More Is Involved Than Just Writing a Book

I'm not afraid to admit, I did everything a little backwards. That is, I published my book before I did any marketing. Not to say that I can't go full force with the marketing now because that's exactly what I'm going to do. Honestly, I'm just excited about having my book back out there.

I'm also learning how to tweet. Even though, I'm much more fascinated with reading tweets than I am with making tweets. We'll just say, "I'm studying the process." 

I'm hungry and I'm sleepy (it's 12:15 a.m.), and my right hand hurts, which is not a good sign. So, I'm going to go to bed and try this again tomorrow night. 

Feel free to leave comments telling me how to tweet. I really need some help. Thanks!

Simply TRB  

I Done Did It

Another, "I done did it." I put my cover out on Facebook today. Now I'm waiting for Amazon to do their thing. I'm really excited and extremely motivated to get my next book finished. The process of self-publishing, particularly through CreateSpace, is extremely easy (and there are many different ways to do it). Once you get it down, you got it. I think I could do this for a living. Well, if I could do it if I sold enough books.

This is officially my second time releasing a book. The first time, I distinctly remember thinking, "Who's going to read a book I wrote?" It was almost like, the audacity of me to write a book and really expect people to read it (other than family and friends). Don't get me wrong, I thought it was a great story. I think I was feeling something that a lot of new writers feel. A couple of Saturdays ago, I spoke with a member of the Atlanta Writers Club and she said those exact same words to me, "Who's going to read a book I wrote." She said she felt that way as she wrote her book. So much so that she changed stories and genres several times, until she was comfortable with a genre that she felt couldn't receive too much public criticism.

I don't feel like that this time. This time I'm excited at the prospect of receiving feedback--positive and negative. I'm looking forward to discussing the story with readers. I'm also excited about actually feeling like a writer this time. The first time I felt like someone who just happened to write a book. I honestly don't think I even considered writing another book until I had a few book signing under my belt (even though I had started another story). This time I feel knowledgeable and experienced--like I know what I'm doing, what I'm getting into and, sort of, what to expect.

And I'm happy, but I'll be even happier when I actually touch my first copy of the new book. I wish my grandparents were around to experience this with me. Even though the first release was never properly edited, my grandparents made me feel like a "big time celebrity author." Grandparents have a way of making your accomplishments feel larger than life. For that, and many other reasons, I mentioned them in the beginning of my book.

Wow, guess I should end here. I'm actually getting teary-eyed. I hope you continue to support my blog. Please check out my website. It's the first website I've ever had (I'm excited about that too). I hope you buy my book and thoroughly enjoy it. I hope it leaves you asking for more. I also hope you're motivated to accomplish a goal you have that's been lingering out there for awhile. Thanks.

Simply TRB          

Jumping Back In

Well, four more days and I'm back out there. My website: www.simplytrbaker.com goes live Monday night, March 25, 2013, and my book drops Tuesday, March 26, 2013.



I'm more anxious than I am excited. I think it's time--time to "jump back in" to the literary game. This time I know a little bit more.

(This is the first public post of the cover of my re-released debut novel.)

Simply TRB

Black History Month Speaker

Last month, for Black History Month, I was invited to the Elizabeth Andrews Alternative School to talk about writing and getting published. For the last 10 years I've been learning all I can about writing, editing, and self-publishing. Even though I know there is much more to learn, I felt very knowledgeable sharing what I have learned. I also invited a new author, Richard Martin, Jr., to talk about his writing/self-publishing experience. Mr. Martin hired Butterfly Whispers Copy Editing & Proofreading to edit his autobiography, and then I assisted him with publishing his book using CreateSpace. It was a great experience. So much so that I'm going to re-release my first book using CreateSpace.

I love writing, I love talking about writing, and I really love listening to other people talk about writing. My recent experience at Elizabeth Andrews helped me to realize how much I enjoy motivating other people to write. I'm excited about seeing where all of this goes, and who I get to meet along the way.

Simply TRB     

Not The First Blog Today

You will be proud to know, last night I wrote late into the night. I'm quite proud of this because I didn't know if I would get any writing in yesterday. One thing I found interesting was that I was having problems with the timeline of the story (I'm in chapter 17). I realized I had totally deviated from the outline that I wrote...years ago. Because I started with an outline of this story, I still depend on the outline for the structure, even though I have lots of notes to integrate into the storyline, too.

Well, not much to blog about today because I decided against posting my initial blog (I included the info in my personal journal instead). I really want to maintin the professional relationship with the person that was the impetus for today's orginal blog, even though I'm very unhappy, disappointed, and confused. That's all I'll say about that.

Now, I'm going to organize the tax info for my mother and myself, so that it's ready to drop in the mail tomorrow (two months earlier than last year); I'm also going to organize notes and other legal documents for a friend; I'm going to finish looking over someone else's photo-journal; and I'm going to work on one of my stories. A day off is always a test in maintaining a rigorous schedule (I'm also going to workout and, at some point, probably after Ellen goes off, I'm going to run to WalMart).

Happy Monday to everyone!

Simply TRB 

I Cried Today (written 02/09/13)

Every so often I transcribe interviews for these social workers/counselors and their juvenile, male clients. To tell you that I am left breathless by the interviews is an understatement. I would never divulge the nature or details of the information I transcribe, but, I will say, just a moment ago I broke down in tears (it’s not the first time). Even as I type these words I’m crying. To hear a young man, 17 years old, say, “Bad things happen to bad people,” in the context of what I've already heard, helped me to appreciate how lost and helpless an entire generation is. Particularly if you understand what he was saying was he was a “bad person.” Without some form of encouragement he would never understand that he’s just a young man who has merely made some “bad choices,” but he still has an opportunity to make different and better decisions.   

There have been times in my life when I also felt absolutely helpless: when my mom’s house almost went into foreclosure, along with millions of other homes; when my uncle was found dead a week after my dad and I looked for him; when I wrote my first book and it ended up becoming a legal fiasco, and I could go on. Each time I cried first, prayed, and then received the strength to get through each and every situation. Young people are so ill-equipped to deal with life as it’s dealt to them. Not that they can’t; they’re just ill-equipped and they often choose to listen to others who are just as badly prepared as they are.

Anybody who knows me knows that that I lean towards males because I have four brothers and four nephews. It wasn't so much that the client was a young man, but that he was a young person. I look at the plight of young people today, young men and young women, and it’s one of the most unfortunate situations in modern society. From a spiritual standpoint, I get it; from a purely intellectual standpoint, not so much. Spiritually speaking, it’s the stream of time we’re living in and no one is immune to what’s going on with society or with the world. Intellectually speaking, I don’t get it because we’re, seemingly, more advanced in every area of life than we have ever been.

Anyway, I listen to these interviews of all of these lost young men and my heart goes out to them, to any young person that's out there lost. It's apparent that they have no idea what's going on. I'm not sure what I'm trying to say. I just know, today I cried for a young man who has probably said many times, "I'm a man," even though he's really just a boy, and he may be getting ready to find out, the hard way, what it really means to be a man.

Pretty Good Day

Reading two books right now: "Captain Blood" by Rafael Sabatini and "Outcast" by Lewis Ericson. I'll tell you about them after I finish reading them.

Nope, didn't work on a single manuscript today. Well, not really true. I did read over ETICME again today. I'm still waiting on the cover, but I'm going to put it completely to the side after Friday. At some point you have to do that, stop reading over a manuscript that you've read several times (Disclaimer: Reading over a manuscript many times, several times, or even a lot may never feel like enough). I promise you, every time you read it you're going to find something to change. That's just how it is.

Oh, I did work on two other projects today, though. One of them belongs to a photographer friend who is going to release a wonderful photo journal, probably by the end of the month. The second project is also a photo journal, but I'm co-authoring this book with another photorgrapher friend of mine. Her book release is planned for later this year.

I did pretty good today. I'm pleased.

Simply TRB