The Fabulist Flash

Issue 24
ISSN: 1554-0804

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In This Issue:

1. This Week
2. The Writer's Bookshelf
3. Feature Article
4. A Writer's Tidbit
5. About The Fabulist Flash

1. This Week

Welcome to Issue 24 of The Fabulist Flash. Forward it to all your writing friends.

It's been raining here in the desert for several days. Not just a little rain, or a burst, but several days of hard, steady rain. We need the water because of an ongoing draught, but I'm missing the sunshine. Some Midwest friends have reminded me that it could be worse, it could be snow. I guess they're right. And, all this water will make for an amazing wildflower display in a few weeks.

The hard part about rain storms in Las Vegas is that the city isn't really equipped to deal with them. All that water has to go somewhere and while it makes up its mind it pools, puddles, and floods. This makes driving pretty rough so I've been homebound by choice rather than be out with all the inexperienced drivers. (I grew up in Ohio, so I know how to drive in bad weather, but most of the people don't have this experience.)

The upside of all these hours at home is that I've gotten a lot of work done on the 50 cities book. I've been brainstorming my summer book project. And, I've started developing another book project, to pitch to publishers and agents at an upcoming writer's conference. I'm also caught up on the dishes and the laundry. All my energy, like the water, must go somewhere.

I believe in giving credit where it's due. This energy burst, in part, should be credited to a book suggestion I got from a reader of The Fabulist Flash. Thanks, Beth! What's the book? It's this week's addition to The Writer's Bookshelf, The War of Art by Steven Pressfield.

It's never to soon to think about promoting your book (even if it's not written yet.) This week's feature, 10 Ways to Self-Promote with Ingenuity by Anika Logan, offers good book promotion advice for beginners and those who are more seasoned among us.

Until next week,

Gregory
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Gregory A. Kompes is a freelance writer and photographer. Learn more about Gregory and his work at www.kompes.com

2. The Writer's Bookshelf

The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks and Win Your Inner Creative Battles by Steven Pressfield

A Review by Gregory A. Kompes

I've recently been facing some creative blocks and a reader of The Fabulist Flash recommended Steven Pressfield's The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks and Win Your Inner Creative Battles. She commented that it was a short, inspirational read and she was correct.

This was a book I'd not heard of so I went to my favorite online bookstore, found it, and ordered. I love creative artistic inspiration that comes in the form of books.

As described, this 165 page book, with its short essays and abundant white space, is indeed an easy read. And, as described, it's filled with inspiration.

Mr. Pressfield, in his easy style, presents dozens of short, narrative bursts of creative ideals and ideas. He shares his own experiences as author of The Legend of Bagger Vance and other works, what he's discovered about the power of the muse and the need to sit down each day and write. These ideas are offered up in 50-250 word vignettes and essays, each dedicated to understanding and overcoming the creative blocks that keep us from achieving our daily and lifetime goals and dreams. What Mr. Pressfield does is share his artistic philosophy.

The book is divided into three sections: Resistance (Defining the Enemy), Combating Resistance (Turning Pro), and Beyond Resistance (Higher Realm). Each section is filled with short descriptions and digestible ideas. This is one of those books that can be read cover to cover, or randomly opened for a quick moment of inspiration.

If you've read other writer self-help or creative inspiration books, you'll notice glimmers of stuff you've read or stuff you already know. But, Mr. Pressfield's invocation of the muses and light connections to Roman myth added a nice layer, as do his selection of inspirational quotes from the likes of the Dali Lama, modern film, and the ancients.

There were some concepts that Mr. Pressfield presented that I'll admit I didn't agree with, but I'm not going to share those with you. After all, we each develop our own life philosophies and what works for one might not work for another, but we all still use these philosophies to get through our days. What I found interesting is that, while I didn't agree with him on every point, I kept reading. This gut reaction to keep going and trust the words, even through a filter, is a good indication that his philosophical concepts are pretty solid: one of those agree to disagree moments.

Steven Pressfield's The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks and Win Your Inner Creative Battles is an interesting collection of short inspirational essays designed to motivate you to apply more butt glue and get the work done. As inspirational books go, this one should be pretty high up on your list. There's something for everyone in this little book. If you need a little more inspiration on your Writer's Bookshelf (and who doesn't?), The War of Art is a good addition.

Read more about War of Art by Steven Pressfield

For this title and others of inspiration to writers visit The Writer's Bookshelf.

3. Feature Article

10 Ways to Self-Promote with Ingenuity

by Anika Logan

So you're a published author with a new book to promote, but don't know where to begin? Take a deep breath and read on to discover ways you can self-promote with ingenuity!

1. Take advantage of the incredible opportunity provided by the Internet. Create a website that features your book cover, a summary of your book, excerpts, some promotional blurbs from reviewers (or family and friends) and purchasing instructions.

2. Place your book announcement into as many online writing newsletters and E-zines as you can.

3. Strike up conversations with people wherever you go. Don't be afraid to tell people that you're a writer and have recently written a book. Carry copies of your book with you and don't let opportunities to speak with others or make a sale slip by. Enclose your business card (with your website address) in every book.

4. Throw a fundraiser in your own honor and invite everyone you know. Set the scene with music, mix up some drinks, order pizzas (or make your own) and bake up some yummy sweets. Set up a table full of your books. If you are unable to sell your own books (due to your contract) then put out a donations bucket. Play the gracious hostess and have a hoot! This is sure to drum up some interest in your work and bring you in some cash.

5. This one may sound kind of strange but it works. Don't overlook yard sales: your own or your neighbors. Set up a display of your books. They will definitely be a conversation piece that could lead to who knows what? Contacts, sales, readings, book signings or more work.

6. Create sales opportunities at your workplace. Ask your boss if you can set up a tasteful display in the office. Co-workers, clients and even customers are always looking for reading material. This local angle could generate many more word-of-mouth sales.

7. Post your business card and small posters announcing your book on every bulletin board you can find. Shopping malls, recreation centers, schools, even telephone poles! The more exposure you get the more chances that your book will be a winner.

8. Family members, close friends, acquaintances, neighbors -- pitch your book to them all. Talk about your book at reunions, weddings, anniversaries, birthday parties, get-togethers, you get the idea. Who better to support and encourage your hard work and effort than those who know and love you the best?

9. Combine numbers 7 and 8 and get your family members, neighbors and friends to help promote your book, too.

10. Contact newspapers and radio stations in your area. Local talent is always appreciated and frequently promoted. It reinforces the strength of the community and encourages others to pursue their dreams as well. It inspires hope and that is very important.

These are just a few tried-and-true ideas to help get you started down the path to self-promotion. There are numerous ways to promote your masterpiece, so put on your thinking cap and then get out there and make it happen!

About the Author
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Anika Logan writes on a variety of topics including fashion and beauty, food and dining, entertainment, home improvements, alternative medicine, relationships and articles on the craft of writing. Most recently her works have been featured at Garden and Hearth Magazine, Writersweekly, The Shoestring.com, www.food-writing.com, Elitestv, The Porch Syndicate, Tidings Magazine and www.the dabblingmum.com. Anika also enjoys writing fiction and writes a mystery serial story called "What Happened to Shelby Forrester?" for the website www.keepitcoming.net. To learn more about Anika's work visit her websites at http://www.authorsden.com/anikalogan and http://www.anikalogan.ownsthis.com/writingwings.html. Anika resides in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.

4. A Writer's Tidbit

Don't have fancy photo software, but still want pictures to submit to editors or add to your website? Here's a little trick if you have MS PowerPoint 2003:

Insert your picture on a PowerPoint slide. (From the main menu click: Insert, Picture, from file, select your object/picture, click "insert"). Next, right click on the object and do a "save as." You'll have the option in the save box of selecting jpg, jpeg, gif, or png (among other choices).

You're picture is now ready to be uploaded to email or your website.

5. About the Fabulist Flash

ISSN: 1554-0804

The Fabulist Flash is dedicated to helping freelance writers find resources and inspiration.

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