I have
to write a marketing plan today for my publisher to submit to Barnes and Noble’s
small publishing division. I know what it needs to say. I’ve thought about it
for weeks and have the steps in my mind. Why am I dragging my feet? I want to get it done before everyone in my
family is on Christmas break. That means less than three days.
The problem isn’t logistics, or skills, or time. It’s my
mind. I have done many a marketing plan, mainly for nonprofit organizations and
gotten paid for it. Why can’t I do this one? It’s me, literally. This one is
personal. I know the subject inside and out. The hopes and fears. It comes down
to what my mother use to tell me: “Don’t toot your own horn. It’s not nice.”
The Marketing Plan is all about what I am going to do to
sell A CASE OF VOLATILE DEEDS in the next year. Part of the plan has already
been put in place but now I have to associate dates and outcomes to every step.
I have to write a press release about me and the book. The book is easy to talk
about, me not so much.
I’ve often thought about pairing with another author and we
each promote the other. It would be easier than saying: “Hey, buy my book, I’m
great.” It is much easier to say “Joan Smith has written this fantastic book because
of the unique characters and new mystery plot.”
So I’m going to do an out of body experience and pretend I’m
writing about someone else. What tricks
do you use to talk about yourself?
