The Shy Writer Reborn

by C. Hope Clark

As an introvert and a writer, you feel stretched to choose between the lesser of two evils--marketing to people who'll most likely criticize you, or putting your writing on the back burner. Introverts have strengths that make them marketable, creative, and successful. Forget those people who tell you to change, to put on a different personality, to dance like a monkey before crowds. Here is the support to be a writer and remain who you care to be . . . genuine.

"Shy types, rejoice! Introversion may see, like a major obstacle to building a successful writing career, but this wonderful "covers-all-the-bases" book handily debunks the notion." ~Peter Bowerman, Author, The Well-Fed Writer series.

"Hope has solutions in The Shy Writer Reborn that let you make the most of who you are instead of asking you to change your personality." ~Linda Formichelli, The Renegade Writer: A Totally Unconventional Guide to Freelance Writing Succcess / The Renegade Writer Blog

"As a self-diagnosed introvert, I know the fears of many writers who are literally afraid to follow their passion and be successful. C. Hope Clark shares how to overcome that fear while navigating interviews, pitches, queries and more. If you're a shy writer, this is the book that will help you find and cultivate an audience for your writing." ~Robert Lee Brewer, Senior Content Editor, Writer's Market

"Hope Clark has done an incredible service for authors by writing The Shy Writer Reborn. She guides you through te steps to overcome fears and finally get a book out of your head and on to paper. This book will help a lot of would-be authors realize their dreams. Highly recommended!" ~Stephanie Chandler, author The Nonfiction Book Marketing Plan: Online and Offline Promotion Strategies for Serious Authors

Genres: Writing, Nonfiction

283 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 22, 2004

About the author

C. Hope Clark was born and reared in the South, from Mississippi to South Carolina with a few stints in Alabama and Georgia. The granddaughter of a Mississippi cotton farmer, Hope holds a B.S. in Agriculture with honors from Clemson University and 25 years’ experience with the U. S. Department of Agriculture to include awards for her management, all of which enable her to talk the talk of Carolina Slade, the protagonist in most of her novels. Her love of writing, however, carried her up the ranks to the ability to retire young, and she left USDA to pen her stories and freelance.

Lowcountry Bribe‘s won several awards to include finalist status of the Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence in Mystery/Suspense sponsored by Romance Writers of America. The novel enjoyed semi-finalist status (top 100 out of 10,000) in the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Contest. The book went on to win the Silver Falchion Award for Crime Fiction twice and the EPIC E-book Award for Best Mystery three times.

Her books cover three mystery series in the Carolina Slade Mysteries, the Edisto Island Mysteries, and the Craven County Mysteries.

Hope is married to a 30-year veteran of federal law enforcement, a Senior Special Agent, now a contract investigator. They met on a bribery investigation within the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the basis for the opening scene to Lowcountry Bribe. Hope and her special agent live on the rural banks of Lake Murray outside of Chapin, South Carolina, forever spinning tales on their back porch, bourbon and coke in hand, when not tending a loveable flock of hens.

She also currently manages FundsforWriters.com, a weekly newsletter service she founded that reaches 28,000 writers to include university professors, professional journalists and published mystery authors. Writer’s Digest has recognized the site in its annual 101 Best Web Sites for Writers for two dozen years.

She’s published in The Writer Magazine, Writer’s Digest, and other trade and online publications. She speaks at writers’ conferences, book clubs, libraries and more, and has taught many webinars for the Writer's Digest University world. Hope is a member of Mystery Writers of America.

Reviews

[Mary Gibbs · Rating 4 out of 5]

Don’t let the title fool you. The Shy Writer Reborn by C. Hope Clark isn’t just a book for shy writers. It’s a valuable resource for anyone in business – writing or not – who wants to improve their bottom line, increase their popularity, and successfully engage potential clients. I’d even go so far as to say that it could be for anyone who wants to expand themselves beyond their own inner walls. Hope’s easy, conversational tone draws you in, and her personal anecdotes make you feel comfortable enough to stay. Her advice is solid, backed by years of experience, and covers a multitude of topics from dealing with your fears (like submitting your work or public speaking) to how to navigate and create a presence on social media (including an entire chapter devoted to blogging!). Love it! Whatever your need, The Shy Writer Reborn addresses it.

I, myself, am a “shy” writer. Like most of us, I’m considered an introvert, though I like to think of myself as a “functional introvert.” My background in theatre helps, but not in all circumstances. Hope’s book gives me, well, hope. It’s okay to be who we are, as long as we don’t let it hold us back. While reading her frank, encouraging words, including her “tricks,” I think, “Hey! I can do this!”

She points us to many informative websites throughout the work, and helps us through exercises at the end of each chapter meant to help the reader grow, not just as a person but as a writer. The Shy Writer Reborn is a must read, no matter where you are in your journey.

[Lynn Davidson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of those purchases as a writer I am very glad I made. The title immediately appealed to me, and I discovered that – in The Shy Writer: An Introvert’s Guide to Writing Success - author Hope Clark addresses so many things that I can relate to and that describe me – I admit.

There are fourteen chapters, each divided into sections. The chapter titles are:

Understanding Shyness
Defining the Shyness
Reaching Out Reaches In
Controlling the Fear
One-On-One
The Big Bad Throngs
Honing the Skills and Confidence
Shy But Sharp
Gimmick the Name of the Game
The Press and Media
World Wide Web Power
Other People Power
Controversy – When Shy Doesn’t Work
Safe Havens and Natural Feelings

In all these chapters I don’t think Hope Clark missed a thing. Being a shy writer herself, Hope understands it all. She was able to cover all areas of one’s inner struggle with what comes after the writing – the marketing and publicity in any form, including how to cope with the often dreaded book signings. She addresses many scenarios and gives examples pertaining to her own life or of other writers she has met.

Author Hope Clark gives such sound advice and includes links to many sites where helpful information can be found. For the shy writer this book is comforting and reassuring, well worth having.

[Tami · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Shy Writer: The Introvert's Guide to Writing Success reveal unique insight into how to be successful in writing no matter what your personality. As the book states, the act of writing is a very solitary pursuit. Many writers enjoy and thrive in the seclusion and solitude of being locked away while endlessly writing or typing the hours away. This personality trait matches well with the life of a writer.

However, making money from writing involves keen marketing strategies. Many of the most commonly used successful marketing strategies for writers are geared towards those who are extremely outgoing and those who crave the spotlight. For those writers that enjoy the solitude of writing, these extrovert personality aspects required for these marketing strategies may be rather overwhelming and a little unrealistic.

The Shy Writer: The Introvert's Guide to Writing Success sets out various options to solve this potential crisis. The author does not simply imply that shy people need to become the life of the party to become successful. Instead, the writer reflects that some aspects of being introverted (such as attention to detail, care in speech, and practiced listening skills) can actually be helpful to the writer and his or her marketing success. Moreover, this book details many things an author can do to create successful marketing strategies based upon his or her level of comfort as well as ways that shy authors can gradually stretch their comfort levels to become a little more outgoing. Thus, though geared specifically to shy writers, some of the ideas contained in this book would be extremely useful to any shy person interested in alternate marketing strategies, perhaps those wanting to start his or her own business.

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

There's some really good points in this book about writing and some great tips on how to promote your book if you happen to not like the lime light.

I really like the section about finding your niche which is a good point and how to present yourself to the public.

Clark also list websites on writing, agents, and organizational groups.

[Kimberly DuBoise · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so full of truisms and expressions of the heart that I was very much in tune with. I found advice and encouragement in this book and I resonated with so many pages of this book. If you feel in any way that this book will help you, then you should get it because it WILL! Trust your instinct and benefit from this treasure of a book!

[Mary Kenyon · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a fellow "shy" writer, I read this book when I knew I would have to start doing some public speaking. Clark has a very warm writing voice; I felt as though I was listening to a friend's advice. Wonderful book, and there is a new edition out!

[pianogal · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good book, but taught me that I'm an introverted writer, not a shy one. There is a difference. Not completely helpful, but maybe pointed in the direction I need to pursue for more info, so that's good.

[Amanda Dembiec · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a pretty good book. It taught me that I'm introverted, not shy. I'm not a people person, but I'm dealing with them for the most part. I might read the reboot and see what else she has to say.

[Valerie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I learned many ways I can accommodate my shyness, rise to the task when necessary, and view it in a more positive light. This is a very inspirational book.

[Carrie Dalby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great tips, easy to follow. An enjoyable, non-fiction read.

[Rosanne Catalano · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this informative book by C. Hope Clark! And will be reading it over and over to gain the confidence to overcome my shyness and stage fright. Thank you, Hope, for sharing your wisdom.

[Patricia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great how-to on book promotion, be the reader a shy writer or gregarious. Hope Clark packs the book with tons of tips and frequent qualifiers about choosing what works for your personality. She encourages writers to step through their fears, especially if they believe in their work but also maintains a gentle tone that helps all of her suggestions seem quite doable.

[Shannon Buck · Rating 5 out of 5]

As someone who has a hard time putting herself out there, this book was incredibly helpful to me. It was a good read, with so many tips. This is by far one of the best resources for a shy writer, and I've recommended it to others. I have made this book a part of my permanent library.