Authors are business people, too

Yep, authors have to be business people, too. Sounds kind of scary, but it doesn't have to be. Nor to you need an MBA to manage your writing career. And that's what most of us are aiming for -- a career. And where there's a career, there's business management.

Not only do you have to write the books, you have to help sell, promote, market, and generally spread the word about your precious baby. Or as it's thought of in the publishing world -- "the product." It's your book, your baby, your precioussss, but the harsh reality is that it's a product that has buyers and sellers -- and sales figures that your publisher (and you) will be watching very closely. It's all a part of being a published author.

I did a series of blogs in July on "Things I didn't know until I was published." If you haven't read them yet, you can go to my "Fun Stuff to Read" page (it's in the left navigation bar on this page) and the links to the blog posts are right at the top. Topics and the dates of the posts are as follows:

1. Meeting booksellers -- July 10
2. Booksignings -- July 11 & 14
3. Book promotional goodies and where to buy them -- July 15
4. Tax writeoffs for writers -- July 16
5. Book promotion and advertising -- July 23
   

Some of what's coming in the few weeks:

• How to keep a story believable
  
• Writing yourself out of a plot hole
• Need inspiration? Look into your characters' pasts and air that dirty laundry. ; )
• Listen to your readers
• Keep the action going
• Real dialogue for realistic characters
• Say no to "info dump"
• Start with a hook, end with a cliffhanger
• Let every scene advance the plot
• Stick to a writing schedule
• Talk to yourself on paper

Update on Bewitched & Betrayed -- I finished Chapter 8 last night, and have a two-page start on Chapter 9. It's going good. I think. ; ) Well, as good as a first draft can go.

BTW -- On November 6, 2001 both Tam Nathrach and Sarad Nukpana were "born" as characters. Happy 7th birthday, guys! And thank you Kara for the reminder. ; )
Lisa