dare to dream

Annie Bourne: Before You Publish, Do These 5 - no, 6 Things!

Dear Whitney,

You are about to publish your book. What an accomplishment! I can’t wait to read Dare Dream Do, and hope to catch a glimpse of the galleys before your publication date on May 8.  I'm also delighted to share with you what I learned in publishing my first book. These tips are by no means comprehensive, or even the best, but they are gems I discovered and will carry them with me into marketing The Second Secret of Edwin Hoff. My only major recommendation has to do with timing:  Please do these things BEFORE YOUR PUB DATE. Once your book comes out, you will be tumbling forward, responding to readers and inquiries and book clubs -- with little time to spare, or think. 

1.   Build a bank of 30 blogs. You already write and tweet very helpful content for your followers. Consistent blogging - one a week - is one of the best ways to sell books. I learned this post-launch and from others’ successes. Apparently, a blog will impact book sales for 3 days while a tweet apparently shows impact for a few minutes. I wish that, pre-launch, I had built a bank of well-written, short pieces that I could post, once or twice a week, to build consistency. Whenever a current idea moves you, you can of course blog about it. But while you are busy with other post-publication demands, it would be fabulous to have a bank of blogs on hand to establish consistency and maintain it. A “Blog Bank” should be mandatory on every pre-pub checklist.

2. Write the outline of your next book. In the course of submitting The First Secret of Edwin Hoff to publishers, my agent also sent it to a book-to-film agent in Hollywood. We were delighted that he saw in the main character potential for a series, and asked to see The Second Secret. So, in the lull between submission and publishing, I wrote the outline for my next book. We sent it off; he said he’d like to see the manuscript; and then the outline went into a manilla folder to wait while we were consumed with the launch of “Edwin 1”. This was lucky timing for two reasons:

First, I had learned things to apply to “Edwin 2”. These lessons came out of another manilla folder full of rejection letters and emails from agents and publishers. I scoured them for consistency. There was some, particularly around the concept of “traditional plot structure.” What’s plot structure? Exactly. So I googled, and studied, and learned. My personal goal for Edwin 2 is a tight, driving, traditional thriller plot structure that still surprises. On pub day for Edwin 1, my best efforts for Edwin 2 were outlined and in the folder.

This was a good thing, because readers’ responses really affected me. If they had been bad, it could have made me stall. But they were surprisingly positive. And this cut the gas line completely. How would I live up to their expectations? How did I even write the first book in the first place? Edwin 1 evolved through so many revisions, where on earth did I start? How could I create another book I loved that much again? See? Dead halt. So I didn’t start writing, and didn’t start writing, until one day, three weeks ago, it was time to follow my one writing rule: Apply Ass to Chair.

Then I reached into my drawer and found something wonderful: the outline. Yes, much will end up under the red pen. Much will be sent to clipboard purgatory, cut and never to be pasted again. But I have a place to start - it’s a running start - and a goal built on lessons learned at my most advanced point as a writer. And for that, I am ever grateful. Because it is hard, and not fun, to create under the burden of expectation. So build yourself a runway for your next effort when you have space to think, analyze, learn and improve, and before the expectations from the first - for good or ill - can befall you. Edwin 2 is coming along faster than I’d hoped, and is a lot of fun to write.

3. Tech Up. Before you start needing to use twitter and facebook and your web campaigns effectively, learn the tools at your disposal for doing so efficiently and for monitoring them. Set up your analytics. Learn how to save time and be more influential. I’ve retweeted this article.  Have I read it? Yes. Absorbed it? No. Followed its advice? Nope. This remains on my “to do” list. This too should be on the mandatory pre-pub checklist. Please, geniuses on the web, create a service that does all of this for us poor scribes. Free us up to write. (Actually, someone is....stay tuned, writing friends, for something good soon comes our way....)

4.  Make a Strategic Business Development Plan. Think like a deal junky. Who, beyond your friends and relations and business partners - and their friends and relations and business partners - are likely to enjoy your book. Build a plan to reach out to them. Maybe get in touch with them early; tell them what’s coming. Offer to speak or skype with them. Again, I must slot this in the “lessons learned” category, but you have time to do it now. As the publishing/marketing wave crashes overhead, it will be helpful to have tethered yourself to a strategy that lengthens the long tail of your book.

5. Make Author/Book Business Cards. Spend money on business cards. Put your book jacket cover on the front left third of the card, and your author name and contact info, including twitter handle, facebook pages, and author website on the right hand side. On the back, put quotes, Amazon rankings, logos of outlets where the book can be purchased. People look at, hold and collect business cards. But postcards are expensive, become clutter and get tossed. Anecdotally, I’ve found nearly a 50% sales effect per business card distributed. (I’m sure that number is overly high.) But today, for example, I gave out two cards. Shortly, Amazon notified me, at the request of one of the recipients, that she had bought the book. How fabulous! Which reminds me...

There’s an all important 6th...do this before pub date, and every day after....

6. THANK EVERY READER. Books are sold one at a time. They certainly are read that way. I am deeply grateful for each person who devotes their valuable time - part of their life - to read my pages. I really am. So, thank you, Whitney.  I hope you enjoy meeting Edwin.

Good luck with Dare Dream Do, Whitney. The book will be a smash!

Your friend,
Annie
writing as A.B. Bourne, author of The First Secret of Edwin Hoff, c. 2011 Watch Hill Books

P.S. I loved Annie's book which I do hope will become a movie.  You can visit her blog at www.abbourne.com and follow her on twitter @anniebourne. Or follow Edwin by clicking “like” on her Facebook author page.

Don't Gossip, and Give Positive Reviews

There are two ideas from Gretchen Rubin's The Happiness Project that I don't want to forget:  I hope you'll want to remember them too.

Don't Gossip (pg 156) -- When I'm completely fed up with someone or something, I want to vent.  For good reason.  Apart from the emotional release, Rubin explains, "gossip plays an important social role by reinforcing community values:  its makes people feel closer to each other, it unifies people who play by the rules, it helps people get a sense of the values of their community, and it exposes the misbehavior of others....but, it's not kind to do." 

"Another reason", she writes, "not to say critical things about other people is 'spontaneous trait transference.'  Because of this psychological phenomenon, people unintentionally transfer to me the traits I ascribe to other people.  If I tell Jean that Pat is arrogant, unconsciously Jean associates that quality with me.  On the other hand, if I say that Pat is brilliant or hilarious, I'm linked to those qualities.  What I say about people sticks to me."

Sometimes knowing it's unkind to gossip just isn't a strong enough reason not to.  Knowing about spontaneous trait transference pairs nicely with my more abstract and lofty goal of being kind.

2)  Give Positive Reviews (pg 268) -- "Studies show," Rubin writes, "that people who are critical are often perceived to be more discerning...Another study shows that people tend to think that someone who criticizes them is smarter than they are.  Also, when a person disrupts a group's unanimity, he or she lessens its social power." 

She continues, "Although enthusiasm seems easy and undiscriminating, in fact, it's much harder to embrace something than to disdain it.  It's riskier...Enthusiasm is a form of social courage...Giving positive reviews requires humility...A willingness to be pleased requires modesty and even innocence..."

Intuitively I think I knew this, but couldn't articulate that giving negative reviews is a means of gaining power.  Nor did I realize that I sometimes purposely seek out negative reviewers.  I'm not alone.  How many of the contestants on American Idol especially valued praise from Simon "everything-is-a-power-play" Cowell?

Here's a real-life example.  Last year, I worked with Claudyne Wilder on a speech I had to give.  When someone asked if she was good, I started to say - "oh, she's ok."  Which wasn't true.  She was actually terrific.  Under her "positive reviews" tutelage, I made HUGE strides. Why, then, the initial lukewarm response?  Because she didn't have a need to show me how smart she was by criticizing me.  As the research would have predicted, I almost dinged her for it.

There's so much more I could highlight from The Happiness Project, but these were two of my more important a-has.  It was an inspiring read in the tradition of Sarah Ban Breathnach's Simple Abundance.  (Thanks to Heather Bennion for recommending the book.) 

What are your thoughts?

Had you considered that when you say positive/negative things, the hearer transfers that trait to you?

Have you ever secretly derided enthusiasm, like I have, not recognizing it for what it is -- a form of social courage? 

Why is having the humility to give positive reviews so important in helping others achieve their dreams?

P.S. You'll be hearing a whole lotta "brilliant, witty and beautiful" going forward.  May these words stick to both you and me.

A Good Grief

All sorrows can be borne if you put them in a story or tell a story about them.  Karen Blixen

Dana King shared with me a story about Molly Jackson, a young mother who, after losing her 2 year-old daughter, has found healing through her blog A Good Grief. 

Ms. Jackson writes "I remember thinking there is no way I would ever be able to move past the pain, that I would never find joy again. But I have.  Grief at losing a loved one isn't something you really overcome... but what you overcome is the deep feeling of self-pity and utter loss, the desire to 'give in' so that you can again live with hope."

 

Psychologists have indicated that we can only overcome trauma when we talk about it to someone who can bear witness to our loss.  Whether we've lost a loved one, or simply traveled a boulevard of broken dreams, each of us has or will experience some seemingly unendurable loss. 

A wonderful example of bearing witness has occurred over the past few weeks with this year's Resolutionary Challenge.  Each day one of the participants (some of us know each other, some don't) poses a question to which we have the opportunity to respond.  The questions range from 'What is your most memorable meal?" to "What would you regret twenty years from now if you didn't do it today?" to "What do you do when a loved one takes their life?" and "What do you daydream about?"  In answering these questions and telling our stories, we are making discoveries about ourselves.  As we have listened, there seems to be healing.  

When you and I are in a place of loss, we don't dream -- because we can't.  If we are in that place, then let us grieve, give voice to the trauma.  Our loss will gradually give way to hope, to our dreams.

For what is dreaming if not hope manifest? 

HBR Blog: Brooksley Born and the Power of an Opposing Idea

Here's the link to my latest post over at HBR blogs: 

Ms. Born is a Stanford-trained lawyer, first female to graduate top of her class, etc.  Her story is riveting.  After you read the post, see below for some of my wonderings.

 
Source:  JFK Library -- Ms. Born is receiving the JFK Profiles in Courage award

Whereas I focused on what we as individuals or organizations do when we deal with ideas in opposition to ours over at HBR, here I'd like to focus on what it must feel like to be opposed, opposed (and right) such that she has been dubbed the Credit Crisis Cassandra:  Cassandra is the Greek Goddess who was granted both the gift of seeing the future, and the curse of no one believing her predictions.

Here are my questions:

1)  As Wikipedia describes Cassandra, she is a figure both of the epic tradition and tragedy, where her combination of deep understanding and powerlessness exemplify the tragic condition of humankind.  How must it have felt to have this burden?

2)  In watching the Frontline episode, the attacks were harsh and unrelenting by very powerful people.  How did she bear up under this pressure?

3) She was right.  Others were wrong.  And they were mean about it.  And yet, when you listen to her speak, there is no anger, no recrimination in her voice - only graciousness.  How?  How did she get to this place, a place I would hope we all get to?

4)  Are we not as Cassandra with the people we love, in particular with our children?  We can see where certain decisions will lead; we also know that our utterance of those predictions will more than likely go unheeded.

5) What wonderings do you have? Do you and I have the courage to say what we know to be true? Articulately, but kindly, even under pressure?

6)  When faced with an idea in opposition to our own do you think that Sally's Harker's theory of morning sickness is apropos?

Oh, to ask Ms. Born all these questions -- and more.

What are your questions?  Thoughts? 

Store & Style Guest Post: Making Space For Your Dream

In the November 2009 edition of Store & Style, they've featured my article Making Space for Your Dream.   I'd encourage you to also read The Comforts of Home, and Cross it Off Your List.  Both are written by founding editor Christine Vick.

If you've clicked through from Store & Style -- Welcome!  While you're visiting, I hope you'll read Christine Vick's post Simply Living in which she shares some of her story, including the why behind her on-line organizing website.

Crafting this article was a challenge.  I thought I'd be able to bang out it out.  On the contrary.  When I post here -- it's my house, my things, my voice.  When I post elsewhere, it's not.  Christine Vick is a terrific editor.  I would encourage anyone who can, to work with her.  I'm also all about photoshopping, whether images or words, so as to bring out our true and best self.  Writing was still difficult.  

SO -- if you've thought about 'being my guest', and are hesitating, I hope you'll do it anyway. 

I promise I'll be gentle, and...
I promise to help bring out your best and truest voice
as Christine has kindly done with me. 

Dare to Design: Shabby Apple

When Shabby Apple announced a Dare to Design contest, I thought -- Neat, tweeted about the contest, and indicated I'd be happy to feature the winner.  Done.

But then a tweet came back -- 'Why don't you enter?"

Surely they were talking smack.  But Miss Shabby Apple was serious: "You have a good sense of design, and you are darling, why wouldn't you?"

1. Because I don't draw.  I. Really. Don't. Draw.
2. Because "Designing clothes isn't my dream. It's for someone else to dare.  Why waste anyone's time, including mine?"
3. Because Athelia Woolley, one of the owners, though not a judge, guest blogged here... and I'm so very cautious about conflicts of interest.

But after two weeks of unsuccessfully pushing the idea aside, I capitulated, and got to work.  As per the instructions, here are my dress designs (in collaboration with Leslie Graff) for Shabby Apple dresses.

Design 1:  Work
Though I usually wear pants to work, sometimes I want to punch things up.  This dress is meant to be professional, tailored, feminine, and worn with my Manolo Blahnik patent leather strappy shoes.

Here's what I've learned:

1)  We don't dream in isolation;
Had it not been for Miss Shabby Apple giving me a sincere compliment, I wouldn't have considered this contest as within the scope of possibilities for me.  Simple words from a relative stranger; she was an artist of encouragement.

Is there someone for whom we have or can with a few words help open up their world? 

2)  To get our dreams done, we will likely need to field dare to dream teams;  
Only by asking for help from, and collaborating with Leslie Graff (thank you Aaron Hutchins for introducing us), was I able to enter this contest.  As an expert artist, Leslie was able to put what I envision on paper.  On the off chance that I win, I will split any royalties received with her.  Incidentally, she has dared to design her own dresses. They are adorable -- she should definitely have her own collection.   

What would you like to try?  What kind of help would you need?  What can be your quid pro quo?  Who can use your help?  What's her/his quid pro quo?

 Design 2:  Cocktail Party/Fundraiser Evening
This flowing, figure-flattering dress with trumpet sleeves and in colors reminiscent of my favorite Hermes scarf is to be worn with high-heeled slingbacks.

The final thing I learned:

3)  Sometimes it's about doing something, just because we want to...
Would I like to see one of these designs as part of Shabby Apple's Spring collection?  Yes.  But it was the process that made this contest worth entering.  Thinking through the occasions for which I'd need a dress -- what neckline, sleeve length, skirt style, and colors would most flatter my figure.  It was so much fun!

What would be fun for you?  Just because?

*** 

Related posts:
Is your dream off-the-rack?  Or tailor-made?
What we can learn from TLC's 'I've Got Nothing to Wear'
TLC's What Not to Wear:  A Hero's Journey

Giveaway: Naartjie Kids -- $50 Gift Certificate

Naartjie, a children's clothing store, has their grand opening in Boston's Natick Mall this weekend (October 8).  They are inviting us to celebrate with them by making a $50 gift certificate available (redeemable on-line or in-store) to our 'dare to dream' community.

From the website, the name “Naartjie” (pronounced nar chee) is an Afrikaans word for “a small, sweet citrus fruit found in Africa”.  When founder Anna Eales opened her first store in 1992 in Cape Town, South Africa,  a tall standing vase filled with branches of tiny naartjies stood guarding the doorway. These had been cut from a “lemon” tree growing in her garden. 

In spite of regularly being watered and talked to, this little tree had struggled to grow, and been overlooked for months and years as everything else grew up around it.   Some months before the first store opened, this tree that had struggled was covered in beautiful, scented, creamy blossoms; weeks before the opening the small tree bore its first fruit.  Instead of getting bigger and gradually turning yellow, the hard little green balls became wider and fatter and turned orange.

The little “lemon” tree had decided it was time to show its true colors. It was in fact no lemon at all, but a naartjie tree.

Source:  Flickr - aquilaonline

To be eligible for the $50 gift certificate giveaway, click through to the Naartjie website, choose an outfit that you like, and copy the link to the comment section.

For example, I like this newborn jester-hat outfit.  After browsing the newborn page, I'd copy and paste this link in the comment section below.

If you like this outfit for boys, you would copy and paste this link.

For the girls in your life, copy and paste one of these links. 

The contest will close at midnight on Friday, October 16,.  I'll determine a winner using www.random.org, and announce the winner, on Saturday, October 17 via Twitter (see 'Tweet, Tweet') over to the right.

Which outfits do you like?

Which outfits do you think best show the true colors of the children that you love?

***
Have you struggled to grow, thinking you were a 'lemon tree', only to find that you were an 'orange tree'?

What has been or could be the catalyst for showing your true colors?

Founder Anna Eales started Naartjie because she wanted clothes that her kids could live in -- what ideas have come to you because you wanted to solve a problem?

P.S.  It is now October 17 -- and the winner of the Giveaway is Donna G!

Helps for Saying our Name

Heather Bailey and Melanie Mauer's recent postings are relevant to 'dare to dream':

Heather Bailey
I've posted about Heather here and here.  The quality of her work is so superb, her style so breezy, I mistakenly believed the achieving of her 'dream' was effortless...

...Until I heard her 'tell her story' in this post. 

When we tell our story we begin to 'name what hasn't been named or recognizable' in our selves -- and encourage others to do the same.

***

Melanie Mauer
I always leave her blog happy; her idea is so terrific, that I could only comment to her LOVE, LOVE, LOVE.

 

In Saying our name, I suggested we buy domain names for ourselves and our children, but what if we also 'said our name' by getting Mommy, or even personal, Calling Cards?  In fact, I love this idea so much -- perhaps this should be one of the final prizes for the Resolutionary Challenge?

What are your thoughts?

Artist My 'I' Likes: Jane Maxwell

My friend Liz and I discovered the artist Jane Maxwell at an art gallery in Boston a few summers ago.

Some of you are going to love her work as much as I do. Which means that when I'm ready to buy a piece the price will be even higher.

But I just wanted to share.

Of my favorites, the first is 'Walking Girls'.

'Pick your Fruit' reminds me of of a photo I have of my mother who modeled in San Francisco in the early 1960's; I also remember going to orchards to pick apricots with her as a child.

Though I've read Ms. Maxwell's statement, her work has a slightly different meaning for me (as it well may for you). I see a both/and -- the connecting and caring that is symbolized by the fruit labels/the farmer's market -- and the 'I or identity piece of ourselves that I see in the stance of the women -- at least in the images that I like.

Bottom line -- I'm not quite sure why I love her artwork so much.

Isn't it usually that way?

We discover art, we love it, and only later we come to see how the art has named for us something that we somehow couldn't.

What is your response?

Do you like, dislike, love, hate -- or are you indifferent to her work?

What meaning do you make?

Related posts:

Blog I Like: Portabellopixie
Affirming our 'I'dentity
Farmer's market metaphor
Dreaming or deflecting?

Scribble Press: Helping our children tell their story

When I was in Mexico last month, my friend David Luhnow told me about his sister-in-law Anna's store Scribble Press, a place where children can write, illustrate and publish their very own books.

Why was I so taken by their concept?

Because Scribble Press helps us help our children move to the center of their story.

To dream, not deflect -- to be the hero.

For example, Anna shared with me that several children had recently made meaning of their adoption by writing and illustrating books that were then bound before their eyes.

What events do your children need to make meaning of?

What do you need to make meaning of?

If you are going to be in Los Angeles this summer, and want to encourage your children to be the hero of their story, then run, don't walk, to Scribble Press.

In the meantime, take a moment to go to kirtsy and click through on the link Scribbling our children's way to self-esteem. I can't think of a better way to say Atta Girls -- Darcy and Anna!

Related posts:
NY Times: This is if your life (And how you tell it)
Dreaming or deflecting?
Children and the call to adventure
Soundtracks: Finding our voice, telling our story
It takes courage to tell our stories