tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7313130055534395503.post719129843373122392..comments2023-09-17T06:13:58.403-04:00Comments on Unshakeable Hope: In Which I Examine My Grapes to Make Sure They Aren't SourHeidi Willishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18420802651029097379noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7313130055534395503.post-32360712116737855562008-10-06T18:56:00.000-04:002008-10-06T18:56:00.000-04:00great post.I get crazy(er) when I read about write...great post.<BR/><BR/>I get crazy(er) when I read about writers (or musicians) who start off in the old grody apartment, and like, eating KD every day, and then they SIGN THE DEAL.<BR/><BR/>And I'm reading it going, "Huh wha? When how? Did I miss part of the story there?"<BR/><BR/>I think articles like these skip over a lot. The average person doesn't want to know about months of querying, the meetings, phone calls, waiting, waiting waiting. Not glamorous. First novel, huge seller, now that's glamorous. Problem is, the average person isn't even aware of the amount of work from the unseen people who had their hands on the project. Including the boost from the media!<BR/><BR/>I don't know the answer, and I don't know how long, if ever, it'll take me to figure it out, but I agree. There does seem to be an element of luck involved. I kinda hate that. But it is what it is.Heidi the Hickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00639479864903922047noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7313130055534395503.post-91722007055786769952008-10-06T15:36:00.000-04:002008-10-06T15:36:00.000-04:00I downloaded the Donald's book, but I haven't read...I downloaded the Donald's book, but I haven't read it yet. Yours first!<BR/><BR/>I think an awful lot of it is luck. Not to say there isn't a whole lot of hard work that goes into it all too, but the luck of timing, and who happens to read it, and what magazines and new shows and tabloids and Border's are looking for at the moment, or what political topic just got hot, or ....<BR/><BR/>the list goes on and on. I think there are things authors can do to get noticed, but to some extent, people like Nicholas Sparks get famous more by luck of the timing.<BR/><BR/>I know he got a huge advance for The Notebook, but I do wonder if he hadn't had all that media coverage at the beginning, would he ever have gotten so big?<BR/><BR/>My tendency is to think not.<BR/><BR/>Now, off to send more queries. My internet is doing awful things lately and is totally RANDOMLY going out on me. YUCK!<BR/><BR/>Hope you are feeling better!Heidi Willishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18420802651029097379noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7313130055534395503.post-36327843264721959452008-10-06T14:59:00.000-04:002008-10-06T14:59:00.000-04:00This was a great post, Heidi (finish reading that ...This was a great post, Heidi (finish reading that book and let me know what you think! ROFL) <BR/><BR/>I wonder about that too...with all the hubbub, how do you get that word of mouth? Or that elusive tv or radio slot, that just happens to get you into the media at the right time? <BR/><BR/>While I'm home I'm thinking about that, day in and day out. That link I sent you (Donald Maass' book) lists ten things that really famous writers do that the regulars don't do...and one of the list was "doesn't aggressively court the media and/or publicity."<BR/><BR/>How does one get from where we are to where they are? I haven't figured it out..and suspect a little too that it's 50% good book and 55% pure random luck. What do you think?JKBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13176569393506563218noreply@blogger.com