My friend, Lisa, was telling me about 'flat' people the other day. Flat people are business cards and other sources of promotion that you get from people every day. They never become three dimensional, unless you know them or they impress you in some way.

Authors are always in danger of becoming flat people. We are names on books and in magazines. Even with photos, we are still 'flat'. The question is; how we gain dimension so that readers remember who we are. There are many camps of thought on this problem. Book signings, promotional events, conferences can make us less flat. Even the Internet, with blogs and other personal items, can help. Probably the only real solution is years of promotion, book events and Internet sightings. As authors, we struggle with these questions and the finances to keep promoting. No one knows what works and what doesn't. It's the one topic of conversation you can always have with authors. There are rarely the same answers.

Maybe one way is to remember the other people in our lives that are 'flat'. Those people on those business cards and flyers we receive from conferences and in the mail are real too. When was the last time you took the opportunity to contact them or make them feel like they matter in your life? It's the same for editors, publishers and agents. They are always more than flat people, even when we aren't actively working with them on a project. If you haven't done it recently, send your editor or agent a card just to say thanks for the work they do for you. Maybe by making them feel less 'flat', you'll learn a secret for yourself and your own campaign to be three dimensional.

Joyce Lavene
non-flat person
http://www.joyceandjimlavene.com