Wannabe a Writer We’ve Heard Of?

When Lucy Felthouse asked if I'd like to be part of a blog tour for a book called Wannabe a Writer We've Heard Of? I jumped at the opportunity. Lately, my fun-time reading has consisted of books on marketing and publicity, but all very general--marketing and publicity for anybody in any business. I'm very excited to now be able to peruse the following book, written just for us writers. Today I bring you a little excerpt from Wannabe a Writer We've Heard Of? Read on!

This entertaining follow-up to the successful Wannabe a Writer? is an essential read for every author and would-be best-seller, whether established or debut, self-published or still dreaming of the limelight. In today s celebrity-driven world, self-confessed media tart Jane Wenham-Jones, takes us on an uproarious ride along the publicity trail from getting the perfect promotional photo to choosing clothes to wear on TV. With anecdotes from Jane s own numerous media exploits, Wannabe a Writer We've Heard Of? is packed with tips and tricks to help you get yourself noticed, gain maximum column inches and airtime and create online buzz for your books and projects. Offering advice and insights from writers, journalists, publicists and celebrities who ve been there and done that, this is the ultimate guide for anyone longing for fame and success. Includes contributions from Joanna Trollope, Richard Madeley, Tracey Emin, India Knight, Shazia Mirza, Kelvin MacKenzie, Lucy Mangan, Katie Fforde, Joanne Harris, Helen Lederer, Peter James, Carole Blake, Stanley Johnson, Sue Cook, Carole Matthews, John Hegley, Carol Midgley, Sam Leith, Lisa Jewell, Giles Coren, Robert Crampton, Tim Dowling, Mike Gayle, Marina O Loughlin, Suzanne Moore, Sir Roy Strong and Erica Wagner. Foreword by Jill Mansell.

Jane Wenham-Jones is a novelist, journalist and presenter and the author of the Wannabe Books - two how-to manuals on getting published and becoming well-known. Below is an extract from Wannabe a Writer We’ve Heard Of?, available on Amazon or through all good bookshops. For more on Jane see http://www.janewenham-jones.com.

Tomorrow’s Chip Wrapping? Unfortunately not…

In the good old days when fried fish came in newspaper, instead of sweaty polystyrene boxes and the net was something you put over your curlers at night, there was always the famous comfort that any embarrassments in the news would only be so much wrapping for your chips the next day. Not any more!

Now articles appear online as well as in newsprint and the indiscretion you shared with that nice journalist after he’d bought you the sixth gin can stay there pretty much indefinitely.

As Valerie Dwyer warned me darkly, “Experts say that whatever gets on to the internet will remain there forever, even if it’s hidden, so be careful what legacy you leave!”

I can’t really be worrying about my legacy but I am a little more careful these days to give a bit of thought to what’s churning round the web while I’m still alive.

It was back in 2005 that I answered an internet interview question by saying, “If streaking down Oxford Street would result in a million sales I’d seriously consider it.” All these years on, I still get offers to take my kit off (it would be art, I was assured by the photographer who wanted me to pose naked on Margate beach) and I continue to be asked if it remains true (answer: yes, probably, although God help the tourists).

So it is probably wise to give yourself plenty of time to answer questions sent to you by email rather than just dashing off the first thing that occurs to you, which, as I know to my cost, might seem very droll at 10 p.m. after half a bottle of Pinot Grigio but not quite so side-splitting when you’re faced with it on your screen a week later and it gets thrown up every time you’re googled.

The same goes for what you say in interviews by phone or in person that might end up online. If you’re not sure how to answer something, say so, and ask to come back to it at the end or promise to email your answer later that day.

Although all of this depends on how much you care about your dafter statements coming back to haunt you (I don’t mind about Oxford Street at all) and whether you believe in: NO SUCH THING AS BAD PUBLICITY?

Wannabe a Writer Site:

http://www.wannabeawriter.co.uk

Buy links:

Amazon UK (paperback)

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1906373973/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=lucyfelthouse-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=19450&creativeASIN=1906373973

Amazon UK (Kindle)

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B004ASOV2Q/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=lucyfelthouse-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=19450&creativeASIN=B004ASOV2Q

Amazon US (paperback)

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1906373973/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=lucyfelt-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399373&creativeASIN=1906373973

Amazon US (Kindle)

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004ASOV2Q/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=lucyfelt-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399373&creativeASIN=B004ASOV2Q

The Book Depository

http://www.bookdepository.co.uk/Wannabe-Writer-Weve-Heard-Jane-Wenham-Jones/9781906373979/?a_aid=creativewriter1985