P & P

The topic of "promotion" has been addressed previously here at The Word Place, but after reading a recent issue of Hope Clark's "Total Funds for Writers", I have a new perspective. Unfortunately, since it's a subscription newsletter, I can't include a link However, check out the website online anyway. (If you don't already subscribe FREE to "Funds for Writers" and "Small Markets", you should. "Total Funds for Writers" is a bargain at $15/year.)



I digress. We all know the standard social marketing program--Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn. a blog, a website, ad nauseum. I must admit I am alternately frustrated and bored with the whole thing. But Hope brought up another P which needs to go hand in hand with the first one (platform)--and that's PASSION. Do we write because we are passionate about writing and what we have to say? If so, the people we are trying to reach won't know it unless we tell them. 



So now I have to think--a tiring process, especially after I just finished a re-write of the first of six cozy mysteries I hope to "go indie" with one of these days. I have to think--WHAT am I PASSIONATE about? And how will I let that passion shine through and encourage readers to want to learn more about it in my books?



I like making lists, so here goes:


history
genealogy
travel to historical places
mysteries (especially real ones)
meeting people 
learning new things
new perspectives on other cultures
and last but certainly not least, my faith because it's the catalyst for everything I do

Now comes the hard part: HOW do I incorporate one or more of these very real passions into my platform and reach those who share them? That's going to take more thought, but I'm determined to do it, so stay tuned.



What are your passions? Do you--can you--how will you incorporate them into your writing platform? Leave a comment, and I'll draw a name at the end of the week for either a PDF or a Kindle version of The Face on Miss Fanny's Wall--a novel, by the way, which built on three of the passions listed above: history, genealogy, mystery. Or, if those subjects don't rattle your cage, you can opt for a PDF of Dancing with Velvet, a WW II romance set in my West Texas hometown.