Amazon Situation Continues and Lesson #1

Well, it's been a few days now and, so far, it seems Amazon is moving forward with plans to shut out anyone who wants to use POD but doesn't want to use their company, Booksurge.

Angela Hoy (see article below if you aren't familiar with the story) is posting updates to the original piece including the fact that several publishers, traditional included, have already been affected. I'm sure the list is much longer too as not all will let her know.

A couple of thoughts have come to mind for me about lessons that writers/authors can learn from all of this.

Lesson 1: If you've ever thought you can't be heard as just one humble voice in the vast crowd of the internet, this example throws that theory out the window. Yes, Angela has more than 70k subscribers to her newsletter but, until this week, most outside her niche and immediate audience would have probably said, "Angela who?"

Not anymore. Now, because she spoke up, her name and site are all over the net connected with one of the biggest names in the world, Amazon.com

Will she get lots of publicity for her site through this? Sure. Stuff like this is what Web 2.0 marketing is all about. But that's not why she did it. She did it because she cares. She cares about her business that is directly affected yes, but she cares about all the others too. That's why so many have chimed in, we care too. Sometimes, when you give the most, you get the most back and that's a big part of what's happening here.

So… what do you have to say? I won't guarantee you'll get national press coverage, but say it with the right attitude and see where it takes you.

Stay tuned for lesson #2


Cheryl Pickett
http://www.publishinganswers.com/

Amazon Making a Big Mistake

There's been a recent development with Amazon that is important to anyone considering POD/Subsidy publishing or who already has a book out through this method listed for sale there.

It seems the powers that be have either turned stark raving mad, super greedy or a little of both.

Rather than rehash it all, here's a link to an excellent article http://writersweekly.com/the_latest_from_angelahoycom/004597_03272008.html about what's going on, along with more ways to respond besides posting here or to your own blog.

If there's one thing writers should be good at it's communication, so let's spread the word and let Amazon know what we think.

Good Writing & God Bless,
Cheryl Pickett

Talk It Out

Here's a simple strategy that can help you in various parts of your writing life:

If you get stuck while and you just can't get the ideas from your head to the page, you might want to briefly turn away from the keyboard and switch skills for a minute and talk it out.

If a spouse, child or friend is around, try telling them what you're struggling to say in your writing. Relax and make it as convesational if you can. If no one's around, talk outloud, talk to the dog or cat (they're much less judgemental anyway) or whatever. It doesn't really matter as long as you engage the verbal part of your brain. For me, sometimes it works even if I just picture myself talking to someone.

What this exercise does, for me anyway, is changes the task from just writing an article or sales info, to sharing with an individual. In my mind, that's easier to relate to and generally things start working again. If not, there's usually more time to talk.

What works for you when you're stuck? I hope you'll share.

Good Writing & God Bless,

Cheryl Pickett
http://publishinganswers.com

Fired up? Grab a Pen or Hit the Keyboard

Every once in a while, something comes up that really gets me going. This week it happened to be a situation with credit cards. Let's just say, I got information that was new to me, verified it with two different cards (even though I've had credit for 20 years) and all one customer service rep had to say was that "in a perfect world, yes customers should be told up front".

Am I ticked off,? Yes. Should I have known? Maybe if I'd read the miniscule print on some insert or the back of my bill at some point, I guess I might have. But like most, I don't read that stuff and shouldn't have to. The facts should be clear and transparent and they most definitely aren't. In addition, the credit card companies don't care and continue to take advantage.

What I do know though, is that if I can tell other people how to avoid the situation, I'll feel a little bit better. I also know I can write and try to get the word out. I don't have a clue as to a market to approach, but I can figure that out later. I'll get back to that, as soon as I finish this.

If you haven't experienced it, this kind of in the heat of the moment writing, can be theraputic and can also tap into some creative energies you haven't felt in a while. Don't be afraid to try it should the situation present itself, just make sure you edit with just as much passion when you're through.

Good Writing & God Bless,

Cheryl Pickett
http://publishinganswers.com

Creating a Great Title

Whether you're writing an article or a book, having a catchy title can make all the difference between being accepted/making a sale and being passed over or tossed into the virtual circular file.

I read this enjoyable, useful post today at the Book Cover Coaching blog and thought I'd share it with you. Hopefully, it will spark some ideas for you too.


Good Writing & God Bless,

Cheryl Pickett
http://publishinganswers.com