thought it would be a good show. So when the season began we watched. And I have to admit, at first the story line was a bit odd. However, that is also what enticed me to keep watching.

Anyway, the young men and women on Glee are extremely talented singers so that is one of the reasons I tuned in each week. And the strong message of doing what you want to do despite being an outsider to the “popular” crowd really resonated with me.

Those kids realized that they were better people when they were a part of the GLEE group then when they were with their “friends”.

One of the songs that they sang earlier in the season but I feel really summarizes inspiration and motivation is the song, “Defying Gravity”. I hadn’t heard the song before this and now it is one of my favorite songs when I need a little motivation.

Here are few of the lyrics–

“Something has changed within me, something is not the same. I’m through with playing by the rules of someone else’s game.

“Too late for second guesses, too late to go back to sleep, it’s time to trust my instincts, close my eyes and leap”.

“I’m through excepting limits, ’cause someone says there so. Some things I can not change, but till I try, I’ll never know”.

Remember, no matter what other people tell you, try to convince you of, you are the only person who can make the decision to follow your passion. So, if you really wish to be a writer or author, you can do it. And don’t let anyone make you think you can’t.

You can buy the song on iTunes.

Every time, I hear this song, it reminds me of moving forward to creating my passion and living the life I love.

So I hope this Moment of Motivation as encouraged you to keep your passion alive and continue to spread the message of your writing and book to others.

Please come back if you listen to the song, and comment on what your thoughts are on the song.

Thanks and until next week–

Keep Writing!

For marketers the traditional holidays can provide an extra boost of recognition if a product or program aligns nicely with a specific holiday. Authors and writers have the same opportunity to use these holidays to create a jolt of exposure for their book.

But did you know there are special and unique holidays along with the traditional ones that writers and authors could use to gain more exposure for your book.

Below is my Tuesday Minute Tip to help you think about how to use these special holidays for your book marketing.

July 20 2010TMT

Be creative when putting your book marketing plan together and use these special holidays to put together a discussion, contest or event that will incorporate your book.

And there are two resources on the web to find more information about these special holidays—

Quirky Marketing Calendar (an ebook) by Heidi Richards Mooney
This ebook contains the full monthly calendar templates to use for your book marketing plan plus more great marketing tips, advice and ideas for any business, including writers and authors.

And Brownielocks – website that lists these special holidays by month, week, and daily holidays within each month.

It was a high counsel that I once heard given to a young person, “Always do what you are afraid to do.”
Ralph Waldo Emerson

As a writer, writing itself can evoke a level of fear in you. And then the thought of sending your writing out into the world, well, that can be a fearful thought…however, like the quote above states, do it anyway.

Once you have written your manuscript, edited the manuscript, proofread your manuscript, be good to yourself as a writer and send it off.

Because remember your book is about the message. I am not suggesting that you shouldn’t care about the layout, grammar or spelling in your work.

You may just hear the words, “But, what if no one likes it” or “I think it is best if I don’t publish it because then I won’t have to be disappointed”.

However, perhaps you should be thinking about, the advice, support, inspiration and healing you will be sharing and giving to your readers when they have read your book.

Don’t allow fear of failure or success keep you from living your dream of being an author.

Now, go and write.

Now anyone who knows me well, knows I adore bookstores. So this post in no way is intended to say that bookstores aren’t a good place to have a book signing. However, you may wish to add a few non traditional places to your book campaign efforts.

These new places could draw in new readers where you may not have initially thought to look. And in turn, you create a way for your potential readers to find you and your book in a place they hadn’t thought of either but are happy you were there with your book.

Here are a few places to think about having a book signing:

1) Shoe store – Perhaps your book is about shoes. Or perhaps you have a book geared toward women who love shoes. And there is always the fact that we all do need shoes.

2) Bank – Have you written a finance or budget book? Or maybe your book is about saving money? Well, what better place to celebrate money then at a bank.

3) Spa- We all enjoy a great place to put our feet up and relax so how about have a gathering a place where the people can have a concentrated and energetic conversation about your book.

Think about those places where your ideal reader may shop and be there. Call the store and ask the manager if having a book signing at their store would be something they would be interested in doing. You can share with the manager about your intention to promote the book signing online and off line. Share with the manager how you will be willing to add an event page on your Facebook page to tell your FB friends about the book signing. Also, ask the manager if you create quarter page or half page flyers about the book signing, if they would allow the sales personnel to put one in each customer’s check out bags. (The manager may say no, but it doesn’t cost anything to ask).

Now, do I have your creative juices flowing about where you might be able to have a book signing?

So…

How about…. a wine store, home improvement store, office supply place, or perhaps a pet store?

Go and think of those places you can have a book signing to spread the message of your books and (*hopefully sell more books!)

I stress with my clients the importance of knowing your target market early in the writing process. And while I was having my first session with my writing coach, Julie Salisbury, a little bit over a week ago she shared a great way of thinking about how authors can think about how to better identify the genre of their book and the keywords they can use for their book.

That is what I share on this week’s Tuesday Minute Tip for Authors—

Enjoy!

Everyone needs inspiration. And today is a great time to give out some inspiration for my fellow writers,upcoming authors, and published authors.

So here is my Moment of Inspiration just for you:

“There is no mistaking a real book when one meets it. It is like falling in love.”
Christopher Morley
US author & journalist (1890 – 1957)

When a reader reads it like meeting a new friend or discovering an old friend you haven’t spoken with in a while. Sometimes it is like meeting yourself all over again. Books allow us to open our hearts, heads and souls to find, remember and seek something fresh and different.

Remember, writers and authors the wonderful courageous power you have in your written works. And I hope you are inspired to keep writing so your reader (like Morley says above), can fall in love.

Happy Writing!