Grove Street issues 1-10 for readers & writers.

1 Thankfulness and Faith

The story of Grove Street. Our launch and featured authors. 

http://issuu.com/bloggertime/docs/bloggertime?mode=mobile&origin=emailnxnnx

2 Knowledge and Joy

Legalities of writing and publishing  submission pointers. 

http://issuu.com/bloggertime/docs/issuu_ezine2?mode=mobile&origin=emaile 

3 Mompreneurs featuring LaDawn Black of 92Q/ BET Honors

http://issuu.com/bloggertime/docs/mompreneurjanuarygrovestreete-zine?mode=mobile

4  The Spice Pages featuring Zane and other industry leaders. 

http://issuu.com/bloggertime/docs/february_s_spice_pages_issue_for_grove_street

5  The Black History Pages featuring Chris Haley, Director of the Study of the Legacy of Slavery in Maryland/ Poverty Tour/celebrity philanthropy 

http://issuu.com/bloggertime/docs/blackhistorypagesgrovestreet-1

6 Honoring Women in Entertainment in the DMV featuring Traci Braxton and author Amaleka M.

http://issuu.com/bloggertime/docs/honoring_women_in_entertainmentmarch2013?mode=mobile

7   Nonprofits of note, featuring Captain Jas Boothe and Y'Anna Crawley

http://issuu.com/bloggertime/docs/grove_street_april_2013_nonprofit_edition2?mode=mobile

8 Book Clubs & Book Lovers

http://issuu.com/bloggertime/docs/the_book_club___book_lover_s_editio

9 Moving Forward

Book Expo America. Athletes Raise Money For Wounded Warriors. 

http://issuu.com/bloggertime/docs/grove_street_june_issue_moving_forw?&origin=email

10 The One Thing by Gary Keller/Jay Papasan. Ray Lewis's foundation. Dr. Sampson Davis. Baltimore Urban Book Festival

http://issuu.com/bloggertime/docs/mindse_body_spirit_july_grove_street_

 

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Twitter:  @AndreaBlackston

Is crowd funding a viable fundraising solution for artists and authors?

Before I took the plunge to spend time on Twitter, I was generally opposed to crowd funding, but the days when people we know send personalized  donation requests to raise money for a personal goal or activity have pretty much faded. I recall times of a parent sending snail mail letters to support a little girl who wanted to enter a pageant, pleas of help to fund a school trip abroad, or a ringing phone that signaled someone that a Girl Scout cookie order had arrived. Now, many inquirers send group requests via Facebook, and the most savvy and adventurous use websites like Kickstarter.com. 

Small, innocuous requests made on the behalf of children often worked because the call or personal request was made by someone who already had a connection with the parent or child. Today, there are people who are pro crowd funding, and those who feel that it's the asker's responsibility to raise money other ways to fund their dream. Most people do dream of something coming to fruition, so what makes person A any more worthy than person B? Having a complete project in hand is step one. Considering mass appeal or perceived value may be factor two. Popularity creeps into the shadows of it all, too. Enter the third realm of a perfect storm.

Whether the goal is to raise thousands or millions, crowd funding efforts come with a set time limit. An inability to promote an online request could end in thirty days. The clock ticks while the requester spreads the word. But as a marketer, I am well aware that branding is a consistent process that isn't achieved in one quick shot. People tend to respond to recognizable brands that they know well faster, including personal ones. Browsing is a part of human nature. Not everyone is an impulse buyer. Seeing that thing or person over and over again, and knowing something about the reputation of the product or person helps close a sale. This puts the average person at a disadvantage. Unless the requester is wildly popular, has a far reaching online presence that would illicit a favorable response to a call to action, what would the success rate of an attempt to fund a project likely be--marginal, minimal, or overwhelming? The odds are stacked against individuals who do not have benefit of a large audience who are not already emotionally connected to them. Nothing is impossible, but this post is about what may be likely. 

Charity work is a wonderful way to give back to the public. However, a growing trend is celebrities asking for support of their fans to fund their web drama, movie or independent project. And the irony in this is the "starving artist" probably won't receive the amount of public support that they will. Remember my suppositions about popularity and a built in audience. Celebrities have already built their brand. They already have a fan base of some degree, and it may even be international, too. When they speak or post on social media websites, people tend to listen more not less. In a sea of gift seekers who want "investors," they will stand out. They should stand out considering the amount of energy and time has been invested in telling the world who they are and what they will do next. Past publicity fuels interest.  Other influencers they know may endorse them to help nudge the public along. Now that person has a team of hype men and women who will happily spread the word that they contributed, and their friends or contacts should consider doing the same. "My project" becomes "our project." Beating that ticking clock to find a project together becomes a  fun for supportive fans. Having contact with an admired celebrity probably feels exciting to true fans. The most savvy celebrities may offer perks in exchange for various amounts of support. All of these eclectic factors can influence the impact of crowd funding. Crowd funding engines want to report success stories. Who wouldn't want free advertising that something works? Hope sells. That's why the lottery will probably never go out of business. Those who play the lottery invest in chance and hope. All it takes is one ticket to win! Independent projects have value. I hope that if the public contributes to a high profile campaign, and as understanding of how crowd funding works grows, other hopefuls can also get a chance. I consider well known artists as thought leaders who can influence public opinion. 

I can't and would never say that artist with marginal recognition could never succeed at raising money, nor would I conclude that celebrities don't have a right to garner public support of their projects. What I will say is that I know plenty of dedicated artists with talent struggling to get a chance. They are clothing designers, authors with completed manuscripts sitting on computers, or local musicians who want to produce albums to raise money for causes they believe in. People in these categories probably won't get free publicity to fuel the reach of their voice. Social sharing usually doesn't inspire an overwhelming response in these cases. People will advise them to get to work and "find" money themselves without complaining. That's a part of the hustle. But some cave, feeling overwhelmed. They do nothing but dream or produce an inferior product. Aspiring authors are quick to remind others why they may not have hired a professional book editor. "It's expensive" is the mantra that infuriates many book buyers who become frustrated by unpolished stories. 

The world is a diverse place. People have diverse ideas. But what I've learned personally is that brand building is a steady process that won't happen overnight. Crowd funding would seem like it's for the little guy, but it's not just for starving artists who can pull at heart strings. Nothing comes easy, even if it looks easy. Leveraging local support off line may be a more productive start for most. If that doesn't work, one must consider traditional options to self fund a project like loans, or maybe applying for grants. Whichever the case, struggling artists should sharpen his or her skills. When opportunity comes, be ready to make a perfect pitch. If waiting takes too long, remember that the famous were once unknown. In most cases, challenges accompanied the climb. Observe and learn from them. Think like they most likely once thought. Even if bringing a project to life takes far longer than what you'd like, craft a plan within your reach. If crowd funding is something you want to try, study success stories of those with similar projects, goals and notoriety. How and why were these case studies successful? Be prepared by doing research, and having a plan to give it your all.

If results are less robust than desired, make it happen yourself. Don't let your dream die. Remember to keep investing in hope. Turn "I can't" into "I can."

Tweet with me. @AndreaBlackston

Recap of Chris Hicks's interview. Mark your calendar to attend the BUBF next year!

Author Chris Hicks is native Baltimorean who also owns Ravenwood Barbershop. I caught up with the founder of the Baltimore Urban Book Festival (www.baltimoreurbanbookfestival.org)   that will take place on July 14^th. It isalso referred  to as BUBF.

Grove Street: How long have you been writing? What ignited your passion for writing and reading?

 

Chris:  I have been writing for almost four years now. I had an idea in my head and just had to put it on paper. During that time my intention was just to write it down, not actually publish it. After I finished completing the book, it only made sense to publish it. One thing led to another. Now, I’m here.

 

Grove Street: Please tell us about your book festival. When is it this year, where will it be held, is there a cost to attend, and what inspired you to start an urban books festival?

 

Chris: Our festival is Sunday July 14,2013. It will be held at Frederick Douglass Isaac Myers Maritime Park and its free admission. What inspired me to start the festival was that after participating in other festivals around the country, I noticed that Baltimore didn't have one for African Americans, so I just took it upon myself to start one.

 

Grove Street: Who is your target audience?

 

Chris: We really don't have a targeting audience. We promote on a large scale designed to reach everyone. We feel like the more people who are aware of the event, the better the turn out. But 90 percent that come out are African-American.

 

Grove Street: Is this the 2nd or 3rd year for the festival?

 

Chris: This is our 3rd year for the BUBF.

 

Grove Street: Do you think that the industry needs to be more unified in terms of author collaborations, supporting each other, events based on genre, etc.? If so, what are some proactive measures that you feel can be taken?

 

Chris: Yes indeed.  There has to be unity and most importantly leadership. That’s how the industry gets passed down from generation to generation. It starts with us the authors first. We set the standards and the trend. A lot of us don't realize it, but that's the truth.

 

Grove Street: What makes your festival different from most that you've attended?

 

Chris: What makes our festival different is the number of participating authors. We usually have about 30 authors every year, not 60 or 70 all under one roof. I do this because I want everyone to get as much exposure and sell as many books as possible. It’s hard to do that with 80 different authors at one event.

 

Grove Street: When you started your endeavor, what was your biggest challenge?

 

Chris: Funding! Funding! Funding!

 

Grove Street: Moving forward, what additions/ improvements would you like to see happen with future festivals?

 

Chris: We are working to bring in entertainment with the festival, such as jazz bands/Neo Soul and main stream r&b artists.

 

Grove Street: Based on previous turn out and response, what would you say about African-Americans, in terms of reading and book buying habits?

 

Chris: The readers are out there, trust me. The perception that African-Americans don't read books is not true at all. We read.

 

Grove Street: Is there a youth component?

 

Chris: Yes, we will have story telling sessions, a free book giveaway table, face painting, and children authors all on one floor. We call it the "Kids Corner."

 

 

Grove Street: What is the festival's website and social media information?

 

Chris: Our website iswww.baltimoreurbanbookfestival.org

Twitter: bubf13

 

Grove Street: Any additional comments that you would like to share with readers and authors?

 

Chris: Remember this: the word "urban" doesn't mean black, ghetto or hood. It means "city."

Read more of Grove Street's tenth issue:

http://issuu.com/bloggertime/docs/mind_body_spirit_july_grove_street_

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The strange taste of powder. When moms want to work.

It's 12:12 A.M. My business  partner wears diapers. He's my motivation. He props me up when life beats me down. He's not supposed to be wide awake, but I'm learning toddler tricks. He's giving me lots of hugs in an effort to stay up until his eyes finally shut. Manipulation 101. Oh, the joy. 

I kissed him goodnight long ago. The kiss on his cheek tasted like powder. He dumped a large portion onto the couch this evening. I look at his tiny face and wonder what's next for us. We're a team. All we really have most days is each other. If I want to write, he's by my side. When I job hunt, there are questions about my ability to find a babysitter, if a call comes through. The request may be to interview the same or next day. Situations like these are stressful for single moms like me. And when I gain insight from human resources managers, I'm hearing that some positions now require decisions made by entire search committees. I once regarded them as relevant to academia. No more. Even if an applicant is qualified on paper, the majority has to agree that he or she is desirable enough to land in the maybe pile. Online applications could be full of lies. I suppose that's irrelevant these days. 

As a new parent, what I find incredibly odd is how difficult it has been for me to find a permanent job as a new mother. Employers can't directly ask about children, but there are ways they find out if prospective applicants have them. I also am left questioning the idea of what a living wage may be. Childcare isn't cheap, nor are my student loan obligations.  When job negotiations end, it seems like a golden number may be tied to who accepted the lowest bargain. While sending my résumé in a lounge area last week, I heard someone in human resources bragging that a new hire could've negotiated a higher salary. "He has a new baby. I started him at $55,000. I could've gone as high as $60,000," he bragged. 

It was great that a new dad landed a full time job, but why has employment become regarded as a game? I thought the point was to work hard and contribute to society. Most people want to take care of their families by working. The more I endure through my job hunt, the more that I find value in becoming an entrepreneur. Most of us have to work other jobs, but having a vision, passion and side skill can feel validating. Publishing my first book, and selling out of the print run made me feel like I was in control of something. I constantly study how to create my own opportunities, just in case a traditional one falls through. At the end of the day, bills still must be paid. 

Through logistical challenges of life,  I know that  I have a place with someone. No matter who or what stomps on my dreams, my child's future helps me to bounce back. What motivates you to keep going, when your efforts seem to go unnoticed? For me, it's having a reason to believe that one day, my time will come in the workforce. Right now, I juggle lots of lemons to make my lemonade as tasty as possible. 

The One Thing by Gary Keller and Jay Papasan.

 

THE JOURNEY TOWARD BALANCING ACHIEVEMENT AND LIFE

 

The One Thing: The Surprisingly Simple Truth Behind Extraordinary Results by bestselling authors Gary Keller and Jay Papasan had the literary feel of a thought provoking business book with a dash of self-help. The very first litmus test that I used was why these men were qualified to offer advice on business and life. The advice giver is often as relevant as advice given. What would they know about "the one thing?"

I evaluated what the duo has accomplished themselves. Gary Keller is chairman of the board and cofounder of Keller Williams Realty, Inc., and Jay Papasan is former editor at HarperCollins. He is now vice president of publishing at Keller Williams, in addition to being a speaker and corporate trainer. Ultimately, I was convinced that both authors employed techniques in their book to achieve their own goals. As experts in their professional fields, I was eager to extrapolate tips regarding how to become my very best. Despite their great influence, The One Thing: The Surprisingly Simple Truth Behind Extraordinary Results is an incredibly simple, easy read.

 

To me, the most powerful aspect of the New York Times Bestseller lies within the premise of the book: stick to one thing. Some readers may take the advice to focus time and attention on one goal literally. However, on page 35, the authors suggest that “achievers always work from a clear sense of priority.” That may be the golden nugget of this read. Upon reflecting on the book, I regard “one thing” like a tree root. The one thing may consist of many branches that represent other areas or topics. How to prioritize better leads to optimal efficiency. Regardless, many people misunderstand how to time block to focus. That’s what The One Thing: The Surprisingly Simple Truth Behind Extraordinary Results points out how to develop an important skill to do so, step by step.

 

While pondering advice regarding how to prioritize my to-do list, I appreciated the comparison that was drawn between what I “could do” as opposed to what I “should do.” If multi-tasking is a lie as suggested, the biggest idea of the book becomes one of practicality. In today’s life, many of us don’t have the luxury of doing just one thing, but we can build powerful habits to remain conscious of balancing life with our goals. It’s easier said than done. Regardless, “the one thing” is reiterated throughout each chapter. For some readers, the reoccurring theme may seem unnecessary. To me, it makes the lesson impossible to forget how to goal set in the present and future. Forming positive habits are important for those who want to become better organized.

 

 The authors practically illustrate how the path to productivity has become muddled with lack of focus, by over extending ourselves, and doing many things that aren’t truly necessary. The book leads to a focused question: What’s the one thing I can do such that everything else will be easier or unnecessary? By page 106, the authors build a powerful method or framing our lives within the context of areas that matter most, while maintaining the integrity of the single question. I regard the book as an exercise and reference tool to train one’s mind to become and remain organized. The reader must do the work to ignite the flow of the path; we already have the answers to our unanswered questions.

 

There are many facets of this book that require personal exploration. I highly recommend this read to entrepreneurs, authors, professionals and anyone who feels overwhelmed by too many obligations or goals. The1thing.com continues the discussion, offering more steps that can be taken through accountability. There is no magic formula in this book that guarantees success—or in any book for that matter— but it offers meaningful insight to take practical steps toward goal achievement while working within limitations of our flawed humanity.

 

Reviewed by Andrea Blackstone

 

Twitter: @AndreaBlackston

Our latest issue of Grove Street:

http://issuu.com/bloggertime/docs/mind_body_spirit_july_grove_street_

Free book. Blogging For Your Business: A Guide For The Single Entrepreneur And Business Owner by Sabrina Espinal

Blogging For Your Business: A Guide For The Single Entrepreneur And Business Owner by Sabrina Espinal is FREE  to download, but the offer ends on July 14th at 3:00 AM EST. Get your complimentary copy today!

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00DTWQJMO/ref=redir_mdp_mobile

Issue # 10 of Grove Street ezine

Features and stories:

Ray Lewis on philanthropy.
Book reviewers give tips and opinions about what authors should improve.
Christian Downs talks spirituality.
The Baltimore Urban Books Festival is explained by founder, author Chris Hicks.
Dr. Sampson Davis reveals details about his moving, new novel, Brick City.

Cut and paste the link if you haven't subscribed yet.
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Do you tweet?

@AndreaBlackston

Why beta (test) readers are golden.

You've written a masterpiece. It turned out better than required high school or college reading. Your "baby" is almost ready to be shared with the world. That "baby" is your fiction or nonfiction draft. You probably would prefer that no one touch it. The reality is the journey begins with a draft. Finishing up a book requires many tedious steps.

Assuming that you plan to do the right thing and hire a professional editor, in just a short time, you will see your work in print. You're excited and you should be. Finishing a first, second, third draft or other is quite an accomplishment.

Slow down though. If you plan to sell your book, consider what big businesses do before they dump a heap of money into a new product or project. They test it. A focus group consists of potential consumers of that product or service. They are screened people who are paid to give their opinions and feedback to decision makers. The data is collected and analyzed. Companies who go that extra mile usually get closer to their goal of connecting with their customers through sales. Pilot users do much of the same. Get it?

Charging back to book world full throttle,
we return to the beta reader topic. I call them test readers. To me, they are so similar to focus groups participants and pilot users. Their purpose is virtually the same. They "test" the appeal of a manuscript by offering feedback, reactions that come from the gut, and honest opinions. Some are good at giving feedback. Others are great. A few may simply read and have little to say. There are good ones, marginal beta readers, and polished book consumers who will find things that an author completely missed. All feedback is valuable because comparing it is a part of the journey. If many people say the same thing, that's a a pattern. It's up to the author if he or she will make changes to prized words, but at the end of it all, who is going to buy the product? Readers. Consumers.
People like your test/ beta readers. That's why they are golden.

Some authors also swap manuscripts to read. That's fine so long as the selected writing buddy is wiling to return the favor when your turn comes, and he or she really does want the best for you. Use good judgment to decide who is really on your side. Return genuine interest in your career to that person, too.

If you're wondering why it's relevant to use beta readers at all, if an editor's job is to edit, my premise is simple. Ask a professional editor what his or her rates are for developmental editing. Compare that to the second editing tier, or a medium edit. Pros charge a much higher rate for developmental work. They have to do more, fix more, figure out more, and maybe even whip out their pen to rewrite some of your masterpiece. Who really wants that to happen? Turning over sloppy work to an editor may also lead to a less than desired result. I've worked as a freelance content editor and ghost writer. I speak from my perspective as an author and freelancer.

How to choose beta readers requires strategy. Become familiar with two words: target audience. The subject of the manuscript is also very relevant in terms of who should be asked to read a draft.

If you pick someone to be a beta reader, make it easy for them. Ask if he or she can read the manuscript by a specified time, prepare a short list of sample questions to share, and if they live nearby, ask if they prefer a delivered hard copy over an emailed version. Some people prefer to make notes on a printed version. It's always nice to ask, especially if someone's rooting for the success of your project and wants to help. Be appreciative of any and all support. An attitude of gratitude is important to succeed in publishing, or life in general.

Anyone can be a published author these days. A book deal is not a necessity, but building a stable fan base requires quality writing and a quality presentation. Plus, you never know where your book may end up. Strive to do your best. With each project, an author should evolve and improve. If you want to become a writer, finding tools such as using beta readers can help polish your personal writing style.

Best wishes with the birth of your baby. Labor pains hurt, but nothing good comes easy.

If you like Twitter, I'd love to connect with you there.
@AndreaBlackston

Do you need publishing or marketing help? Visit www.surgemarketinggroup.com.

Victoria Christopher Murray coming to the Howard County Central Branch in MD.

The message from the library is as follows:

VICTORIA CHRISTOPHER MURRAY
Bestselling author Victoria Christopher Murray discusses her latest fast-paced novel, Never Say Never, the story of a passionate and dangerous love affair that threatens to destroy a marriage and a friendship. Murray has received numerous awards, including the Golden Pen Award for Best Inspirational Fiction and the Phyllis Wheatley Trailblazer Award for being a pioneer in African American Christian Fiction. In 2008, she won the African American Literary Award for Best Novel (Too Little, Too Late) and Female Author of the Year.

CENTRAL (410.313.7800)
September 26 - Thu 7 - 8:30 pm
In partnership with Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc., Columbia MD Alumnae Chapter.

Save the date in Baltimore.

Chris Hicks is the founder of the Baltimore Urban Festival. An interview with him will be shared in Grove Street Ezine soon.