Comments on: Zen and the Art of Self-Promotion http://www.sherrythomas.com/blog/2008/03/14/zen-and-the-art-of-self-promotion/ ...and anarchy ensues Wed, 08 Feb 2012 16:49:21 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= By: Sherry Thomas http://www.sherrythomas.com/blog/2008/03/14/zen-and-the-art-of-self-promotion/comment-page-1/#comment-972 Sherry Thomas Tue, 18 Mar 2008 15:54:00 +0000 http://www.sherrythomas.com/blog/2008/03/14/zen-and-the-art-of-self-promotion/#comment-972 Katie said,<br/><br/><i>even if the promotion aspect isn't successful, I've still done some good for someone</i><br/><br/>I <i>love</i> how you put it. <br/><br/>Bettie,<br/><br/>Thanks!<br/><br/>Bev,<br/><br/>Lol, I had no deliberate design to put myself out there so much. But I'm most grateful that people have offered me publicity opportunities.<br/><br/>Tamar,<br/><br/>Thank you. But lol, don't take notes from me, I'm just a fellow learner myself. Katie said,

even if the promotion aspect isn’t successful, I’ve still done some good for someone

I love how you put it.

Bettie,

Thanks!

Bev,

Lol, I had no deliberate design to put myself out there so much. But I’m most grateful that people have offered me publicity opportunities.

Tamar,

Thank you. But lol, don’t take notes from me, I’m just a fellow learner myself.

]]> By: Tamar http://www.sherrythomas.com/blog/2008/03/14/zen-and-the-art-of-self-promotion/comment-page-1/#comment-959 Tamar Sat, 15 Mar 2008 14:19:00 +0000 http://www.sherrythomas.com/blog/2008/03/14/zen-and-the-art-of-self-promotion/#comment-959 I subscribed (via RSS) to your blog a while ago but never got around to commenting (well, and you sounded so busy!). But this post struck a chord with me. There is so very much emphasis on self-promotion these days, with every author who's been around half the block listing all the things they feel they MUST do to get their work out there. <br/><br/>And I understand the need, I absolutely do. But so often their self-promotion ends up looking so naked and needy and, I believe, it backfires badly. <br/><br/>You've gone about it in a very classy, organic way. Blog posts here and there, choosing high profile blogs, providing real, meaty content. Book excerpts. Showing us who you are as a writer, as a reader, as a person. <br/><br/>It feels unforced and therefore I think is very effective. Nobody likes getting the hard sell, but everyone, I think, likes getting a feel for an author, peeking behind that curtain just a little. And I for one am looking forward to reading the (Dear Author ARC, yay) book and telling other people about it. And I know from other friends that Private Arrangements is on their radar too. <br/><br/>Fact is, I'm taking notes here. :) I subscribed (via RSS) to your blog a while ago but never got around to commenting (well, and you sounded so busy!). But this post struck a chord with me. There is so very much emphasis on self-promotion these days, with every author who’s been around half the block listing all the things they feel they MUST do to get their work out there.

And I understand the need, I absolutely do. But so often their self-promotion ends up looking so naked and needy and, I believe, it backfires badly.

You’ve gone about it in a very classy, organic way. Blog posts here and there, choosing high profile blogs, providing real, meaty content. Book excerpts. Showing us who you are as a writer, as a reader, as a person.

It feels unforced and therefore I think is very effective. Nobody likes getting the hard sell, but everyone, I think, likes getting a feel for an author, peeking behind that curtain just a little. And I for one am looking forward to reading the (Dear Author ARC, yay) book and telling other people about it. And I know from other friends that Private Arrangements is on their radar too.

Fact is, I’m taking notes here. :)

]]> By: beverley http://www.sherrythomas.com/blog/2008/03/14/zen-and-the-art-of-self-promotion/comment-page-1/#comment-958 beverley Fri, 14 Mar 2008 23:07:00 +0000 http://www.sherrythomas.com/blog/2008/03/14/zen-and-the-art-of-self-promotion/#comment-958 I concur!<br/><br/>But wow aren't you putting yourself out there more. Good for you. I concur!

But wow aren’t you putting yourself out there more. Good for you.

]]> By: bettie http://www.sherrythomas.com/blog/2008/03/14/zen-and-the-art-of-self-promotion/comment-page-1/#comment-957 bettie Fri, 14 Mar 2008 20:48:00 +0000 http://www.sherrythomas.com/blog/2008/03/14/zen-and-the-art-of-self-promotion/#comment-957 Hi Sherry!<br/><br/>Add me to the list of people who don't like self-promotion (I blame my Lutheran upbringing. Drat that Protestant guilt!). Which is why I'm so crazy grateful to everyone who promoted, reviewed, recommended or just plain mentioned <i>Ember</i> or <i>Like a Thief</i>. <br/><br/>I like the idea of promotion via giving stuff away. I need to get my contests in order (who knew simultaneously working, going to school and trying to write would be so hard to juggle?). I was thrilled to win a copy of <i>Private Arrangements</i> in the Dear Author contest. (My husband has started making fun of the obsessive way I've been checking the mailbox lately.) I'm going to hold a contest to give away the copy I would've bought for myself if I hadn't won at Dear Author. :) Hi Sherry!

Add me to the list of people who don’t like self-promotion (I blame my Lutheran upbringing. Drat that Protestant guilt!). Which is why I’m so crazy grateful to everyone who promoted, reviewed, recommended or just plain mentioned Ember or Like a Thief.

I like the idea of promotion via giving stuff away. I need to get my contests in order (who knew simultaneously working, going to school and trying to write would be so hard to juggle?). I was thrilled to win a copy of Private Arrangements in the Dear Author contest. (My husband has started making fun of the obsessive way I’ve been checking the mailbox lately.) I’m going to hold a contest to give away the copy I would’ve bought for myself if I hadn’t won at Dear Author. :)

]]> By: Katie http://www.sherrythomas.com/blog/2008/03/14/zen-and-the-art-of-self-promotion/comment-page-1/#comment-956 Katie Fri, 14 Mar 2008 18:08:00 +0000 http://www.sherrythomas.com/blog/2008/03/14/zen-and-the-art-of-self-promotion/#comment-956 Okay, Sherry. <i>Again</i> I'm thinking that we might have a decent amount in common. :-) (I thought it the other day when I read your ventures in self-designing your website, and months ago when you pled for beautiful writing.)<br/><br/>My thoughts as I read this? 1) Yes, I, too, would much rather promote through helping others, than just brag. That way I can still respect myself. Besides, even if the promotion aspect isn't successful, I've still done some good for someone. 2) I've noticed the same things about Kristin, and she's on the top of my agent list. I want someone who knows how to use the web for marketing at least as well as I do, and preferably better. And 3) I am also fascinated by the book industry and how books get from publishers to all the places they get. I'll be looking forward to your article, since I've wanted to know for a number of months, now, how libraries choose which new books to get!<br/><br/>Okay... this comment is long enough. I'll just add that I won a copy of <i>Private Arrangements</i> from DearAuthor, and I can't wait to read it! If you'd like a little bit of praise, I'll tell you that the prose in your excerpts is, indeed, some of the most beautiful that I've had the privilege to read. Okay, Sherry. Again I’m thinking that we might have a decent amount in common. :-) (I thought it the other day when I read your ventures in self-designing your website, and months ago when you pled for beautiful writing.)

My thoughts as I read this? 1) Yes, I, too, would much rather promote through helping others, than just brag. That way I can still respect myself. Besides, even if the promotion aspect isn’t successful, I’ve still done some good for someone. 2) I’ve noticed the same things about Kristin, and she’s on the top of my agent list. I want someone who knows how to use the web for marketing at least as well as I do, and preferably better. And 3) I am also fascinated by the book industry and how books get from publishers to all the places they get. I’ll be looking forward to your article, since I’ve wanted to know for a number of months, now, how libraries choose which new books to get!

Okay… this comment is long enough. I’ll just add that I won a copy of Private Arrangements from DearAuthor, and I can’t wait to read it! If you’d like a little bit of praise, I’ll tell you that the prose in your excerpts is, indeed, some of the most beautiful that I’ve had the privilege to read.

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