Monday, August 13, 2007

It's oh so quiet

Work has been incredibly quiet today. Very wierd - it usually means I can expect to be snowed under within a few days. It's made a pleasant change though as I actually caught up on a few things I'd been meaning to do for a while.
Writing is still going well. Just six and a half chapters left to go and a big read through and tidy up. That's when I take out my repetions, add in my descriptions, alter the pacing and make the whole thing run more smoothly.
I really love this story and it's great fun to write - if a little complicated.

One of my loops has a huge discussion on marketing going on. Apart from asking a couple of questions I've kind of stayed out of it as it's become a little heated. I've learned a few things to bear in mind for the future though and that's been helpful. I've had a marketing plan for a while ever since Jessica made me get more organised when I was having a major dither this time last year about where I was going and what I was doing.
I must say it's been quite reassuring to find out I was doing what I was supposed to be doing but still disheartening in other aspects.

3 comments:

Michelle Styles said...

One of the best things I read on marketing was Donald maass's chapter in the Career Novelist. entitled Self promotion or self-delusion.

The main take away is that things take time, years. You can never really say why something will work or another thing won't. Contacts build on other contacts. Keep a file. Write thank you notes.
Do the things that can make a difference but above all remember there is no promotion without something to sell.
Ultimately the only thing you can control is your writing.

Phillipa said...

Glad the book is going well, Nell. As for marketing: thanks to you I just received 100 'free' postcards from Vistaprint. Well, they cost £3 actually because I uploaded the cover of 'Wish You Were Here' to them, but I'm so pleased with the result and would never have known about this site but for your tip off.

Re marketing: I like doing PR.

Jessica Raymond said...

No probs :) I feel you may be doing the same thing for me in the coming months! You're doing great on your writing path -- look at how your year has shaped up so far already! You'll have even bigger things going on next year, I know it.

Jess x