Here's My Plan for Writing and Marketing, This Week, and This Month

My Plan for Writing and Marketing by J.Q. Rose

So many avenues for marketing my books, Twitter, Facebook, Blogger, Goodreads, Pinterest, Amazon, and now Google Plus. My head was spinning trying to keep up with all of them. Alas, I crashed and burned. I was trying to do everything, but not doing well at any of them. Needless to say I wasn't writing anymore fiction or non-fiction. With so many balls in the air, there was no time or energy to scribble down a short story, let alone a novel.

After studying my own reading habits, I realized I needed to add more books to my J.Q. Rose list. When I like an author, I always go back to see what else she/he has written. But if there are no other books for a reader to choose from, she can't buy them (Similar to the retailer's saying, "You can't sell out of an empty cart.) That's when I decided to prune my marketing responsibilities to give me more time to up my word count. Just as we prune plants to become stronger, I believe I can make my writing career better by concentrating on marketing I can do well (and even enjoy!) and focus on getting words on paper (or on my screen.)

Here's my plan.

• Dedicate certain days for posting on my J.Q. Rose blog every week, evidenced by Monday posts and the Hobby Hoedown Thursday event. I enjoy blogging and never seem to run out of ideas for articles.
• Invite authors to be guests on the J Q Rose blog and on the Girls Succeed blog.
• Never sign up for Twitter.
• Join the Insecure Writers Support Group who write blogs and share the posts with each other. Good source for writing information too at the IWSG Website.
• 
•  Participate in more blog hops and tours.  
• Join Google+. I read Guy Kawasaki's What the Plus! Google+ for the Rest of Us, a helpful book on what Google Plus is all about. I joined and post there. He says in the book it is primarily a photo and video site. It's a great way to share posts with readers.
• Open a Facebook Author Page. Because all the industry articles shout about the traffic on FB, I did open the FB page and I'm very pleased with the response and the stats that can be obtained from it. (Psst--Please like me at the J.Q. Rose Facebook page when you get a minute. If you are #100, I'll send you my latest short story!) 
• Set aside time after lunch Monday through Friday to write stories. No definite word count or time frame. Just write!

I am no guru on how to write, market, and sell books, but I am going to have the best adventure in discovering how to do it. This plan is my latest attempt. 

Do you have some tips for us on how you juggle all the responsibilities of being a published author? Please, share in a comment below. Let's help each other!!!

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This Week:

Halloween is this Thursday, so Hobby Hoedown will continue on Nov. 7. Have a safe and happy Halloween. I wrote about my Halloween Memories on the MuseItUp Publishing blog last week. When you read it, my memories may spark some of your own.

Here are the hobbyists in November's Hobby Hoedown event.

Nov.
7	Heather Greenis	curling
14	Margaret Mendel	photography
21	Jane Lebak	knitting
28	THANKSGIVING

All Month:

Breast Cancer Awareness month

Lavender Dreams

Ten short stories in this anthology to entertain you. More importantly, the authors and cover artist have generously donated these stories and their royalties to help raise funds for cancer research each year.

Authors:

MuseItUp Publishing Authors: Barbara Ehrentreu, Gloria Oren, Lisa J. Lickel, Nan D Arnold, Nathaniel Tower, Rosemary Gemmell, Suzannah Safi, Tanja Cilia, Vicki Batman

Buy Link at MuseItUp Publishing

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Christmas in October continues at Penny Estelle's blog. Win 50 prizes!

Christmas in October

Every Monday and Thursday during October,

six different authors will be spotlighting their books. 

Some lucky commenter is going to win over 50 different prizes. 

It could be you!  All you need to do is comment.

 The more you comment, the more chances you have of winning

all of these fabulous prizes.

Penny's blog. 

Ho!  Ho!  Ho!

Cabbage Patch Kids Visit, This Week, Giveaways

Happy Monday to you!

This snowbird and her mate have finally settled into their winter nest in sunny (and very hot) Florida. On the way South, we stopped to visit friends in Cleveland, GA, home of the Cabbage Patch Kids Doll Co.

What a delightful place to visit. In this magical location, Cabbage Patch Babies are born.

Cabbage Patch Kids became a household name (if you had girls in your household anyway) in the early 80's. In fact the company is celebrating its 30th birthday this year. Yes, we had two little girls in our family. They saw a display of the dolls in a store in our area and fell in love with these unique "kids." To be honest, I thought the dolls were ugly...shhh...don't tell the girls.

 In fact lots of little girls fell in love with them. In fact, the company could not keep up with demand. My mother made it her mission to find dolls for our girls. She didn't want them to be disappointed on Christmas morning. She worked her magic and eventually did provide two dolls for our daughters. Our girls loved their dolls and to this day still have them packed away in their homes.

This doll store is unique in that the cabbage patch babies are "born" right there from a Mama Cabbage. (Yes, please suspend reality here and enjoy the fun!)

 The nurse checks Mama Cabbage vital signs.

And a few minutes later out pops Nichole Denise. She was named by one of the little girls in the audience. The name and birth certificate are included with the purchase of the doll.

The day was perfect except I wish my now grown daughters were with me to share the experience!

This Week:

Tuesday through Thursday, October 22-24, I will be participating in the Who's Your Hero Blogfest. Come back tomorrow or the next couple of days and tell us who your hero is and you could be one of two winners in the drawing for two  prizes...an e-copy of Saving Sam by J.L. Campbell and an e-copy of Girls Succeed!

Friday, October 25--I will be posting on my publisher's website, MuseItUp Publishing blog in the afternoon.

Hobby Hoedown will continue after Halloween, so ya'all come back! Here are the hobbyists in November.

Nov.
7	Heather Greenis	curling
14	Margaret Mendel	photography
21	Jane Lebak	knitting
28	THANKSGIVING

All Month:

Breast Cancer Awareness month

Lavender Dreams

Ten short stories in this anthology to entertain you. More importantly, the authors and cover artist have generously donated these stories and their royalties to help raise funds for cancer research each year.

Authors:

MuseItUp Publishing Authors: Barbara Ehrentreu, Gloria Oren, Lisa J. Lickel, Nan D Arnold, Nathaniel Tower, Rosemary Gemmell, Suzannah Safi, Tanja Cilia, Vicki Batman

Buy Link at MuseItUp Publishing

# # # # 

Christmas in October continues at Penny Estelle's blog. Win 50 prizes!

Christmas in October

Every Monday and Thursday during October,

six different authors will be spotlighting their books. 

Some lucky commenter is going to win over 50 different prizes. 

It could be you!  All you need to do is comment.

 The more you comment, the more chances you have of winning

all of these fabulous prizes.

Penny's blog. 

Ho!  Ho!  Ho!

Celebrating Farmers Day, Traveling, This Week, Hobby Hoedown Authors

Happy Monday, Dear Readers. 

National Farmers Day, formally known as Old Farmers Day, honors the hard labor of farmers throughout American history.  Last Monday on this blog, I shared a video of our community's  Harvest Festival celebrating the harvest and recognizing farmers who bring the fruits of their labor to our kitchen tables.  During the Harvest Festival, organizations and individuals build amazing structures made from hay called Hay Art. The public votes for their favorite display by donating food. I am happy to report the total amount of food given to local food banks by the entire community was over 8000 pounds!!

I'll be traveling this week and will not have Internet access. 

No Hobby Hoedown guest is scheduled this Thursday since I didn't think it would be good manners to have a guest author, then leave them here all alone. 

Take a look at the Thursday line-up for this fall. 

You're invited to return for some root-tootin' fun!

Thanks for visiting today. Have a great week!

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Thursdays in October and November on the J. Q. Rose Blog.

Oct.
24	Blogfest
31	HALLOWEEN
Nov.
7	Heather Greenis	curling
14	Margaret Mendel	photography
21	Jane Lebak	knitting
28	THANKSGIVING

All Month:

Breast Cancer Awareness month

Lavender Dreams

Ten short stories in this anthology to entertain you. More importantly, the authors and cover artist have generously donated these stories and their royalties to help raise funds for cancer research each year.

Authors:

MuseItUp Publishing Authors: Barbara Ehrentreu, Gloria Oren, Lisa J. Lickel, Nan D Arnold, Nathaniel Tower, Rosemary Gemmell, Suzannah Safi, Tanja Cilia, Vicki Batman

Buy Link at MuseItUp Publishing

# # # # 

Christmas in October continues at Penny Estelle's blog. Win 50 prizes!

Christmas in October

Every Monday and Thursday during October,

six different authors will be spotlighting their books. 

Some lucky commenter is going to win over 50 different prizes. 

It could be you!  All you need to do is comment.

 The more you comment, the more chances you have of winning

all of these fabulous prizes!

So mark your calendars for Thursday, October 3,

and be sure to visit

Penny's blog. 

Ho!  Ho!  Ho!

Thirty Days of Peace, This Week, Giveaways

“Never doubt that 

a small group of 

thoughtful, committed citizens 

can change the 

world. Indeed, it is 

the only thing that 

ever has.”

 -Margaret Mead

People for Peace

The Newaygo County People for Peace are focusing on Thirty Days of Peace offering videos, talks, walks, readings and more in our county from September 10- October 10.  Their mission is to promote peace and justice starting with the individual and spreading out into the world using both education and nonviolent action. They are advocates for social justice for those who have no voice, to make nations and governments accountable for their military, social, environmental and economic actions.

People talk about peace in one sentence, but throw their hands up in defeat in the next believing it is impossible to achieve peace in their lives, locally, nationally, and internationally. Instead of giving up, we need to learn more and begin right in our own neighborhoods to find solutions. Learn more about the Thirty Days of Peace at the The Newaygo County People for Peace page. 

This Week:

Tuesday, October 1--Karina Fabian stops on her book tour for her new release, Mind Over Psyche, and is offering a giveaway of an electronic copy.

Wednesday, October 2--It's the first Wednesday of the month and time for a blog hop with the Insecure Writers Support Group.

Thursday, October 3--Hobby Hoedown features author Lorrie Struiff and her take on her numerous hobbies through the years.

The Month of October--Join in the fun with the Christmas in October Giveaway with Penny Estelle and 50 other authors!

Christmas in October

It is almost upon us.  Only one more day!

Every Monday and Thursday during October,

six different authors will be spotlighting their books. 

Some lucky commenter is going to win over 50 different prizes. 

It could be you!  All you need to do is comment.

 The more you comment, the more chances you have of winning

all of these fabulous prizes!

So mark your calendars for Thursday, October 3,

and be sure to visit

Penny's blog. 

Ho!  Ho!  Ho!