Wednesday, April 30, 2014

Zero

What is zero? Well, zero is what you get when you put forth zero efforts.

You have to work hard to learn the craft of writing. That takes practice and studying. If you don’t, your work will be subpar if you self-publish it and rejected if you send it to publishers and agents.

You need to know how publishing works. Whether it’s learning how to write queries or researching the steps to self-publish. Otherwise, you’ll waste time and effort.


You have to create an attractive product. If you’re self-publishing, you have to invest in your book, from the cover art to the editing. Zero effort here means no one will buy your book and if they do, they’ll regret it.

You have to plan ahead with your marketing. You need to plan blog tours, real life appearances, giveaways… You might even have to create the promotional tools. If you don’t and you just toss your book out there with no preparation, no one will know.

And through all of that, if you make zero effort to reach out to others, both for support and to offer support, you will travel a lonely path.

We’ve reached the end of the A to Z Challenge – have you made an army of new friends this month?

32 comments:

Denise Covey said...

I don't know anyone who's not putting in an amazing effort , whether in publishing or to support others. Zero effort will certainly result in zero results.

Lisa said...

So very true, especially when it comes to editing! I really think professional editing is a requirement for anyone and if they are good, well worth the cost. It's been a wonderful month for me. I hope I've made some new friends,I know I've found some amazing blogs! Thanks for all you do for this blogging community...

LittleCely said...

Very important point and great final post for the challenge. A book doesn't simply pop into being. Without effort you won't find the results you are looking for.

LittleCely's Blog

Unknown said...

Marvelous post! We tend to get out of life what we put into it. Writing is no different. Thank you for this fantastic reminder!

Jen

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi Joylene - zeroing out - is what I feel like doing now .. but I must pick myself off the Zed floor and get on with some learning ...

Yes - a few new friends who I hope will become dear ones ... not an army of them I couldn't cope! Well at least not interact and enjoy their company ... cheers Hilary

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi Alex - well I was patently zeroing out .. it was thee hiding behind my Joylene click - such is life when one is zipping around .. my first comment addressed to that Canadian author says it all ..

Cheers Hilary

Anonymous said...

Reminds me of one of the zen quotes at my blog today - in summary, zero effort in, zero effort out. Well done, Alex. Yay! We made it!!

Elsie
AJ's wHooligan in the A-Z Challenge

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

I've actually run into people who expect it to just happen or they think their publisher will do all the work. It is work.

Christine Rains said...

I can't believe April is over with. I did the Challenge with a group, and I had a lot of fun with it. This allowed me to meet more new bloggers than I did the previous year.

Pat Hatt said...

Effort it takes indeed and then much can take seed

Cathy Olliffe-Webster said...

I actually don't know anyone who doesn't work their butt off in this writing biz. Unfortunately, even a ton of effort doesn't necessarily promise success ... not that I would know ... *runs away sobbing*

Birgit said...

Zero effort in anything means it will be a dud and one can't ride on someone else's coat tails either. You are right that one has to study all about the publishing world, promote and the book cover art means a lot. I made it through the A to Z -yahoo!

Anonymous said...

Nice Alex! I hope I put forth some effort and get some results. Congrats on another successful A to Z.

Unknown said...

Zero... up until next year.

Joylene Nowell Butler said...

When all is said and done, I pray I have half your energy, Alex. I fear I don't, so I'll keep praying. Happy end of April. Pls take a well deserved break.

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Hilary, you gave me a good laugh though!

Thanks everyone for stopping by this month!

cleemckenzie said...

I've met several new bloggers that I enjoy. I wish I could have met more, but there's still the Linky and I can go through it once in a while.

It's been fun!

Chrys Fey said...

Absolutely true! If you don't try, if you don't work for it, then there's no point in even dreaming about being a published author.

Anonymous said...

Wise post. I've seen how zero effort can affect a book and it's never good. Over night success happens from lots of hard work, not nothing (although, luck is involved.)

Congrats on making it to the end of the challenge.

~Patricia Lynne~
Story Dam
Patricia Lynne, YA Author

Haneen Ibrahim said...

So true, can't expect success without working hard for it, I'm crazy about planning anyway haha,Thank you for this amazing challenge,I found some amazing blogs along the way and got many followers so thank you again :)

G. B. Miller said...

I doubled up on my followers, from 12 to 27.

Father Nature's Corner

kaykuala said...

Thanks Alex. Thankful we connected albeit at a late hour. But there's a whole year ahead and there's so much here to digest from you. It's very educational and very motivating. Very much refreshing than the usual poetry that one gets from others.

Good advice! Zero efforts zero returns! I may well start with compiling the poems written through the years and start small with some short stories also. That can be a pull factor certainly! Cheers!

Hank

J.L. Campbell said...

I put zero effort into my fiction writing this month. I'll have to remedy that with a vengeance this month.

klahanie said...

Hey Alex,

I zero in on being in the background and with little fanfare, wish all those who participated in the A to Z, much positive interaction.

I have plenty of blogging friends, thank you. You are one of my best blogging friends, good sir.

Gary

Leslie S. Rose said...

Agree - agree - agree. The A to Z has been AWESOME. So many new friends and closer connections with others. Huzzah A to Z.

Unknown said...

Gosh, this seems a bit harsh. Some folks write for the enjoyment of writing rather than seeking fame or even publication. Some people use writing as therapy. I would be one of those. I guess in your book, that makes me a loser.

Shine Kapoor said...

Packaging is the key. I have made a lot of new blogger friends. Congratulations on completing the challenge.

Michelle Wallace said...

I made some new friends during the challenge, and strengthened some existing bonds.
And I do believe that input=output. This applies to anything you do in life.

Karen Lange said...

You reap what you sow, that's for sure. Congrats to all A to Z participants!

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Lee, the Linky will be up all year.

GB, that's great!

Hank, glad you finally connected. And you need to pull together those poems of yours and go for it.

Gary, appreciate that!

Sally, you are writing for pleasure and that is your goal, so you are putting forth effort.

Karen, well said.

Thanks everyone for following us during the Challenge!

Michael Di Gesu said...

Excellent and very sound advice, Alex...

SO true!

CONGRATS TO ALL THE A-ZERS!

Philip Verghese 'Ariel' said...

Hi Alex,
This year the beginning itself was not ok with me, And sad to note that i could not make even a single one 😊