Booklife : Strategies and Survival Tips for the 21st-Century Writer

The world has changed, and with it the craft of writing. In addition to the difficulties of putting pen to paper, authors must now contend with a slew of new media. This has forever altered the relationship between writers and their readers, their publishers, and their work. In an era when authors are expected to do more and more to promote their own work, Booklife steers readers through the bewildering options: -What should authors avoid doing on the Internet? -How does the new paradigm affect authors, readers, and the fundamentals of book publication? -Whats the difference between letting Internet tools use you and having a strategic plan? -How do authors protect their creativity while still advancing their careers? -How do you filter out white noise and find the peace of mind to do good work? Award-winning author, editor, and Web-entrepreneur Jeff VanderMeer shares his twenty-five years of experience to reveal how writers can go about: -Using new media: blogs, Facebook , Twitter , MySpace , YouTube , podcasts, and IM -Effectively networking in the modern era (why its not all about you) -Understanding the lifecycle of a book and your role in the publication process -Finding balance between your public and private lives and personas -Creating a brand and identity tied to your strengths and your writing -Working with your publisher: editors, publicists, marketing, and sales -Taking the long view: establishing short- and long-term professional goals -Getting through rejection and understanding the importance of persistence -Enjoying and enhancing your creative process and more Other Books by this Author Title Page Copyright Dedication Table of Contents Introduction Are You Ready to Embrace a Booklife? How to use this Book Sampling it Following the Structure Re-Imagining the Book What this Book is Not Further Resources: booklifenow.com and booklife.com I. Public Booklife Chapter 1: Building Your Booklife The Pillars of Your Public Booklife Creating and Managing Goals Mapping Your Future: Think Strategically not Tactically Approaches to Planning Change Management Mission Statements Benefits “How am i Possibly Going to Keep up With All of This?!” The Discovery Process Being Yourself Exploring Your Strengths and Weaknesses Improving Your Abilities Choosing Your Platforms Facebook Myspace Twitter Youtube Other Platforms Public Platform Example: The Blog Creating A Blog Temperament: Should You Release Your Inner Evil Monkey? The Tension Between Ego and Information Modeling and Content Development Effective Approaches Ineffective Approaches Enhancements Managing Your Involvement Levels of Involvement Follow Through = Personal Integrity A Personal Space the Size of a Postage Stamp? Chapter 2: Communicating Your Booklife Networking How Do You Network? Rules for Communication Overcoming Fear of Contact Managing Contacts Dealing with Editors and Publicists A Covenant of Mutual Respect When Things go Wrong Making Assumptions, and what You can do About it Understanding Creative PR Universal Elements The Lifecycle of a Book Rules of Engagement PR Opportunities Blurbs Conferences and Conventions Readings Guest Blogging Interviews Reviews Writing Your Backstory PR Tools Artifacts Information Retrieval Objects Samples Leveraging Your Ideas Lost in the Crowd? Successful Example: “the Situation” Creating a PR Plan Your High-Level Plan Your Detailed Plan Five Minimum Elements for Success Chapter 3: Maintaining Your Booklife Transparency Branding Personal Public Managing Perception The Importance of Persistence Paying it Forward/Community Against Trends Positive Survival Strategies Multi-Purposing the Public for the Private Using Personification Booklife Gut-Check: Toward Peace of Mind The Search for Balance Your Health Positive Choices Avoiding the Negative Multitasking and Fragmentation White Noise and Dark Managing Open Channels Tolerance for Channels II. Private Booklife Chapter 1: Living Your Booklife The Pillars of Your Private Booklife Reasons to Write Attitude and Creativity Finding Inspiration Acknowledging the Passion Strategies Being Receptive The Subjectivity of Taste Mastery as Uncertainty The Tactics of Prose Room to Think Recognizing the Nature of Distraction The Other You Relinquishing all Fetishes Writing and Revision Testing Your Work Poking the Structure with a Stick Interrogating Your Characters Resources Work Schedule For Part-Time Writers For Full-Time Writers (Bowing to Reality) Habit Versus Process Do You Know the Difference? A Novel Example Permission to Fail Chapter 2: Protecting Your Booklife Addiction Rejection From other Writers From Editors From Reviewers Envy The Many Faces of Envy Difficult Solutions Despair Revitalizing Creativity Success Support from Your Partner The Long View Appendices A Note on the Appendices Appendix A: Additional Information on Relevant Roles Agents Booksellers By James Crossley Editors by Jill Roberts Marketing Versus Publicity by Colleen Lindsay Publicists by Colleen Lindsay Appendix B: Content-Related Marketing/PR Campaign Summary (Example) Podcasts PR Plan (First Draft Example) Press Releases (Example) Book Reviews Appendix C: Additional Notes on New Media by Matt Staggs Nodes and Influencers Reputation Management: Telling Your Story Before Someone Else Does Sipping from the Fire Hose: Online Search Tools Appendix D: Nurturing Creativity Chasing Experience by Nathan Ballingrud Luck’s Child by Marly Youmans Workshops by Cat Rambo Sacrifice: Without Hope, without Despair by Matthew Cheney Appendix E: How to Write a Novel in Two Months Support Writing-Related Conclusions Appendix F: Evil Monkey’s Guide to Creative Writing Acknowledgments About the Author

offering Timely Advice In An Era When The Burden Of Production And Publicity Frequently Falls On Authors, This Essential Reference Reflects On Methods For Being Focused, Productive, And Savvy In The Craft Of Writing. Discussing A Wide Range Of Essential Topics For Self-promoting Authors, This Important Guide Explores Questions Such As how Can Authors Use Social Media And The Internet? how Does The New Online Paradigm Affect Authors, Readers, And The Book Industry? how Can Authors Find The Time To Both Create And Promote their Work? and what Should Never Be Done? Through Good-humored Encouragement, Practical Tips Of The Trade Culled From 25 Years Of Experience As A Writer, Reviewer, Editor, Publisher, Agent, And Blogger Are Shared. Including Topics Such As Personal Space versus Public Space, Deadlines, And Networking, The Benefits Of Interacting With Readers Through New Technologies Is Revealed.

publishers Weekly

author And Blogger Vandermeer (finch) Outlines Ways For Writers To Harness Both The Emerging Power Of The Internet And Their Own Creativity In This Informative Guide. Vandermeer Differentiates Between A “public Booklife” (marketing The Book And The Writer) And A “private Booklife” (strategies To Help Get Words On The Page) And Suggests That One's Ideal Booklife Is A Dynamic Balance Of The Two. Even Though The Web's Landscape Is Constantly Shifting, His Hints About Ways To Maximize A Writer's Exposure—including Weighing The Pros And Cons Of Facebook, Myspace And Twitter—can Certainly Be Applied To Future Social Networking Sites And Blogs. The Tips For Creating A Flourishing Public Booklife Will Appeal To A Wide Variety Of Writers, From Those Just Starting Out To Those Trying To Navigate The Changing World Of Book Publishing, While The Private Booklife Section Seems More Tailored To New Authors. With Anecdotes From Vandermeer's Own Life As A Writer, Reviewer And Blogger, As Well As Input From Agents, Editors And Publicists, This Guide Will Surely Help Writers Traverse The Often Difficult Journey From First Draft To Finished Product. (oct. 15)