You Gonna Query? I Gotta Query! Did you Query yet? Who did you Query?

  These phrases rattle in my skull sometimes before one of the other voices steps in (I call it the “controller”) and tells it to shut up and sit down.  I am not exactly sure why I go through this process sometimes because I am still on the fence with representation.  Don’t get me wrong, I want my books plastered in the windows at every book store around the world but I am also fearful of letting go and handing over control.  You know the one voice that says “My Precious! They takes it from me!”

   In my constant study of what I call “The Crazy”, the big houses will only speak to and deal with an agent.  And not any agent mined you.  So how do I know the agent I am sending my query to has the ability to send to the big house?  I wish there was an easy answer to this all vital question but there is not.  I guess if it was not a secret each of us would be querying the same people.  I do use one site though with great confidence knowing their information is stellar and reliable (again I own no stock nor am I affiliated with them) – P&E: Literary Agents (Preditors & Editors) pred-ed dot com.

  They list the agents alphabetically with indications on their validity and if they have signed a contract for money.  Google it and you shall find them.  Also another site I have been using for good Agent info is Absolutewrite dot com.  Click to their forums and search for Bewares, Recommendations & Background Check.  This, too, has great listings and valid info. It will help in your search for the Agent right for you.

  Oh and I also use Twitter actually.  NO, I DO NOT SEND A QUERY TO AN AGENT VIA TWITTER!  DON”T DO IT!  EVER!  I love following other authors and often not, their agent follows them.  If this person is in the same genre as I write in their Agent, obviously, represents and carries an understanding of the Fantasy writing world.  I realize I have chosen a tight path and a hard sell so my writing better be good!  One of these days I will create another subsection on this blog and start entering all of my sites I have collected through these many years.  It would be long (that’s what she said).<==Had to be said!

Your Internet Face!

  Having my own website is an absolute must to me and this does not include this blog or wordpress.  When I tag along with a writer, agent or artist I look for their website to give me an idea how they approach their business.  A well designed site shows the care they have put in place for their customers, fans, followers and anyone else fortunate enough to fall on their space.

  This comes at a cost (website fees) and a cost many of us do not have the funds to provide, but if you can provide this yearly cost a great product to use, which does not require you to be tech savvy, is Joomla. No, I do not own stock in this nor do I work there I just found it to be an awesome way to easily manipulate, modify or edit your site with critical information.  Now, today, my current website is not formatted in Joomla but this coming month of November it will be!  You will notice my News/Articles are from August of 2009. UGH! And each page you go to does not indicate in the tab what page you are on, it says content-blah. Another UGH!

  Over these years, I have crafted my site in different fashions and each one took time to update, which in turn, took away from my writing time (this is why my site is so out of date).  I went on a writer’s quest to find the best tool and found Joomla. It has thousands of templates allowing me quick access, quick updates and it is friendly so the windows you use are easy to manipulate.  

  Halleluiah!  

  I will implement this new version (I call it EW3.0) next month and will have the peace of mind my site will be fresh for all new customers or my favorite -- returning customers. I will have calendars, journals, RSfeed info and more! Once in place, I will put out an easy step by step guide for writers, artists and agents on what it took to make it fly.

Remember your site is your face to the world. Make it pretty. :)   

Keeping tabs on Marketing

  Many years ago I learned the only way to keep tabs on my marketing efforts (marketing = money out of my pocket) would be a nice little spreadsheet.  I was putting forth many different marketing adventures like setting up book signings, talking with small book stores on carrying my book, different advertisement options, etc… into a word document but trying to find what I was doing became confusing.  I tried using a calendar (I would enter events in a day on where or what I should be doing) but some events last 5 minutes to perform so this became bloated.  These things will easily go out of control if you have no one watching it (especially if you cannot afford a PR person; I wish but again it is all about the Benjamin’s!) especially if it is costing you out of pocket!

  I call my spreadsheet Marketing Objectives (give it an official business name and you will take it a little more serious) and it is forever green a.k.a growing; not green because of the money.  Here I have tabs such as Stores, Book Communities, Events, Internet Offerings, Query, Social Networking and Things to Purchase. Each one I believe is self explanatory.  ‘Stores’ contains all of the local book stores (NOT Borders or B&N) in which I have approached, should approach and have said no, get off my lawn.  This is an important tab and is towards the front of my tab listings since creating a local buzz about your book is more important than getting one anywhere else.  Why?  Because you can get in your car and be there within an hour if they call and say interested in doing a book signing today?  Okay, so this has not yet happened but I am prepared.

  Another one is ‘Query’.  I keep a running tab on every Agent I query to make sure I do not send to them twice in a year.  I also have a list of those I need to send too.  I keep the date I sent the query and if an answer has been returned.  This also helps with follow ups.  The ‘Social Networking’ tab is crazy because it seems like a new social online gathering is created everyday and so I keep this one simple.  If you see it showing up on every blog, wordpress and websites or even on FaceBook it is a good idea to market there.  Stay within the trend and you will gather more followers.

  I live in this spreadsheet just as much as I live in my book.  I keep a small notepad with me at all times just in case a new idea hits me on how to move me along.  As a writer, I have so many different writing adventures in the air so keeping the marketing aspects in a controlled fashion takes one less worry away.

NaNoNoTimeToSpare

  I have been contemplating joining the force and participate in NaNoWriMo in November but there is no way to fit it in……What is that, a writer cannot fit in writing?? Wrong. Besides being a writer I am also the manager, marketing agent, sales force, advertising agent, meeting facilitator and webmaster of my stuff. I am also a husband, father and oh yeah I have a day job I go to which pays the creditors what they are due (and some). Even though joining this writing hoopla would produce a lot more of Book 3, everything else would slide and in it the momentum lost.

  Sounds like an excuse? It is!

  But if you are interested in what I am talking about, click on the link under ‘The Crazies I follow…’ and select National Novel Writing Month. It is pretty cool but if you want to do this you better get ready for an all out writing bonanza in the month of November. Your fingers will never be the same.   

I Love Rock Star Parking

There is nothing like Rock Star Parking

I love pulling into a massive mall lot where cars are strewn everywhere and as you hunt closer to the front a spot or I should say “the” spot opens just for you. I dunno why but it is a feeling of great accomplishment. Now, all I did was head down the correct lane and show up at the right time and with little effort really. But for this moment, it is my spot! I want to stop everyone as they enter the store and show them MY great spot. Wallow in my success. It is even better if a friend is along so you can show them how things always work out for you. :)

Yeah right!

Isn’t this what it’s all about when it comes to your blog and twitter accounts? Getting the Rock Star Parking where you are in the front and everyone can see you, post you or follow you. I feel like it’s a race to the parking lot and we are all taking different lanes and working to beat each other to the Rock Star Parking twitter space. Yes, I too, am following or driving the same game as I trick out my nifty catch phrases or converse on things others do not, such as Rock Star Parking.

Some days I do feel I get close to the Rock Star Parking when I get a bunch of new followers all at once. It is part of the twitter game just like parking your car at the mall. It is MY spot not yours so excuse my big head as I point out how close I am to the door……just make sure the doors in the front and not the back. DOH!