Monday, January 14, 2008

Expectations

Pinhole tagged me with the chore of stating what I hope to gain from this blog. His tongue in cheek in cheek answer was great, as was WordVixen's, but for once I've going to take the question serious and try to answer accordingly.

First and foremost, a shred of name recognition. I'm not naive to think that having this blog is going to make agents start clamoring at my door, or say yes, the instant one of my queries lands on their desk. Matter of fact I doubt any, even the most popular of blogs have that kind of influence. But I do think that leaving comments and participating on agent blogs gets you a bit better of a look when you query those agents. And lets say you already have an agent. When they approach and editor they can say look this person might be a first time author but they have a readership of ???? that visits their blog regularly. Has to help at least in a small way. And then lets say your book hits the shelf. Having your name out and about in the world has to increase sales if only by a few copies. And you have to sell that first one before you even think of a best seller list.

Then there is the hope that this blog gives me a better chance. Let's say I query an agent. Maybe there is something about the material that they like but yet they aren't completely sold. At least having the blog gives them a place to check out more of my work.Yes, the blog is riddled with bad grammar, poor punctuation, and shoddy editing, but I firmly believe my voice is pretty much the same. I believe in myself and my abilities and the whole act of acquiring an agent is sort of like dating. Sometime you don't have to be the best looking guy in the world or have the firmest of bodies to land the object of your desire, if that person gets a chance to know the real you. That's all I want is a chance and if the blog gives me that that any effort I've out forth is well worth it.

Camaraderie. I could talk fiction all day. Writing it, reading it, deciphering it. This blog has introduced me to many like-minded people. Some live in here in the US, some in Canada, others in France, and Germany, and New Zealand. Sure we write different stuff, read different stuff, and go about the process in different ways, but I still love talking shop. Then there are the non writers. Some read a lot, some not so much. Some are funny. Some educational. Some are just flat out entertaining, but they are people I never would have met in any way or form without this blog. My hope is that one day I will be in a position to go out and do some sort of book tour. At that point I expect y'all to all show up if I pass through your neck of the woods. Sure, it would be cool and flattering if you bought a book but I'd be just as pleased if you simply stopped by to say hello.

One unexpected but great side affect of this blog is the outlet it has provided. Sure there are times I'm posting when I could be working on my fiction but sometimes this blog is the very thing that gets my creative juices flowing.

I started this after hearing several agents mention that writers need to start promoting themselves long before their books hit he shelf and I honestly have no regrets.

Instead of tagging someone with this I'm going to turn things around on all of you. and ask, What do you expect from me? What do you click on here hoping to find? What brings you back? What keeps you away? What do you want to see more of? Less of? You get the idea. Now chime in because another thing this blog has done is transform me into a comment whore.

18 comments:

B.E. Sanderson said...

LOL... comment whore. Good one.

I agree with all your reasons for blogging. I started mine for the same reasons, and even if I never see any monetary gain from the blog, it's worth it to me for those reasons.

Oh, and the only thing that kept me from checking out your blog more often is I forgot to bookmark it. I linked it on my site, but if it's not on the blogroll, it gets forgotten. I just rectified that mistake. =o)

CamiKaos said...

I expect you to entertain me damn it.

Chris Eldin said...

ROTFLMAO---I can be a comment whore. Hmmm....
I blog for the same reasons you listed. Initially, I thought it would be a great marketing tool. But now it's more social and to help keep me going as a writer. Blogging makes me feel a part of the writing community.

I expect you to post some photos of you making nice with veggies.

Terrie Farley Moran said...

Hi Travis,

Why do I keep coming back?

Well, it seems that I followed you home from Dawn's blog in New Zealand last spring and I just kept coming back. I think that your blog has just the right mix of stuff about writing and stuff about your personal life. I feel as though I have gotten to know you both as a person and a fellow writer. I like you as a person and I think you show tremendous promise as a writer.

For my money, you don't have to change a thing.

Terrie

Jess said...

Ditto.

Mom In Scrubs said...

I started looking at your blog after seeing so many of your great comments on Monnik's blog. I thought, "who's the big redneck with the fish?"

Then I found out that "big redneck" can WRITE! And WELL!

You've crushed my stereotypes and I can't get enough of your blog. It's a great montage of advice, stories, humor, with a sprinkling of sentimentality. Keep on doin' what you're doin, Travis!

Travis Erwin said...

Ya'll sure know how to make a comment whore feel good.

Seriously, I appreciate y'all taking the time to read and then comment.

The business of fiction moves at such a glacial speed that this is the only outlet I've found where you can get feedback almost immediately and there are times where I desperately need to know I'm not crazy. That there are actual real live people who can not only relate to, but also enjoy what I am writing.

This blog has given me the confidence to try some things in my current WIP that I would not have otherwise.

Stephen Parrish said...

Short and simple, I expect to be entertained when I visit your blog. So far I've never been disappointed. Your voice is a rare gift. One day I'm going to be able to say "I knew him when."

I've left all of my initial reasons for blogging behind me and now participate for the sake of community. When your book comes out, I'll be first in line to buy it. I'll plug it on my blog. I'll rally all the support I can rally. In summary, I'll be a blogging buddy.

This blog has given me the confidence to try some things in my current WIP that I would not have otherwise.

Don't dare hold back. Flex your creative muscles to the breaking point.

Bernita said...

I like you voice, I like your attitude, I like your take on things.

Anonymous said...

*What do you expect from me?*

More of the same: wit, humor and insight, and updates on your path to publication.

*What do you click on here hoping to find?*

See above.

*What brings you back?*

Ditto. And getting ideas I can steal for my own blog :-)

*What keeps you away?*

Nothing to do with you - if I'm away from one blog buddy for whatever reason, I'm away from them all cause I happen to be away from the Internet. If you think cats are the other white meat, then you might wanna keep that to yourself.

*What do you want to see more of?*

Maybe some more funny song lyric ideas I can steal.

*Less of?*

Nothing. Keep it coming.

*You get the idea. Now chime in because another thing this blog has done is transform me into a comment whore.*

Join the club. Only it's pronounced "who-were" where I come from.

Sherry said...

I think this is an honest and heart felt expression of what you hope to achieve through blogging..I saw brava for the honesty!!

What do I expect when I come here, from you? Not a thing. To be entertained, to be enlightened to be part of the world that IS Travis Erwin...in short I "expect" nothing, but whatever I have come away with enriches me. Always.

Lana Gramlich said...

Comment whore? *ROFL!*
I try not to "expect" anything in particular from the blogs I visit. That way I'm open to whatever I find--there's no disappointment (due to unfair "expectations,") only enjoyment.

Patti said...

i don't expect anything... but, a cold shiner would be a nice touch. just saying.

Brooke said...

From one comment whore to another, I like your answer and I personally keep reading your blog because you are damn funny.

Also like me, you are not at all self-censoring, which is also a treat.

alex keto said...

I don't know what to expect from blogs and remain highly suspicious of all of them, including my own

Anonymous said...

I think we're all here for some gigantic cosmic reason...that and the free beer.

Monnik said...

I'm late to the game here, but... I just enjoy your blog because it's entertaining and I love the writing tips.

You have a great sense of humor and a good writing voice, so that's it in a nutshell for me.

Tena Russ said...

I just plain like you. Is that enough?