Of course you balk at my post title,
since you are reading my blog, right?
But reading is on the decline.
One in four (27%) of us have not read a book in the last year.
If we as authors write posts primarily to other authors,
we are in essence singing to the choir.
It is like kissing your sister, convenient but leads nowhere ...
unless your sister was Angelina Jolie ...
but that is another disturbing story. Brrr.
John Locke, snake oil salesman
and book review buyer that he was
actually had a good idea:
We must write to intrigue and entice potential READERS of what we write.
HOOK
Google Searchers with an intriguing title
But you must follow the title with a post
that amuses, entertains, and persuades the reader that your prose is worth gambling 99 cents on.
On the internet, you can walk away with a click if someone fails to interest you.
This happens all the time.
TAKE A STAND
Say your piece and stand by it.
Wafflers are like warm tap water.
Be hot. Be cold.
But write words of steel not water vapor.
You think most Indie Authors are Brand Whores?
Say it. Stand by it.
Endure the storm and stand tall.
That is what great spirits do.
ACT "AS IF"
In the documentary, "Conan Can't Stop,"
Conan explains how he gets through situations that are hard.
He says he acts "as if."
As if he belongs there.
As if he knows what he's doing.
As if everything is going to be a success --
no matter what he does, no matter what anyone says, no matter how hard it gets.
Write your blog, live the author life that way ...
Write As If people are reading
and by golly you are going to entertain the socks off them.
Hey, it might even work!
God doesn't want lukewarm, so we shouldn't settle for it either.
ReplyDeleteDifficult to gain readers anywhere these days.
It is hard, isn't it? Happier New Year, Alex.
DeleteI love Conan! He excels not only by acting "as if", but also a heavy dose of self-deprecation. Happy new year, Roland!
ReplyDeleteGood post, and good points. It does feel like I'm not only preaching to the choir, but mostly selling to my fellow writers. OTOH, who better? Writers are readers, or had better be!
ReplyDeleteAlas, it is sad that while people are writing and publishing more than ever in history, fewer of us are bothering to read. Too many words and not enough of them girded in steel.
ReplyDeletehttps://cleemckenziebooks.substack.com/p/short-story-wednesdayagain
I like being part of a community. 'nuff said.
ReplyDeleteAnna from elements of emaginette