First Word

Up with the rainstorm and noticed the white blossoms on the trees outside of my window ... beautiful! It's spring or wait! I think it's really winter. Oh wait ... no ... it's spring! LOL ... well, that just shows how confusing the weather in California has been these days. So let's move on and discuss something that might actually matter to you. Last night we had a small meeting of Writers Who Mean Business , and we had an interesting discussion about publishers. I have to share something: I find it shocking how many (how shall we say) "low-rent" publishers exist in the business. I can't tell you how many times authors show me books just loaded with mistakes. In the early days of 3L Publishing we faced some of these challenges, so I do understand. But in business you cannot create a business, especially a publishing business, around lack of quality. Your "low-rent" publishing mistakes catch up with you in the form of a bad reputation. Let...

Have you ever had a client who is such a major PITA you want to run for the hills every time you see his/her name pop up on your cell phone or in your in-box? PITA clients are the type who cannot be satisfied. No matter how much hand-holding, time and effort you put into them the tagline "satisfaction guaranteed" just never applies. You could jump 200 hoops and "how high" -- and this client would still complain about or criticize your efforts. Want the solution? Fire them! Yes, I said the magnificent two-word solution. Don't gasp. Don't cry out: "But I can't afford it." Here is the truth you're right. You can't afford it. You can't afford to have all of your time, effort and resources sucked into a vacuous hole of dissatisfaction. When your time and attention is mired in a PITA you are not open to other possibilities. You are spinning your wheels and most important spending all of your time on the insufferable demands of a PITA....

If you're working on building your social media presence for your business, I recommend a split between the professional and personal (small bits and bites about YOU personally but not a lot). The reason I add a "sprinkle" of personal is people like to know who they are working with. Here are three things NOT to do with your social media marketing: Tip 1: Don't plaster marketing materials on other people's Walls ( Facebook ) without permission . Nothing turns off a prospect more than having a piece of marketing promo plastered on his/her Wall. It's like using their brochure or business card to doodle on. And worse, it's a marketing piece that is probably not something he/she would have put on his/her Wall in the first place. You will offend and not sell a thing. Tip 2: Don't ever, ever get into "flame" wars . Do not make a public spectacle out of some argument. If someone gets belligerent on your Wall, "de-friend" them, and then...

Want to know the no. #1 question I am consistently asked? Do you think my idea will sell? I honestly have no clue. When I get asked that question, I call it the million-dollar question. We're talking about a finicky market in which many, many factors come to bear. A book release literally can be derailed by a hurricane trumping the news. I kid you not. It depends on the market's attention on that day. It depends on tastes, interests and hobbies -- and what the public's favors on any given day, month or year is hard to predict. Is the public sick of vampires and werewolves yet? You think the interest has waned and then BAM! Some unique book on the subject hits the shelves and flies. Some people are really good at figuring it out, but even these people have some bombs, too. What do they say? You're only as good as your last movie ... it's true. You can have market cache one day and be the has-been the next. So when I'm asked that question, all I can say is this, ...

In storytelling writing characters with a flat, straight journey in the story doesn't work. Characters who start one way in a story and remain the same at the end aren't interesting. The character arc boiled down is about how the character starts at point A and ends up at point B changed somehow. Even in script writing this transformation is important to create a compelling script. How do you keep the character arc in mind. I'm going to give you an example from my forthcoming book Body in the Trunk. Evan Garner -- philandering player whose sexually irresponsible behavior always leads to his downfall. He meets the beautiful and sweet Mia with whom he intends to con and swindle of her stock options. Then he actually falls in love with her for real. And through his first real love experience he is put in a situation where he finally has to grow up to protect and not abandon her. He is redeemed in the end by his desire to finally do the right thing. So let's break th...

If you're trying to do public relations for your book (which I don't recommend), and you want to reach the media, here are some tips. If you have a publicist then he or she should know this information. Regional press is easier to get attention . Regional press usually generously consider talent in their own areas. It's easier overall to get the attention of media in the author's city of origin then to try and get national reviews, which doesn't mean national reviews won't happen; it's just easier to first start with the locals. News angles should focus on regional activities, partnerships or donations . A simple book release won't get the media's attention. Authors whenever possible should partner with for example a charity to promote along with their book. Give portions of proceeds to the charity. For example, the children's book Princess Josie partnered with Canine Companions and donated portions of profits to the group. The media is more ...

Growing your business can be a challenge. You have to manage growth effectively or all the work it took to build business in the first place will crash and burn. I was thinking about this concept at the new Farrell's on Watt Avenue in Sacramento. Yesterday we celebrated my daughter's 10th birthday. Every time we visit Farrell's while we enjoy the top-notch ice cream the service always fails. I immediately noticed that once again it took forever to be seated and once at the table I had to ask for water three times. And like so many other times, the wait staff bumbled and failed. One time I ordered a full platter of chicken fingers, and I ended up with a child's plate, which for my small appetite worked great but it doesn't change I didn't order that plate. We've waited sometimes hours for ice cream. What is the problem? A young wait staff. A new restaurant ill equipped to handle the crowds. And probably an ill-managed service desk. Since I'm not an expe...