How to be your own Promoter

I know that hiring a PR can get very expensive. In today's economy we can't afford to hire all these "extra" people to help us with our book. We edit ourselves, publish ourselves, market ourselves and promote ourselves. We've learned to multi task. Some of us wish we could hire more people to take the weight off our shoulders but sometimes it's not that easy.
So we must learn how to self promote. Well how do you do that? You network. You build business relationships with people in your community, on the internet, the people you work with. You get your name out to people so when they hear your name again, they can remember they've met you before or they've seen your name before.
It's also good to make flyers. I personally use Vista Print. http://www.vistaprint.com/ They are an online website that does great graphics for you that are not expensive. Find you a good graphics desgin company that will fulfill all your needs and get them to print up business cards, post cards, flyers etc. (Every monday, I post a list of services that might be helpful for your writing career. Check back this upcoming Monday for the new list) Then pass them out to anyone who will take one. Drop a few off at the library. Ask local business' if they can place your cards on their counters. It's hard work but it will get you noticed.
If you are not someone who is not forward, you're not a people person and you can't just walk into a business and sell yourself and your book, you need to get a PR.
In this business you have to know how to promote yourself. What are your good quialities? Why should people buy your book? What do you have to say that someone else hasn't heard before? These are all things to think about when promoting you. If you are using the internet, be sure that you are apart of a lot of social networks and make sure your friends and the other members know who you are. It will take time to get your name to the public but it's all well worth it when you've built a fan base!
Before we end today's blog...
Become a fan of From A Writers POV on Facebook. Click the link to the right.
Signing Off,
Dominique Watson

Guest Speaker Cleo Stinyard: Writer's Block

Today we have a guest speaker; Cleo Stinyard. He will be speaking to us about writers block. How to deal with it and how to get through it. Read his interview below.

Dominique Watson (DW): Thank you so much for doing the interview. Explain how writers get writers block?
Cleo Stinyard (CS):Thank you for having me. I feel that I get writer's block because of either an influx of things running through my head or absolutely nothing running through my head at the time. However, often times it's the latter of the two.
DW: As a writer, what has helped you get over writersblock?
CS:The thing that gets me through writer's block depends on the situation. If my writer's block is coming from an influx of information running through my mind all at once then I'll try to just relax, maybe go pour myself a glass of sweet tea and try to sort things out. If I have run into a brick wall mentally, then I'll just focus on something else. Often times I'll just surf the internet, visiting and participating in various discussions. I have found this to be beneficial as I often find myself back on track mentally due to a nice debate or conversation.
DW: What do suggest others should do to help their writers block?
CS: My suggestions for others who experience writer's block would be to just step back from whatever you're working on and just relax. Take some time and let your brain recover for writing is a very affective excercise for the mind. I myself made a transition from writing poetry (sprinting)to writing novels (marathon}. I never doubted whether I could write a novel or not but I knew that if I wanted to be a successful novelist, I would have to condition my mind for endurance.
DW: Is it true that established authors don't get writers block as frequently as authors who are just starting out?
CS: I feel that the more that you work at anything the better your results can be and the better conditioned you are to work through tough spots whether it be a physical or mental hardship(s).
DW: How important is is to simply walk away from your work when you have writers block?
CS: I feel that simply focusing on something else that you enjoy would do wonders against writer's block. I've had an uncanny way of indirectly fighting writer's block by picking up a book and reading and when I went back to my work I've found myself ready to work as if the writer's block never existed in the first place.
Writer's Block is something that everyone suffers at one point or another but you have to prepare yourself by having relaxing yet effective activities to do while you're giving your brain a rest. However, whatever you do, don't let it stress you.

As an author, I've experienced writer's block a lot. My advice is to simply walk away. If it's not there, don't force it. Just walk away!
Before we end today's blog...
Wanna be a guest speaker on the Lounge: http://fromawriterspov.webs.com/guestspeaker.htm
Signing Off,
Dominique Watson

Attending events in your city

What can attending events do to your writing career? A lot. It's important to socialize outside of the internet and get to know fellow authors. Find others you can connect with socially as a writer. Every author should engage in events in the area. Find clubs, groups or organization that get together outside of the internet to meet and greet and connect with their common goal; to become a best selling author and be successful.
So if you haven't tried to get involved with others outside of the net, try it today. If you're invited to events try to attend. It will help your career. People can put a name with a face and get to know you. It can help your book sales as well. Because all writers read!
Before we end today's blog...
Check out this month's Publisher's Choice: http://fromawriterspov.webs.com/publisherschoice.htm
Signing Off,
Dominique Watson

Question of the Week

This month we have started a new edition. Our cover story is about inspiring through our words. "Tell us how you get inspired or motivated to write."
Post your comment below and tune in next wednesday for a new question.
Signing Off,
Dominique Watson

Author/Writer Event: Lita Y. Grace

This month's author/writer event is with Lita Y. Grace. Her event "Business Opportunity Presentation for Entrepreneurs on the Rise" is helping business owners get to the next level in their life. Read more about this event here:
http://fromawriterspov.webs.com/thismonthsevents.htm

Before we end today's blog...
Get your event advertised here: http://fromawriterspov.webs.com/authorswritersevents.htm

Signing Off,
Dominique Watson

This Week's Service

View this week's list of services

1. Dream 4 More Literary Consulting Firm offers services to new and aspiring authors, we also welcome seasoned ones too. See how our services can make your dreams a reality at www.dreams4more.com

2. Fulfilling Your Writing Needs Check out my services

3. ZLS Publishing-Book Publishing, Book Marketing, Author Website and Graphic Design for authors: www.zlspublishing.com

Before we end today's blog...
Add your business to our list next week: www.fromawriterspov.webs.com

Signing Off,
Dominique Watson

Business Owner Spotlight: Tiffany Pigee

From A Writers POV is featuring the owner and founder of Sugar & Spice Magazine in "The Business Owner Spotlight" Check out the ad and find out how you can be apart of their magazine: http://fromawriterspov.webs.com/businessownerspotlight.htm

Before we end today's blog...

Get you and your business in the spotlight: http://fromawriterspov.webs.com/businessownerinterview.htm
Signing Off,
Dominique Watson