Monthly Archives: February 2012

Filtering Thoughts: Writers Mantra

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“Choosing to be positive and having a grateful attitude is going to determine how you’re going to live your life.” ~ Joel Osteen

Ok – so today my mind is out of control. So what if I am thinking about filters. I’ve thought about much worse things before. I am consumed with  filters – air filters, water filters, coffee filters, filters on camera lenses and such. If I  made a list of items that have filters, it would be quite long.

What is the definition of filter anyway? According to Webopedia, http://bit.ly/y5xShO  A filter is: “A pattern through which data is passed. Only data that matches the pattern is allowed to pass through the filter.”

Consider how filters apply to lives rather than things. If we lived by the definition of filter by only permitting information that matches a certain standard to pass through our brains, we could ultimately control our life experience. In other words, setting a pattern of thinking positive things, and not letting negative thoughts and emotions enter into the equation would bring life altering change. Wouldn’t it?

Hey, now! There is some validity to that. As a writer, whenever I  begin to think  “I don’t know what to write” or  “I don’t know how to put it down on paper”  I may as well be building walls rather than blogs. Time to call it a day.

With positive feelings or with no preconceived notions of what I am going to write, and by letting the free flow of thought fill the paper, the best results come.

Affirmative thoughts bring affirmative action, fulfilling thoughts bring fulfilling things. Affirmative thoughts bring affirmative action, fulfilling thoughts bring fulfilling things. Affirmative thoughts…….

Ahhh – My writer’s mantra is working. “Visualize and achieve” thoughts have kicked in. Perhaps being consumed with filters was good for me after all. Merci beaucoup!

For more information on writers mantras, please visit this link. http://bit.ly/wZUgsQ .

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Are ARC’s becoming Archaic?

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“What the caterpillar calls the end of the world the master calls a butterfly. ” ~  Richard Bach

At our weekly meeting of the Kiwanis Club of Steamboat Springs,Colorado http://bit.ly/w1qdgz a staff member from the local Indie Bound Bookstore came to update us on a program that our organization supports.

Thousands and thousands of Advance Reader Copies and galley copies are sent to bookstores and libraries all over the country each and every year. ARCs are uncorrected proofs that can not be resold in retail in environments or placed on shelves in libraries. They serve as advance promotion and advertising for publications soon to be released.

The Kiwanis Club of Steamboat assists with funding shipping costs to send Advance Reader Copies of books to families of military troops. www.operationpaperback.org   For those who do not have access to a variety of books ARCs are a perfect way of fulfilling a need for literature for children and adults in far off places of the world.

As we discussed this wonderful program, that saves hundreds of thousands of books from ending up in landfills each and every year, I began to think how a complete systemic change in the way ARCS are delivered would save a lot of postage and delivery charges for publishers and as well as time and money for those disposing of the ARCS once they have been read and reviewed.

Making wise choices and changes from printing to marketing is all a part of sustainable publishing. Do you think sample chapters of books on-line is enough to make an informed decision as to whether a book is worth purchasing or not?  We would like to hear from you.

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Winking in the Dark Does Not Work

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“Doing business without advertising is like winking at a girl in the dark. You know what you are doing but nobody else does.”

~ Stewart Henderson Britt   b. June 17, 1907

I found in this quote in H.A. Levin’s book Quotations for Successful Living. Even 100 years after the quote was written it has relevance today. What an appropriate quotation for independent publishers to take notice of.

“How can anyone NOT know what you are doing in this day and age of digital technology?” I ponder. With the power of the internet, it is hard not to be seen.

Knowing how to use digital technology and the world-wide-web to sell any kind of product or service can be a very powerful thing. It takes a little education and training for businesses to learn how to promote themselves and become visible on world-wide-web.

If you are an independent publisher selling your books, music or films over the internet through e-commerce, e-marketing is a must. They go hand in hand. A mistake that too many independent publishers make is forgetting to think of themselves as business owners. Being successful in a business means promotion and advertising. Publishing is not just about the manuscript.  It means bookselling, too. There is an article that is a good resource about this very issue.http://bit.ly/aPEx0B.

E-Marketing (social media marketing) has added a whole new dimension to advertising and promotion. It can be overwhelming and confusing at the start. Help is available, search for a company that specializes in e-commerce and e-marketing for independent publishers. They will help you come out of the dark and into the light.

This blog brought to you by www.CornerstoneFulfillmentService.com.