"We need to learn to value amateurs again." Anne R. Allen

 Consider this quote from Alexandra A. Palmer, who blogs as "The Happy Amateur"

"I want to engage in life as a favorite pastime, not a profession. I want to remain… a novice who is hungry for knowledge and humble at the same time. I want to be a constant devotee and admirer of life. In other words, I want to be an amateur."

Anne R. Allen quotes your humble servant and even says that my blog is partly what inspired her post that focuses on professional and amateur writing, exploring their differences and similarities, pros and cons, etc.

  

I’m very happy and honored.  Anne R. Allen’s Blog (with Ruth Harris) is a very special place.  A great source of advice, encouragement and support for writers.  All are welcome.  And it’s lots of fun.  

Thank you, Anne. 

Live for the Love of it,

The Happy Amateur  

Publishers on Twitter

“Then Wear the Gold Hat”

Then wear the gold hat, if that will move her;
If you can bounce high, bounce for her too,
Till she cry “Lover, gold-hatted, high-bouncing lover,
I must have you!”

(The epigraph for Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby.)

Writers – especially those who are just starting out – have to wear different hats and jump all sorts of hurdles to get noticed.  Unpublished authors (oftentimes with not much more than just an idea for a book) are expected to work on building a “platform” or “fan base” right from the beginning.  It appears that an opportunity to “just write” is wishful thinking.  You have to promote yourself.  You have to “tweet your own horn” whether you like it or not.  Sad.  On the other hand social media can be fun, too.  And it does present writers with something invaluable: an instant connection with fellow writers, agents, publishers, and readers. 

  

So, to paraphrase Fitzgerald:

Go start your own blog, connect on Twitter;

To bounce super high do Facebook too,

Till they cry “Writer, gold-platformed, high-scoring writer,

We must have you!”

Here’s a list of publishers you can follow and connect with on Twitter (the link was tweeted by Collin Kelley @CollinKelley):

http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/publisher-news/article/52656-twitter-and-publishing-how-the-industry-is-faring-in-2012.html

Good luck!


Live for the Love of it,
The Happy Amateur