Sweeter than Candy for Writers on St. Valentine’s Day: A Sample of Dianna Graveman’s Marketing Seminar

Since I can’t afford to give all my readers flowers or chocolate for St. Valentine’s Day—and to avoid tempting those of us who gave up candy for Lent—I decided to do something a bit different in today's post.

How about a sweet treat for writers who crave to learn more about the business-end of our craft? Sound tasty? I thought so too. Today’s post is healthier and less fattening, but more filling than chocolate! So, here’s the “skinny.”

Earlier this month, I received a message from Dianna Graveman of 2Rivers Communications and Design that she was giving a seminar on Advanced Marketing. I have known Dianna for several years, and I know how strong and current her background is in writing, editing, teaching, social media, and marketing. After checking my calendar, I decided to attend her seminar, and I’m glad that I did.

At $15, Dianna’s presentation at All On the Same Page Book Store in Creve Coeur, MO, was a bargain. The night of the event, Dennis and Robin Tidwell had to scramble to find extra chairs to accommodate the dozen or so writers who showed up at their cozy store.  

During her presentation, Dianna gave a preview of an article on Indy Publishing that she’s been assigned to write for the 2014 Writer’s Market. 

Not wanting to steal any thunder before her article is published, I asked Dianna if she’d mind if I blogged about her presentation. Dianna said she’d be delighted.

Here are some highlights from my notes:

Writers need to think like business people.

Speaking to groups sells more books than just signings.

Think beyond speaking to just writing groups.

Target your audience.

Offer value by speaking on a topic of interest.

Learn how to write a press release.

Join groups that promote events.

Send your host a jpg headshot and bio in advance.

Start local and expand.

Become familiar with social media tools.

Create a Facebook Event and invite contacts (That’s how I learned about Dianna’s seminar).

Follow-up with an e-mail (That’s how I remembered the date).

Don’t hard sell.

Send your host a thank you after the event.

Offer to write a blurb about the event.

Pass out business cards.

I hope my fat-and-sugar-free sampler of what Dianna talked about has whet your appetite and given you some food for thought about marketing. 

If you want to learn more about Dianna's upcoming presentations, click on this link.  

Got Romance? Goldminds Publishing Call for Submissions - Short Deadline

Now that the World Series and Halloween are over, it's back to writing.

It's hard to believe it is already November. I've been reading posts about National Novel Writing Month lately. I tried it a few years ago and only made it through a few days. While I don't have the stamina for National Novel Writing Month, I'm trying to focus on shorter works. I'm not a romance writer, but here's a submission call out that got my attention. I read this call for submissions a few days ago and thought it might be of interest to my readers.

Editor Pat Smith, from Goldminds Publishing, is seeking romantic short stories for its first Valentine's Day anthology, which will be published in January 2012.

Pat is a smart, witty, and warm writer I met several years ago at a conference in Texas. I've heard Pat speak at writing events a few times since then, and she was a featured speaker at the Missouri Writers' Guild conference last April. Pat is now an editor at Goldmines Publishing putting together their first Valentine's Day anthology. She is looking for "vibrant, smart, heart-warming contemporary romances featuring modern men and women meeting and falling in love."

Word Count: 3,000-10,000

Setting/Characters: According to Smith, "We don't want every story set in Paris, New York City or London, featuring a billionaire or royal heir falling for his gorgeous but shy secretary. Try something different and a little more believable."

Heat index: "Moderate...warm, romantic and sexy...We definitely want to feel the chemistry between your lead characters, but don't make your descriptions OB/GYN explicit, so, not chaste, but not erotica either."

DEADLINE: Close of business on Friday, November 11, 2011.

Submit to: pbsmith@goldmindspub.com

Be sure to put "Embrace Valentine's Day Anthology" in the subject line of your e-mail.

Payment:  Writers whose stories are selected for the anthology will receive a one-time payment of $50.00.
For more information about Goldminds Publishing, visit their website.

Good luck!

My Squirrely Valentine

Last night a little after 7 p.m. the phone rang. It was my grandkiddos’ other grandmother, who lives close by.

From her voice I knew something was wrong.

“I don’t know what to do,” she said.

“What happened?” I asked, thinking something happened to her mom--the kid’s great-grandmother--who is 90, and lives in a nursing home.

“A squirrel is stuck in my fireplace.”

I breathed a sigh of relief and repeated. “A squirrel in your fireplace?”

Michael, who was sitting nearby getting out his books to do homework, perked up immediately.

She said, “I called for someone to get it out but they want almost three-hundred dollars to come tonight or one hundred if I wait till tomorrow. Do you think Michael can bring his b-b-gun and shoot it?

"Michael's b-b-gun?" I asked, thinking I didn't hear her right.

Woa! Wait a minute. That wasn’t going to happen. First, you don’t shoot a gun in the house—not even a b.b. gun, but I didn’t want to make things worse by lecturing her on gun safety.

Instead, I asked her to hold on, and I gave the phone to Walt, squirrel hunter extraordinare.

It was déjà vu all over.

Several years ago, right around Christmas time, my sister Kathleen had a squirrel stuck in her fireplace. Kathleen’s husband Jim was at work, so she called her daughter Angie then me, and it was Walt to the rescue.

My niece Angie tried to help Walt catch the squirrel, which darted from the fireplace when Walt opened the door. The squirrel sprinted between Angie's legs and hid in the Christmas tree. The squirrel jumped from branch to branch, knocking down ornaments. My sister freaked out because it was her “Irish” tree--the one with several Waterford collectible ornaments.

Long story short: Walt caught the squirrel, but the little guy gave up a fight, biting Walt all he way out the door. As blood dripped from his hand, Walt squeezed, hoping the squirrel would stop biting. But the harder he squeezed, the harder the squirrel bit down. Walt survived, although at my sister's insistence he visited the ER to make sure he didn't get rabies. A few ornaments (thankfully none of the Waterfords) and the squirrel were not as lucky. For Christmas that year, my sister gave Walt a stuffed toy squirrel. It was the hit during the gift exchange.

Back to last night. Before he left the house, Walt found a pair of leather work gloves. He didn't want to get bit this time. Michael put on his hoodie, and when Cari heard what was going on, she rushed out of her bedroom and asked them to wait for her. Michael’s b-b gun, our dog Harley, and I all stayed home.

Less than an hour later, Walt and the grandkiddos came back. They were exicted and couldn't wait to tell me what happened. Walt had caught the squirrel in a towel and released him out the front door, unharmed. And this time Walt didn't shed any blood.

Not exactly a romantic Valentine's night, but definitely a squirrely one, and the makings of a good story.

Love Your Heart

St. Valentine's Day is traditionally the day we show our love for others. I think it's also a fitting day to remind us all to take care of ourselves, especially our hearts.

Heart disease is the #1 killer of American women.

My sister and brother-in-law have recently had surgeries to address heart issues. Thankfully, they have adjusted their diets, are exercising more, and doing great. (I need to follow their examples.) My sister-in-law also has had several surgeries for a congenital problem with her heart. So, this issue hits close to home.

Several corporations have programs to encouage us to take care of our hearts. Campbell's soup has a sweepstakes going on until March 31 to encourage people to have a heart-healthy lifestyle. They are giving away prizes as part of their continuing program to fight heart disease.

Their AdDress your Heart program going on until March 31 also encourages women (and men) to watch inspirational celebrity videos. For every video viewed, Campbell's will donate $1 to the American Heart Association's "Go Red for Women program," up to $625,000.

So, while you're remembering your loved ones today, don't forget to take care yourself--and love your heart!