How Jason Brick Got Started:

He is a martial artist and ended up writing a piece for a premier martial arts magazine. Admittedly, he will write for anyone within pretty much any venue, but Jason has a special enthusiasm and natural affinity for martial arts, since he himself is a martial arts specialist and he has two sons who are also involved in martial arts. He told me prior to the start of our meeting that he traveled to Malaysia in 2016 to write a piece for a travel magazine, but also so he and his sons would have the unique opportunity of visiting a country with a completely different lifestyle and culture very different from living here in the United States. He said it was an amazing experience for him and his sons, one which he will always treasure, plus he got paid to be there!

Jason Brick created the “Itty Bitty Writing Space,” to promote what he describes as “Flash Fiction.” It’s a writing space that attracts writers who are interested in writing stories that are 1,000 words or less; in other words, finding their writing voice within that flash fictional space that not only teaches writers the fine art of editing, but gets their story out there and read. It’s a place where writers who might otherwise never have been discovered or published can actually get discovered and be published in this brilliant anthology series.

These anthologies that Jason has put together (three are now in print) hint that some of the submissions may imply there is a larger story to be told by the writer. The anthologies are a fun read and will hopefully lead the writers to experience future successes, in that their work within the series may blossom into a stand-alone novel down the road or lead to other avenues of writing—scripts, non-fictional work, et cetera. There is no limit to where one’s creativity and artistic flare may take them.

How does Jason bring writers to the Itty Bitty Writing Space?

• He started the creative writing space through the Go Fund Me/Kickstarter method.
• He created the website, to make the anthology book happen.
• He advertised the Kickstarter and his concept of the Itty Bitty Writing Space through Writers’ Conferences
• Networking and
• Social Media in what he described as an “Open Call Model” requesting writers to send in their stories for consideration.
• Just the act of crowd-funding itself attracted writers to the Itty Bitty Writing Space.
• The fundraiser was the easy part: The kickstarter was not asking for much — $20 for an opportunity to sponsor someone’s writing (family members or friends of the writer)
• Or the writer himself/herself to have an opportunity to be a part of a writing space that promotes and supports new, burgeoning writers or new to this type of flash fiction writing.
• In other words, a legitimate way to get your work in print that might not otherwise have been a kick-off possibility for students, or other writers who are on a tight budget and have neither the means nor even the time to see their work published.
• Kismet: the kick starter attracted hundreds of flash fiction writers to the website and to the Kickstarter that Jason Brick created.
• The Itty Bitty Writing Space is subtitled, “100 Stories by 100 Authors”

Now What? Where do I go from Here?

• Jason realized it was very difficult to sort through hundreds of writing samples by himself. Plus it’s a “hassle” to keep track of a 100 crowd-funded writers and submissions.
• He put together a community of 300 authors through writers’ conferences and through networking
• Jason brought on board Dani J. Caile as co-editor, which was a huge boast to helping perpetuate the Anthology Series and keep things organized and moving forward.
• He does put out a bi-weekly newsletter.
• He also did a promotion/benefit to communities that were a part of the donation funds given where he offered to place the Itty Bitty Writing Space anthology in the library of the donor’s choice. This was very well-received by donors and by writers, knowing that they would not only be in print, but that a copy of the anthology would be in their local community library.
• Jason was able to publish the first anthology which was born out of the Kickstarter and which enabled him to actually create the Itty Bitty Writing Space, which has since generated two more anthologies.
• Our very own Jean P. Harkin is a contributing author in the latest and third published anthology of the series. Jean’s piece is entitled “HerStory,” and can be found on Page 102 of the Itty Bitty Writing Space anthology series.
• News flash: The third in the anthology series actually has 104 writers’ stories.
• If it’s a good story that meets the criterion of the anthology series, Jason and his cohort Dani J. Caile will not turn a writer away. They may have to set your story aside and publish it in the next anthology series. But as you can see from the bullet-point above, this one included four extra stories from four additional authors. Bonus!

How Does Jason Brick Self-Promote His Books or Articles?

• Jason does something very smart: He gets outside the writers’ rooms and venues. For example when he wrote about the world of martial arts, he went to wrestling and martial arts competitions at meets and schools that have a martial arts or wrestling program. His works sold out quickly.
• Go where your topic is, rather than just going to book fairs or doing readings at book stores. These are great venues, particularly if you already have a following or are an author with a series type of novels, such as Mollie Hunt.
• But go somewhere, where you are the only author at the venue, and where your particular magazine or book will generate passion and interest because it is somehow related to the venue in which you have inserted yourself.
• Go to your grassroots support, too. Friends, family and word-of-mouth can be very effective and supportive tools to help you sell your books/articles or magazines in which your writing appears.
• Make eye contact; Jason acknowledges that some writers are rather introverted. But you will find it’s much easier to promote yourself and your book if you are surrounded by people who are passionate about the same things you are passionate about and have written about.
• Writing is an inherently brave thing—you are putting your creative self “out there.” So be brave.
• You don’t have to blitz the Social Media scene, but pick 2 forms of social media and work from there. Perhaps there is a social group in which you are a member; for example, science fiction, and then work from there to promote your book or your article in a current magazine.
• Find book communities with which to connect.
• 80% of Jason’s articles have been through referrals.
• Jason is very disciplined (all that martial arts training).
• He is also polite and listens to what it is this particular writing assignment is asking for.
• He delivers what the writing assignment is asking for.
• And if they wish to edit his work or wish him to change something he has written; or add something to it or delete something from it; Jason is always amenable, polite and professional.
• And that’s why he gets called back for further, future assignments.
• Jason is now a contributing editor to Black Belt Magazine.
• Writers are also hobbyists; often they write about their hobbies.
• Orbit those communities that approach or dovetail what it is you write about!
• Get seen or read in trade magazines. Buy a few that interest you and see what/how the articles are written.

Jason Brick’s Query Letter Template:

• He has four points he hits in his Template Letter, and they are:
• Paragraph 1 – You are awesome. Magazine editors love to hear about themselves and how wonderful their magazine is.
• Paragraph 2 – I have an awesome idea that I believe would dovetail nicely with your magazine. And tell them briefly what this idea is.
• Paragraph 3 – Explain what your credentials are, which makes you the unique person who needs to write this article or is the right fit for this writing gig. And then polish Paragraph 3 with a thank you for your time and for your consideration.
• Always include a Post Script (which is technically Paragraph 4) – In your P.S. is the tease-hook: I have two other ideas which I would love to share with you and then describe in some sort of teaser-like fashion how those two ideas would serve the magazine.

Use your Query Template letter and Query early and Query often. Keep your ear to the ground!

You can also use a “Bundling” technique wherein you are bundling your books at stores and shows that are somehow related to your topic. Themed displays.

Cross-promote yourself and your books/articles. Find the commonalities between you as the writer and your readers.

Jason ended his presentation with an invitation to all of us writers in the Cedar Mill Writing Group: Please feel free to contact Jason Brick any time. He can be reached at the following email address: brickcommajason@gmail.com

Speed Dating for New Authors— is a kind of mini-version of bundling, a concept of Lawrence Block.