A Writers Journey

As fiction writers we make an incredible journey. It begins with envisioning a book concept and developing believable characters with precisely the right voice for telling the tale. We nurture the concept and characters and tweak them till they are just right. After much preliminary work we begin the actual art of storytelling - putting it all on paper, hopefully in a manner that engages our readers bringing them happily into the fictional world we have created - emersed and enthralled in the tapestry of the storythreads. The tale is written, rewritten, polished and edited until we feel it is finally ready for submission to the ever elusive publisher.

The task of researching publishers that are looking for the particular type of work we have created, coming up with a "can't miss" marketing plan, querying said publisher and nervously awaiting their response is an arduous task. Will our story be embraced, or will we recieve the infamous letter of rejection? Anxiously we wait to hear - it can be days, weeks, even months before the verdict of the publisher's interest or decision to pass is made known to us. The wait is grueling. If the publisher is interested, will a partial manuscript or the entire manuscript be requested? Once again, you find yourself playing a waiting game, repeatedly checking your mailbox and hoping for the offer of a contract. Only time will reveal the publisher's final decision to embrace your work or decline it leaving you to begin the publishing search again.

Finally, your labor of hard work and love has been accepted by a publisher...and there are more edits and polishing that take place. At long last it is beginning to look like your dream is about to become a reality. Soon you will be able to hold your book in your hands, and, more importantly get it to your readers - the fans that will embrace your story and clamor for the sequel. The obvious question becomes "how will they know my book has arrived and it is exactly the book they have been waiting for?" How does the word get out about this tome of magnificence soon to be released? Good question. This unknown book must be publicized through press releases, word of mouth, spreading the word to everyone you can possibly think of and using every form of publicity and PR you can think of. The fastest possible way to reach a large audience? The internet, of course. The power of the internet can help spread the word through the new phenomenon of a virtual book tour. Reaching the masses through not only the spiffy new website you have designed for your book, but your blog and the blogs of others, helping to spread the word - to let the world know your book has finally arrived! Exactly how does a virtual book tour work? THAT my friends, is what I am going to be learning to do over the next couple of months.

Are you ready to accompany me on this next leg of my journey? Bookmark my blog and check back often. Follow me as I discover the world of blog touring. Please check out my classmates blogs as well; they are listed on the blogroll in the left hand column and are an amazing group of writers. Please leave comments so we can feel your presence and well wishes on our quests.