Brenda Wardle's Blog, page 3
December 26, 2015
Strengthening One's Unique Identity
As the year draws to a close, I can't help but wonder how many times in life I'll pray and wish for a better next year. Besides, I don't remember ever saying, well...this year has been so good that I wish it would never end.
It is very rarely that we take a look back at a year with the sole purpose of celebrating that which was positive and profound. Ask me about the bad experiences I've had in 2015, ask me about the damage caused to my brand and I could possibly knock together a mini dissertation, but, ask me about what there was which was positive and worth celebrating and, I'd have to pause a little.
Truth of the matter is, I have accomplished much more than I'd like to give myself credit for. My birthday is 19 days away and I'm already planning to have the best book trailer ever!
It is important therefore, as the year draws to a close, to ensure that we plot those all important variables which are - our reputation, our input/productivity, our actual and desired income, as well as the actual and desired ranking of our brands (be it we're self-employed or in the employ of another).
As writers, readers and consumers with hunger and desires, stories and histories, with dreams and aspirations, with pressures and pains - it is critical to find voices in the written word which will result in that hunger or poverty being assuaged, books that will see our desires, dreams and aspirations being placed within palpable reach and texts which will relieve the pressures and pains, which symbolic of being human.
Writing as an art, has played this role through the ages, story-telling even longer, but with the former the advantage is in the certainty that it cannot easily dissipate and that it exists in perpetuity. There shall of course be literary genii who will go unnoticed, there shall also be average writers with mediocre stories who make it popularly big. Every story, be it real or imagined or a combination of both, is told so that it can be received. Books are meant to be read.
So, as we chart the course for 2016 let us remember to spread our wings, delving into books which don't typically fit our preferred genres. It is only by interrogating unknown territories that hidden treasures can be found.
For the writers, rather than focus on reworking your manuscripts until they are lifeless, read the works of other authors. Mark each paragraph you skipped, highlight the parts which were boring and unnecessary, then go back and read only that part of the book which captured and intrigued you and use that as a recipe when writing your own book.
Many established authors churn out books which fail to capture the reader from page 1. Go through the books on your bedside table and ask yourself why it is that some have been there longer than others.
Prioritize your brand and enter the New Year on a high, determined to think critically about where it is that you see yourself as an author and which new genres you will explore as a reader.
It is very rarely that we take a look back at a year with the sole purpose of celebrating that which was positive and profound. Ask me about the bad experiences I've had in 2015, ask me about the damage caused to my brand and I could possibly knock together a mini dissertation, but, ask me about what there was which was positive and worth celebrating and, I'd have to pause a little.
Truth of the matter is, I have accomplished much more than I'd like to give myself credit for. My birthday is 19 days away and I'm already planning to have the best book trailer ever!
It is important therefore, as the year draws to a close, to ensure that we plot those all important variables which are - our reputation, our input/productivity, our actual and desired income, as well as the actual and desired ranking of our brands (be it we're self-employed or in the employ of another).
As writers, readers and consumers with hunger and desires, stories and histories, with dreams and aspirations, with pressures and pains - it is critical to find voices in the written word which will result in that hunger or poverty being assuaged, books that will see our desires, dreams and aspirations being placed within palpable reach and texts which will relieve the pressures and pains, which symbolic of being human.
Writing as an art, has played this role through the ages, story-telling even longer, but with the former the advantage is in the certainty that it cannot easily dissipate and that it exists in perpetuity. There shall of course be literary genii who will go unnoticed, there shall also be average writers with mediocre stories who make it popularly big. Every story, be it real or imagined or a combination of both, is told so that it can be received. Books are meant to be read.
So, as we chart the course for 2016 let us remember to spread our wings, delving into books which don't typically fit our preferred genres. It is only by interrogating unknown territories that hidden treasures can be found.
For the writers, rather than focus on reworking your manuscripts until they are lifeless, read the works of other authors. Mark each paragraph you skipped, highlight the parts which were boring and unnecessary, then go back and read only that part of the book which captured and intrigued you and use that as a recipe when writing your own book.
Many established authors churn out books which fail to capture the reader from page 1. Go through the books on your bedside table and ask yourself why it is that some have been there longer than others.
Prioritize your brand and enter the New Year on a high, determined to think critically about where it is that you see yourself as an author and which new genres you will explore as a reader.
December 23, 2015
Festive Blues
Oh when it gets to Christmas I feel happy yet kinda blue. After all, this is a time when compliments are sometimes laced with sarcasm and bile. Below are just a few examples of such compliments and I'd be happy if you could share some too:-
1. Oh my, you're still as beautiful as you were when we were growing up. Do you remember how the guys would compete for your attention only? I'll ask my hubby and we'll drop by and visit. You're still single?
2. On goodness your daughter is getting married, that is wonderful. Is this the one who divorced last year?
3. Hey kids let me tell you about your mother. She was the life and soul of every party. We just couldn't keep up.
4. Oh my baby you have such a beautiful body but are those stretch marks I see?
5. I'm so happy for you. Your daughter graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree, wow. My daughter Linda is in London studying to become a nuclear physicist.
6. So you still live in the South, ok. Well I'm not sure why we rave about the North because it's just the prices which are higher, you guys have all the views.
7. No woman deserves to be alone. Can I introduce you to a good, old man who lives on our street?
8. So you go to gymn? Really? Wow!
9. I'm so sorry I can't make your party. The former president's wife invited me out for drinks.
10. I lurvvvv your new car, can I peep inside? Oh so it's not brand brand new, judging from the mileage it's more like a new second hand? Hayi shame but it's nice.
It's the hilarity which gets to me most.
1. Oh my, you're still as beautiful as you were when we were growing up. Do you remember how the guys would compete for your attention only? I'll ask my hubby and we'll drop by and visit. You're still single?
2. On goodness your daughter is getting married, that is wonderful. Is this the one who divorced last year?
3. Hey kids let me tell you about your mother. She was the life and soul of every party. We just couldn't keep up.
4. Oh my baby you have such a beautiful body but are those stretch marks I see?
5. I'm so happy for you. Your daughter graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree, wow. My daughter Linda is in London studying to become a nuclear physicist.
6. So you still live in the South, ok. Well I'm not sure why we rave about the North because it's just the prices which are higher, you guys have all the views.
7. No woman deserves to be alone. Can I introduce you to a good, old man who lives on our street?
8. So you go to gymn? Really? Wow!
9. I'm so sorry I can't make your party. The former president's wife invited me out for drinks.
10. I lurvvvv your new car, can I peep inside? Oh so it's not brand brand new, judging from the mileage it's more like a new second hand? Hayi shame but it's nice.
It's the hilarity which gets to me most.
December 19, 2015
If Wishes Were Horses
Oh how I wish I could simply prance around with a team of typists at their computers, dictating four books simultaneously. How I wish I could predict just how well (since how badly has no place in my vocabulary) my books will do. A few days ago (perhaps even a week ago), I started a crowdfunding publishing campaign here:- https://publishizer.com/to-kill-a-fra....
So far only 9 readers have placed pre-orders, not worth the energy and the sleepless nights if you ask me. Don't get me wrong there are huge benefits in store for the few who expressed themselves by placing pre-orders but I bear no grudges against friends, family and loved ones who would rather not join the club. It's my dream and the responsibility to ensure it is realized, is entirely mine.
With these crowdfunding campaigns comes a lot of cajoling of friends and relatives, bugging your influencers and ambassadors to do the work doesn't really yield results. So the sooner one realizes that no one owes you that kind of commitment, the better. It's not even as though I'm some latter-day Maya Angelou or Oprah Winfrey (at least not yet). I'm known for my pretty accurate and phenomenal legal analysis and until readers read the book, there's no telling how they'll react.
With that realization and wake-up call I then ditched my cold-calling and near-groveling and decided that whatever the campaign brings it shall, what it doesn't, it won't. I must hasten to add though that I plan on selling 1million copies through that very campaign. It is the how which I don't quite have figured out.
So, I diverted all that energy towards my personal website, my company website and producing a high quality book trailer. My book has now been written and it's undergoing a vigorous editing process for both technical and grammatical accuracy.
These then are the hazards of self-publishing and I suppose we all have unique experiences and unique challenges, not to mention unique opportunities. My aim is publishing and selling my book regardless. I am selling it not only because I think that with the written word we leave a legacy, but because I'm confident that there is money to be made from well-written books and stories solidly told.
Would I cry therefore if no one reads this? I pretty much doubt I would. I firmly believe that the universe and its people will attract and reject you at just the right time. Have a wonderful festive period and may you and your loved ones stay safe.
So far only 9 readers have placed pre-orders, not worth the energy and the sleepless nights if you ask me. Don't get me wrong there are huge benefits in store for the few who expressed themselves by placing pre-orders but I bear no grudges against friends, family and loved ones who would rather not join the club. It's my dream and the responsibility to ensure it is realized, is entirely mine.
With these crowdfunding campaigns comes a lot of cajoling of friends and relatives, bugging your influencers and ambassadors to do the work doesn't really yield results. So the sooner one realizes that no one owes you that kind of commitment, the better. It's not even as though I'm some latter-day Maya Angelou or Oprah Winfrey (at least not yet). I'm known for my pretty accurate and phenomenal legal analysis and until readers read the book, there's no telling how they'll react.
With that realization and wake-up call I then ditched my cold-calling and near-groveling and decided that whatever the campaign brings it shall, what it doesn't, it won't. I must hasten to add though that I plan on selling 1million copies through that very campaign. It is the how which I don't quite have figured out.
So, I diverted all that energy towards my personal website, my company website and producing a high quality book trailer. My book has now been written and it's undergoing a vigorous editing process for both technical and grammatical accuracy.
These then are the hazards of self-publishing and I suppose we all have unique experiences and unique challenges, not to mention unique opportunities. My aim is publishing and selling my book regardless. I am selling it not only because I think that with the written word we leave a legacy, but because I'm confident that there is money to be made from well-written books and stories solidly told.
Would I cry therefore if no one reads this? I pretty much doubt I would. I firmly believe that the universe and its people will attract and reject you at just the right time. Have a wonderful festive period and may you and your loved ones stay safe.
