Philosophy | Cathy C. Hall Writes

While doing a little blog-keeping, I checked the link to The Enchanted Conversation, the one to my poem, “The Problem With Fairy Tales.” I was completely stunned when I saw that the poem had 34 comments!

I remembered that quite a few writer buddies had stopped by EC to leave their thoughts behind, but who the heck were all these other people leaving comments? Honestly, I thought it must be some glitch in the system, like when a person leaves a comment and it gets stuck in some kind of loop.

But, no. I started reading the comments-and they were from different people, strangers to me and not loopy at all. In fact, these were long and thoughtful comments that touched my writer’s soul.

Because here’s the thing. Writers pour themselves, heart and soul, into their writing. Then they hope, somewhere, someone (preferably an editor) will read their words and say, “This is good stuff! I want to publish this writer’s thoughts so that others can enjoy the good stuff!” And oh, happy days, we have affirmation!

So then your words are floating around out there, in a book, or a magazine, or a newspaper, and you are left to wonder if you made someone smile, or nod in agreement, or choke back a tear, or shout to the heavens that you’re a hack who doesn’t know what she’s talking about. In other words, you dream that what you have written has touched someone, in some way or the other. But often, you never know.

Unless you happen to check a link where over 30 comments sit, waiting for you. And then it absolutely, positively makes your day. Here’s wishing that someone makes a writer’s day today. (And share if you like-I love stories with happy endings!)

Yes, grasshopper, today we’re talking about marketing. But don’t think you can skip out because it’s marketing. It’s marketing having to do with writing. And I’ll try to be quick about it.

A few years ago, when I first started column writing, I willingly, happily gave my columns to a regional magazine. For free. I needed to learn the ropes, and fortunately for me, a local rope dangled right there in front of me. I learned quite a bit about deadline writing, fitting in the word count, and being funny whether I felt funny or not. So, it was all good.

After a year or so, a new publisher bought the magazine and I worked out a compensation deal for the column. It was all, um, good-er. And then I thought, as Webster is my dictionary, I’ll never write for free again!

Now, I can’t tell you what to do, grasshopper (though that is kinda the point here at WNTD), but making absolute statements is not such a good idea. Like when it comes to writing for free. Sometimes, I’ll write something for free. Because sometimes, I just want to lend a helping (writing) hand to a friend or colleague. But other times, I’ll consider WIIFM.

I didn’t know there was an actual acronym for “What’s in it for me?” but you learn something every day. I learned that tidbit when I read Jane Friedman’s spot-on post, “The Most Important Marketing Acronym: WIIFM.” She makes a few excellent points on marketing. And you might want to read the comments, too. You’ll find some excellent points among her readers’ views.

I know what you’re thinking, grasshopper. WIIFM has kind of a harsh ring to it. So maybe a new acronym, more polite-sounding, is needed (with the same sentiment). How about “PAPTDAFFYASMYCRTF.”

Hmmm. My next What Not To Do will be on Southerners and why we shouldn’t put them in charge of writing acronyms.

*Pleased As Punch To Do A Favor For You And Someday Maybe You Can Return The Favor