I loved my website. I didn't love updating it, however, when the design made it go wonky so in the interest of all that is OCD, I combined the two. Smart, eh?
*sigh*
Much better.
What have you done to streamline your life? Yoga? Cut out soda? Finally got rid of the back copies of Highlights cluttering your office long after the kids have grown?
Marketing the funneh
Shew, lately I'm wearing as many hats is this chick.
As Ermas is taking off with very respectable hits and getting some lovely exposure, my thoughts are turning to how to build on this community to benefit the writers. This experience is a crash course in turning a small idea into something potentially quite large. Since I am also researching ways to promote HUNGRY FOR YOUR LOVE and (hopefully) THE ZOMBIE DATING GUIDE, Ermas will be my test subject [insert evil laughter].
Some ideas I have rolling around:
- Anthology of essays
- Merchandise. Not just t-shirts with the Ermas logo, but quotes from our essays. We're a clever bunch, why not succeed with notepads and greeting cards and magnets? Ephemera is the future, baby! ZDG magnets will include zombie dating tips and pickup lines.
Word.
When Lois Gresh asked HFYL authors for a quick blurb on how we came up with our ideas for our zombie romances, I thought long and hard about it. Then was distracted and needed a cookie, thus I totally messed up the whole "idea" part of the blurb and wrote a few lines about, well, me. Pretentious much, Stace?
"Stacey Graham is a lifelong zombie enthusiast. Wait. Lifelong and zombie is a bit of an oxymoron. How about "doesn't mind it when they go through the garbage looking for spoiled meat products"? Yep. That has more of a zing.
Eye of the Beholder is Stacey's first foray into zombie romance though she's dated men that would fall under that category. She is currently working on her first humor title, THE ZOMBIE DATING GUIDE: RELATIONSHIPS FOR THE REANIMATED and looking for an agent who can appreciate the subtle nuances of Undead lovin'."
Yes. I managed to work in that I was looking for an agent because I'm incorrigible. However, this did get me thinking about what my writer friends' blurbs would look like when the day comes to promote yourself on the back cover. Or billboard, in my case. Whatcha got?
Stace's note: Blogger hates zombies. So much so that it refuses to let me comment on many of my posts so please know I am reading and lovin' the feedback while impotently trying to respond on this side. xoxo Stace
"Stacey Graham is a lifelong zombie enthusiast. Wait. Lifelong and zombie is a bit of an oxymoron. How about "doesn't mind it when they go through the garbage looking for spoiled meat products"? Yep. That has more of a zing.
Eye of the Beholder is Stacey's first foray into zombie romance though she's dated men that would fall under that category. She is currently working on her first humor title, THE ZOMBIE DATING GUIDE: RELATIONSHIPS FOR THE REANIMATED and looking for an agent who can appreciate the subtle nuances of Undead lovin'."
Yes. I managed to work in that I was looking for an agent because I'm incorrigible. However, this did get me thinking about what my writer friends' blurbs would look like when the day comes to promote yourself on the back cover. Or billboard, in my case. Whatcha got?
Stace's note: Blogger hates zombies. So much so that it refuses to let me comment on many of my posts so please know I am reading and lovin' the feedback while impotently trying to respond on this side. xoxo Stace
Zombie Love-Festin'
Join HUNGRY FOR YOUR LOVE authors today at best-selling author (and anthology contributor) Lois Gresh's Paranormal and Speculative Fiction blog.As I get to know these great writers with such diverse backgrounds and slightly twisted senses of humor (okay, that would be me), I'm excited to join them in future marketing endeavors as we stagger toward the release of HUNGRY FOR YOUR LOVE in print this October by St. Martin's Press. Blog tours have been tossed around so if you'd like to host a few drippy, smelly zombies, please contact me for more information. :)
There's the rub.
Writers move in a relatively small circle of friends; through message boards, social media and professional contacts many of us know each other and when someone is behaving badly it gets around - fast. Twice this week I've made decisions to cut back on ties with a popular board due to writers I don't have patience to deal with any longer. I stop myself from sending negative RPs since their decisions to be rude, disrespectful and flat out mean are a reflection upon themselves and their words speak louder on the screen than any admonishment from me would do.
Have people become more loose with their manners since the web is relatively safe from consequences? I know agents google prospective clients, do posts made in nasty tones effect their chances of being represented? Or does it simply drive away people who were there with good intentions but left due to drama?
I'll save my words to fight the good fight and not dissolve into name-calling or frenzied typing to prove I'm right. I've seen too much of it there - this chapter is done.
Have people become more loose with their manners since the web is relatively safe from consequences? I know agents google prospective clients, do posts made in nasty tones effect their chances of being represented? Or does it simply drive away people who were there with good intentions but left due to drama?
I'll save my words to fight the good fight and not dissolve into name-calling or frenzied typing to prove I'm right. I've seen too much of it there - this chapter is done.
Writer in need
I don't do this often, in fact, I never have on this blog but a writer at Absolute Write is in need of financial assistance. You know how proud and independent writers are, double that since she's a single mother and fighting to stay in her home. If you are able to help, please donate what you can via Julie Fletcher's blog, Not Enough Coffee. And thank you.
Waiter, there's a frog in my mug.
Serious humor writers need serious beverages. No, not that kind. While writing, I leave the alcohol to the angsty YA writers who need to come up with the next sparkly vampire. I mean tea. Glorious tea. I'm a Brit tea fan with milk and sugar (or lately, vanilla sugar-free creamer). This is my favorite mug, I'm curious as to what yours looks like and your bevvie of choice!
Erma Bombeck Humor Writers of the Month!
I love it when a plan comes together.A huge thank you to the EBWW for naming An Army of Ermas their Humor Writers of the Month. I'm ridiculously proud of the talent that joins me at Ermas, and they are an editor's dream. Please visit Ermas for a giggle, they're a saucy bunch. ;)
The Full Plate Diet giveaway winner!
Congratulations to Angie M. for being chosen to receive The Full Plate Diet book! Thank you to everyone for entering. =D
The Full Plate Diet Giveaway!
Winner will be announced Monday, March 15th after 12p EST. Good luck!
Bookcrafts
That wacky booooookcraft. Okay, I've been listening to a few too many crooners on Pandora lately but the Written Word has some awesome ideas for turning old books you'll never read again into funky & functional items. My favorites? The lampshade and iPod case. Move over Twilight bookpurse, there are some new kids in town.
Love altered books? My friend, Jenny Greenleaf, writes about book art for Suite101. She has an amazing collection of ideas and how-to's, go check her bad self out!
Love altered books? My friend, Jenny Greenleaf, writes about book art for Suite101. She has an amazing collection of ideas and how-to's, go check her bad self out!
Erma Bombeck Writing Competition winners
I'm doing backflips (not easy before coffee, people) after hearing my friend and fellow An Arma of Ermas author, Amy Mullis, has earned an Honorable Mention in the Erma Bombeck Writing Competition! I'm breaking out the margaritas and Girl Scout cookies, congratulations Amy!
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