| In one of his acts, comedian Chris Rock tells a joke | | | | abusive parent, we want to accelerate the |
| where he calls a certain class of men, | | | | development process necessary to getting known as |
| "Low-expectation-having folks." (Of course, that's not | | | | a writer.What made me realize this is a friend (who is |
| the word he used.) At any rate, he had a valid point | | | | self-published) went to a literary retreat and came |
| about people not expecting enough from life. | | | | home amazed at the number of disgruntled writers |
| Granted, we've been taught that it is a sin to aim too | | | | she met. Even when they had four or five books |
| low. And although I don't think a person can ever aim | | | | with traditional publishers, they alleged they had not |
| too high, I do believe a person can suffer from | | | | been paid since their advance. In my friend's case, at |
| having unrealistically high expectations as to what the | | | | the end of the day, not only did she and another |
| returns should be on an endeavor.To illustrate the | | | | self-published writer sell the most books, they got |
| point, as a social worker, one of the first trainings I | | | | paid. The other writers could not collect any money |
| ever attended was about the world of abnormal | | | | until their royalty payment. Perhaps both |
| childrearing. The WAR cycle, it was called. Simply put, | | | | self-published and traditionally published writers can |
| at the crux of most child abuse, it was found that | | | | take lessons from these two literary entrepreneurs' |
| the parent had unrealistic expectations as to the | | | | "hustle." The main thing is to avoid the WAR |
| stages of child development. This included expecting | | | | Trap.How to Avoid the War TrapRemember, it can |
| children to be potty trained at six months, to not get | | | | take 20 times exposure before a person recognizes |
| into things at age two and to even sleep all night as | | | | or buys a book. In direct marketing, only 10% of the |
| a newborn. Subsequently, in a fit of rage, a parent | | | | people contacted will be buyers. The 20/80% rule |
| would inappropriately "physically discipline" (abuse) a | | | | also applies to book buyers. Try to write more than |
| child. Sad to say, many of these children wound up in | | | | one book and develop repeat customers. Remember |
| the hospital, or worse, for these normal | | | | it can take 100 no's to get to a yes. Don't spend all |
| developmental milestones.As a writer, I'm always | | | | the book advance and then not have enough to go |
| looking for comparisons in life lessons, so let's apply | | | | on a book tour. Try to negotiate more for marketing. |
| this to being a writer. This is what I've come up with. | | | | If you live near a book store, why aren't you |
| I am beginning to see a similar syndrome, for some | | | | scheduling booksignings on a regular basis? If you |
| writers, whether self-published or not.I call this | | | | can't do a physical tour, why not do a virtual tour? |
| syndrome The "WAR cycle" for writers. In other | | | | Give up the fantasy that you get rich with one book. |
| words, "The World Of Absent Realism." When we | | | | (If you do, fine, but it's a rarity.) Empower yourself |
| are writing, we are often absent from reality. And by | | | | by getting a web page. Stop being afraid of sharing, |
| no means should we give up our imagination, since it | | | | which leads to networking. There is no shortage |
| is the source of our writing. But let's face it. When it | | | | when you come from a position of abundance. Make |
| comes to pushing our books, we have to be | | | | use of print on demand. Write e-books. Use e-mail |
| "Keeping it Real." As writers, we are dreamers.Okay, | | | | and save postage. Use Free advertisement on the |
| we've written the All American Novel. Even so, our | | | | Internet through book reviews, interviews, and |
| biggest dream is to be published. We can already see | | | | e-zines. Start a newsletter. Write articles to help |
| the red carpet rolled out with stretch limousines and | | | | promote your books. Post on message boards. Do |
| six-seven figure checks rolling in as soon as the ink | | | | Internet Radio Show Interviews. Develop ways to |
| dries. We're fulfilled with the writing in itself, but if we | | | | market your book off-line and on-line such as through |
| by chance luck up and get published, we expect the | | | | the Publisher's Marketing Association, Cushcity.com's |
| world to beat a path to our door after we've | | | | coop advertising.Copyright 2006 Black Butterfly |
| accomplished this feat.Unfortunately, when things | | | | PressMaxine Thompson's newsletter at( and ) is the |
| don't take off right away, we abuse our child, our | | | | owner of Thompson Literary Agency and Thompson |
| dream, by either giving up too soon or blaming our | | | | Literary Services. She is also the owner of Black |
| publisher or our agent. To use a metaphor, we want | | | | Butterfly Press. |
| to plant a seed and see a tree the next day. Like the | | | | |