Let's Stop Putting Labels on People

Not too long ago I was out in public and struck up a conversation about what I do with someone I didn't know. When I told her I was a writer, and that I wrote novels, she honest to goodness looked at me and said, "Oh, so that means you must have ADD." (Attention Deficient Disorder--a mental illness.)

Needless to say I was flabbergasted that someone would actually make such a hurtful, not to mention ignorant, remark. I looked her in the eye and said, "Well, in my line of work, that would actually be considered a job requirement." It immediately shut her up and she walked away, which is exactly the reaction I wanted.

Few things make me bristle like people who insist on putting stigmatizing labels on other people and branding them with scarlet letters. Why must they do that?  Is it because there is some narrow definition of "normal," out there, and creative, imaginative people simply don't fit that so-called norm? Is that why creative people must be stigmatized for being creative?  Or is it because making other people look bad is how they make themselves look good? I suspect the answer is both. What I do know for certain is there are people out there who simply do not like creative people. Period. A few years back I read an article instructing parents on how to "reprogram" their children if they showed signs of being, "right-brained creative" so they could be made into, "left-brained analytical."  Apparently being "creative" is now something that parents have to fear.

Here's some news for all you left-brained, self-obsessed psychiatrists and psychologists out there, (and yes, that means you with the MD or the PhD after your name.) I am a right-brained creative and proud of it. It's what God made me to be. And guess what? Even though I'm a, "wacko," by your standards, I still manage to get myself out of bed every morning. I practice proper hygiene. I wear the same clothes that "normal" people wear. My house may not be June Cleaver clean, but you won't find uncatagorized life forms growing in it either. I'm not only able to perform my job, I even run a publishing business, and somehow I manage to get the job done for my clients.  Then, in the evenings, and on the weekends, I work on my own novels.

So, Miss Smart-Alic, who the are you to pin your scarlet letter on me by labeling me with "ADD" because my job involves using creative skills?  Here's a thought. Why don't you worry more about your own life, and stay out of mine.

GM

Lessons Learned from Self Publishing

This week marks the end of an era.  I've finally sold the last remaining copies of my first self-published book, Anna's Kitchen. I learned a lot from the experience, and since that time I've done my best to share what I've learn with the rest of you.

I produced and published Anna's Kitchen back in 2005. I was such a little smart-alec at the time that I thought I knew everything. Okay, maybe being a free-lance graphic designer helped, since I was able to produce something that looked really cool, but I didn't know squat about editing, distribution, or marketing. So, here are some of the lessons I learned.

1. A spell checker is not a substitute for an editor, or a proofreader.
2. If you want your book to be distributed, you really need Ingram.
3. 500 books really does take up a lot of room in your shed.

Ah, I was so naive at the time, but looking back, it was still a good experience. I learned a heck of a lot, and I have no regrets.

Will I republish Anna's Kitchen? Not at this time, although I did consider it. A couple years ago I started up a food blog called My Timeless Cuisine, as a tool for promoting the book. What I discovered from that blog is that food, like fashion, seems to follow trends, and right now old-fashioned home cooking doesn't appear to be in vogue. But then again, I may change my mind someday.

In the meantime, many of the recipes from Anna's Kitchen, are available on My Timeless Cuisine. 

Bon appitite,

GM

Just When I Think I've Heard It All

Just when I think I've heard it all someone comes along and surprises me.

This morning I came across a thread on an on-line forum that I simply could not believe. Someone had honest to goodness posted a question to the effect of: Where I can go to make my book a bestseller, for very little money, and without having to work?

I swear, on everything that is holy, that I am not making this up!

Wow. It kind of gives new and deeper meaning to my page about The Author Myth. Some of the commenters thought he was joking. Hopefully he was, but I have a funny feeling he was serious. So, I suggested that if he wants his book to be a best seller, then perhaps he might consider getting off his lazy butt and working at it.

As I have said many, many times before on this blog, it is the author's responsibility to market the book. Even if your book is being traditionally published, marketing is still your responsibility. That said, there are people out there who are professional book publicists, and some of them do a very good job. But even if you decide to outsource, you, as the author, need to seek out these people and yes, they will expect to be paid for their services. This means that you will probably have to spend more than just a "little" money.

In all fairness, I'm on a tight budget myself, but I have found websites, such as Indie Author News, that will do some nice advertising packages for a very reasonable cost. If money is tight Blogger is free, Twitter is free, and Facebook is free. There are book bloggers who will do author interviews or write review your books for free. (Or for a free copy of your book.) Of course, this means that you will have to work at it, which is something this gentleman didn't think he should have to do.

Hate to say it folks, but it's the truth... The world will not beat a path to your door just because you wrote a book. If you honestly believe that you can publish a book, and then sit back and have it become a best seller, without spending any money, and without doing any work, then you are in the wrong business. If that's your belief then get out, now, and, if you'll pardon the cliche, don't let the door hit you on the ass on your way out.

Success will not happen without hard work.

GM

Why a Bad Review Can Be Good

Few things can be more maddening for an author than a bad review, particularly one that appears to have been posted out of spite. And if you haven't had someone post a malicious review for one of your books just wait, it will happen.

Gone are the days when you got your reviews from professionals who would post them in the newspaper or other mainstream publication. Nowadays websites, such as Amazon, encourage their customers, you know, average folks like you and me, to write reviews of the books we read. Most of the time this works well. However there are drawbacks.

One controversy that seems to be getting a lot of attention lately is the "sock puppet" review. This is when friends, relatives, perhaps even the author him or herself, using a different ID, will go and write glowing five-star reviews on Amazon.  And while this may be tempting, Amazon readers are more sophisticated than not, and a book with too many five-star reviews, or only five-star reviews, will actually be a red flag.

Then there is the other drawback--the malicious review. Sometimes this can be a friend with whom you've had a falling out, or perhaps a jilted lover or even and ex spouse. They'll "get even" by going on Amazon and panning your book, often in a very mean spirited way.  Again, let's give Amazon readers some credit. If they can spot sock puppets they can can also figure out that it's your vindictive ex friend. Amazon, as you know, also allows readers to review the reviews by asking if the review was helpful. Now, is it just me, or has anyone else noticed that negative reviews will get mostly "no" responses?

Not too long ago I had the privilege of sitting on a panel at a writer's conference, and the subject of reviews came up. One of the other authors said something profound--bad reviews are a good thing. He went on to describe the aforementioned sock puppets, and then he said that by having an occasional bad review, your book will appear more believable to the public.  He even went so far as to suggest that if your book has had only five star reviews to ask someone to please write you a three-star review. He said that ideally, your book should have a ratio of 20-80, meaning that one out of five reviews should be negative. That, he said will make your book's reviews real, with readers more inclined to buy.

None of us want to get a bad review. After all, our books are our babies. However, as my first publisher once told me, not everyone is going to like your book, and that occasional one or two star review can actually be a gift, not a curse.

My thought for the day.

GM

One Lovely Blog Award

I am pleased to announce that From the Writer's Desk, along with one of my other blogs, The Accidental Ghost Hunter, have both been nominated for the One Lovely Blog Award by my good friend, David Lee Summers. David is a steampunk and science fiction author.  More can be learned about his work on his blog, http://davidleesummers.wordpress.com.

The rules for this award are:

1. Give credit to the awesome person who nominated you and post the award at your site.
2. Describe 7 things about yourself.
3. Recommend 15 other bloggers 

Seven Random Things About Gayle Martin

1. My maiden name was Gayle Homes, which meant I was stuck with two names that most people couldn't spell. I got the name "Martin" through marriage, and kept it after the marriage ended. I finally have a surname people can spell and I won't give it up.
2. I began my career as a graphic designer, but it just wasn't fulfilling me. Writing novels, and publishing books, for other authors as well as myself, is my true life's passion.
3.  I don't know who said, "Lucky at cards, unlucky at love." All I can say is I usually do well at the blackjack table. 
4.  I've always been highly intuitive, and my hunches are usually right. I don't consider myself psychic, but I know others who are. I know psychics are real, having a "gift" for it myself.
5.  The reason why I now write under the pen name, Marina Martindale, is because I wrote a series of children's books as Gayle Martin. I now write sensual romance and these books are definitely not suitable for younger readers.
6. Few things in life are better than chocolate.
7. I'm a novelist. I have to go out and experience life to the fullest so I can write about it. I want to do more traveling. For me, it's a job requirement.

Fifteen Blogs I Like (They reflect my love for books and for cooking.)

1. Annie Oakley's Kitchen
2. Cake Dutchess
3. Character Chat
4. Cook with Susan
5. Cooking with K
6. Drugs Called Books
7. Fall Into Fiction
8. Have a Cookie!
9. Living Brilliant
10. Living for the Books
11. Passion for Pages
12. Shop Girl Diaries
13. Southern Charm Treats
14. The Absent Librarian
15. The Lunch Box Project