This is a very simple post. Not because we are simple people, my writer friend (although there is an argument in my household about my side of that equation), but because what you and I do is NOT simple. Not by any stretch of the imagination. As they say in France, it’s very difficult.
If you’re like me, you working to promote your published work (you can find mine here). You’re doing everything you can think of, and trying to think of things you haven’t thought of, that will blow your work right through the roof. I know I am.
Actually, at this moment I’m recovering from rather serious sinus surgery, and my nose itches like the dickens, and I’ can’t just sit here DOING NOTHING!!! so here we are, embarked on what feels like a fool’s errand.
In Marigold’s End, the nasty Mr. Lourdburton sends poor Phineas on a search throughout the ship for a left-handed mallet. Now, you and I know that there’s no such thing as a left-handed mallet: after all, a mallet is a mallet is a mallet. Phineas figures it out after a while, but he’s off on a fool’s errand nevertheless.
My wife and I were talking about the Buddha, and his faith that one should only ever speak kindness and gentleness in order to promote those things in the world. While disputes were settled with swords and blood in his day, I’m here to tell you that you could draw a parallel to your own promotional work.
My authorial friend, no word you write in support of your work or your publishing effort, whatever that may be, is ever wasted. If your words are read, you marketing message is getting out. Working on publicizing your work is never a fool’s errand.
How to promote your work? Speak of it well and often. Speak of it often and well. Certainly no harm can come from that, eh? You did all that work to write it – the foolish thing would be to ignore it, wouldn’t it? A fool’s errand, then, would be to write and even publish something and then ignore it.
So chin up, my friend. Keep writing, keep working, and keep spreading the word, thick or thin, about your good work. And be confident that you are embarked on the exact opposite of a fool’s errand!
Yes. You do that while I figure if there’s a way I can safely scratch my damned nose…
John D Reinhart 