Ben Franklin was a trailblazer in many ways
History, Mysteries and Literary Notes
Uniontown is the only city that has the honor of sharing its birthday with the United States of America.
On July 4, 1776, when Henry Beeson hung a notice on his mill that he would be selling 54 town lots here, the United States declared its independence.
But, long before the Declaration of Independence was signed, one of its main contributors fought for freedom, equality, and human rights through wisdom and words. Benjamin Franklin spent his life making people aware through his writing, humor, and hard-working lifestyle.
Although there were newspaper printers and book publishers in business in the early 1700s Franklin took it upon himself to create a publication where he could get people to think and laugh.
A pioneer of self-publishing at 13 years old, young Ben’s father took him around to local businesses trying to interest him in some sort of work. He was unhappy helping in his father’s soap-making shop.
Soon, he was made apprentice to his overbearing brother James, who ran the Boston newspaper (one of four in the colonies) the New England Courant.
Ben began slipping letters under the door of the print shop under the pseudonym of Mrs. Silence Dogood. James believed her to be a widow. Her 14 humorous letters making fun of the persecution of women, religious hypocrisy and drunkenness, became popular with his readers. When James discovered his young brother’s ruse, they fought, and Ben ran away to Philadelphia.
After working for a printer for several years, he took over the business of the Pennsylvania Gazette and its 90 subscribers in 1729. This newspaper was later renamed The Saturday Evening Post.
Two years later, he established the first lending library and in 1732 became a self-publisher with the first edition of “Poor Richard’s Almanack.”
In order to entertain his readers and market his goods (he ran a shop next to the press) Franklin wrote under a variety of pseudonyms. His informative and humorous style made him a wealthy man and he enjoyed his writing in a way the art deserves. Two of his quotes on writing come to mind.
“If there is one thing writers need to do consistently, it is write, not talk about writing.”
“If you would not be forgotten as soon as you are dead and rotten, either write things worth reading, or do things worth the writing.”
Ben pulled no punches. He lived fully and encouraged this in others. In this light, I receive notes from writers interested in information on self publishing and marketing. As Ben Franklin showed us with his lively best selling almanac, marketing keeps writing alive. When people ask me about publishing their book, my first question is, “Do you have a marketing plan?” They often look at me in a quizzical manner.
Almost 300 years ago, when he had to invent ways to promote his almanac, he did. Today, although marketing is still hard work, our options are more endless than our energy, although ingenuity and faith are still required.
Ben Franklin had his work cut out for him, but little competition. Today, there are over 20,000 books being published per day.
The internet changed publishing, like many businesses, in countless ways. Authors who have a good product and a marketing plan ready to implement do not need to find a publisher, they can become one. I have published books for 30 years. Early on, I pasted my magazines up by hand and handed printed material and original photographs off to the printer. They had to hand set the type and shoot the photographs, making negatives.
It was a long arduous process, which, for me, continued through the mid 1990s.
Oh, that first Smith Corona lap top word processor was a hit, until I lost my book “Incidents” during a lightning storm.
I learned to back up on those floppy disks. Now, we can scan photographs, write, edit, and layout books on our computers, preparing a pdf to upload to the printer online. It’s all a literary miracle, I am sure Mr. Franklin would appreciate.
When it comes to book publishing, you may still seek an agent and large publisher, but your options are many. Publishing is a business. I have found that authors and many folk often do not understand that, considering it a mystery. With Print on Demand, Kindle, and all the modern publishing additions to the printing press, it can be daunting at first, but what a fun endeavor. Franklin certainly enjoyed himself, writing quotes and discussing relationships under assumed names.
If you are like the industrious Mr. Franklin, and wish to make people laugh and think through your writing, maybe publishing is for you. Although I do not have time to take on publishing projects for authors at this time, I do consult with authors so they can clear up the mysteries and decide on a plan. Meet me at one of my appearances or e mail me.
I was just at The Gallatin Auto Show, and told a few stories at the Christian Klay Winery. They were great fun and I appreciate everyone sharing their tales.
On Friday, July 8, at 11:30 am, I will be at the Fayette County Chamber of Commerce giving a Uniontown Speedway board-track power point presentation, discussing the story behind my upcoming “Speedway Kings” book and film.
On July 15 at 7 p.m.,I will be at the Christian Klay Winery telling tales, and on July 21, from 4-7 p.m., I will see you at ArtWorks Connellsville.
Happy Birthday to America and Uniontown and enjoy your independence!
Marci Lynn McGuinness is the author and publisher of 25 books. She is presently writing “Speedway Kings of SW PA & Region, 100 Years of Racing. (1912 -2011).” Questions/stories or requests for book order forms or to schedule her for Speaking/Power Point presentations to: Shore Publications, 145 River Street, Adah, Pa., 15410, 724-710-7801, or marci@ohiopyle.info. Web orders/details: www.ohiopyle.info and www.uniontownspeedway.com.