Sonia Marsh - Gutsy Living

Life's too short to play it safe

Time to be Honest…I’m Fed Up

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I have to be honest with my readers and let them know what I think about writing, social media, and publishing.

You may not agree with me, but that’s OK since I’m shifting gears and direction. I just hope you keep reading my blog, especially as I’m starting a mid-life gap year, jam-packed with new adventures. I’m going against blogging protocol, and writing when I want to, rather than when I have to. Besides, I’ve never been incarcerated by the blogging police.

 

I’m Fed Up

  • I don’t have time to read blogs and write comments.
  • I want time to read what I want to read, and not feel “guilty” or “forced to read” books that don’t interest me.
  • I’m fed-up with reading books and writing reviews, especially if I’m not interested in the book.
  • How many times can I write about the same topic, and still make it sound fresh?
  • Writers keep supporting writers, but “Where are OUR READERS?” (Please don’t lecture me on signing up for another course for $999, that guarantees I’ll find new readers.)
  • I’m tired of being bombarded with sales pitches from people I respect in the industry who are now becoming “used car salesmen.”
  • I’m fed up with receiving offers to sign up for courses on “how to increase my book sales” when I’ve become cynical about this process (Read Do You Want the Truth below)  or another honest post I wrote. “Do Authors Make Money: Here’s the Truth.”
  • I’ve done my best to follow all the rules writers keep hearing about regarding blogging, social media and marketing from the “gurus.”
  • I’m tired of coming up with the perfect SEO friendly headline for my blog post. Now titles are supposed to appeal to readers first. What a concept!
  • I’m fed up with requesting people to submit a “My Gutsy Story®” each week. I don’t like begging or bugging.
  • I missed my 1st blog post in 7 years last Thursday. Will I be forgiven by Google, search engines, and more importantly, by my “billions” of fans? 🙂
  • I’ve promoted so many book events, library events, indie book signings, Costco appearances, Webinars, Workshops, public speaking, radio, local TV, given freebies, reviews, contacted movie producers etc…BUT…

Do You Want the Truth

Most authors, especially non-fiction authors, who want to make money, turn towards writing, coaching, presenting, and selling books about “The Dream.” 

They sell books on:

  • How to write
  • How to market and promote your book
  • How to become a best selling author by following these steps.

They also take classes, hire a business coach, team up with their peers, start promoting one other, offer free webinars laden with sales pitches to sign-up for their “expensive workshops,” to sell “The Dream.”  How do I know?  Because I did that myself. 

 

Selling the Dream

Here’s what I call, “Selling The Dream.” All the promises and offers that “fall” into my inbox daily. For example:

  • “In less than a year I’ve made over $150,000 from self-published books.”
  • Sign-up for my 6-week course on how to make it to the Bestseller list for only $999
  • Pitch your book to producers from “Good Morning America,” and other major TV producers for only $5,000.

Are Today’s Online Strategies Changing?

I believe things have changed.  There is TOO MUCH COMPETITION and too many people offering the same services. The market is saturated with indie books. There were over 450,000 indie published books in 2013.

Authors are getting fed up with blogging, overwhelmed with social media, and most ask themselves WHY? I’m making less than $100/month in royalties. Is it worth it? (Please don’t lecture me on signing up for another course for $999, that guarantees I’ll make $150,000 in one year. Maybe you’ll make that much with all of us DREAMERS signing up for your course, but not us: the writers.)

My Conclusion

Write with no expectations. Do what you want, take classes to improve your writing skills, sign-up for Webinars if you’d like to, but be realistic. I’ve tried many different approaches since 2009, and I don’t want to sell “The Dream.” I  am happy, because I believe “The Dream” is not about money. 

 

 What Next?

I hope you keep reading my blog, as I embark on a divorced woman’s mid-life gap year, jam-packed with new adventures. My focus will be on:

  • Gutsy Living®
  • Exciting opportunities for women
  • What’s it like to be a divorced woman after 28-years of marriage
  • Re-inventing yourself as a woman over 55
  • Travel in Europe and anywhere else I go
  • Learning new skills
  • Teaching abroad
  • How to save money
  • Gutsy dating

Any suggestions as to other topics you’d like me to write about during my GAP YEAR(s)

How to Make a Living From Your Writing

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Nathan Barry
Nathan Barry

 

Nathan Barry, author of Authority, claims, “THE IDEA THAT AUTHORS CAN’T MAKE MONEY IS BULL****. And no, you don’t have to be famous or have a huge online following.”

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I’m not sure if I agree 100% with Nathan, especially after writing my controversial post: Do Authors Make Money? Here’s the Truth.

One way Nathan Barry recommends making more money is by using Gumroad to sell your e-books directly on your site. You get 95% of each sale, instead of the usual 70% with KDP (Kindle)

  • GUMROAD. also enables you to collect your readers’ e-mail addresses. It’s a great way to stay in touch with your readers, and to ask them how they like the book, and to keep in touch for selling future products. The reader gets to download the e-book as soon as he pays for it on your site. (According to Nathan.)
  • SCRIVENER.  Nathan mentioned  how he uses Scrivener to write his books and keep his thoughts and blog posts organized. Once again, I have not used Scrivener, but know a few authors who swear by it.

Social Media

  • Twitter and Facebook are NOT MEANT TO SELL YOUR BOOKS, but only to interact with others
  • E-mails ARE THE BEST WAY TO SELL YOUR BOOKS, so develop your e-mail list
  • Twitter and Facebook are meant to get subscribers, not to sell your books
  • Social Media should be used to give VALUE TO YOUR READERS
  • The best way to get readers is to offer giveaways and offer value to your readers
  • Always think of ways to keep your readers interested. For example, tell them, “Here’s what I’m working on. Use Instagram with a photo of you writing in a coffee shop for example.
  • Readers are curious about the process of you writing your story, so show them your work, then they will be interested in your next book
  • Is there anything you can share right NOW, about what you’re doing TODAY?
  • Take photos of you while writing, or doing a Webinar.
  • SHARE ANYTHING YOU’RE STRUGGLING WITH. READERS LOVE THAT.

 Fiction Writers

  • Just like non-fiction writers, you need to get subscribers, so offer something to your readers. For example, you could write a 3-page story as a giveaway, and if it’s great, make people sign up on your website to receive the rest of the story. Capturing e-mails is crucial for sales, and connecting with your readers.
  • You want people to BE A FAN OF YOU as a person, not just be a fan of your characters.

I know many indie authors who are struggling to sell more books. It’s the start of a New Year, and we want to become successful. I think our main focus should be on :

How do I focus on getting READERS and not just on my circle of WRITER friends?

(COME BACK to READ my article on Thursday, January  15th.)

 

NOW ACCEPTING SUBMISSIONS

Get Published in our 3rd

“My Gutsy Story®”Anthology in 2015

 

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES HERE

 

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International Book Awards Finalist 2014

2014 International Book Awards FINALIST

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2014 WINNER of the PARIS BOOK FESTIVAL

 We just won our 4th Award for the Anthology. 

CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT ABOUT OUR AWARDS.

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What Do You Get From Winning a Book Award?

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Receiving my Award from Debra Gaynor
Receiving my Award from Debra Gaynor

 

The 2014  Readers’ Favorites Awards ceremony just ended in Miami, Florida. I was lucky to step on stage to receive the “Gold” medal for my memoir,

Freeways to Flip-Flops: A Family’s Year of gutsy Living on a Tropical Island

 Gold Medal on Book

The ceremony was held at the Regency Hotel in conjunction with the Miami Book Fair, on November 22nd, 2014.

Apart from the typical book exposure, recognition, a medal, bragging rights, PR, networking and potential book sales,  I believe the most important thing you get, is the unexpected. It’s up to you to find out what that is for you.

 Sonia’s Summary of the Awards ceremony

 

What do you get from your Award?

  • Your book is displayed at the Readers’ Favorite Booth at the Miami Book Festival
  • PR- Readers’ Favorites promoted the event and listed all the winners online
  • The media was at the Awards ceremony, and randomly selected authors to interview. I tried to “push” my way in front of a journalist, but arrived too late
  • Why I believe it’s important to enter Book Award Contests

 

Sonia at Readers Favorite Booth at 2014 Miami Book Fair
Sonia at Readers Favorite Booth at 2014 Miami Book Fair
My author friends, Susan Ellison Busch and Linda Kovic-Skow
My author friends, Susan Ellison Busch and Linda Kovic-Skow
Miami Book Fair rainy first day
Miami Book Fair rainy first day
Booths in rain
Booths in rain

What do you get from networking during the awards?

  • Meeting other authors from around the world and making new friends.
  • Brainstorming about ways to promote, ideas on what to focus on, helping one another.
  • What’s your next book?
  • Unexpected epiphanies? ( I got one related to what’s going on in my life right now. One author said, “You will figure something out while you are here. Something you are not expecting.”)

 

Gisela Hausmann, Linda Kovic-Skow, Sonia Marsh
Gisela Haussman, Linda Kovic-Skow, Sonia Marsh
Sonia, Carol Bodensteiner and Linda Kovic-Skow
Sonia, Carol Bodensteiner and Linda Kovic-Skow

I finally met author Gisela Hausmann, also a gold medal winner in the “Motivational” category, and Carol Bodensteiner, a silver medal winner. They are both “My Gutsy Story®“ Anthology contributors.

Sonia’s Conclusion (from her perspective)

All of us face the same problems as indie authors.

I have written about this topic (click link above) and know that book marketing and promotion is a full-time job. Many authors don’t have enough time as they also have day-jobs, so I believe we have to be realistic about our book sales, and what we are able to accomplish on a small budget.

  • Find Your Readers

One lesson I learned from my author friend, Linda Kovic-Skow,  whom I really enjoyed spending time with sight-seeing as well as networking is the following:

Sonia Marsh, Linda Kovic-Skow, Debra Gaynor and Susan Joyce
Sonia Marsh, Linda Kovic-Skow, Debra Gaynor and Susan Joyce

We need to find our readers, and not just focus on our writer friends, (which I believe many of us, including myself, tend to do.)

BUT HOW?

If you’re a memoir writer like Linda Kovic-Skow, and myself, then join the “We Love Memoirs Group,” on Facebook. Most of the 2,000 followers are readers, not writers.

The perfect example is Susan Jackson, a huge fan of memoirs, who made T-Shirts for all of us Memoir writers, and stayed with us, to show her support as a memoir reader.

T_shirts from Susan Jackson
Susan Jackson made the T-Shirts for us. She has the white one on the far right

Thank you Susan for your kindness. I love my turquoise T-Shirt.

My T-shirt made by Susan Jackson

 

ATTENTION READERS AND WRITERS

Readers’ Favorite Awards-2014 Gold Medal for My Memoir

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READERS FAVORITE AWARD-2014 page-001

 

I’m on my way to Miami to receive the 2014 Readers’ Favorite, “Gold” Medal Award for memoirs.

I am very happy, honored and surprised.

My biggest joy is to meet my fellow bloggers, authors, and those who have contributed to the “My Gutsy Story” Anthology.

Linda Kovic  Skov on page 234 of  My Gutsy Story® Anthology: True Stories of Love, Courage and Adventure From Around the World

Gisela Hausmann who also won a “Gold Medal” for Naked Determination,  in the motivational category.

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Freeways to Flip-Flops with the gold seal from Readers’ Favorite Awards

I shall share photos with you from Miami.

WIN 10 FREE COPIES 

TO GIVE AWAY AS HOLIDAY GIFTS

CONTEST RULES

Send us a 500 word max. story by December 13th (e-mail: Sonia@soniaMarsh.com)

1). Have You Inspired Someone to Take a Risk and be Gutsy?

2). Has Someone Inspired You to Take a Risk and be Gutsy?

 Win 10 FREE copies of the My Gutsy Story® 

Page1

 

 

MGS FINAL COVER Small

 Anthology to give as Christmas Gifts and motivate others to Become Gutsy in 2015

I receive wonderful testimonials from people who are inspired by these stories, and here is one example.

“Just wanted you to know that you have been such an encouragement for me, and I appreciate you!  I didn’t want to start my own imprint, but now I see how important it is and will do so after the first of the year. You have already encouraged so many women to get out there and get it done!  a true inspiration. And if the Peace Corps doesn’t work out, then there are plenty of women right here in OC who need your help in starting a business.” Janet Simcic.

My author friend, Shirley Showalter, planted the seed of a contest on how you have, or can help  SOMEONE become more “GUTSY” in their life.
Do you have a story to share about changing one person? Making them go for their dreams, encouraging them?
Take the risk contest today.
 

Take the Risk Contest

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 Tracey
Take The Risk Contest.
I started the My Gutsy Story® Anthology series in order to inspire people to help one another take risks in life.
I’m a firm believer in going for your dreams and passions in life. Whether those are “baby steps” or huge changes in your life, I’m all for it. As you know this site is called:

“Gutsy Living: Life’s Too Short to Play it Safe.”

I also believe in being proactive and making things happen. Things don’t just happen, you have to make them happen.

Everyone goes through different stages in life, and I myself am going through a major change in the last 4 months, including my divorce.

My goal is to inspire people to take their so-called “problems” and turn them into opportunities.

WIN 10 FREE COPIES 

TO GIVE AWAY AS HOLIDAY GIFTS

CONTEST RULES

Send us a 500 word max. story by December 13th (e-mail: Sonia@soniaMarsh.com)

1). Have You Inspired Someone to Take a Risk and be Gutsy?

2). Has Someone Inspired You to Take a Risk and be Gutsy?

 Win 10 FREE copies of the My Gutsy Story® 

Page1

 

 

MGS FINAL COVER Small

 Anthology to give as Christmas Gifts and motivate others to Become Gutsy in 2015

I receive wonderful testimonials from people who are inspired by these stories, and here is one example.

“Just wanted you to know that you have been such an encouragement for me, and I appreciate you!  I didn’t want to start my own imprint, but now I see how important it is and will do so after the first of the year. You have already encouraged so many women to get out there and get it done!  a true inspiration. And if the Peace Corps doesn’t work out, then there are plenty of women right here in OC who need your help in starting a business.” Janet Simcic.

My author friend, Shirley Showalter, planted the seed of a contest on how you have, or can help  SOMEONE become more “GUTSY” in their life.
Do you have a story to share about changing one person? Making them go for their dreams, encouraging them?
Take the risk contest today.
 

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