Friday Five/Marketing Round Up

Friday Five

1) Schedule Schmedule - My first week on a new schedule stinks. I have to get up at 6, wake daughter up at 6:30, get her breakfast and packed for school. Wake son up at 7. Drop daughter off at 7:30. come back and get son breakfast. take him to school at 9. 9:30 - 12:30 my time (of course that means laundry, cleaning, paying bills, blogging) 12:45 pick up son. Stretch him until 2 so I can pick up my daughter. come home and get son down by 2:30 for nap. 2:30 - 3:00 quiet time for daughter. 3-3:30 one on one time with daughter. 4:00 wake up son. play until 5 when dinner gets started. By the time 7:30 comes and kids are down - I'm exhausted (and I this doesn't even include my work, writing, hubby or self time.)

2) Take 3 - Yes I am back to the drawing board on my book. Spent hour with Super Agent this morning and it was very productive. I have until Sept 18th to work out some character issues, line edits and other minor fixes. I like my agent because she says things like: gusto, whole hog, and bravo. We are hoping this is the last round before we go to submission. So far, my agent has several editors interested in reading it so that makes me even more anxious to get this thing done and out. I do trust her however and she is very picky and pushes me which I like. I know when the book goes out, it will be the best it can be at this point.

3) I'm not a day over 25! This weekend is my bday (23rd). Yes it is. I wont say how old (you can guess as long as you don't go over 25 :). Its always awkward on my bday. I don't' know why but when you spend time with family, you feel the same age you did when you were 16. As if time stopped. Or maybe its just my family :) Do they have to still sing? Do I have to still wear a bday hat? (Feel free to email me if you have any bday presents you want to snail mail my way. I may be too old for hats and singing but never too old for gifts :)

4) To defriend or not to defriend. This week was my first experience with "defriending" someone. It was all but necessary since the person insisted on posting vulgar/mean posts on my Facebook page. Yes on my public forum. I tried to reason with this person who is mad at me - for reasons I am still not sure about - but I can only apologize so many times (especially when I don't really think I did anything wrong.) Anyway, I tried to call and work it out but at some point, you have to just let people be mad and go their own way. It's sad b/c after 20 years, you'd think one argument wouldn't break the friendship. Anyway, It sucks to sit in front of FB screen and read the note "Are you sure you want to defriend this person?" And then you have to hit "yes". I mean people come and go in your life but there is never a definitive question or sentence that completely ends it. Needless to say, I cried that night. I am such a softy! Honestly, it was either that or continue to be cussed out (as well as my family!) and berated on my (PUBLIC!!!) Facebook page. I mean send me an email for god sakes, you can cuss me out all you want. I can take it. But on my Facebook Wall? Tacky?- yes, immature? double yes. heartbreaking - no matter who it is - my answer is yes. Even though I don't want to be upset, I can't help it. Not to mention, after talking to many people, I think it was all so undeserved. And hey, I am one to take a hit for the team. I am one to apologize even when I shouldn't. But at some point, I guess you have to draw your line in the sand. Right? *sniff - though I am sad*

5) Another award? Really? I am almost putting myself to sleep typing this, you mean you guys don't use my blog as night reading to shut your brains down during the day? who knew? Anyway, thank you to Lauren over at Book in the Oven (isn't that the cutest name!) for the Humane Award (obviously she gave it to me before knowing I am probably the only person who just DEFRIENDED someone!) While this award is traditionally used to represent nature friendly bloggers, the writing community has embraced it as celebrating those who encourage other writer. So I will say five bloggers who have been encouraging me in my writing. My critique group deserves one but none of them blog anymore :(

1) Meg Cabot (not that she will even know right?) But I love her books, especially Princess Diaries. Her writing is similar in style to mine and she gave me inspiration to write (not personally, just her books. Though that would be really cool huh!)

2) Katie Andersen (Plot This) who spends hours brainstorming ideas for me. I just gave their blog an award but I could not do this award without mentioning Katie. It would not be right :)

3) Lindsey Leavitt - she is the one who got me back into blogging and on my path to getting an agent. Without her, (and she may not even know this. I don't know if I told her) I would not have gotten this far. Not only is she a fab person and good friend, but she rocks as a writer.

4) Suzanne Young - (She knows why!) Basically, she gave me a HUGE break that got me to where I am today (with an agent). With that said, Suzanne didn't even know me! She just reached out to me on Facebook because she read my blog. So thoughtful. (That's all I will say!)

5) Teen Fiction Cafe - Because it is run by a bunch of great writers all at different stages in their careers.

Rules: Link to back to the awarder, list 5 people who have inspired you in your writing, and then just let them know about their award ;)

Here are my marketing favs for the week:

1) An interview with publicist Suzanne Pfefferle of Pelican Publishing Company. With the ever changing market, it is nice to hear from the brain of the house publicist.
Check it out!

2) Came across twitip.com - the site focuses on providing great tips on how to best use twitter. This article is on how to be follow-worthy!

3) 2009 pulse of social media industry. About this time last year, a survey was done with bloggers/content providers, brand and agency marketers for their insights about one aspect of social media .. Blogger Relations. As is typical in our industry people generously offered their insights and we learned together how to create win-win-win strategies. 2008 Pulse of the Industry Blogger Relations . There is a survey for 2009 if you want to take it.

4) Of course my friends (Robin and Mary) over at Shrinking Promotions ran an article on tweeting this week. Tweeting for introverts that is. :) Just as I am starting to tweet more on marketing/branding tips, they are dedicated to tweeting on "daily tips, reminders, affirmations, and suggestions for caring for your introverted self." I will be doing a guest post for them in October! yay!

5) If you missed my interview with Molly O'Neil, check it out! (oh goodness, that was a shameless plug!) It was a HUGE success. I think about 1500 people came to my blog that day alone. And all for Molly's fabulous advice.

6) Writers Digest lists out the best tweets of the week - some great marketing, blogging, etc nuggets in here.

ON a side note, Cynthea Liu (Writing for Teens) is starting a series of interviews on "Authors on the verge". Today's is Kate Messner. They cover rejections, agent process and publication journey. :)

Have a great weekend!!!!