Today, I’m please to welcome fellow Samhain author, Maria Zannini. If you check out Maria’s website, be sure to read her bio for a giggle or two. She’s a seriously funny lady.
Here’s a really timely post about pinching pennies and, well, taxes! And now, without further adieu, I give you Maria!
If you live in the US, you know today is the day we bare our souls to Uncle Sam and hope he doesn’t squeeze us dry.
Since we seem to have little say on where our tax dollars go, the least I can do is tell you how to make the money that’s left go farther. As we all know, we writers are generally penniless rascals.
So let’s rub the few pennies we have and see what we can come up with.
- Whenever possible, query by email. Thankfully, many agents and editors are beginning to see the light and welcome emails. But sometimes you have to dig for that address.
- Always use both sides of your printer paper. Let’s face it, a lot of what we print is for our own benefit and not for others to see, so save a tree and use both sides of the page.
- Get your business cards for free (or nearly free) with Vista.
- Whether you are just starting out or have been in this business for years, you NEED an internet presence. Even if you don’t feel comfortable building a website yet, there’s no reason not to create a blog and write about your writer’s journey. It’s good practice. It puts your name out in public and best of all–it’s FREE.
- Find yourself an honest critique group. This is probably one of the best money-saving tips I can give you. Good crit partners SAVE you money. They help you polish your book before you go and spend a ton of dough mailing your manuscript out in hopeful ignorance.
- Don’t die. I know–that’s a no-brainer. But if you don’t take care of yourself, you won’t write that best selling novel.
- Buy books! Books are some of the best values around. I buy them all year long and give them away as gifts for Christmas and birthdays.
As a matter of fact, it would not hurt my feelings a bit if you went out and bought my book TOUCH OF FIRE. Be a good person and buy Michelle’s latest book, too, A BREAK IN TIME. (Aw Shucks, Maria!)
And if you’d like a chance to win a serious prize package, go to my blog and check out my new contest. I’m offering a very cool prize package worth $100 to the person who blogs, tweets or reviews TOUCH OF FIRE the most using these words: The Apocalypse Is Closer Than You Think. Buy TOUCH OF FIRE by Maria Zannini by May 28, 2009.
Help me spread the word. Together, we’ll put recession back in its box.
TOUCH OF FIRE comes out in print on April 28.
Find it at:
Amazon
Barnes & Nobles
My Bookstore and More
Read an excerpt at Samhain Publishing.
Visit me at http://www.mariazannini.blogspot.com or http://www.mariazannini.com.
Thanks for letting me visit, Michelle! We’ll have to do this in person too! I just realized you’re only a couple of hours from where I live.
Very well said, Maria! And a good many tips to stretch that dollar—a good many of which I personally use—even further in these tight times while still getting your name and news out and about 😀
Hi Michelle! Hi Maria!
Maria, I love the cover of your book and your tagline. Samhain really has great cover artists. Looks like I’m adding to my TBR pile!
Thanks for the money saving tips. I’ll add one…my kids bring tons of paper home from school that’s blank on the back side. A lot of it’s even colored. We cut it up and use it for scratch paper and bookmarks. One of my sons does origami, so he uses the colored sheets for that too.
Off to get your book…
Misty
“Don’t die.” *snortle* Good one. 😀 Yay! I’m already doing all but one of the things on your list. Guess I’m a natural cheapska–er, naturally thrifty. 😉
I make my own business cards and postcards promo. Bought the software and it helps me save money–a lot. I also use the business card software and download book covers and print up and make into magnets.
Hi Ellen!
I started a series on my blog called More For Less. For now, I’ve put it on hiatus because next month I’ll be starting a new blog that will be focused on saving money and living on less. In the meantime, you can check out my writer blog and look under the tag “More For Less”
Here’s the direct link: http://mariazannini.blogspot.com/search/label/More%20For%20Less
Hi Misty!
It’s always great to teach kids not only to be resourceful but frugal too. Good for you! And origami. Wow! I’m impressed.
I hope you enjoy the book. I’m looking forward to continuing the series.
Catie, you’re a woman after my own heart! I was frugal long before it was cool–or necessary. Glad you stopped by!
Hi Sapphire!
Ref: I make my own business cards and postcards promo.
Good for you! Today’s software makes it so easy. I always encourage authors to try to design their own promo first. They are the best judge of what they want to convey.
I am an art director in my day job and was a graphic artist for nearly 30 years. On Fridays at my blog, I run the series called Killer Campaigns where I discuss promotional venues. This Friday will be a two-parter on designing advertising. And in June I’ll be guest blogging on how to design a business card too.
I might not know much, but advertising is my domain. It’s the one thing I can talk about with confidence.
Michelle, thank you so much for inviting me to come over. This was fun!
And we really do have to get together. I can’t wait to meet you in person!
{{hugs}}