Making a difference

I am happy to say I have been a part of the Insecure Writer Support Group from its inception (love that movie!). Big THANK YOU to ALEX J. CAVANAUGH for starting it! I can't believe it's been three years. But I can easily believe how huge it's become. It's a wonderful mechanism for writers to boost each other! And today is the website’s one year anniversary. In honor of all the celebrating, we are posting entries for the IWSG anthology.

The purpose of the book is to assist other writers on the journey, so we are looking for tips and instructions in the areas of writing, publishing, and marketing. It can be inspirational in nature as long as you provide a solid benefit.

I'm going to post about putting yourself out there once you're published. The dreaded marketing that writers never signed up for.

I have tried many things, but getting noticed is a very slow process. Every new person who finds out about your book(s) will hopefully pass it along. You just have to get out there! So far, I've done book events in Georgia, Michigan, West Virginia, and Ohio. I also did some unconventional marketing while on vacation, leaving fun swag items here and there. So here are some tips for marketing!

• Go out and spread your good news! The more you tell, the more fans you'll find. Try book conferences, book stores, local fairs, etc - anywhere you can afford to set up a table! I am doing my first sci fi "CON" this month - am really looking forward to branching out and meeting more people!
• Have swag to give away - good stuff people will remember you by. Food is great, but gone quick and forgotten. The best items are useful things that might actually stick around, like:
• post it notes, notepads
• pens
• jewelry
• bookmarks
• bags
• cups
• My unconventional swag are frisbees, flying monster/beast toys, slide whistles, and footballs - all with my book title on them - try to have swag that goes with the book
• Actively seek reviewers - ask around! the worst they can say is no
• Put your book on a reader's list like: Ereader News Daily, Bookbub, or the Fussy Librarian
• Be creative and inventive. One of my editors is into video experimentation and is always trying  new ways to promote his book on youtube. I am thinking of getting a karaoke machine to strum up business at my next con... we'll see if I actually do it!
• There are so many ways to market! I can't list them all, but here's one more subtle way I'm trying to get noticed as a writer. I've made some writer buttons. You can be your own personal advertisement without saying a word! Check them out!

face painting by my inside the book artist at release party!

Keep plugging! There's an audience waiting to read your books!

I also wanted to thank Maggie for having me over for a lovely interview on Monday! Here's the link if you're interested =)


Lastly, there's only one week left for the SHELFIE SELFIE BLOGFEST still going on - post yours by October 6th to win! Here are the awesome entries:

Ellie Garrett

L. Diane Wolfe
Gina Stoneheart
Stephen Tremp
Alex J. Cavanaugh
Tyrean Martinson
Tami Aschenbrenner
Elizabeth Arroyo
Chrys Fey
Eric Juneau
Loni Townsend
Rebecca Bradley
Nicki Elson
Susanne Drazic
Carrie Anne Brownian

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