This blog may contain more questions than answers. Can an
introverted writer effectively promote his own work in the digital
universe? Will “likes” become the new measure of artistic success?
Does self-promotion interfere with creation? Must I become a media
whore in order to survive when the competition for attention has
never been greater? Is it a matter of survival for any artist?

Let’s begin with a 47-year-old writer whose one and only book came
out in 2002. Much like the job seeker with a mysterious 14-year gap
on his resume, I should explain. Over 150,000 words were tweaked,
tortured, and otherwise abused in that period, to provide
commercially viable product for an agent. Neither novel was
published, so the product of my labour remains invisible. Fourteen
years in an office might yield money, a promotion, the respect of
peers, and maybe the appreciation of a larger community, but to the
casual observer, my fourteen years are blank.

Out of the gap comes a new collection of short stories titled No Call
Too Small. Of the thirteen stories, ten were published in literary
journals, two were nominated for a National Magazine Award, three
were nominated for the Journey Prize, one was nominated for a Western
Magazine Award, and one appeared in Journey Prize Stories (20).
We’ll see if that’s enough to get someone’s attention.

Currently, my digital presence is quite modest. Google my name in
quotes and my website comes up first, but there are only 1,930 hits.
Clearly, every Oscar Martens on the planet needs to work on his brand.

This is an experiment in high transparency with more disclosure than
is natural for me. I’m writing what I’d like to read if I stumbled
onto some other writer’s blog. I hope to cover some wins, but won’t
shy away from major disappointments and other dramatic hits to my
ego. Along the way, I hope to interview others on the path of self-
promotion, from shy beginners to masters of media.