Every day people follow me on Twitter with hopes to get a glimpse of my day. Why? For some odd reason some think that having a pr firm and being a publicist is glamorous and pays well(Ha!) And others, especially authors who may have been burnt by a lit pub think that this job is a no-brainer gig and that any one can do it, so they try to copy what I do to save from hiring a peer. Then there are those who are considering hiring a publicist to handle their personal or their client’s pr needs and wonder what about the outcomes and expectations that they could receive. Finally, there are lurkers who are either pr firm owners or would be publicists who want to duplicate my system. At any case I tweet and tell as much as my time and patience allows on Twitter at DeeGospel.
However, last month–one particular week– I experienced the most busiest, Big Fun, craziest and saddest weeks of my lit life. To get through it, I journalled. I thought I would share one of those days with you. Let me know what you think.
A day, any day in May, 2009…
6:00 a.m.: Wake up my daughter to get her off to school
6:15a.m.: Respond to a late night text message about a possible Atlanta bookclub event. Some of my clients are on pacific time.
6:30 a.m.: While driving daughter to school, I skim reporter’s requests that just came through.
7:56a.m.: Work out, but not breathing correctly through the poses, because I hear three text messages come through my Blackberry. One is from a new bookclub forming, the other from an irate client, and the other from an editor I owe content to.
8:00a.m.: At my Home Office desk(have taken my morning heart meds,) reviewing my “to do” list and calendar. Dropping in info for my next blog post. Reading Newsfeeds.
8:30a.m.: Sort through 100+ new emails in my inbox. Respond to urgent emails, submit one reporter’s request pitch to magazine searching for young adult summer picks.
9:00a.m.: Phone pitching begins, then ends abruptly. An event that I’ve booked four authors for haven’t been promoting the authors via the radio station that is hosting the event. Must call the radio station and the bookstore president for clarification. Where are my clients? Why can’t I hear about them on the radio? Not happy, trying hard to keep the Hulk in me hidden. Send out a prayer request via Twitter.
10:00 a.m.: Submit EPKs to a reporter, who asked for it. Converse with a mag editor friend of mine about a national writer’s festival I will be promoting for the summer.
10:30 a.m.: Reading and editing clients tip sheets before I present them to editors for possible inclusion in magazine.
11:15 a.m.: Work on Phase 2 of an existing pr campaign. Target podcasters and vloggers that fit client’s fanbase. He’s a romance writer. Throw chicken in the crockpot for dinner. Curry chicken on the menu.
12:00p.m.: …Want to break for lunch, but take two calls instead. The bookstore finally calls, but with another challenge. Need more books pronto. Must call book vendor friend to see if she can be the bookstore’s solution. Send another prayer request out. Doc wants me to take a lunch break for my heart. Yikes!
2:15 p.m.: Rest break over. Now pick up Selah from school, while taking a call from an A & R manager seeking pr support for one of his music artists. Receive another she-say-she-say call from a client about a client/friend which saddens me. Now my mind shifts into crisis-management mode for the second time today.
3:30 p.m.: Home. Brainstorm campaign strategy for new book about a mid-life woman starting over. How will this story get media attention? What’s the psychographic for this book? Women Oprah’s age, starting over, forever young, Christians having face lifts, what?
4:00.: BFF called. Wondered if I was free this weekend. No. I’m not, just too tired. Need to follow Doctor’s orders. Receive tip about another lit event. I refer that opp to Tanisha at Grand Central Publishing and ask if the PH can find funds to send our clients. She agrees to ask and get back with me.
4:30 p.m.: Take another call with bookstore vendor about a new book tour project we want to put together.
5:00 p.m.: Homework with daughter. (Supposed to be end of business)
5:30p.m.: Attend “media analysis” telemeeting with prospective client. Discuss media potential for this client and announce our strategy to increase public attention. This author comes to me months after release date, which drops media hit potential dramatically, but I have a plan. Will she trust me?
6:20 p.m.: Take late call with client, who hints at wanting more sales opportunity surrounding this Book Event that has now become a thorn in my side. I remind client that I care about there success and want the best for them but I am not their booking agent or sales manager. My job as stated and agreed upon in our contract is for Media Services, but I can’t do my job for doing tasks that aren’t pr related. I do promise to check with book events host and a book club friend to see if they can cook something up. I jot down a note to write a post about PR and author expectation(coming soon.)
7:00 p.m.: Join an online radio chat to hear another client’s interview, while finalizing itinerary for the Book Event. The Radio station called and gave me the concessions I asked for. Received an email from my bookclub president buddy that her church would host a book signing after Sunday service. Then leave the chat to take a call from events host and radio producer. Good chat. Things should be looking up, but received a call from another client shortly after, who was concerned about said client/friend’s issue with the event. I begin to think the challenge is more with me than the event, but when I contact said author she seems okay. (??? confused now) Told her some of the new additions to the itinerary, not all, because the contract is not complete. But tomorrow I will ask client if she wants to continue on in this event before this contract gets in my hand. I can see the end of my rope with this foolishness now.
7:30 p.m.: Wrap up loose ends, daughter’s giving me the Mom we must Eat look. Have Mercy!
9:00 p.m.: Return to my desk to write this post in draft and turn in my article to my waiting editor. Isn’t she sweet? 
wrote:-
Midnight: email from a peer on Central Time. She wants me to speak at her event. I text while sleeping. Don’t know how I responded.
Question: Do you think authors have misconceived idea about what pr support is? Do you think I could have handled myself better? Is this your idea of what a publicist does?
You wear many hats, my sister! I hope this was just an unusually busy day. I think authors ( and playwrights like me) have limited access to and or knowledge about what the people on the business side of creativity do. As a result, we may not be aware of those boundaries or just figure that anything other than ‘writing’ falls in their lap. Given the situations and circumstances you were confronted with you did your best to resolve the issues. I haven’t given much thought to the day to day activities of a PR person but you certainly seem to cover many areas (almost like an agent/manager/publicist/sitter).
But I will add that it is most important that you take care of your health, not only for your clients but for you and your daughter! Be blessed!
This is so bizaar! I’ve been trying to hang out with RAwsistaz for years, but could never find entrance to the yahoo groups. I’m just trying to comment on a blog about publicists because I’m sort of searching for one, and wala–here I am. lol. Hope I don’t lose the sign in. so this is how you get there–ok. Dorothy of Oz.
Martha Tucker
Whew…what a day!!! Thanks for showing how your day goes. People always seem to assume that what is person does for a living is simpler than what it is. I’m tired just reading this. Take care of yourself and continue to follow your drs orders. Praying for you.
Rawsista Mary
Hi, Jeanette. Thanks for responding. Yes, I agree that Artists/writers don’t know the boundaries with their service providers. I have tried to communicate to my client’s not just the boumdaries, but why they are important for both parties. Yet, somehow there is still a disconnect with some. I hope this post sheds a little light. The most important points I hope I communicated was that the writer needs to want to have a fluid and transparent relationship with their publicist, authors must take ownership of their image/works, and publicist expense a great deal of time building and maintaining relationships for their behalf.
Hi, Martha,
Glad you stopped by. I hope this post helped. A few things to consider on your search for a publicist:
- can you afford not to have one?
- can you afford their services
-do you need someone to help publicize your efforts, create newsworthy opportunities, introduce you to the gatekeepers of your readership?
-do you have the tempermant to work as a team
-are you using or willing to implement other marketing forms alongside your pr campaign(direct selling, advertising, product placement, gifting, etc.?)
-will you take time for media training?
Thanks, Mary,
Usually my day is this busy. However, as of July I will be changing my biz paradigm becuase of doc orders and. Client accounting assessment.
Dee