“Don’t do anything that makes you feel dirty.”
My ears perked up when Jane Friedman, former editor at Writer’s Digest, said this at a presentation about book marketing that she gave to a roomful of writers. Jane shared four tips for deciding whether to join/participate in a new organization as a way of marketing your writing (or, I would say, any other product you’re selling.)
Those tips, paraphrased, follow:
1. Sign up and observe.
2. If you decide it’s valuable, participate.
3. Actually help someone.
4. Ask for help in return but only if you’ve done the above three things, and number 2 and 3 a lot. Ask for something in return only after you’ve built a relationship.
I love this advice because as a writer I sometimes feel conflicted about marketing. I try to support other writers but tend to avoid those who repeatedly approach me to flog their book (and with some of them, that’s the only thing I hear from them. “Buy my book! Read my blog!” Jeez, get outta my face!)
I don’t want to have to become that kind of person in the pursuit of a platform, so Jane’s tips really helped me. By following her guidance, I can build my platform, have fun, be of service and not lose my authenticity.
Her tips also apply to other areas of life, like whether or not to join a service organization or a neighborhood group. not just writing. Of course, you may not care about feeling dirty. You may be one of those folks who’s okay with making a buck regardless of the cost to your mental health. For the rest of us though, this might help you maintain balance even if you feel like you’re standing on a corner, doing, you know.
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