Merry Christmas. I hope you\u2019ve noticed that I haven\u2019t been blogging daily this week. It is good to be missed\u2014to have people disappointed when they get up and head to their computer for words of publishing wisdom, only to find nothing new posted. It\u2019s not that I want to disappoint you. Rather, I hope that you find value in this blog effort of mine. I\u2019ve been posting here for 7 years and one month. For most of that time, I have posted daily. This is my 1,693rd post. I will hit the 2,000 mark sometime in 2013. Who else do you know who has posted anywhere near that number?<\/p>\n
Okay, so it is Christmas day. It has been busy in the family arena and I\u2019ve been enjoying every minute of it. But I am eager to get back to my client work and putting the final touches on my second novel. It will also be nice to feel as though everyone else is back to work. Some of you know what I mean. During the holidays and sporadically throughout the summer, you find it difficult to communicate with editors, publishers, reviewers, your publicists, program directors and so forth. Why? Because they take time off\u2014they leave out-of-office-replies to your earnest emails. You are ready to move forward with your project. You want to set up speaking gigs, submit an article or a book manuscript, get your book reviewed, move your marketing program forward, etc, and they are taking a \u201cmuch needed break.\u201d <\/p>\n
Well, you\u2019ll probably have to wait a little while longer. On the heels of this holiday, of course, is the tradition of seeing in the New Year. Maybe you\u2019ll connect with the person or people who can help you move ahead around January 2. Although, some of the key people may have been waiting for the holidays to be over before heading out to snowboard, ski or maybe vacation in a warmer climate. Sigh!! <\/p>\n
If you are a freelance writer or author, you know about obstacles and challenges. If you\u2019ve been earning your living for many years through writing like I have or even just enjoying the writing life for a long time, you\u2019ve experienced many different roadblocks\u2014or potential roadblocks. Here are some words of wisdom from earlier generations: \u201cThis too will pass.\u201d Yes, the obstacle may diminish at some point, but what about the opportunity? Often, timing is everything. But as writers who must rely on others, it is difficult to know or have control over the timing of events and activities related to our projects. <\/p>\n
It is up to us to do the research in order to learn whether our book, story or article is timely. And when we think we\u2019ve nailed the time element and we move forward with our gut, to have doors to what we believe are the opportunities we need, close is\u2026well, rather disheartening, don\u2019t you think?<\/p>\n
But we will survive. As writers and authors, we are creative. We know how to do the research necessary to move our projects forward. We understand the importance of filling many baskets with eggs (possibilities, opportunities, potentialities\u2026). <\/p>\n
And here\u2019s another clich\u00e9 I\u2019d like to remind you of today: \u201cWhen one door closes, another opens.\u201d But be ever aware because the next door might be a window\u2014a small, nearly invisible window.<\/p>\n
If you are a bit out of sorts because you have business you want to conduct this season and you are finding many closed doors despite your attempts, stay calm. Stay focused. Either take a break of your own and enjoy an aspect of the season or move to plan B and see what transpires.<\/p>\n
In the meantime, good luck with your current project. May it bring you great joy throughout the process and beyond.<\/p>\n
If you are an author in any phase of writing, producing or marketing one or more books, be sure to check out my most current array of books for authors:<\/p>\n
Publish Your Book All available at Amazon.com and most other online and downtown bookstores. You can also order your copies here: http:\/\/www.matilijapress.com<\/a> <\/p>\n
\nPromote Your Book
\nTalk Up Your Book<\/em><\/p>\n