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