As a writer, I’ve discovered that writing, publishing, and
marketing intertwine. At first glance, they seem like three separate entities,
but the more that I practice all three, I have found that they are linked.
When I write to publish and market, I find that I have a
firm purpose that drives my stories, poems, and novels to the finish line and
beyond that through revisions. That same writing practice, especially when I
add blogging into it, leads me to market my writing because I’m excited by the
pursuit of the writing craft.
When I pursue publication, both by sending my work out to
editors and by self-publishing, I am driven to study the craft of writing and
finish writing exercises that lead me to the next story, poem, or novel. In
publication, I find that I have something to market, or at least announce in an
excited way to my friends, family members, and blog buddies.
When I strive to market my work, I often have a strong
desire to run back to my writing cave and write more. Marketing can have a
creative side that encourages my creative thought process and sends me back to
my “what if?” rough drafts. Marketing also pushes my pursuit of publication,
for as each piece sells, I want to experience that excitement again.
As I’ve grown as a writer, become published by others and
myself, and become a marketer, I have discovered that these three parts of life
as a modern writer have the same key component: persistence.
Persistence is a steadfast and firm continuance of action,
purpose, or state in spite of opposition. Persistence is all about tenacious
endurance, and the insistence that we, as writers, have good stories and poetry
to share. Persistence pushes past insecurities.
Persistence works best when
we have a cheering team. And that's what IWSG is all about!
Write On, IWSG members and fellow writers!!! You can persist past insecurities and write awesome stories, poetry, and novels.
