THE WRITER-AUTHOR-MARKETING SPECIALIST – Week V

Now that all the Christmas toys have found their way into our children’s room—or the downstairs family/playroom—or tucked away under our beds—it’s time for all writers to pause and catch a breath. Even during the holidays the relentless dancing-maid-characters of our novels-in-progress have been talking to us, demanding our attention, pushing us to write the next chapter. Please hit the PAUSE button! You and your Marketing Specialist/PR professional have done all there is to do this year. Now it’s time to pull in a deep breath and…

• Settle in to your favorite reading place, close the door, and read (or re-read) a favorite book! I have shelves full of my “keepers” (as I’m sure you, do) and they range in genre from the Adventure/Sci-fi of Edgar Rice Burroughs, Isaac Asimov and H. G. Wells to the mysteries and miracles of faith from authors such as A. J. Cronin, Lew Wallace and Jonathan Cahn. Reading one of your keepers will refresh mind, heart and spirit—allow you to wallow in the excellence and expertise of creative authors—and heighten your own creativity!

• Congratulate yourself on surviving yet another wild holiday season which has, after all, reminded you of all the love and laughter, joy and hope that can be found in the world—often in spite of the anxiety-driven drama that we hear on the News. When we pause long enough and consider history—both ancient and immediate—writers observe a kaleidoscope of perspectives that can enhance our every writing project. We’ve just added one more personal perspectives piece of history to this collection. Let’s make sure we’ve taken a few notes to remind us.

• Take time—and make the effort—to reconnect with neighbors and friends who have just reconnected with you through emails and Christmas cards, Facebook posts or quick phone calls. Why repeat the contact so soon? When this was suggested to me I wanted to ask the same question but decided to simply start with one person and see where that took me. Not only did each conversation lift my spirits, I later learned that the other folks felt the same boost of energy, as if the not-so-great circumstances that many were experiencing would find good outcomes—simply because someone listened to them and cared.
  • There was another marvelous benefit that came from these contacts. Without me mentioning my books—or anything about my writing projects—each person asked about either my first book or the one I’d recently released. I will never know how many of them actually purchased one of the books, however, a few wrote nice online reviews.

As this year of 2016 closes its doors, remember this: YOU ARE A WRITER! Every experience you’ve had this year, every person you’ve met, grown closer to and/or walked away from, every step you’ve taken to build your writing skills (and marketing skills) has moved you toward the New Year.  So enjoy these remaining hours! Rest! Relax! Imagine all your books in the homes of thousands of Readers who have received the gift of your writing skills and inspirations just a few days ago. 2017 will bring you more stories to write and many more FANS! ⚓︎

ABOUT ROYALENE DOYLE: Royalene has been writing something since before kindergarten days and continues to love the process. Through her small business—DOYLE WRITING SERVICES—she brings more than 40 years of writing experience to authors who need “just a little assistance” with completing their projects. This is a nice fit as she develops these blogs for Outskirts Press (OP) a leading self-publisher, and occasionally accepts a ghostwriting project from one of their clients. Her recent book release (with OP) titled FIREPROOF PROVERBS, A Writer’s Study of Words, is already receiving excellent reviews including several professional writer’s endorsements given on the book’s back cover.  

Royalene’s writing experience grew through a wide variety of positions from Office Manager and Administrative Assistant to Teacher of Literature and Advanced Writing courses and editor/writer for an International Christian ministry. Her willingness to listen to struggling authors, learn their goals and expectations and discern their writing voice has brought many manuscripts into the published books arena.