Tuesday, December 25, 2012

Holiday Obstacles for Authors | Writing and Publishing News

Merry Christmas. I hope you?ve noticed that I haven?t been blogging daily this week. It is good to be missed?to have people disappointed when they get up and head to their computer for words of publishing wisdom, only to find nothing new posted. It?s not that I want to disappoint you. Rather, I hope that you find value in this blog effort of mine. I?ve been posting here for 7 years and one month. For most of that time, I have posted daily. This is my 1,693rd post. I will hit the 2,000 mark sometime in 2013. Who else do you know who has posted anywhere near that number?

Okay, so it is Christmas day. It has been busy in the family arena and I?ve been enjoying every minute of it. But I am eager to get back to my client work and putting the final touches on my second novel. It will also be nice to feel as though everyone else is back to work. Some of you know what I mean. During the holidays and sporadically throughout the summer, you find it difficult to communicate with editors, publishers, reviewers, your publicists, program directors and so forth. Why? Because they take time off?they leave out-of-office-replies to your earnest emails. You are ready to move forward with your project. You want to set up speaking gigs, submit an article or a book manuscript, get your book reviewed, move your marketing program forward, etc, and they are taking a ?much needed break.?

Well, you?ll probably have to wait a little while longer. On the heels of this holiday, of course, is the tradition of seeing in the New Year. Maybe you?ll connect with the person or people who can help you move ahead around January 2. Although, some of the key people may have been waiting for the holidays to be over before heading out to snowboard, ski or maybe vacation in a warmer climate. Sigh!!

If you are a freelance writer or author, you know about obstacles and challenges. If you?ve been earning your living for many years through writing like I have or even just enjoying the writing life for a long time, you?ve experienced many different roadblocks?or potential roadblocks. Here are some words of wisdom from earlier generations: ?This too will pass.? Yes, the obstacle may diminish at some point, but what about the opportunity? Often, timing is everything. But as writers who must rely on others, it is difficult to know or have control over the timing of events and activities related to our projects.

It is up to us to do the research in order to learn whether our book, story or article is timely. And when we think we?ve nailed the time element and we move forward with our gut, to have doors to what we believe are the opportunities we need, close is?well, rather disheartening, don?t you think?

But we will survive. As writers and authors, we are creative. We know how to do the research necessary to move our projects forward. We understand the importance of filling many baskets with eggs (possibilities, opportunities, potentialities?).

And here?s another clich? I?d like to remind you of today: ?When one door closes, another opens.? But be ever aware because the next door might be a window?a small, nearly invisible window.

If you are a bit out of sorts because you have business you want to conduct this season and you are finding many closed doors despite your attempts, stay calm. Stay focused. Either take a break of your own and enjoy an aspect of the season or move to plan B and see what transpires.

In the meantime, good luck with your current project. May it bring you great joy throughout the process and beyond.

If you are an author in any phase of writing, producing or marketing one or more books, be sure to check out my most current array of books for authors:

Publish Your Book
Promote Your Book
Talk Up Your Book

All available at Amazon.com and most other online and downtown bookstores. You can also order your copies here: http://www.matilijapress.com

Download my FREE ebook, ?50 Ways to Prepare for Publishing Success? at http://www.patriciafry.com

Source: http://www.matilijapress.com/publishingblog/?p=2447

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