“I think I just need to sum up.” Sally sat on the deck of the coffee shop, staring out at the lake, the waves frothy along the shore as it coughs up the debris of winter. A spring fragrance seasons the air, and from the earth around the deck, irises brave the crisp Minnesota air. Any warmer, and we might be out here in our shirtsleeves, so anxious we are for summer. I sit down, lift my face to the sun. “Sum away.” “I just want to make sure I have the Three Acts correct. I know we discussed them all, and then I dove right into my synopsis, but I just need to make sure I understand the overall flow of story structure.” “I’m all ears.” “Okay, in Act […]
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Use Social Media to Get More Out of Your Next Event
I know from the emails and blog comments I get that many of you have taken the jump into social networking. Today I’d like to share some thoughts about how social media can help with your brick-and-morter events, like a book launch or book signing. Often times we revert to traditional channels to advertise these events and miss some of the advantages social networking can give us. Don’t give up the traditional avenues, but add some of these ideas to increase your next event’s visibility. One of the benefits to social media is that you can identify people with similar interests. You can do this several ways. Hashtags on Twitter. A hashtag is a number sign (#) in front of a word or groups of letters. This makes the tweet searchable throughout the Twitter universe. For example, if I want […]
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Spring into Action, Part Two: Water the Seeds Regularly
Last week we talked about the first step to springing into action: Planting Seeds Now that those seeds are in the ground, let’s talk about the second step: Watering Those Seeds. Back in the old days, farmers planted when they had the best chance of getting the rain to water the seeds. They depended totally on nature and had no control over it whatsoever. Fortunately for them, today they have extensive irrigation systems. During the dry season when no rain is in the forecast, they can still turn out the most beautiful sod or green vegetables. So it is with your own life. You have at your disposal massive irrigation techniques to make sure those seeds of success you just planted get the proper nourishment. Things like: 1) The pipe. A good irrigation system begins with […]
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Spring into Action Part One: Plant Seeds of Success
Spring may have not started blossoming where you are but in central Florida, a beautiful new green covers the landscape, signaling the end of a season and the start of vibrant life again. It’s also the time year when Florida farmers plant seeds for the first of at least two harvests each year. If they don’t spring into action, they’ll spend the harvest season eating fast food. This month, we’re going to spring into action as well, beginning today by planting seeds. No, not the ones that grow cucumbers and corn, but rather seeds that grow your success emotionally and as a writer. I’m writing this blog post from the MBT Deep Thinkers Retreat in beautiful Destin, FL. Writers from all over the country have descended upon a house two blocks from the […]
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