Daily affirmations of a word mercenary
Book Category
Seal Press published my memoir/handbook, Offbeat Bride: Taffeta-Free Alternatives for Independent Brides, in January 2007. This category tracks my progress, all the way back to when I was still trying to figure out what the hell the book was about. If you’re interested in the book, you should probably just check out the book blog.
Ha! Very very funny. (thanks, Berit!)
- 0 Comments
- Tags: marketing, publicity, publishing
Hyperdrive
10
Feb
2008
In: Book
Things have gotten unexpectedly insane in these parts. This Friday weekend I’m flying to New York. Next Tuesday (Feb. 19th) Wednesday (2/20) I’m scheduled to appear on the Today Show, first in a taped segment about that SoulTech workshop I went to last month, then in a live segment (!?) about how 52 Nights Unplugged is going. I’m guessing the structure of the piece will be something like this, but I won’t start crying. Promise.
In preparation for all this, I’m also getting a book pitch together in record time. My book proposal for Offbeat Bride took me months. This pitch is being cranked out in five days, and it’s actually almost a relief because there’s no time to second guess myself. There’s no time to question if this particular book structure is best because, well, this is the only one I’ve got time to think through. Changes can happen later, but for now it’s just straight through to get it done efficiently.
And what’s REALLY awesome is that the very nature of this project is helping me better focus on the project itself. That’s a nice bonus.
Anyway, this is all to say that updates here may be spotty over the next 10 days or so as things shift into hyperdrive. I’m so glad I got in my hibernating while I had the chance …
- 6 Comments
- Tags: book proposal, media, today show
Oversharing: Adventures in Confessional Culture
5
Feb
2008
In: Book
Last spring, in the middle of my Offbeat Bride book tour, I was struck by an idea for my second book. It was an awesome idea. My agent was excited about it. I was passionate about it.
I wrote up the first section of a book proposal, and then dove into writing the introduction and them my sample chapters. And then life caught up with me and I realized that I was exhausted and burnt out and dealing with health issues and that I just couldn’t do it.
But as I sat down tonight to get ready to write my next book pitch, I opened up my proposal from last spring and got sad because dammit I want to read this fucking book! But first someone has to write it! And it’s not going to be me.
Therefore, I’ve decided to share the pitch because someone needs to write it. Maybe you?
Read the rest of this entry »
- 27 Comments
- Tags: oversharing, writing
This post is essentially a white paper about my Offbeat side project, which includes my book Offbeat Bride: Taffeta-Free Alternatives for Independent Brides and offbeatbride.com. It’s quite long and may only be interesting to marketers, authors, business bloggers, social media obsessives, etc.
Read the rest of this entry »
- 19 Comments
- Tags: advertising, marketing, pr, seo, social media, whoring
- 3 Comments
- Tags: boing boing, geek pride, offbeat bride
blogher: one clarification
28
Jul
2007
In: Book
Susan Etlinger quoted me from the panel today:
What about book tours? Ariel calls it an “ego-crumbling” experience, since no one goes to a reading unless they already know who you are. So she did many readings to eight people, “seven of whom were my friends, and the other one was some homeless guy who just wandered in.” So Ariel ended up doing her readings…in bars. Her advice? “Have your antidepressants in your pocket.”
I wanted to comment on this by saying that I exaggerated. Eight-person readings, honestly, were a luxury. There was one reading with the bookstore manager, my cousin, and a woman who wondered by and was curious. There were a couple other readings where even the homeless guy didn’t wander in. I’m serious: not one person.
Just needed to clarify that.
Thanks to everyone who made it to the “Blog to Book and Back” panel. It seemed pretty packed and there were tons of great questions and (hopefully?) some good answers. If there were any questions you have that weren’t answered, feel free to ask in the comments! I will try not to be bitter.
Here are a few liveblogs from the panel: The Family Room, STLWorkingMom and Gwen Bell. Audio will be available eventually, but not sure when.
Thanks to my fellow panelists, impeccably smooth moderator Denise Wakeman, Gina “Touched by Nick Denton” Trapani and Kate Lee, who totally earns her 15% (no, seriously — my agent spent 2 years helping me with my book). It was a pleasure squealing into the mics with y’all!
There were supposed to be copies of Offbeat Bride available in the bookstore at the conference, but they’re not there (buh?) so if you want a copy of the book, you’ll have to buy it online. Also, I have a few “Fuck Taffeta” Offbeat Bride shirts in my bag. If you want to snag one, find me today!
I realize that most of you don’t read it, but I just have to note that my other blog, offbeatbride.com, has now eclipsed Electrolicious in terms of monthly traffic. One site’s been around for 7 years, the other for 7 months. Weird!
Offbeat Bride on Urban Rush
23
May
2007
In: Book
When I was in Vancouver a few weeks ago, I did an appearance on Urban Rush, a local magazine show. I think it’s the best Offbeat interview yet — especially since one of the hosts started muttering about shrooms at one point. WTF?
My final book tour event is next Saturday in Los Angeles — if you want to come, lemme know so’s I can get you on the evite! Then I’m done with Offbeat Bride until I Heart Indie Weddings happens next January.
Honestly? WHEW. Mah shit is tard out.
Ha! Very very funny. (thanks, Berit!)
- 0 Comments
- Tags: marketing, publicity, publishing
Hyperdrive
10 Feb 2008 In: BookThings have gotten unexpectedly insane in these parts. This Friday weekend I’m flying to New York. Next Tuesday (Feb. 19th) Wednesday (2/20) I’m scheduled to appear on the Today Show, first in a taped segment about that SoulTech workshop I went to last month, then in a live segment (!?) about how 52 Nights Unplugged is going. I’m guessing the structure of the piece will be something like this, but I won’t start crying. Promise.
In preparation for all this, I’m also getting a book pitch together in record time. My book proposal for Offbeat Bride took me months. This pitch is being cranked out in five days, and it’s actually almost a relief because there’s no time to second guess myself. There’s no time to question if this particular book structure is best because, well, this is the only one I’ve got time to think through. Changes can happen later, but for now it’s just straight through to get it done efficiently.
And what’s REALLY awesome is that the very nature of this project is helping me better focus on the project itself. That’s a nice bonus.
Anyway, this is all to say that updates here may be spotty over the next 10 days or so as things shift into hyperdrive. I’m so glad I got in my hibernating while I had the chance …
- 6 Comments
- Tags: book proposal, media, today show
Oversharing: Adventures in Confessional Culture
5 Feb 2008 In: BookLast spring, in the middle of my Offbeat Bride book tour, I was struck by an idea for my second book. It was an awesome idea. My agent was excited about it. I was passionate about it.
I wrote up the first section of a book proposal, and then dove into writing the introduction and them my sample chapters. And then life caught up with me and I realized that I was exhausted and burnt out and dealing with health issues and that I just couldn’t do it.
But as I sat down tonight to get ready to write my next book pitch, I opened up my proposal from last spring and got sad because dammit I want to read this fucking book! But first someone has to write it! And it’s not going to be me.
Therefore, I’ve decided to share the pitch because someone needs to write it. Maybe you?
Read the rest of this entry »
- 27 Comments
- Tags: oversharing, writing
This post is essentially a white paper about my Offbeat side project, which includes my book Offbeat Bride: Taffeta-Free Alternatives for Independent Brides and offbeatbride.com. It’s quite long and may only be interesting to marketers, authors, business bloggers, social media obsessives, etc.
Read the rest of this entry »
- 19 Comments
- Tags: advertising, marketing, pr, seo, social media, whoring
- 3 Comments
- Tags: boing boing, geek pride, offbeat bride
blogher: one clarification
28 Jul 2007 In: BookSusan Etlinger quoted me from the panel today:
What about book tours? Ariel calls it an “ego-crumbling” experience, since no one goes to a reading unless they already know who you are. So she did many readings to eight people, “seven of whom were my friends, and the other one was some homeless guy who just wandered in.” So Ariel ended up doing her readings…in bars. Her advice? “Have your antidepressants in your pocket.”
I wanted to comment on this by saying that I exaggerated. Eight-person readings, honestly, were a luxury. There was one reading with the bookstore manager, my cousin, and a woman who wondered by and was curious. There were a couple other readings where even the homeless guy didn’t wander in. I’m serious: not one person.
Just needed to clarify that.
Thanks to everyone who made it to the “Blog to Book and Back” panel. It seemed pretty packed and there were tons of great questions and (hopefully?) some good answers. If there were any questions you have that weren’t answered, feel free to ask in the comments! I will try not to be bitter.
Here are a few liveblogs from the panel: The Family Room, STLWorkingMom and Gwen Bell. Audio will be available eventually, but not sure when.
Thanks to my fellow panelists, impeccably smooth moderator Denise Wakeman, Gina “Touched by Nick Denton” Trapani and Kate Lee, who totally earns her 15% (no, seriously — my agent spent 2 years helping me with my book). It was a pleasure squealing into the mics with y’all!
There were supposed to be copies of Offbeat Bride available in the bookstore at the conference, but they’re not there (buh?) so if you want a copy of the book, you’ll have to buy it online. Also, I have a few “Fuck Taffeta” Offbeat Bride shirts in my bag. If you want to snag one, find me today!
I realize that most of you don’t read it, but I just have to note that my other blog, offbeatbride.com, has now eclipsed Electrolicious in terms of monthly traffic. One site’s been around for 7 years, the other for 7 months. Weird!
Offbeat Bride on Urban Rush
23 May 2007 In: BookWhen I was in Vancouver a few weeks ago, I did an appearance on Urban Rush, a local magazine show. I think it’s the best Offbeat interview yet — especially since one of the hosts started muttering about shrooms at one point. WTF?
My final book tour event is next Saturday in Los Angeles — if you want to come, lemme know so’s I can get you on the evite! Then I’m done with Offbeat Bride until I Heart Indie Weddings happens next January.
Honestly? WHEW. Mah shit is tard out.
Hey there. I'm Ariel Meadow Stallings, a native Seattleite who's written my way up and down the Left Coast. Electrolicious is where I post daily randomata, but I also write for a living. My first book, Offbeat Bride, was published last year.
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