Café Closed for a two week writing holiday
Most publishers I have approached do not ask first about an author’s experience, qualifications, or even writing samples. They ask about platform. This is the number of people who know the writer well enough to probably buy a book of his.
The stats for this metric are gathered from blog site figures, like page views and subscribers. Google Analytics can tell if you open the e-mail I send you or not, and if you spend long enough looking at it to read it, if you Tweet it, share it on Facebook, “like” it, and if you click on any link on the site. It’s like Big Brother is looking over your shoulder when you visit any site these days. Then Big Brother snitches to Google and they report it to me, so I can offer it to the publishers as proof that I have people other than my mom who think I have something to say. So thanks for your support!
I have a number of ideas for books, which my omnicompetent literary agent has been plying in the marketplace on my behalf.
I’m excited to announce that I have been offered another two book contracts with two separate publishers. That’s the good news. The part that makes me nervous is that I now need to actually write two more books. No pressure.
I am therefore taking the next two weeks off from all other creative activities including blogging, sermon prep, haiku, and impromptu bedtime stories (Narnia will make a comeback for story time) in order to focus on writing a 40,000 word manuscript for a book on short-term missions.
When I return, I’ll share some of the fruit of my writing time in the form of blog posts on the topic.
Wish me luck!
From the proprietor,
Clint.
