It's a Four Letter Word

Work it's a four letter word. Often times people consider four letter words to be bad. But there are many four letter words that are not so bad like love...yeah that's all I can think of right now. If you have been following the blog you noticed 1. It's not as active as before and 2. That we are working on a project called Stone House University. That's one of the main reasons we have been so silent. We are working on so many projects. Some of the things that new project is going to offer
are...

Blog Tours
Writing to Hook
Facebook Marketing
Twitter Marketing
Writing with the Snowflake Method
How to plot
Amazon, how to work the system
How to Tag
Author Platform
Bookstores and how to set up signings
eBooks 101
Social Media 101
What is Google Plus

But before you can even consider any of those things you have to nail down the four letter word that is needed. WORK.

Our fearless leader Aaron Patterson tells it how it is below. 


I get this vibe a ton from authors and other writers, that somehow by being in the same room as me or maybe by chillin with vincent Zandri the books will fly and the money will come in by the truckload. I think we all have this idea that it is the rub factor, can this person rub off on me, make me do better or by some sort of magic something will happen.


I do not say this with a mean spirit or because I think I have done anything special. in fact I wonder sometimes why and how I ever got anyone to read my books. I don't think I am that great of a writer or that I hold some power that makes me a success. That being said I will tall you one thing. I work hard.


Now I cannot claim to have great talent or to have a super brain, but I am a hard worker. And after talent and smarts give out, the hard worker will always win. We all remember the story of The Tortoise and the Hare. It is a simple story we all know about sticking with it, keep going and never give up. Now I like most never thought that story was more than just a kids story. But it is more.


Think about writing, publishing and selling books. It is not all about talent or style. Not about being the smartest person or having the highest ranking wizards review your book. It is about hard work.


What I lack in brains I make up for with stick-to-it-never-give-up-ness! What I lack in talent I make up for in Market-the-crap-out-of-my-and-others-books-ness!


I know we all want a pill, a magic list of how to make it. We want that simple thing we can all do to become a bestseller and so on. so here it is... the list the magic!


W: Work your A#% off!
O: Open up to new ideas! Don't get stuck in the mud, i.e. eBooks etc...
R: Reach out! Brand yourself and meet people. Share and support other authors.
K: keep going! Never stop. Be smart and market all the time but in a cool easy way.


There you go, the magic to the bestseller line. Want to make it big? This is it, not writing the best book, not being super hot, not paying out money to but your way up, good old hard WORK.

Cheers.

Thanks Aaron. So how about you dear reader are you a hard worker? 

Extention

Because of being so busy at The Idaho Book Extravaganza we have decided to extend chapter 3's entry deadline through November. So apply apply apply share share share



Well we are thoroughly enjoying this contest. And now it's time for Chapter 3.

What will happen next?

Do you know...tell us?

Submit Chapter 3 to shwcontest at gmail dot com. But don't forget to go HERE and check out the rules and criteria.

And of course read the first two chapters together before you write on. We look forward to hearing from you guys. If you submitted before please do again. It was a tough pick.

Behind The Scenes

Sorry we have been quiet lately. But we have been preparing for the Idaho Book Extravaganza.  We get so excited about this every year. We get to meet amazing talents. Talk about the biz, meet with readers and authors. We look forward to it every year.

And this year we are really proud to announce that several of Stone House's own are featured speakers. Here is a list of a few.

Aaron Patterson will be discussing E-books

Vincent Zandri will be discussing from backlist to bestselling author.


Bri Clark and Chris White will talk about successful blogging (they have promised to behave)


It is not too late to get your all access pass. The trade show with several industry vendors including ourselves are set up. The trade show is free to the public. If you want to come and check it out then buy a pass there you can as well.

Hope to see you soon.

Writer Wednesday: From Blogs to Conferences A Writers Evolution

The Internet is amazing, eBooks are a Godsend, ereaders are a miracle. The publishing world has changed in ways and speeds no one could prophesied. One of those other great aftershocks of the eBook earthquake is learning through blogs. From finding books to read by reputable reviewers, to learning the In's and outs of writing, publishing, and marketing for new authors once again the results are huge.


Nevertheless, there comes a time where one on one learning and networking must be considered. It's the natural evolution of the serious writer desiring to be author. 

In this area local is the best way to go. Libraries, book clubs, writer's groups are wonderful first steps for those that may suffer from a less aggressive social personality. But what if you've done that? What's the next level? Conferences of course!


In Idaho there is the Idaho Book Extravaganza. An annual event that each year only gets better. Workshops from how to write and market a mystery, to how to write a memoir, to finding a distributor to name a few are modestly priced but infinitely priceless offered.Not to mention the connections made with other locals who share your desire to learn and conquer the industry.

October 28-29 2011 The IBE is a ripe plum of knowledge waiting to picked. For a complete list of workshops offered go here.

To register go here. Remember students get a discount.