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The WAR Cycle for Writers

In one of his acts, comedian Chris Rockthe development process necessary to
tells a joke where he calls a certaingetting known as a writer.
class of men, "Low-expectation-havingWhat 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 validliterary retreat and came home amazed at
point about people not expecting enoughthe number of disgruntled writers she
from life. Granted, we've been taughtmet. Even when they had four or five
that it is a sin to aim too low. Andbooks with traditional publishers, they
although I don't think a person can everalleged they had not been paid since
aim too high, I do believe a person cantheir advance. In my friend's case, at
suffer from having unrealistically highthe end of the day, not only did she and
expectations as to what the returnsanother self-published writer sell the
should be on an endeavor.most books, they got paid. The other
To illustrate the point, as a socialwriters could not collect any money
worker, one of the first trainings Iuntil their royalty payment. Perhaps
ever attended was about the world ofboth self-published and traditionally
abnormal childrearing. The WAR cycle, itpublished writers can take lessons from
was called. Simply put, at the crux ofthese two literary entrepreneurs'
most child abuse, it was found that the"hustle." The main thing is to avoid the
parent had unrealistic expectations asWAR Trap.
to the stages of child development. ThisHow to Avoid the War Trap
included expecting children to be pottyRemember, it can take 20 times exposure
trained at six months, to not get intobefore a person recognizes or buys a
things at age two and to even sleep allbook. In direct marketing, only 10% of
night as a newborn. Subsequently, in athe people contacted will be buyers. The
fit of rage, a parent would20/80% rule also applies to book buyers.
inappropriately "physically discipline"Try to write more than one book and
(abuse) a child. Sad to say, many ofdevelop 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 developmentalspend 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 fornegotiate more for marketing. If you
comparisons in life lessons, so let'slive near a book store, why aren't you
apply this to being a writer. This isscheduling booksignings on a regular
what I've come up with. I am beginningbasis? If you can't do a physical tour,
to see a similar syndrome, for somewhy 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 OfEmpower yourself by getting a web page.
Absent Realism." When we are writing, weStop being afraid of sharing, which
are often absent from reality. And by noleads 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 todemand. Write e-books. Use e-mail and
pushing our books, we have to besave postage. Use Free advertisement on
"Keeping it Real." As writers, we arethe Internet through book reviews,
dreamers.interviews, and e-zines. Start a
Okay, we've written the All Americannewsletter. Write articles to help
Novel. Even so, our biggest dream is topromote your books. Post on message
be published. We can already see the redboards. Do Internet Radio Show
carpet rolled out with stretchInterviews. Develop ways to market your
limousines and six-seven figure checksbook 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 inAssociation, Cushcity.com's coop
itself, but if we by chance luck up andadvertising.
get published, we expect the world toMaxine Thompson( and ) is the owner of
beat a path to our door after we'veThompson Literary Agency and Thompson
accomplished this feat.Literary Services. She is also the owner
Unfortunately, when things don't takeof Black Butterfly Press. If you are
off right away, we abuse our child, ourinterested in being on one of her
dream, by either giving up too soon orinternet radio shows as a guest you can
blaming our publisher or our agent. Toemail her at or
use a metaphor, we want to plant a seedYou can sign up for her free newsletter
and see a tree the next day. Like theat .
abusive parent, we want to accelerate



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