Where to focus one's attention and energy? That's a pretty good question.
After e-publishing two novels and one book of poetry last month - representing two years of work - I now find it difficult (if not impossible) to be both a marketeer and a writer.
I simply do not have the energy to do both. My energy is sapped after two hours of writing because I put all I've got into it, like a chess grandmaster playing for the world championship.
So now I'm supposed to turn around and put on my Madison Avenue hat? Hats off to those who can.
"No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other."
I'd like some company or person to do it for me. At a reasonable cost - duh! Suggestions, comments and offers are as welcome as Dom Perignon at your daughter's wedding reception.
Thursday, April 17, 2014
Sunday, April 13, 2014
How To Get An Agent - Reality Check
Over a two year span (2011 - 2013) I wrote 13 full-length screenplays, hoping to see at least one of them made into a movie. I had neither the time, nor the ability, nor the experience, nor the inclination nor the wherewithal to market them myself, so I decided to look for an agent.
I happened upon an interview with a bona fide, genuine, top notch Hollywood agent, and the interviewer asked her point blank, "How does an unknown writer find an agent?" Her answer was very simple. You need to know somebody who knows an agent. Or you need to know somebody who knows somebody who knows an agent. Or you need to know somebody who knows somebody who knows somebody who knows an agent...ad infinitum.
The further down you go the harder it gets - obviously.
All the cold calling and query letters you can muster will get you exactly nowhere,
I happened upon an interview with a bona fide, genuine, top notch Hollywood agent, and the interviewer asked her point blank, "How does an unknown writer find an agent?" Her answer was very simple. You need to know somebody who knows an agent. Or you need to know somebody who knows somebody who knows an agent. Or you need to know somebody who knows somebody who knows somebody who knows an agent...ad infinitum.
The further down you go the harder it gets - obviously.
All the cold calling and query letters you can muster will get you exactly nowhere,
Regaining Momentum
Writing a story you love is like slow dancing with someone you love.
What would you do if halfway through the dance you lost your momentum? You could stick it out by force of will but that would be no fun and the dance itself would be pretty awkward, perhaps even alienating your partner. So you'd walk away, take a break, plead exhaustion ... whatever.
Does this mean that you will never dance with this person again? Of course not. Now you may choose to listen to different music, experiment with various other dancing styles ... and for awhile you forget about the prior dance and your prior partner. This is good because in the process your mind is clearing.
Without warning you want the old dance back again.Your partner appears like magic, the old music rears up and away you go.
What would you do if halfway through the dance you lost your momentum? You could stick it out by force of will but that would be no fun and the dance itself would be pretty awkward, perhaps even alienating your partner. So you'd walk away, take a break, plead exhaustion ... whatever.
Does this mean that you will never dance with this person again? Of course not. Now you may choose to listen to different music, experiment with various other dancing styles ... and for awhile you forget about the prior dance and your prior partner. This is good because in the process your mind is clearing.
Without warning you want the old dance back again.Your partner appears like magic, the old music rears up and away you go.
Thursday, April 10, 2014
Having Fun
If you are not having fun then you are either wasting your time or a slave.
I love writing (fun) and I hate marketing (not fun). The result is that in two months I've sold exactly two copies of what I consider a very good novel, and those were both to personal friends. It is impossible to do well at a task you hate.
The solution to the problem, if solving it is important to you, is to somehow, make marketing fun.
We all know that fun and creativity are two words for one feeling. So the question is, "How to make marketing fun?" The general answer is "be creative or "use your imagination."
So my suggestion for this group is to share your ideas on how to have fun marketing your book. I'll start. This is a brainstorm and the hurricane is just off the coast.
- Read the "how to" books and take them with a grain of salt. They all sound the same and I can't help yawning.
- Write a review of your work saying how awful it is. That will get attention.
- Make up some quotes about your work and attribute them to some famous dead people. For example, "Alex Burke is the only author who makes me feel small." - William Shakespeare.
- Offer to digitally sign every book you sell.
- Write a review as a sonnet.
- Create a slide show featuring your main characters.
The list is endless but you get my point.
I love writing (fun) and I hate marketing (not fun). The result is that in two months I've sold exactly two copies of what I consider a very good novel, and those were both to personal friends. It is impossible to do well at a task you hate.
The solution to the problem, if solving it is important to you, is to somehow, make marketing fun.
We all know that fun and creativity are two words for one feeling. So the question is, "How to make marketing fun?" The general answer is "be creative or "use your imagination."
So my suggestion for this group is to share your ideas on how to have fun marketing your book. I'll start. This is a brainstorm and the hurricane is just off the coast.
- Read the "how to" books and take them with a grain of salt. They all sound the same and I can't help yawning.
- Write a review of your work saying how awful it is. That will get attention.
- Make up some quotes about your work and attribute them to some famous dead people. For example, "Alex Burke is the only author who makes me feel small." - William Shakespeare.
- Offer to digitally sign every book you sell.
- Write a review as a sonnet.
- Create a slide show featuring your main characters.
The list is endless but you get my point.
Wednesday, April 9, 2014
Finding Time to Write - Knocking Out Writers' Block
I make a promise to myself every day that I will work for at least one hour on my writing. I set the bar low because I am easily daunted and prone to laziness.
More often than not the one hour turns into 2 or 3 hours, but if it doesn't I can still pat myself on the back for attaining my goal.
On those days when I don't feel like writing at all, I say to myself, "Okay Alex. Open the Word document and write just ONE WORD." I've had instances when the one word turned into 500.
This also works for writers' block.
More often than not the one hour turns into 2 or 3 hours, but if it doesn't I can still pat myself on the back for attaining my goal.
On those days when I don't feel like writing at all, I say to myself, "Okay Alex. Open the Word document and write just ONE WORD." I've had instances when the one word turned into 500.
This also works for writers' block.
Tuesday, April 8, 2014
Confidence
It is always nice to have a positive review or hear words of encouragement, but you as the author are the final judge and it is wise to subject every critique of your work to a critique of the critique.
If I had to choose one word to describe the most important quality for a successful life, it would be "confidence." A writer cannot develop confidence by an over-reliance on the opinion of others.
My best writing occurs when I have the attitude, "I am going to write whatever I darn well please because I like it, and what other people may think is of no concern to me."
The irony is that the writing thereby produced generally receives the most favorable responses.
If I had to choose one word to describe the most important quality for a successful life, it would be "confidence." A writer cannot develop confidence by an over-reliance on the opinion of others.
My best writing occurs when I have the attitude, "I am going to write whatever I darn well please because I like it, and what other people may think is of no concern to me."
The irony is that the writing thereby produced generally receives the most favorable responses.
Sunday, March 30, 2014
About Alex Burke
For those of you who may be interested in reading one or more of his books, it may be enlightening to look briefly into the entirety of the artistic endeavors of Alex Burke.
Mr. Burke is the author of two novels and one book of poetry: "The Assassin Shall Prevail" and "Much Ado About Mars" and "Sonnets From Hell," respectively. All three of these are available as ebooks for the Amazon Kindle.
Beginning in 2011, Alex wrote 13 full-length screenplays over a two year period. None of these have been produced to date. Their synopses are available in a previous post. Anyone interested in reading the screenplays themselves should contact Mr. Burke at burkealex@yahoo.com.
Additionally, he has produced over 150 paintings, all of which are featured on his website AlexBurkeArt.com, and many of which were recently displayed in a two-month exhibition in the lobby of La Vida Del Mar apartments in Solana Beach, CA.
He was a Software Engineer for Northrop Grumman for 20 years and during that time he designed and wrote the software for three different Top Secret national security projects.
He is a top-flight chess player and a talented golfer.
Mensa member since 1985.
Mr. Burke is the author of two novels and one book of poetry: "The Assassin Shall Prevail" and "Much Ado About Mars" and "Sonnets From Hell," respectively. All three of these are available as ebooks for the Amazon Kindle.
Beginning in 2011, Alex wrote 13 full-length screenplays over a two year period. None of these have been produced to date. Their synopses are available in a previous post. Anyone interested in reading the screenplays themselves should contact Mr. Burke at burkealex@yahoo.com.
Additionally, he has produced over 150 paintings, all of which are featured on his website AlexBurkeArt.com, and many of which were recently displayed in a two-month exhibition in the lobby of La Vida Del Mar apartments in Solana Beach, CA.
He was a Software Engineer for Northrop Grumman for 20 years and during that time he designed and wrote the software for three different Top Secret national security projects.
He is a top-flight chess player and a talented golfer.
Mensa member since 1985.
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