| In one of his acts, comedian Chris Rock | | | | the development process necessary to |
| tells a joke where he calls a certain | | | | getting known as a writer. |
| class of men, "Low-expectation-having | | | | What made me realize this is a friend |
| folks." (Of course, that's not the word | | | | (who is self-published) went to a |
| he used.) At any rate, he had a valid | | | | literary retreat and came home amazed at |
| point about people not expecting enough | | | | the number of disgruntled writers she |
| from life. Granted, we've been taught | | | | met. Even when they had four or five |
| that it is a sin to aim too low. And | | | | books with traditional publishers, they |
| although I don't think a person can ever | | | | alleged they had not been paid since |
| aim too high, I do believe a person can | | | | their advance. In my friend's case, at |
| suffer from having unrealistically high | | | | the end of the day, not only did she and |
| expectations as to what the returns | | | | another self-published writer sell the |
| should be on an endeavor. | | | | most books, they got paid. The other |
| To illustrate the point, as a social | | | | writers could not collect any money |
| worker, one of the first trainings I | | | | until their royalty payment. Perhaps |
| ever attended was about the world of | | | | both self-published and traditionally |
| abnormal childrearing. The WAR cycle, it | | | | published writers can take lessons from |
| was called. Simply put, at the crux of | | | | these two literary entrepreneurs' |
| most child abuse, it was found that the | | | | "hustle." The main thing is to avoid the |
| parent had unrealistic expectations as | | | | WAR Trap. |
| to the stages of child development. This | | | | How to Avoid the War Trap |
| included expecting children to be potty | | | | Remember, it can take 20 times exposure |
| trained at six months, to not get into | | | | before a person recognizes or buys a |
| things at age two and to even sleep all | | | | book. In direct marketing, only 10% of |
| night as a newborn. Subsequently, in a | | | | the people contacted will be buyers. The |
| fit of rage, a parent would | | | | 20/80% rule also applies to book buyers. |
| inappropriately "physically discipline" | | | | Try to write more than one book and |
| (abuse) a child. Sad to say, many of | | | | develop repeat customers. Remember it |
| these children wound up in the hospital, | | | | can take 100 no's to get to a yes. Don't |
| or worse, for these normal developmental | | | | spend all the book advance and then not |
| milestones. | | | | have enough to go on a book tour. Try to |
| As a writer, I'm always looking for | | | | negotiate more for marketing. If you |
| comparisons in life lessons, so let's | | | | live near a book store, why aren't you |
| apply this to being a writer. This is | | | | scheduling booksignings on a regular |
| what I've come up with. I am beginning | | | | basis? If you can't do a physical tour, |
| to see a similar syndrome, for some | | | | why not do a virtual tour? Give up the |
| writers, whether self-published or not. | | | | fantasy that you get rich with one book. |
| I call this syndrome The "WAR cycle" for | | | | (If you do, fine, but it's a rarity.) |
| writers. In other words, "The World Of | | | | Empower yourself by getting a web page. |
| Absent Realism." When we are writing, we | | | | Stop being afraid of sharing, which |
| are often absent from reality. And by no | | | | leads to networking. There is no |
| means should we give up our imagination, | | | | shortage when you come from a position |
| since it is the source of our writing. | | | | of abundance. Make use of print on |
| But let's face it. When it comes to | | | | demand. Write e-books. Use e-mail and |
| pushing our books, we have to be | | | | save postage. Use Free advertisement on |
| "Keeping it Real." As writers, we are | | | | the Internet through book reviews, |
| dreamers. | | | | interviews, and e-zines. Start a |
| Okay, we've written the All American | | | | newsletter. Write articles to help |
| Novel. Even so, our biggest dream is to | | | | promote your books. Post on message |
| be published. We can already see the red | | | | boards. Do Internet Radio Show |
| carpet rolled out with stretch | | | | Interviews. Develop ways to market your |
| limousines and six-seven figure checks | | | | book off-line and on-line such as |
| rolling in as soon as the ink dries. | | | | through the Publisher's Marketing |
| We're fulfilled with the writing in | | | | Association, Cushcity.com's coop |
| itself, but if we by chance luck up and | | | | advertising. |
| get published, we expect the world to | | | | Maxine Thompson( and ) is the owner of |
| beat a path to our door after we've | | | | Thompson Literary Agency and Thompson |
| accomplished this feat. | | | | Literary Services. She is also the owner |
| Unfortunately, when things don't take | | | | of Black Butterfly Press. If you are |
| off right away, we abuse our child, our | | | | interested in being on one of her |
| dream, by either giving up too soon or | | | | internet radio shows as a guest you can |
| blaming our publisher or our agent. To | | | | email her at or |
| use a metaphor, we want to plant a seed | | | | You can sign up for her free newsletter |
| and see a tree the next day. Like the | | | | at . |
| abusive parent, we want to accelerate | | | | |