A to Z Writing advice:
Marketing – writing the WIP is easy, it's the rest that's hard - editing, querying, synopsis and blurb writing. But once you get published (and you will!) marketing is the worst and hardest! But we must do it. Here's my advice so far:
- social media will give you a good start, but you have to keep plugging after that, too. Have a webpage, facebook page, goodreads profile, etc. Make it easy for readers and potential fans to find you and like you! No more hiding!
- Go to bookfairs, book conferences, book festivals, etc - readers will come!
- Put your book on sale - when sales are stale, put it on sale! I plan to put mine on sale again this summer when the new one comes out.
- Keep writing - I can't say this from experience, yet, but I hear this is the best way to get noticed - get more books out there!! They stimulate sales of previous books because if they like one, they will want more from you!
Visiting BROKEN BRANCH FALLS - Teenage fantasy creatures in high school break the rules, causing chaos. Gabe the goblin leads a quest to find the Book of Ages, hoping it can help save BROKEN BRANCH FALLS:
Make a Wish Falls - these falls are gorgeous and treacherous and mysterious...Merfolk - mermaids and mermen, you know! And in broken branch falls, their tears can heal and they age slowly.
Mud Pits - where the ogres live, of course, and their houses are mud adobes
And for laughs:
An alphabetical list of Reasons Men are Happier People...
M is for Marriage
A woman worries about the future until she gets a husband.
A man never worries about the future until he gets a wife.
A woman marries a man expecting he will change, but he doesn't.
A man marries a woman expecting that she won't change, but she does.
19 comments:
Good tips! Yes, I hear writing more is the best policy - better work at speeding up!
Those marriage statements are so true.
More books. Working on more books!
Marketing. The thing I think I would totally suck at if I were ever to publish a book:) These are great things to do, Tara! And hi, btw! It's been so long:) Looks like you're doing well and great and good:)
For introverts (aren't all writers?), the marketing part is the excruciating part. I never in a million thought I'd be asked to give presentations to kids AND the Missouri Writers Guild. I still think, Who Me? You want ME to give a lecture. But, but, I'm nobody. I wanna stay safe and anonymous in my house!
I am enjoying all of the steps of writing (mostly)... but I can't say that I am looking forward to Marketing.
All excellent points about getting out there--especially attending events and conferences. I always leave business cards with people that have a link to my website...I always see heightened traffic after events, so the $5 was worth it for the extra exposure!
Hmm, maybe it's a mindset, but I think writing the WIP is hard. The first draft is fun, but the work going into polishing it and prepping for publication takes a lot of work. It seems marketing and promo are different types of work. Maybe apples and oranges? Some people are more savvy at those aspects than others.
Hope you're enjoying the A to Z Challenge! My theme is Memorable Characters. Glad to have met you!
Great marketing tips, and I loved the little bit about marriage too. :-)
Deb@ http://debioneille.blogspot.com
I'm doing the 'keep writing' advice but the other stuff is mucho time consuming.
Love the marriage breakdown.
I so agree with Huntress! I'm told I'm a hermit and I readily confess I am.
Social media is a tool I don't use well. I'm learning.
Thanks for visiting my A to Z. I'm running behind by a day!
Good tips - thanks. As an indie, I spend more time marketing than I do writing!
Sophie
Sophie's Thoughts & Fumbles - A to Z Ghosts
Fantasy Boys XXX - A to Z Drabblerotic
Getting more books out is supposed to help as long as those books are good. I sometimes think writers rush to publish these days when they'd be better off taking a bit of time with their work. Look who's talking. I'm taking far too long. :-)
*Wags a finger* That marriage gag was a little mean but totally hilarious and often true. Making wishing or getting in trouble by the falls, meeting merfolk and ogres too! Yes I'm definitely getting this book. More books can definitely help you get noticed. If readers aren't into one series or book by you, they can get drawn into the next one or both. Marketing is tough but I will say that finishing a WIP is still one of the toughest part. Plus it is pretty important.
I'm one of those apparently odd women who never dreamt about a wedding or a husband as a girl. At 12, my plans were actually to be a single mom by choice, and now it appears as though I'm going to have to do that after all. My ex-"fiancé" just wouldn't work on any of his numerous issues, and still is as much of a walking DSM as he was when I finally ended it.
That poem would've been helpful 20+ years ago...
Make a wish falls - that's adorbs (as my daughter would say).
My favorite marketing tip is to keep writing---not sure it always works, but any excuse. ;)
Some great marketing advice!! I'm just waiting to get to the published point :/
Sarah Allen
(From Sarah, With Joy)
Marketing - the part that so many of us (and I include myself) don't like (as much as the writing.)
But, we're now a business, and that's part of the work. Writing the next book is still one of the best marketing techniques. But some "out of the hermit's cave" activity helps too.
Best wishes with the rest of your alphabet.
Thanks for the marketing tips. After scoring my first contract, it's like, now what? There's so many ideas out there, but I'm lovin' your concise list. :)
I so agree that the social media marketing is a challenge, but I'm working on it!
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