This week, two articles I wrote were published:
On Risk and Writing
I wrote this essay – “On Risk and Writing” – for Compose Journal, which is probably the most personal piece I have ever written. It begins:
“Think about your family, you dolt.”
This is the kind of mean-spirited personal attack that every blogger dreads. It was left four years ago on a blog post I wrote about the risks my wife and I were taking when we decided that I would leave the corporate world and she would quit her teaching job so we could start a small business at the very same time we were starting a family, too.
The piece explores that lonely place of taking a risk to pursue your dream of being a creative professional. You can read the rest of it here.
It was a struggle to write this, and I was helped enormously by Jennie Nash during that process. In fact, this piece was the spark that has lead me to write a book, of which I have now written 60,000 words since September. Beginning November 1st, I have committed to a week-to-week editing process that lasts until mid-March.
Launching a Bestseller Without Selling Your Soul
The second piece published this week is an article I co-authored with Miranda Beverly-Whittemore for Poets & Writers magazine: Launching a Bestseller Without Selling Your Soul: The Rewards of Self-Promotion. It describes our process of working together for a year prior to the release of her novel Bittersweet.
This article also describes the many ways that Miranda took risks. The article begins:
Miranda Beverly-Whittemore was a failure, or at least she felt that way. Her first two novels—acquired in a six-figure two-book deal in the mid-2000s—had suffered disappointing sales, and two subsequent manuscripts were met with zero interest from publishers. So when an editor at Crown Publishing fell in love with her next book, Bittersweet, Miranda’s excitement was superseded by her pragmatism. Sure, Crown’s publicity and marketing departments seemed deeply engaged, and her editor was passionate. But Miranda knew this could be her last chance to prove her work had sales potential; for that reason, she wanted to do everything in her power to help find Bittersweet’s readership.
Miranda’s previous experience in self-promotion felt a lot like standing at the edge of a chasm, straining to hear her publisher’s expectations as it whispered from the other side. As founder of WeGrowMedia—a company that offers consulting, courses, and training for authors to find and connect with their readers—Dan Blank helps authors and publishers standing on either side of that promotional chasm build a bridge over it. Before working together, Miranda thought of the Internet as a mask to hide behind, but for Dan, social media, websites, blogs, and newsletters are simply extensions of the physical places where authors can engage genuinely, and generously, with others. In fact, what he believes is not unlike what Miranda was teaching her four-year-old: Be kind to others and they will reciprocate. True connection requires more than simply slapping up a website; you must understand who you are in order to know what you can—and want to—offer your readers.
Poets & Writers put this article in their “Practical Writer” section, which is perfect. My days are spent with writers & creative professionals in that messy “practical” place where they pursue their dreams while kids scream in the background, dishes overflow in the sink, their “real” job beckons with unanswered emails, and they just hit a roadblock with their latest book. That is the place I love being, where every act of pursuing their vision is an act of risk.
How does risk play into your life as a creative professional?
Thanks.
-Dan
Weather and Writing Motivation: Do you believe this is authentic or even exists?
I’m not sure I understand the question… are you saying that there is a belief system out there that says things such as “Sunny days help writing” or “rainy days help writing”?
Definitely NOT a “belief system,” Dan. Rather an indicator or inclination that is connected to seasonal highs and lows, and how these times impact on our capacity to be creative or not. My use of the word “authenticity” was a poor choice, Dan, since it projects what is real and/or what is not. I am more curious about my being negatively affected with “rainy”– meaning gloomy. In other words, how to cope with “downs” that interfere with steady and progressive writing. (Of course, I support the fact that motivation and production is certainly related to our income! 🙂 But so does mood. Does anyone have any suggestions to overcome rainy day blues?
Paula,
I would separate this discussion from the weather, and reframe it as just the ups and downs that can happen emotionally/psychologically. YES, the weather can trigger it for some people, but there are so many unique triggers, and it varies by person.
There are loads and loads of discussions online about related topics, “writers block” being just one way to describe it, and perhaps not the most accurate.
For myself – a schedule really helps. I have developed a system of working that helps me work through the emotional/psychological ups & downs that you mention here. I will also say this: I live in New Jersey, and LOVE the range of weather we get here. It forces unique experiences, including reflecting on how a dark cold rainy day differs from a gorgeous sunny day.
Thanks!
-Dan
Thanks Dan. I guess I knew where I was going with that question. I read somewhere in a writer’s book that there is no such thing as writer’s block, but I could not take it seriously. I answered the question in the Diskus ? group for myself based on choices. Today I will be lying very low. My little budgie tiny parakeet is dying and I cannot save her, so I have to watch her die. I held he under my light lamp and since I cannot hold her on my chest all day, I placed her in a small warm towel and cage. Her name is Lizzie B after Elizabeth Barret Browning. Her mate looks so confused about the separation. I cannot believe how poorly I am handling this. There has just been too much death in my life lately. Last night I just about finished my blog for veterans day and talked an awful lot about death. How ironic. But I will finish it with some help with imagery from my web designer Rhonda. I believe it will be a good one that you may want to read perhaps. It comes straight from the heart http://www.lettersandleaves.net/ I apologize for venting but I live quite a lone existence. Losing my bird will be a great loss to me. I did send in my goals and kept them simple for a change.. But I did not use the white page because I couldn’t find your message and announcement to copy and paste it. How do I get there, please, again? I will be the tech idiot of the group no doubt. Have a wonderful day. I read past midnight because I am so inspired and impressed with your perceptions and experience. I have already learned so much from and I am very grateful for that. More tomorrow I hope. Thanks Paula
Very sorry to hear this.
-Dan
Off the subject a bit, but Lizzie survived the night and is going to the vet later. Thank you for your empathy and pardon if I was unprofessional. Sometimes it’s hard to separate.