Advantages of Being a Tortoise + Workshops, Podcasts, Blurbs, & Publishing Purchases
Finding peace in slow & steady; seeking Book Marketing Now interviewees; upcoming workshops; marketing resources; best SFF books of the decade; publishing mergers & debacles; delicious tea in a can
Greetings readers & writers,
My sister coaxed me into a lovely little shop and asked me to pick out an early birthday present. I fell for a series of pewter animals. “Which calls to you?” she asked. I picked this little tortoise. Because she seemed to whisper to me slow and steady wins the race.
I’ve always been slow. In primary school, it was an issue teachers brought up: I’d be the last to line up; the last to turn in assignments; the last to finish changing before or after gym. This comes from equal parts daydreaming, procrastination, perfectionism, and frankly, just being a slow walker. I’m still often the last to arrive; the last to order at a restaurant; the last one out the door.
The last one in my writing group to still be unpublished.
A creative career is a marathon, not a sprint. Running in general has never been my strong suit (see “slow walker” above), so I’m not sure why I assumed my writing style would be any different. Seven or eight drafts to a “finished” novel and I’ve come to accept that my approach requires a longer warm up period than most. But once I’m in a project, I can move along at a steady clip. And that the writing is better for it.
Being at the back of the pack doesn’t mean laziness or incompetence. It means keeping an eye on who and what’s ahead. Taking the time to observe, learn, and support where needed (and recognize where I may need support in the future).
Slow and steady.
I’ve been trying to embrace this mentality this summer. To slow down. To actually read books again, to write as play, to let myself work on something until I’m satisfied, or choose to play with my kids or go for a walk instead. I’ve been fortunate to have the last few weeks of summer to regain some steadiness before the school year and workshops and deadlines return in full force.
We’re enjoying the last days of summer at a small lake. My family wants to go down to the dock and I usher them on ahead while I take my time changing, packing snacks, grabbing hats and towels they forgot in their rush. By the time I make it down to the lake, they’re specks in kayaks out on the water. When they get back they’ll wonder where their water bottles are or their goggles and I’ll have them. Until then, I have the dock, my writing, and a good book all to myself.
Do you have a book releasing this fall? There are a handful of open slots for Book Marketing Now guest posts! Fill out this form if you’re interested in participating!
Book Marketing Now interviews will be starting back up in September! First up will be Rajani LaRocca who will share how she’s juggling the book marketing for not one, but SIX titles (two novels and four picture books) she’s released this year! Stay tuned!
Upcoming (Virtual!) Seminars
September 9th (10AM): Speculative Fiction Variety Hour* - FREE! (email for link)
*actually 90 minutes of exploring topics in speculative fiction, genre, and writingOct. 1st (10:30AM): Part of Your World: Character-Focused Worldbuilding in YA
Oct. 23rd (9:30AM): Marketing for Writers
November 13th (10:30AM): Writing Like a Parent, Parenting Like a Writer (TBA)
Not available these dates? Connect with me for one-on-one coaching that fits your schedule!
Writing/Marketing Resources:
Looking to book podcast interviews? Check out PodMatch.com, a service designed to, you guessed it, match you and your ideal podcasting host!
This week the The Ogwehoweh Storytelling Festival, the first festival in Canada to focus on Haudenosaunee storytelling and publishing {CBC}, premiers on the Six Nations Polytechnic campus and online.
Despite the impacts of the pandemic, publishers are investing in children’s books: “Veteran Editors on Their New Children’s Imprints” {Publisher’s Weekly}
Wondering how to best polish up your query letter to get an agent’s attention? Check out YA author Gabi Burton’s series of guest blog posts from published writers on their (successful!) query’s drafts and evolution.
“How Do Writers Ask for Blurbs for Their Books?” Writer’s Digest breaks down how to approach this awkward but useful marketing step.
Reading Corner
NPR’s Book Summer Poll was right up my alley: 50 Favorite Sci-Fi And Fantasy Books Of The Past Decade. I’ve read about half the titles/series on this list and am re-reading The Expanse as we speak! See any old favorites or intriguing new reads?
Industry News
Another publishing acquisition: Hachette enters into a binding agreement to purchase Workman Publishing for $240 million. {Publisher’s Weekly}
“How Extortion Scams and Review Bombing Trolls Turned Goodreads Into Many Authors’ Worst Nightmare” {TIME}
PEN America demands expedited visa processing and granting of humanitarian parole to Afghan writers and cultural figures. Hear more about this difficult situation and its threat to freedom of expression in this The PEN Pod episode.
“Book Industry Supply Chain Delays to Impact Holiday Season” {American Bookseller’s Association}
Tea
Over scrumptious hand pies and truffle fries at The Dirty Truth I discovered a highly-drinkable unsweetened iced tea in a can! I sampled Quivr’s True Cold Nitro Hibiscus Ginger Tea which was tart, floral, and refreshing. Not into hibiscus or prefer your tea in, er, coffee form? Quivr has a variety of nitro coffees and teas and you can even order a sampler!
Happy writing!
~Allison
Writer & Marketing Coach
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As always, a well written and informative newsletter. It just so happens that my to-do list for tomorrow includes sending emails to ask for blurbs so I was really interested to see the linked article on that very topic. Thanks Allison.