Several years ago, I took part in a week-long summer program at the Iowa Writers’ Workshop. I still stay in touch with my excellent instructor from that week, Geoffrey Becker (author of HOT SPRINGS and BLACK ELVIS), and some classmates, including Jael McHenry (author of THE KITCHEN DAUGHTER). The workshop was terrific and Iowa lived up to its status as an inspiring haven for writers and readers alike. Best of all, the work I did in Iowa was a catalyst for my new debut novel, PHOENIXVILLE RISING.
That’s not what I want to talk about.
On my way home from Iowa, I made a side trip to the cornfield that served as the setting for one of my favorite films, FIELD OF DREAMS. (The movie, of course, was adapted from W.P. Kinsella’s book, SHOELESS JOE, written in part at the Iowa Writer’s Workshop. But I digress.).
I loved every minute of the visit. I played a little pick-up baseball on the diamond, watched parents and kids play catch in the outfield, took my turn emerging from the rows of corn like Shoeless Joe Jackson, and sat on those iconic bleachers along the first-base line. And all the while, that famous line ran through my head:
“If you build it, they will come.”
Come on, say it with me. In your best James Earl Jones voice.
“If you build it, they will come.”
It took me years to write PHOENIXVILLE RISING. Hours and hours at the keyboard, too many drafts to count. Lots of blood, sweat, and tears. I think it shows on the pages. I feel good about the work (well, as good as most writers feel about their own writing). Early reviews are promising.
So, now that the thing is built, I want to be sure that everyone who cares about it, knows about it.
As you can probably tell, my summer has been devoted to the ins and outs of book marketing. Not only marketing this one book, but developing a “brand” or “platform” as a writer. Most of my time in recent years has been spent writing and editing -- now I’m exercising some old marketing muscles that have been dormant for a while.
I’ve been experimenting with different ways to spread the word about PHOENIXVILLE RISING. Some work, some don't, some you can't tell. (That's marketing, folks.) Every day, strangers are signing up for my email list, hundreds of people are visiting my website every week, early readers are finally getting their hands on the book and saying nice things.
I’m building a platform. A website, a blog, social media, interviews, public appearances ...
I worry that I’m doing too much, too soon -- over-marketing, coming on too strong. I don’t want to make people sick of the book, especially before it even comes out.
And I worry that I’m doing too little, not reaching enough potential readers, getting lost in the cacophony of internet noise and information overload.
These are my concerns. But there is one worry above all else.
The worry that still keeps me up some nights, wondering if I’m doing enough, or doing too much:
Now that I’ve built it -- will they come?
We’ll find out. October 2013.
That’s not what I want to talk about.
On my way home from Iowa, I made a side trip to the cornfield that served as the setting for one of my favorite films, FIELD OF DREAMS. (The movie, of course, was adapted from W.P. Kinsella’s book, SHOELESS JOE, written in part at the Iowa Writer’s Workshop. But I digress.).
I loved every minute of the visit. I played a little pick-up baseball on the diamond, watched parents and kids play catch in the outfield, took my turn emerging from the rows of corn like Shoeless Joe Jackson, and sat on those iconic bleachers along the first-base line. And all the while, that famous line ran through my head:
“If you build it, they will come.”
Come on, say it with me. In your best James Earl Jones voice.
“If you build it, they will come.”
It took me years to write PHOENIXVILLE RISING. Hours and hours at the keyboard, too many drafts to count. Lots of blood, sweat, and tears. I think it shows on the pages. I feel good about the work (well, as good as most writers feel about their own writing). Early reviews are promising.
So, now that the thing is built, I want to be sure that everyone who cares about it, knows about it.
As you can probably tell, my summer has been devoted to the ins and outs of book marketing. Not only marketing this one book, but developing a “brand” or “platform” as a writer. Most of my time in recent years has been spent writing and editing -- now I’m exercising some old marketing muscles that have been dormant for a while.
I’ve been experimenting with different ways to spread the word about PHOENIXVILLE RISING. Some work, some don't, some you can't tell. (That's marketing, folks.) Every day, strangers are signing up for my email list, hundreds of people are visiting my website every week, early readers are finally getting their hands on the book and saying nice things.
I’m building a platform. A website, a blog, social media, interviews, public appearances ...
I worry that I’m doing too much, too soon -- over-marketing, coming on too strong. I don’t want to make people sick of the book, especially before it even comes out.
And I worry that I’m doing too little, not reaching enough potential readers, getting lost in the cacophony of internet noise and information overload.
These are my concerns. But there is one worry above all else.
The worry that still keeps me up some nights, wondering if I’m doing enough, or doing too much:
Now that I’ve built it -- will they come?
We’ll find out. October 2013.
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