Your Book Marketing Plan

I have often heard that writing your book is the EASY part! That it's what happens afterwards that is the hard part. Damn, ANOTHER little tid-bit that discourages new writers from pursuing their writing dreams...
Not only is it a small miracle to be chosen for representation by a literary agent...but a rather major miracle to be selected for publication...THEN you find out you must market and promote your own book!!! What the hell is wrong with the publishing industry anyway?
While I think the traditional publishing industry is in a state of great flux at present, due to new technology in media presentation and inroads in self-publishing, I feel everyone just dreams of being published in the old way by an established publishing house...So, we must accept all existing imperfections and plan accordingly!!!
A marketing plan to sell your book AFTER publication by an established house is, unfortunately, one of those imperfections (in most cases) and a fact of life that we must plan for accordingly...
I am therefore going to spend some time researching and recommending sites dealing with how to create good marketing plans.
First recommendation: http://ezinearticles.com/?Your-Marketing-Plan---The-Basics-of-Selling-Your-Writing&id=1239258

Jeanne Scott said:

My final effort! I've been attempting to be a writer since grade school, although never trying to publish until recently, making some stabs at it and experiencing some initial setbacks. We neophytes soon discover that getting ourselves into print can be as big, if not bigger, a hurdle than writing the book! I remind myself that Faulkner's masterpiece, "The Sound and the Fury" was rejected more than 30 times - and he was a genius! I've been told that I don't have to deal with Google's antics in order to post this; but the last time I tried and clicked "submit", the message went to Limbo!
January 23, 2009 7:39 AM

New Day...Make direct posts to my blog (I think I have made it possible!)

I have restructured my blog so all readers can make direct posts instead of just making comments under the comments link after each of my posts. At least I think I have made this possible!

Please let me know if anyone has any trouble. I am still learning this blog setup...

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!!

My sincere wishes to ALL for a very joyful Christmas and a happy and prosperous New Year in our turbulent times!

Been away for a little bit and NOT writing...Need to get back in the groove, finish my book, find a good agent who will get me an excellent contract and movie deal, get published and make a...etc,etc. My wish list or TO-DO list for 2009!!!

Hope my old teacher comes back to visit here and brings a few friends too!

Will talk again soon...If anyone stumbles across my blog please contribute

A Long Lost Friend and Teacher

I have made contact with my ninth grade teacher after about 50 years! I am hoping she will contribute to my lonesome blog but she may not realize how.
She can add a comment simply by clicking on the "comment link" at the end of each post that she wants to comment about.
OR she can sign in on the sign in button on the upper right (with ID=email address and any 8 character password she chooses) and can post comments whenever she signs in...

What is Creative Nonfiction?

Here is an article I ran across that gives one of the best definitions of Narrative Nonfiction:

What is Creative Nonfiction?
The Difference Between Narrative Nonfiction and Journalism
© Sarah Turner
Jan 9, 2008

Creative nonfiction is a hard-to-define genre. Also known as narrative nonfiction, personal journalism, and memoir, it is increasingly popular and amazingly diverse.
Creative Nonfiction Reads Like Fiction
Straightforward journalism is a basic recounting of the facts. When reading a newspaper, you expect to read a balanced, objective reiteration: facts and dates, names and places. The same is true when you read, say, an auto manual or a cookbook. In a newspaper or magazine feature there's a difference. The names are more than just names – the people in the story seem like characters. And the places are more than just names - they are suspiciously like settings. And the story reads like, well, a story. A good story.
If a story is true, but it reads like fiction, that's creative nonfiction.
Creative Nonfiction Uses Literary Devices
In a piece of narrative nonfiction, the reader should be able to identify:
clear, well-developed characters
a narrative arc
tension and revelation
engaging dialogue, written out as opposed to direct quotations
story told using scenes rather than straight exposition
an identifiable theme
careful use of imagery, symbolism and metaphor
Creative Nonfiction Tells the Truth
Everyone remembers the James Frey case. His book “A Million Little Pieces” was marketed as a memoir, and when it was discovered that he'd made up large parts of the story readers were furious. Why? If it's a good story, who cares if it's true or made-up? Well, the readers do. They felt like they were being duped. Essentially, writers have a contract with their readers. If you say you're telling the truth, tell it.
True, But Not Objective
When reading creative nonfiction, the reader assumes they are reading a biased account – the writer's account – of the story being told. They do not believe they are reading something objective, or universally true. Just true as far as the writer's experience of it. Creative nonfiction is often written in the first person point of view.
If a writer is trying to recollect something from a long time ago, the recreation of those memories will require a certain amount of creativity. Still, the basic facts should remain true to life. Dates, names, people's actions: these are non-negotiable. The feelings and thoughts that accompany these events – whether fear, exhilaration or guilt – are personal to the writer and should come across in the writing.
History of Creative Nonfiction
The genre of creative nonfiction emerged out of the New Journalism movement of the 1960s and 70s, led by writers such as Tom Wolfe, Normal Mailer and Truman Capote. Capote's crime novel “In Cold Blood” is often seen as the originator of the genre.
For a detailed history of the genre, check out Creative Nonfiction, an online website and journal devoted exclusively to the genre. Editor Lee Gutkind credits himself with being the first to use the term in 1983, during a meeting of the National Endowment of the Arts.
The copyright of the article What is Creative Nonfiction? in Resources for Writers is owned by Sarah Turner. Permission to republish What is Creative Nonfiction? in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Memoir versus Narrative Nonfiction

A Guide to Literary Agents "editors blog" definition describing the difference between memoir and narrative nonfiction is: Memoir is when someone writes about their own life. Narrative nonfiction is when someone writes about the lives of others.

Seems a little simplified...For instance: What is a story about you and others around you experiencing a common coming-of-age experience? Is it a memoir? Or a narrative nonfiction? Or both?

It seems to me it would be hard to write a memoir without including others who shared that same time and space with you.

Or is a narrative nonfiction a book researched by an author and is based on true events but the author was not involved in the events?

Please give this confused person some input...Thanks