Marketing on the Sly

I have been thinking this morning about all of the times I market without really planning for it and I guess you could say that because I'm open to sharing my work wherever I am, the subject of writing often comes up wherever I am.

Marketing can be daunting, and I'll be the first one to tell you that I often burn myself out before I've even gotten started. By marketing on the sly helps. It's a little like carrying pictures of your children to share with the friend you haven't seen in years. You have the pictures to show your friend, not because you planned it out, but because you always carry their pictures with you.

Marketing on the sly takes guts. It's not enough that you are ready to share your work, you must be eager to share your work.

No excuses.

That means if you're in line at the bank and get into a discussion with someone else in line; perhaps they ask what you do for a living because you've asked them, you pull out a postcard with all of the information they need to find out more about your book.

It also means that if you're at a conference and the person next to you appears excited about your new book, that you eagerly pull it from your purse and show it to them.

When you're at dinner (or any other place for that matter) and the subject of your writing career takes center stage, that you smile and share a little bit about your work. Do you consider your writing a career or merely a hobby? If your writing is your career, treat it as such when you speak to others.

Be open to ideas and opportunities that come your way. If you are talking to a fellow writer and they suggest you be a part of their writing conference (and you've never spoken at a writing conference before) say yes anyway. (You can figure out how to do the speaking part later).

Marketing on the sly is a bit like carrying those pictures of your children. You never know when the opportunity will come up to share your work with others, but you are always happy and ready to do so. 

Marketing Classes to Live For!

Part of what I do here at Idea Creations Press is to provide you not only with material that hopefully helps you write better, publish better, and market better, but I also suggest classes that will be of great benefit to you.

Two such classes are coming up.

Getting Your Book Marketing Off the Ground is sponsored by Writers 4 Literacy and will be held at:

West Valley City Family Fitness Center
May 17 (that's a Saturday)
9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
5415 W. 3100 S. West Valley City, Utah

Speakers will focus on various aspects of marketing. The two my husband and I will be discussing:

How to Make a Book Trailer

"Kathryn Jones spoke at our local writers group last week. Her topic was "Book Trailers." I had no idea what that was--I thought maybe it was the blurb that appears on the back of paperbacks or on the fly flap of hardbacks. Well, I not only learned what a book trailer really was, I also learned a lot more ideas on promoting your books..." (Sharee Hughes, soon to be publishing her first mystery novel).

How to Set Up Your Own Blog

What information should you include on your blog? What should be your blog's backdrop? What should you try to avoid? These questions and more will be answered during the discussion on blogs.

If you've been to a previous speaking engagement of mine on these subjects, plan on attending. Much has changed, even in the past year, and we will be sharing the most up-to-date information on marketing your book. The cost is $45 total for all classes if you register by May 1. $50 after that or at the door.

For more information or to sign up contact Jill Vanderwood at: thewriters4literacy@gmail.com.


The second class will be held during:

The League of Utah Writer's annual Round-Up
September 12 and 13 (that's a Friday and Saturday)
Davis Conference Center
Layton, Utah

No further details are posted yet on the League's site but I'll make sure you get the link when they are. My husband and I will be teaching Marketing Your Book on a Budget, both on Friday and Saturday. League cost for all classes and meals average a little over $100 for both days.

Any questions?

Don't hesitate to leave a comment.

Packing Up for the Conference

Packing up for a conference is a little like writing, I think.

In packing, you may make a list so that you don't forget anything. You may choose to pack those things that wrinkle less, you may even pack less (coordinating your outfits) so that you can take a small suitcase.

Photo by: Malias, courtesy of Flickr

Especially if you're flying by plane, you'll want to pack light or pay the extra service fee for baggage. And I can't help but relate this to writing, too.

Writing is a skill, but it doesn't come to any of us (other than J.K. Rowling) all at once. We may pack heavy at first, making our sentences long and winded, not really understanding our voice, rewriting more times than we'd like to count.

We pack heavy.

Photo by: emmamccleary, courtesy of Flickr

We may also forget certain things we've learned. We go to this great writing conference and come home overwhelmed. We just can't seem to remember everything we've been taught. We may be excited to write, or we may take a breather for a few days to get back on track.

Tricks of the trade? Sure, there are tricks in writing--ways to cut time in outlining a book, for example. But in the long run, writing takes work and lots of it. In time, skills are learned and applied and more skills are added to what we have. We learn how to pack the right things in our day, and coordinate our various writing projects so as not to get overwhelmed.

And this takes time to master.

Reminder: Free Writer's Conference

Yes, this Saturday is the FREE writer's conference in Ephraim I wrote about a few weeks ago.

If you live near Ephraim, Utah, or want to take a splendid trip to Utah, now's the time. Here's the details:

Date: Saturday, April 14
Time: 7:45 a.m.-6:00 p.m.
Place: Snow College, 250 E. College Ave (100 N)

Door prizes and Published author instruction.

I will be teaching two classes: The first is on outlining your novel, (a simplified, easy way to get your outline finished and get you on to your book) the second is on Conquering Your Writing Goliaths--a two-part class. If you decide to attend either or both of my classes, please come up and introduce yourself and let me know you read my blog. I would LOVE to meet you!

Learn how this book can help you to
conquer your writing Goliaths

For more information on the conference visit: www.writehereinephraim.com or www.thebestandfunniestever.com.

Free Writing Conference!

I love things that come free, among them: samples through the mail, invites to special events that I have been invited to as a guest, and free writing conferences.

The last free option doesn't come around too often. Most conferences are quite pricey. But not this one.

I learned about the Write Here in Ephraim conference just a few months ago. I was asked to teach a couple of writing classes (which I am doing). When I learned the conference was free I could hardly believe it!

Here's a rundown of events:

Date: April 14, 2012
Time: 7:45 a.m.-6:00 p.m.
Place: Snow College in Ephraim, Utah

All classes will be taught by published authors. There will be door prizes and an author panel, including a "First Page Shred" panel. Classes and workshops include: Writing memoirs, suspense, romance, and science fiction/fantasy.

Learn how this book applies
to your writing!

Learn about comedy writing, self-publishing and short story writing. Find out how to get ideas, show instead of tell, grid your story, avoid cliches,create a fascinating plot and more. Discover how to get your finished project out there through various classes on manuscript organization, marketing, publicity, and branding.

I will be teaching two classes. The first will be on writing your first book, the second will be a two-part inspirational class on conquering your writing Goliaths.

Experience some writing exercises from
this book!

For more information visit: http://www.thebestandfunniestever.com or shirleybahlmann.blogspot.com.

How to Become a "Profitable Author"

Today, I got a second opportunity to learn; and this time, specifically from published authors, namely: M. Bridget Cook, Leslie Householder, Marnie Pehrson, John C. Robinson, Valerie Ackley and Julie Coulter Bellon.

Photo by: Mr T. in DC, courtesy of Flickr

The topic: "The Profitable Author."

Some things that struck me profoundly:

• "Write about what you're passionate about" (M. Bridget Cook).
• Feel the objective. How would it feel to accomplish your dream? Write it down as if it's already happened. Keep writing it down until you believe it" (Leslie Householder).
• "There are more powerful and useful ideas than there are people willing to follow through on them" (Leslie Householder).
• "Involve your reader in promoting your book" (Marnie Pehrson).
• "Apply reinvention and re-purposing to your marketing plan" (John C. Robinson).

As in all things, the take away value of what you receive has as much to do with what you hear as it does with what you decide to do with your new-found knowledge.

Do you get overwhelmed by it and do nothing?

Do you sit down with it, and like a good friend, go over the key points?

Do you take your journey one step further and take action?

Here's to hoping that you take the journey!