Well, the launches are done. The signings are complete and the general hubbub is due to die down. So to quote a friend of mine at the Sydney launch, ‘what’s next?’
To be honest I’ve been wondering this myself. In fact I was wondering it as the Brisbane launches were unfolding. Here’s what I’ve decided.
- Channel Ten rang again, so there should be an interview with them happening soonish.
- I’ve had a chat to a woman who runs a community radio program and was happy to book me in for the 15th of March next year (this makes me happy because it spreads the promo stuff out a bit).
- I’ve also met a woman who is a neuro-linguistic practitioner (basically this means she’s all about how the words we choose affect our psychology) and we’re looking to set up a program that goes into schools, talking about the ill-effects of constant exposure to negative texts.
- In the new year I’ll be in discussions with a local Indie film maker.
- Various bodies need to be contacted in order to bring the book to their attention.
In between times, I think I will ponder the launches, prepare for Christmas and finish editing the next book (nothing sells a back catalogue like a new release, right?).
All this really boils down to my ‘ask and you shall receive’ attitude toward these things. None of it would have happened if I were a wallflower (which I think might be my natural state). I actually believe that if I won’t stand by my work, that nobody else should either.
Generally I cringe at the thought of all this shameless self-promotion. Rationalising this though (following the cringe), when I worked in more traditional fields, I did exactly this type of thing. I planned, I organised, I worked toward goals and I stood by the end result. That’s when it dawned on me. I’m finally doing it. I’m acting like writing is my job.
Huh…what do you know? I think I might actually be a writer!
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Sounds like you have been busy. Wishing you the best of luck in 2010.
Thanks Cassandra Jade, let’s hope this is the beginning of the beginning and not the beginning of the end eh?!
You’ve just made a light bulb go off in my head, a whole new way of looking at the self-promotion aspect of writerly life. I’ve heard the message many times from many people and understood it in different ways, but your post made that connection in my brain. Self-promotion should be shameless – utterly without shame – because a writer should be proud of her work.
Congrats again on all you’ve achieved so far, Rebecca. You’ve earned it. 🙂
I wish I could take credit for this viewpoint, but sadly I owe it to someone (and now I forget who) who, on a drunken evening, suggested that if I weren’t willing to stand up for my work, then why should anyone else buy it? Fine question, even after a couple of scotches. Now it is this perspective that bolsters me when I flag!