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Conversations with Calliope- Social Marketing

By Joseph Langen

(Schooner- St. John)

JOE: Good morning Calliope.
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you today?
JOE: A little befuddled.
CALLIOPE: How so?
JOE: In my attempts to understand the marketing world, I seem to understand less the more I read.
CALLIOPE: Any specific concerns?
JOE: I've been pursuing social marketing as I understand it. I see some people using internet contacts merely as a way to peddle their wares and solicit customers.
CALLIOPE: What's your approach?
JOE: I would like to interest others in what I do but also want to share with them what I have learned about life and work together for the common good.
CALLIOPE: Sounds noble. How do you go about it?
JOE: I try to make sure my posts are of benefit to those I address rather than just asking them for something.
CALLIOPE: Tell me about your befuddlement.
JOE: I am starting to make a fair number of contacts. The problem is that I'm not sure I can keep up with them all. Many of them are just names at this point.
CALLIOPE: So what's your plan?
JOE: That's just it. I don't have one. In theory I would like to be selective about which groups I belong to so I can be an active part of the ones I choose. I wonder how others approach this concern and would like to hear from them. Talk with you tomorrow.

Conversations with Calliope- Writing and Life Priorities

By Joseph Langen

(Oatka Geese)

JOE: Good morning Calliope.
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. You mentioned Joan Chittister's book yesterday. Any further thoughts about what she has to say?
JOE: I haven't finished reading The Gift of Years yet but so far I have read about her thoughts on the challenges and fears of growing old and look forward to reading her thoughts about the opportunities.
CALLIOPE: What do you think got you interested in this topic?
JOE: I just celebrated ( I was going to say "had") my sixty-sixth birthday. It seems like it crept up on me. Joan would say that people perceive us as old even if we don't feel old.
CALLIOPE: Do you feel old?
JOE: Not really. I have some difficulty with arthritis which I never had when I was younger.
CALLIOPE: So you're doing okay physically?
JOE: I can't complain.
CALLIOPE: What about psychologically?
JOE: I feel released from family and work responsibilities and able to set my own direction without anyone else getting upset about it. That's a freeing feeling.
CALLIOPE: What are you going to do with it?
JOE: I was thinking this morning that none of us knows how much life remains. There's no point fretting about it. Many people don't live as long as I have already.
CALLIOPE: So what challenge remains for you?
JOE: Right now, to use my writing to continue unfolding life's mysteries for myself and helping readers make the best of their lives for their benefit and that of others they encounter. Talk with you tomorrow.

Conversations with Calliope- Stories and friendship

By Joseph Langen

(Me as a monk)
JOE: Good morning Calliope.
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How was your weekend?
JOE: Fairly calm. I enjoyed some cross country skiing and watching football.
CALLIOPE: Anything of a literary nature going on?
JOE: I've been thinking about stories, my theme song last week.
CALLIOPE: And?
JOE: I told you I wanted to work on revising an article I wrote for possible inclusion in a new magazine, Two Words.
CALLIOPE: How did that work out?
JOE: I was very happy with the result. Interestingly, the editor was interested in a more personal approach.
CALLIOPE: Was that hard?
JOE: Not once I got to it. I think I tend to be somewhat impersonal an academic in my writing.
CALLIOPE: So how did it end up.
JOE: I told a story about when I left the monastery in 1965 and how I came to value friendships.
CALLIOPE: I'd like to see it.
JOE: I'd like to show it to you but since it's being considered for publication, I guess I can't right now. I'll let you know when it's ready for distribution. Talk with you tomorrow.

Conversations with Calliope- Writing and Feelings

By Joseph Langen

(Butterfly in a museum)

JOE: Good morning Calliope.
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. Anything exciting going on today?
JOE: Maybe, but not here. It's a quiet day and cold too. Carol and I did get out for some early morning cross country skiing.
CALLIOPE: Sounds adventurous of you.
JOE: We try to make the best of whatever comes our way. It seemed better to ski than to curse the coldness to paraphrase one of my favorite bible sayings.
CALLIOPE: Can't argue there. What else is going on?
JOE: I had lunch with a fellow Leroy writer yesterday, Bob Fussell.
CALLIOPE: How did that go?
JOE: Quite well. We have a fair amount in common in our life outlooks but have taken different tacks in our approaches to writing.
CALLIOPE: That's what makes life interesting.
JOE: I can't argue there.
CALLIOPE: What are you up to today?
JOE: I wrote an article for a new magazine which is still in the developmental stages.
CALLIOPE: And?
JOE: As they develop, they are refining their focus. As a result they asked me to refine the piece I wrote for them.
CALLIOPE: How do you feel about that?
JOE: Okay. The longer I write the less sensitive I am to comments and suggestions about refining my writing. I plan to work on it today to see if I can adapt to their needs. They too were interested in my feelings and wanted a more feeling oriented piece. We shall see what emerges. Talk with you on Monday.

Conversations with Calliope- Podcasting

By Joseph Langen

(Diverse Audience)
JOE: Good morning Calliope.
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. I wasn't sure I would hear from you today.
JOE: It turns out I was busy for a while.
CALLIOPE: So early? What were you up to?
JOE: I was engaged in a Podcast about my writing.
CALLIOPE: With whom?
JOE: John Murray for his now podcast series Rambling Verser, associated with Story Institute.
CALLIOPE: I see. How did it go?
JOE: Quite well. He sent me a series of questions he wished to explore and I was ready when he called.
CALLIOPE: Do you like having the questions ahead of time?
JOE: It made the interview much easier. I could concentrate on expressing myself rather than being nervous about what to say or what was coming next.
CALLIOPE: Did you get to say what you wanted to?
JOE: I did. I have had a little experience with podcasts in the past as well as a recorder interview about my writing. I think I am becoming much more comfortable with the process.
CALLIOPE: What did you learn from the experience today?
JOE: One of his questions was what made my readers unique? I hadn't thought much about this until he posed the question. I realized that my readers were thoughtful about their own lives and concerned about their effect on others. They also approach life from a spiritual perspective, which I define as "awakening to the goodness and joy for which you were created." Talk with you tomorrow.

Conversations with Calliope- Authentic Lies

By Joseph Langen

(Wall sculpture- Santilanna Spain) (Wall sculpture- Santillana, Spain)
JOE: Good morning Calliope.
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are things in the frozen north?
JOE: I'm making the best of it. I went cross country skiing yesterday. Fortunately, my brain isn't frozen.
CALLIOPE: Glad to hear it. What's rattling around there?
JOE: I keep thinking about what Seth Godin had to say about liars as marketing.
CALLIOPE: What are your current thoughts?
JOE: I think they are evolving. As I understood what him, he describes consumers as lying to themselves. Marketers do well when they resonate with consumers' lies.
CALLIOPE: How does that sit with you?
JOE: The word "lies" got my attention. But he also talks about being authentic in marketing. I am a little stuck with what looks to me like an oxymoron, authentic lying.
CALLIOPE: I see what you mean. Where are you going with it?
JOE: Toward the end of his book he admits he didn't quite mean lying. As I see it, people do have world views which they don't always put into words. I believe that people's world views are quite instrumental in shaping their response to marketing efforts and anything else which comes their way.
CALLIOPE: So where does that leave you?
JOE: I have come to realize that in order to be an effective in marketing my writing I need to understand the world views of my readers and how they relate to my writing.
CALLIOPE: Any specific thoughts on how to do this?
JOE: I'm still working on it. I'll tell you more tomorrow.

Conversations with Calliope- Marketing Fantasies

By Joseph Langen

Sailing Sculpture- Charlotte Beach- Rochester, NY)

JOE: Good morning Calliope.
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. Up a little late this morning, aren't we?
JOE: At least I'm here.
CALLIOPE: What's going on in your head these days?
JOE: I've been thinking about the field of marketing, talking with people about it and reading.
CALLIOPE: What have you been reading?
JOE: Interesting you should ask. I was wandering around Borders with my brother a couple days ago and ran across Seth Godin's book, All Marketers Are Liars.
CALLIOPE: Sounds interesting.
JOE: It is. He poo-poos the idea that people respond to marketing efforts on the basis of features, benefits, or anything else tangible.
CALLIOPE: Then what does attract potential customers?
JOE: He believes that people respond to whatever matches the fantasies they already have.
CALLIOPE: Interesting idea.
JOE: Yes it is. I haven't finished the book yet but find the idea fascinating. I plan to read more of it this weekend.
CALLIOPE: Then what.
JOE: If it continues to make sense, I will rethink my fantasies about marketing and see what I might need to change. Talk with you on Monday.

 

Conversations with Calliope- Sales and Socialization

By Joseph Langen

(Butterfly in the trees)

JOE: Good morning Calliope.
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. Tell me about yesterday.
JOE: As I expected, I had little time to work on anything. I had to shovel my way out to go visit my brother in Rochester who is here on his visit from Hawaii.
CALLIOPE: What did he make of the snow?
JOE: It's the first he's seen in two years. He seems fascinated.
CALLIOPE: What else did you do?
JOE: We spent most of the day visiting at my mother's house and my aunt's and ended up in a bookstore at night.
CALLIOPE: Did you bring up your book in conversation?
JOE: It came up a couple times and I shared my experiences and the book itself with a few people.
CALLIOPE: How did you feel about doing it?
JOE: A little strange. I waited for quite a while for it to come up in conversation which it finally did.
CALLIOPE: What's your discomfort about?
JOE: I feel like I am in a sales rather than social conversation. It feels a little awkward. Still I hate to miss an opportunity to tell people about my writing since it is the main focus of my life right now.
CALLIOPE: Anything you can do about it?
JOE: I don't think so. I wear several hats as most people do. I guess it's just part of life. Talk with you tomorrow.

 

 

Conversations with Calliope- Teen Project

By Joseph Langen

 

(Teens at Cancer Walk)

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JOE: Good morning Calliope.
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. I hope you enjoyed your birthday.
JOE: I did. Many well-wishers sent their regards. Carol and I got out on our cross country skis and her niece Erin came for dinner last night. All in all a delightful day.
CALLIOPE: Any more thoughts on the teen book?
JOE: I was mulling over a title earlier this morning. I would like to include the ideas of idealism and anxieties, both of which seem prominent in teen thinking.
CALLIOPE: Did you come up with a title?
JOE: Not yet. The idea is still percolating.
CALLIOPE: What did you learn from your visit with Erin?
JOE: She is a senior in college and about ready to face the real world. It reminded me of being her age and having the same mixture of idealism and fear I just mentioned.
CALLIOPE: Sound's like you're on the right track.
JOE: I think so. I plan to do some more exploration of the topic of writing for teens.
CALLIOPE: Any specifics?
JOE: I am perusing some teen sites and will also look at some books popular with teen to explore themes of interest to them.
CALLIOPE: Sounds like a good approach.
JOE: I'm glad you agree. On to the day's work.

Conversations with Calliope- Birthdays

By Joseph Langen

 

(Bridge over Oatka Creek)

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JOE: Good morning Calliope.
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. Happy Birthday.
JOE: Thank you for remembering.
CALLIOPE: What's it like to be a year older?
JOE: I'm happy to still be alive. As time goes by I appreciate each new year much more than I did when I was very young. Once I lived as if I would be here forever. Now I am realizing that I won't be.
CALLIOPE: Does that frighten you?
JOE: I am starting to come to terms with it. I enjoy life and will miss it I think.
CALLIOPE: What plans do you have for the immediate future?
JOE: Working on my teen book.
CALLIOPE: Did you make any progress yesterday?
JOE: I found some good materials on writing for teens and some thoughts on how to approach such a project.
CALLIOPE: Anything else you need?
JOE: I am still looking for more teen input. It occurred to me this morning that I have many writing and business contacts online. I could contact them to see if they have teens who might be interested in contributing to my project.
CALLIOPE: What's the next step?
JOE: Being clear about which I should be the one to write it, what I would like to say, how teens can contribute and why they should. That will keep me busy for a while. Talk with you tomorrow.

Conversations with Calliope- Marketing

By Joseph Langen

 

(Herb Market- Vigo Spain)

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JOE: Good morning Calliope.
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you today?
JOE: Ready for a new week and a new year.
CALLIOPE: What did you do over the weekend?
JOE: Nothing too taxing. I relaxed, skied, watched some football and sat for ideas.
CALLIOPE: I'm glad you're pacing yourself. Did any ideas come to you?
JOE: I've been thinking about marketing. I concentrated on announcing my book on the internet and have covered all my current contacts.
CALLIOPE: Now what?
JOE: I'm continuing to work on article marketing.
CALLIOPE: Did you submit any articles lately?
JOE: Yes. I sent my article on creativity being a result of inspiration and perspiration to Article Marketing and Ezine.
CALLIOPE: Have you thought of other article marketing sites.
JOE: I have a long list of them and am just beginning to explore the possibilities.
CALLIOPE: How about local publicity?
JOE: I have been considering local service groups, the library, bookstores and the local radio station. I will work on those outlets this week. Talk with you tomorrow.

Conversations with Calliope- Let Us Rejoice

By Joseph Langen

 

(Westminster Abbey)

JOE: Good morning Calliope. Haec dies quem fecit Dominus.
CALLIOPE: Help me out. My Latin's a little rusty.
JOE: Okay. "This is the day the Lord has made."
CALLIOPE: You sound excited.
JOE: I am. Finally my book, Navigating Life is on its way back to the printer, text, cover and corrections.
CALLIOPE: Great. Now back to the waiting.
JOE: Still, it's a relief. I suppose this gets easier with time. I find getting everything just right a challenge.
CALLIOPE: I take it you're not the obsessive compulsive type.
JOE: Right. I am more the impulsive type. I think my personality is more suited to the freewheeling process of writing.
CALLIOPE: And less toward the minutia of publishing?
JOE: Exactly so. As Clint Eastwood put it, "A man's got to know his limitations."
CALLIOPE: Glad you recognize yours. Have you thought of seeking a traditional publisher for this aspect.
JOE: I have, but so far it only led to frustration on my previous attempts. This time I did not even seriously consider finding an agent or publisher. Maybe one of these days I'll have a go at it again.
CALLIOPE: At least you got this far. Now what?
JOE: Back to work on marketing and publicity. Talk with you on Monday.

Conversations with Calliope- Dialogue with My Muse

By Joseph Langen

(Nineteenth century tavern- Genesee Country Village)

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JOE: Good morning Calliope.
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you this morning?
JOE: Good. I have my Christmas shopping and report writing done and am ready to get back to work on my writing.
CALLIOPE: Did you get anything literary done yesterday?
JOE: I finished posting the reading guides I developed and shared with you a couple days ago.
CALLIOPE: Did you do one for Navigating Life?
JOE: Not yet. I need to wait until my book is listed on Amazon so I can include it.
CALLIOPE: I see. What plans do you have for today?
JOE: I think I will start posting this blog on the sites where I previously did.
CALLIOPE: Don't you still have links there to this site?
JOE: I do but decided it was too much to expect readers to travel here. I thought it might be best to just post them where I did before.
CALLIOPE: Why did you change your mind?
JOE: It had to do with Google. I thought that by listing my blog in several places it reduced the Search Engine Optimization qualities of the blog.
CALLIOPE: Doesn't it?
JOE: I think so but decided it made more sense to have greater visibility than to count on it optimizing visits to my web site. Talk to you tomorrow.

Conversations with Calliope- Dialogue with My Muse

By Joseph Langen

 


(Exercise in Astoria Park, New York)

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JOE: Good morning Calliope.
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you today?
JOE: Relieved.
CALLIOPE: On what account?
JOE: Because I finally decided I was spending entirely too much time on web site development. I was interested in web site optimization but everything else took a back seat including writing and editing. I realized I have other priorities.
CALLIOPE: Sounds sensible. What did you work on yesterday?
JOE: After I realized my morass, I worked on editing Marital Property.
CALLIOPE: And today?
JOE: I will be out for a while today. However I have a column to write and plan to make it a priority today.
CALLIOPE: What are you writing about?
JOE: I found a newspaper article about dirty tricks college applicants and their parents use against their competition, quite reminiscent of recent political ads. I thought I would write about the implications of such tactics for the author as well as for society and maybe some alternatives.
CALLIOPE: Sounds like a good topic. Good luck with it. Anything else going on?
JOE: I plan to continue working on editing Marital Property.
CALLIOPE: Is you website functional for now?
JOE: I think so. Why don't you take a look. Talk with you tomorrow.

Conversations with Calliope- Dialogue with My Muse

By Joseph Langen

 


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(Night entrance)

JOE: Good morning Calliope.
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. I missed you Saturday.
JOE: I know. I got caught up in website development, e-commerce, etc. and never made it here.
CALLIOPE: Did you have a busy weekend?
JOE: Yes. We were out socially Friday and Saturday evenings and as I said I worked on my website. Yesterday I just felt a need to relax.
CALLIOPE: Not a bad idea. Did you mention a book review last week?
JOE: Yes. I have been reading Richard Bayer's The Good Person Handbook and am planning to review it.
CALLIOPE: Tell me about the book.
JOE: It approaches many of the ideas I pursued in Commonsense Wisdom for Everyday Life.
CALLIOPE: Does it differ in some ways?
JOE: He is much more structured than I am. He is organized from page one and presents an orderly flow of ideas, one building on another.
CALLIOPE: Do you like that approach than the one you took?
JOE: Not necessarily. Mine is organized into categories. although not as structured in its development. I have had readers say they like to be able to read a brief self contained passage on a particular topic without belaboring it.
CALLIOPE: How does his book compare with yours?
JOE: I think we have different approaches. Some people like ideas to flow in strict order and others like more spontaneity. I think there is room for both approaches. Talk with you tomorrow.

Conversations with Calliope- Dialogue with My Muse

By Joseph Langen

 (New York City)

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JOE: Good morning Calliope.
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you today?
JOE: Reeling from yesterday's market research.
CALLIOPE: How so?
JOE: I worked hard to find an affordable auto responder for readers to sign up for my columns online without advertising attached.
CALLIOPE: Did you find one?
JOE: Yes and I downloaded it. Then I found all sorts of complicated direction about things I have never heard of. I don't know if is even possible for me to use it. I wasn't ready for such a challenge.
CALLIOPE: Maybe it's the price of going cheap. Anything else going on?
JOE: I am busy reading Richard Bayer's The Good Person Guidebook which I agreed to review.
CALLIOPE: Sounds a little more manageable.
JOE: It is. At least I am on familiar ground. I am enjoying the book and have learned some lessons I can use in organizing Commonsense Wisdom for Teens, my next project after I finish Marital Property.
CALLIOPE: Have you thought any more about offering your book free?
JOE: I have and found that Booklocker has a program of offering most of a book free but not all. Since I have used them before, I will consider this program.
CALLIOPE: Probably easier than doing it on your own.
JOE: I agree. Talk with you tomorrow.

Conversations with Calliope- Dialogue with My Muse

By Joseph Langen

 

(Carol and Joe on Broadway)

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JOE: Good morning Calliope.
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you today?
JOE: Fine.
CALLIOPE: What have you been up to?
JOE: Trying to get back into a routine. I am catching up on my email and working on marketing.
CALLIOPE: What did you accomplish yesterday?
JOE: I worked more on search engine optimization, specifically keywords, and meta tags for my my websites.
CALLIOPE: Sounds a little involved.
JOE: It is. Not like the old days on Mt. Olympus.
CALLIOPE: Anything else going on?
JOE: I visited a physical therapist to see if I can increase the mobility of my hands which was compromised by my arthritis.
CALLIOPE: Any progress?
JOE: Nancy gave me some exercises to do. Hopefully this will help.
CALLIOPE: What's on for today?
JOE: More marketing work and revision of Marital Property. Talk with you tomorrow.

Conversations with Calliope- Dialogue with My Muse

By Joseph Langen

 

(Mike harvesting figs in Astoria, NY)

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JOE: Good morning Calliope.
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. Welcome back.
JOE: Thank you.
CALLIOPE: How was your trip to New York?
JOE: Great as usual. Flying was uneventful. We had no plans for the time we were there but used all of it to good advantage.
CALLIOPE: What was the highlight?
JOE: Seeing the musical Spring Awakening. I had been wanting to see it for several years but didn't get the chance for one reason or another.
CALLIOPE: What did you like about it?
JOE: The depiction of the full range of human emotions through the lives of late nineteenth century teens.
CALLIOPE: Sounds a little dated.
JOE: It does sound that way. Although circumstances have changed, emotions and perceptions have not changed all that much in the past hundred years.
CALLIOPE: Did you learn anything about writing?
JOE: More about marketing. I read several articles about the future of publishing, one in particular about giving away writing.
CALLIOPE: Sounds self defeating.
JOE: Again I agree about first perceptions. Nevertheless I think there is merit to the idea and will explore it further. Talk with you tomorrow.

Conversations with Calliope- Dialogue with My Muse

By Joseph Langen



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(Gulls on City Island, NY)

JOE: Good morning Calliope.
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. Are you finished with your marketing challenge?
JOE: Not quite. My web site is back functioning well. There are a few refinements I would like to make such as adding my podcast and some keywords.
CALLIOPE: Is that your plan for today?
JOE: If I have time. This morning I am taking Carol for some outpatient surgery and then we will shop and have lunch. I'm not sure how much time that will leave me.
CALLIOPE: What's up for the next few days?
JOE: Carol and I are leaving for New York tomorrow morning and will be back Tuesday.
CALLIOPE: Anything special going on there?
JOE: We're just going to visit Carol's son who is just back from Germany after a stint in The Barber of Seville. We just thought it was time for a visit.
CALLIOPE: Anything planned?
JOE: No. We will play it by ear. But I will stay aware of opportunities to discuss writing and marketing.
CALLIOPE: Enjoy your trip.
JOE: We will. Talk with you on Wednesday.

Conversations with Calliope- Dialogue with My Muse

By Joseph Langen

 

(Monarch Butterfly)

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JOE: Good afternoon Calliope.
CALLIOPE: Good afternoon Joe. I was afraid you fell off the face of the earth.
JOE: I didn't but my website did and it took me until just now to get it working again.
CALLIOPE: What happened?
JOE: I spent yesterday working on search engine optimization with Steve Weber's website.
CALLIOPE: And?
JOE: I learned quite a bit that I was anxious to implement.
CALLIOPE: How did that go?
JOE: In the long run, okay. But along the way I managed to run into quite a few snags while trying to implement simplification.
CALLIOPE: Sounds like a contradiction.
JOE: Simplicity is not always easy to achieve. Just ask anyone who tried to simplify his or her life.
CALLIOPE: Did it turn out okay in the long run.
JOE: Yes. I still haven't figured out how to post an interview on my website although I had it working before.
CALLIOPE: Something to work on.
JOE: I guess I need some sort of challenge. Talk with you tomorrow.
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