Wednesday, December 21, 2011

BREAKING OUT OF THE BOX

I visited with Harriet, my neighbor yesterday…
To give her my manuscript, AZAEL’S LOT for her to read…
And surprisingly, she gave me a book in return…
A book of poetry…
Written by her mother-in-law, Doris R.Goldberg.

I opened the cover looking for the publisher.
“She self-published it.”
“Really? Back in 1989?"
 “After getting many rejections she decided to do it herself.”
Walking back to my apartment I thought…
Nothing’s changed—regarding rejections that is.
And self-pubbing had to have been difficult back then…
(sorry for the bad photo, this was the best I could do)
Because without the Internet…
How would an author have marketed it?
Harriet said she placed her books in local bookstores…
But when she died, she had lots of books in boxes.
Lord! This is my fear!
What if after all my years of writing…
All that becomes of it is nothing but…
Stuff in a box?
So?
If you’re pub’d, traditional or otherwise…
What’s your marketing plan?
If you’re not pub’d…
What’s going to be your plan?
 How will your make sure your writing...
Is not just stuff in a box?

Always, Em-Musing
Doris Goldberg was born in Fall River, MA.
She came from a writing-family of poets,
essayists, novelists, medical writers, and
contributors to international scientific journals.
Doris had two degrees in English Literature,
and edited a weekly Poetry Column for
The Toledo Blade. She served on the
Board of Trustees of the Ohio Poetry Day
Assoc. and won poetry awards sponsored
by state and national poetry associations.

5 comments:

Sarah said...

Marketing plan ... ? Well, I'm hoping to have a publisher to help me with that, and I'm hoping that doesn't mean lots of books in boxes. But it's a good question, one worth pondering. *wanders off to ponder*

farawayeyes said...

Like Sarah,I'm hoping for a publisher but...

I figure if we are the sum total of our experiences (which BTW, I do) then our writing must be a part of that total also. Therefore, it will always be more than 'stuff in a box'. It brings you back to the basic questions.

Why do you write?
Who do you write for?
What do you expect to gain from your writing?

Don't worry about the box. One way or another we all end up in one. Enjoy the experience! Experience the ride! Life is meant to be lived! YIKES, where did all that come from.

Anne Gallagher said...

Back then self-publishing meant stuff in boxes, these days with POD, it just stays in cyber space until you take it down.

Although, I do hope I leave a legacy for The Monster, something she'll be proud of.

Happy Happy Holidays to you and your family, Em! I'll see you next year.

J.L. Campbell said...

That's a pity. I have put out feelers with local bookstores and they are receptive. I also need to start some advance marketing.

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