Do you write at home? Has the Internet become your social life as well as your writing prompt and avenue for book marketing activities?<\/p>\n
If you stay holed up in your house and office most of the time, you could be missing out on some important opportunities\u2014opportunities to experience, learn and grow. Think about it, without life experiences, would you have come as far as you have with your writing? What do you think will happen if you cut these off at the pass\u2014if you stop collecting experiences and perspective? <\/p>\n
I believe that our writing suffers when we neglect our social life and our sense of adventure. When we are participating, we are experiencing life, thus we are gathering perspective, information, new thought and scads of ideas to bring back to our writing. Living and doing is what keeps our writing from becoming stale.<\/p>\n
Getting out into the world can also enhance our book marketing efforts. The Internet is certainly a wonderful tool for promoting our books. There are many avenues we can pursue right at our fingertips. But I believe that we can bring more success to our projects when we also show up outside of our domains\u2014when we mingle and participate. There are important things we can learn from others in social settings and from just being away from our comfort zones.<\/p>\n
This weekend consider leaving the house or office with an open mind. Take in ideas, consider the opportunities that come before you. Try saying \u201cyes\u201d more often and see what happens\u2014how your writing is enhanced and\/or your book sale increase. Consider the possibilities.<\/p>\n
\u2022\tTake a walk or bike ride around the neighborhood.
\n\u2022\tAttend a local event.
\n\u2022\tStop in at a coffee shop and sit for a while with a latte.
\n\u2022\tShow up at a meeting of your old organization or club.
\n\u2022\tTake a picnic lunch to the park, lakeside or beach.
\n\u2022\tGo shopping.
\n\u2022\tVolunteer.
\n\u2022\tTake friends to lunch.
\n\u2022\tVisit a retirement home.
\n\u2022\tJoin a writers\u2019 group.
\n\u2022\tTake a hike.
\n\u2022\tDo a book signing.
\n\u2022\tInterview someone for an article.
\n\u2022\tSet up a speaking engagement.
\n\u2022\tDo a little gardening.<\/p>\n
The key is to involve yourself in these activities. Engage all of your senses. Experience every aspect of each of them. <\/p>\n
\u2022\tObserve.
\n\u2022\tEngage.
\n\u2022\tStudy.
\n\u2022\tExplore.
\n\u2022\tScrutinize.
\n\u2022\tQuestion.
\n\u2022\tDissect.
\n\u2022\tAnalyze.<\/p>\n
Do this and a couple of things will happen. You may actually enjoy yourself. Most likely, you will return to your home office\/your writing room with some valuable gifts that can only be found when you get out of the house.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Do you write at home? Has the Internet become your social life as well as your writing prompt and avenue for book marketing activities? If you stay holed up in your house and office most of the time, you could be missing out on some important opportunities\u2014opportunities to experience, learn and grow. Think about it, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[4],"tags":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t