By Jeri Westerson
It’s no secret that it’s
hard work getting published and near impossible to make a living at it. But
there are some things you can do to give you better chances at some kind of
modest success.
1. Who is my market and
what am I doing about it?
Simple. You wrote a
book. You want readers. But who are those readers? You should
know. Likely you are writing in a genre whose books you’ve enjoyed as a reader.
If this isn’t true, then why are you writing that book? Where are readers like
you finding more books in this genre? Blogs, Facebook pages, libraries. That’s
your market. Make lists. Email addresses, snail mail addresses. Do you write
cooking stories? Target cooking schools, local upscale bakeries. Think outside
the box.
2. You Are the Expert
You are the expert in
whatever you are writing about. You did the research, you wrote the book.
Prepare presentations for groups. Libraries, women’s auxiliary organizations,
clubs, anywhere people are likely to buy books. Have several presentations to
offer. Use props. Are you writing about quilts? Bring some samples that audience
members can sew themselves. Create entertaining PowerPoint demos. This should
also be the subject of your blog, not how you are a struggling author. We’re
all struggling! There are already too many blogs out there, unread, about that.
Stand above the crowd.
3. Bookmarks and
Postcards
Authors agonize over the
small stuff. Should I do bookmarks or postcards? Yes! Both! Bookmarks for
handing out to readers and postcards for mailing. And don’t do a blanket
mailing. That’s a waste of your money. Target it, direct it. Libraries!
Bookstores! Join professional writing organizations. Many of them have mailing
lists you can purchase. Make sure your collateral material is professionally
designed. Amateurish stuff will be tossed without reading.
4. Network
I can’t stress this one
enough. Social media is great, but it’s only half the story. You need to hobnob
with real authors in the flesh. Joining those professional organizations where
they meet once a month is important. Get to know other authors. They will be
more inclined to invite you to guest post on their blogs, to promote you on
Twitter and Facebook, suggest you for panels and speaking engagements.
5. Engage in Promotion
Just think of it all as
a giant cocktail party. When your book touches readers on an emotional level,
they will talk about it. And then you engage with them. If you are a guest
blogger, always be available that day to add to the comments that come in.
Follow your followers on Twitter. Chat it up on Facebook but stay away from
politics and religion. Be funny. Be interesting. That is all part of promotion.
_______________________________________________________________________
Jeri Westerson gets involved with
her readers on social media and by offering extras on her website www.JeriWesterson.com,
including book discussion guides, her character’s blog, and a series book
trailer. See her latest, CUP OF BLOOD, on her site and read about the making of
the book cover on her blog, Getting-Medieval. She is also the author of VEIL OF LIES.
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