A light on self-promotion

“Lighthouses don’t go running all over an island looking for boats to save; they just stand there shining.” ~Anne Lamott

I’ve always been conflicted about self-promotion. As soon as Writing Home was published, I had to set aside any sense of modesty or humility and “sell” my book (and myself) to a wider audience beyond my newspaper readership. It usually felt awkward.

Today, I admire younger authors and entrepreneurs who grew up on social media platforms and don’t think twice about putting themselves out there for attention.

But like most baby boomers I know, I was raised to think it’s not so cool to toot your own horn. And I still struggle with that. Deep down, I still want to believe that if you’re creating something that some people will enjoy or need, they’ll spot your lighthouse. ~CL