Timely Information - Create a Buzz
I spent a busy day on Saturday, November 13 at the WPASCBWI http://wpascbwi.com/ annual conference in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It was a great opportunity to rekindle some old friendships, as well as start some new ones. Each year, probably the tenth in a row for me, I come away from the conference with a renewed excitement about writing and the publishing business. No small task this year given some of the disappointing information I've read about the future of the industry. I'm sure you've read some of the articles, or at least heard the chatter. Fewer books being published. Publishers downsizing their staff. And what about the future of picture books ? “Picture Books No Longer A Staple for Children,” Julie Bosman http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/08/us/08picture.html
One of the presentations that lifted my spirits was given by Rachel Abrams, Assistant Editor at HarperCollins Children's Books, http://www.harpercollinschildrens.com/ She spoke about the importance of using Facebook, twitter, and blogs. This was especially uplifting to me because of the blogs I've recently begun. http://rt19writers.blogspot.com/ http://chairnomor.blogspot.com/
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| Rachel Abrams, Assistant Editor Harper Collins Children's Books |
These three platforms Rachel spoke of are free of charge and the perfect way to begin marketing yourself. And yes, it's something you should do whether you are a published author or not. In fact, Rachel made it absolutely clear that if you wait until you are published to begin blogging, then you are already too late. It's all about creating a buzz. It's networking. It's making the connections needed for when you finally do get published.
It made perfect sense looking at it from that perspective. Networking was not a new concept. For any of you in the business world, or trying to get into the business world, it should be a term familiar to you as well. Making connections are important. Using Facebook, twitter and blogger share the same premise. Follow someone else's blog. Say a nice comment or two. Hopefully, they'll reciprocate.
Rachel made it clear that "it's not all about you." It's not just about what you're going to get. It's about becoming involved in staying involved. In the end however you might just get back what we give.
Follow the link below for another article about the importance of being optimistic about the future of publishing.
Follow the link below for another article about the importance of being optimistic about the future of publishing.
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