Posts tagged ‘Publishing’
Four Steps to Holiday Book Promotion
There has never been a better time of year to promote your book.
Right now, during this season, people are searching — parading the streets for that idea that’s perfect for someone they know. It is officially holiday time and the countdown to flying shreds of colorful paper has begun. And as a published author (that’s right, I’m talking directly to you), your promotional efforts should be in full night-before-Christmas-shopping throttle.
Your book should be the hottest thing coming this season. Now, if you were a good little author this year and planned ahead to market your book this holiday season, you’ll already be reaping the benefits. Most bookstores and event coordinators start planning for the holidays months in advance. However, even if you are on the naughty author list, you can still cash in on some of the sales this December if you put your mind to it and get creative.
Here are some ways to keep your momentum among the holiday shuffle and push the title of your book:
- Step outside the Bookstore. Traditionally, an author would hold a book signing in a local bookstore. But most bookstores start planning their December stock and events months in advance. So this holiday, think of a high traffic area and better yet, one that you may find your targeted readers. Does your book fall in the women’s lit genre? How about the local yoga studio, coffee house, a spa or shopping center? For the science fiction genre, try comic book or gaming stores. And for a children’s book, seek out boutiques and toy stores. Explore bazaars, craft shows, local holiday events. Just get there and display your work. (And add a special touch of free gift wrapping if you are in the spiritsJ).
- Happy Holidays from Your Local Author. Get a mailing list by zip code and create a holiday mass mailing of Christmas cards or post cards with information on your book and where to purchase. Emphasize “local author” and offer and incentive, maybe free shipping or 15% off.
- The 12 Days of Christmas Countdown. Highlight your book in each of your social media and in your blog/website. Create a daily promotion which may include an autographed edition, a percentage off, etc. Or get creative and highlight a new reason each day on why the average Joe should purchase your book.
- Give Back. Whether you are on location signing copies of your book or generating awareness online, have a way for people to submit their name, address and e-mail for the chance to win a free autographed copy of your book. Maybe even raffle a book off every couple hours. It’s about involvement with your readers and exposure (not to mention building a list of interested readers).
This time of year, your audience is attentive. Take advantage of the search and help guide them along. I bid you good luck and welcome any of your ideas to share with fellow readers and writers.
Five Little Things You Can Do To Get More Attention for Your Book
1. Love your work. If you wholeheartedly believe in your book, other people will notice. Don’t be modest or shy about what you’ve accomplished—encourage people to read it as much as you can (without being overwhelming, of course). And don’t hold out for universal approval either. Take Hemingway, for example; he was amongst the best literary minds of the 20th century, but lots of people can’t stand to read his novels. Not everyone is going to love—or even like—your book. Stand by what you’ve written and some people may just believe in it as much as you do.
2. Know the importance of your cover design. This is the very thing that is going to make most people want to pick up your book in the first place, so don’t take it too lightly. Make sure the cover is eye-catching; whether it’s bright, beautiful or really gruesome, it must win the consumers’ attention. If you’ve hired a cover designer, such as those available through Wordclay, trust the artistic instincts of your designer—it’s their job—but make sure you’re sense of the book is reflected in their work as well.
3. Always have a copy of your book handy. You never know when you’ll run across someone who can help with your writing career! I’m not suggesting you literally take it everywhere, but maybe keep one in your car incase you need it—hey, it can’t hurt.
4. Network socially. Don’t make the mistake of only networking with people you already know are in the publishing/book industry. Lots of editors, publishers and writers have social lives and you may not know who they are when first talking to them in a bar, at the grocery store or in line at the movie theatre. Also, if your group of friends and acquaintances know all about your book, they can talk about it with other friends, and so your “buzz” increases (literally) at an exponential rate.
5. Have a description ready to go. When people ask about your book, it’s way more convincing if you already know what you’re going to say—point out the highlights, the genre and the general message, for example—but try not to sound rehearsed. And, don’t give too much away, or there isn’t any incentive to buy it!
-Colleen
So You Want to Be a Novelist? Advice for Writers from a Successful Author
Jennifer Weiner knows a thing or two about writing and publishing. Author of bestselling novels Good in Bed and In Her Shoes (yep, the one that inspired the movie staring Cameron Diaz) , as well as her most recent release Best Friends Forever (released today), she offers a bit of helpful advice for aspiring authors on her Web site.
Here are a few of the highlights from her article on writing and publishing:
Write to Please Yourself
Tell the story that’s been growing in your heart, the characters you can’t keep out of your head, the tale story that speaks to you, that pops into your head during your daily commute, that wakes you up in the morning. Don’t write something just because you think it will sell, or fit into the pigeonhole du jour. Tell the story you want to tell, and worry about how to sell it later.
Get a Dog
Okay, you’re thinking, what does getting a dog have to do with becoming a writer? More than you’d think. Writing is about talent and creativity, but it’s also about discipline – about the ability to sit yourself down in that seat, day after day. … Being a dog owner requires a similar form of discipline. You wake up every morning. You walk the dog. You do this whether you’re tired, depressed, broke, hung over, or have been recently dumped. You do it.
Get Published
If a tree falls in the forest and nobody hears, has it really fallen? If a writer writes poems and short stories and novels, but nobody ever reads them, is she really a writer? Nope. If you want to be a writer, you’ve got to bear the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune (not to mention evil reader reviews on amazon.com). You’ve got to put your stuff out there for the world to see, and fall in love with, or revile. In short, you’ve got to get published.
Read
Read everything. Read fiction and non-fiction, read hot best sellers and the classics you never got around to in college. Read men, read women, read travel guides and Harlequins and epic poetry and cookbooks and cereal boxes, if you’re desperate. Get the rhythm of good writing in your ears. Cram your head with characters and stories. Abuse your library privileges. Never stop looking at the world, and never stop reading to find out what sense other people have made of it. If people give you a hard time and tell you to get your nose out of a book, tell them you’re working. Tell them it’s research. Tell them to pipe down and leave you alone.
Excerpts are from Jennifer’s full article, which you can read here: http://jenniferweiner.com/forwriters.htm.
Want to learn more? Read Jennifer Weiner’s blog: http://jenniferweiner.blogspot.com/
Can you relate to any of the tips here? Do you have any of your own tips or advice? Please share …
-Angie
On Demand: No, Really, It’s the Future
This just in: Traditional publishing declined by 3 percent and On-Demand publishing grew 132 percent. Guess who is in the lead now …
Okay, so that sounds a little bit arrogant, but it’s refreshing to see the prediction that has driven many of us forward is correct. The structure of the traditional publishing business model is rickety and teetering. They have built their reputations and empires on being unbelievably exclusive.
Self-Publishing is remarkably inclusive.
Self Publishing is not the only group to access the Print-On-Demand technology, but it is what makes self-publishing and distribution possible. There is no need to print and pump out title after title in massive marketing waves.
Many of you who have published your books with the POD model have found this process to be accessible and reliable enough to build your business plan around. Professional speakers can maintain their own catalog of titles and have shipments waiting for them at their hotels as they travel and drive their business forward. Teachers can create their own materials to accompany (or even in some cases replace) the mainstream texts that support their curricula. Churches can document their growth and their history and expand their base through affordable means. Companies can create professional training materials that are branded for their needs and their needs alone.
Congratulations to the success of all involved, and congratulations to the traditional companies who decide to leverage this approach in the future!
Wordclay and Smashwords: E-book Formatting Service in May
That’s right — Wordclay is offering fifty percent off their new Smashwords e-book formatting service, which not only helps authors market their books online, but sell additional copies to all types of gadget lovers who are investing in Kindle devices and Sony Readers.
- Reach new kinds of readers and different audiences.
- Join the growing digital market with your e-book.
- Offer your book in a variety of file formats for everyone.
- Promote your e-book, and earn royalties per download.
Wordclay will take your completed manuscript and format it per the recommended guidelines in the Smashwords Style Guide. Visit Wordclay’s site to view details about the service and frequently asked questions about how valuable e-book formatting can truly be.
Check out the Smashwords blog for more updates>>
Former iUniverse Author Lisa Genova Signed by Simon & Schuster for Still Alice
It’s no secret – one of the major goals for self-published authors is to achieve some literary success and then get picked up by a major traditional publisher. Recently, former iUniverse author Lisa Genova did just that, and her story has invigorated the publishing headlines with new life.
But why would an author want to self-publish and then republish with a traditional publisher? For starters, some desire the recognition and established respect of a traditional publishing imprint. Traditional publisher will also help you promote your book with trusted media contacts, since their profits are staked on book sales primarily. Not to mention how convincing a hefty financial advance when signing over the copyright can be.
Rejection after rejection by traditional publisher for her novel Still Alice, but undaunted, Genova decided to show the industry that her work would sell in the book market by self-publishing with iUniverse. Of course, soon after the book was published, copies sold like hotcakes, and the infamous publishing house Simon & Schuster approached her for a book deal soon after her initial publication.
Now, after more than twelve weeks on The New York Times Best Sellers List, Genova can definitely call herself a self-publishing success story, having already appeared on CNN.com to speak about her book and the advantages of print-on-demand companies nowadays.
Long story short, like Genova, you can also approach traditional publishers with the same strategy and mentality. If you want to demonstrate your marketability and financial value in the publishing industry, there’s no better way than giving the publishers tangible evidence in the form of a great design and sales figures.
Read more about Genova’s experience and book here>>
This is Justin, blogcasting from Wordclay, signing off.
Wordclay Launches New, Improved Cover Design Wizard: Take the Poll & Provide Helpful Feedback on Our Online Publishing Program
That’s right! Wordclay has given the cover design wizard a complete overhaul, so our authors can now layout their covers as well as test different styles and themes with even better, more accessible online design tools.
But building and maintaining a free self-publishing company is work that is never completely finished, and that’s the reason we need your help. By simply logging in to your account, uploading a manuscript and testing our cover wizard, you can submit the informative feedback that keeps our company evolving.
Remember too, if you don’t have an account with Wordclay, registration is easy in addition to being free, and we never distributed your contract information to any other company, so you can be certain annoying spam and unwanted e-mails are never a problem.
So if you can spare 15 minutes and help us reshape the future of publishing, log in to your account and test any many design tools, themes and cover layouts as you desire. Once you’ve formed an opinion, take our simple poll (located below) and perhaps even submit a comment about your experience.
We’re always looking to improve our program and services, and here’s your chance to ensure that our company grows to meet your specific publishing needs and desires. Thanks again for your participation!
Top Five New Literary Magazines to Read: Discovering Fresh Voices & Writing Talent
Justin here, and after a heated brainstorming sessions here at Wordclay, our team has finally agree on the top five new literary journals to which all authors and writers should subscribe. Of course there are hundreds of great magazines that are publishing amazing poetry and prose – some up and coming as we speak – so we’re certain this list will be revised in the future.
The real question is: what makes a literary magazine worth reading? With so many new journals emerging online and in print, with so many varying tastes and aesthetics, how can anyone separate the good from the bad?
The short answer is: there just isn’t a definitive way of separating them. Some prefer curling up with The New Yorker or The Paris Review, while others adamantly subscribe to The Missouri Review or The Denver Quarterly. As the saying goes, there’s no accounting for taste, and our decisions this time around could only be based on our personal preferences, the only criteria being that the magazine started publishing in the last decade.
So without further ado, here’s the Wordclay bloggers’ list of lit journals to check out in 2009. And if you’re a writer, check out their submission guidelines and current contests. Remember, it can’t hurt to submit your work, but it can seriously hinder your writing career if you never send your prose or poetry out. Besides, you might even get a free subscription to a great new magazine from submitting.
Canteen MagazineAbout Canteen: Canteen redefines the literary magazine. Their staff asks accomplished writers to reveal their creative process, and then they pair that insight with the best new work in fiction, poetry, art and photography — all designed to look more like a fine art book than a dusty old journal.
Mission Statement: “Canteen is the literary magazine that comes with instructions. We admire what writers and artists do, and we want insight into how and why it’s done. To get that, we ask contributors to move beyond the boundaries of genre and final draft to delve into reputation, ferocious drive, unmarketable dreams, the danger of reader takeovers, and just what makes a work important.”
Submission Guidelines: Canteen accepts original fiction, nonfiction, and poetry of up to 4,000 words. They are also interested in essays and commentary that relate to the creative process. Canteen accepts original individual images or portfolios of up to 10 images by a single artist, in a variety of media, including photographs, drawings, paintings, sculpture, video stills and digital art. Please submit all work to Canteen at: submissions@canteenmag.com.
Contacting a Literary Agent: Why? What? How? When? Who?
Here’s the bottom line: there are people who prefer the royalty advantages and book design control of self-publishing, and there are those who prefer to take their finished manuscript the traditional route. Either way, there are some essential questions you should ask yourself about representation.
Why Is a Publishing Agent a Good Choice?
Only you can decide the answer to this question. If you’re going to traditional publishers, then representation always helps. The acquisitions editors of traditional publishing houses are much more willing to listen to agents they know and trust rather than read blind submissions that somehow appear on their desks.
But if you’re considering self-publishing, you can be your own representation. These days, you can even publish with your own imprint through Wordclay, giving you the power to coordinate all your future publishing and marketing efforts at little cost, without a strict association to a DIY publisher.
Remember, contacting and securing an agent is more about securing a contract with a publisher than about the entire publishing process, so you’ll want to choose based on their specialties. But whether you self-publish or send your manuscript to publishers through an agent you trust is completely based on your level of comfort and the control you desire over your future publication.
What Should You Include in Your Publishing Queries?
The rule of thumb is: Give the agent only what he or she needs. You don’t want to send too much (like your whole manuscript), and you don’t want to send too little (as in just a query letter). What you want to do is send them all the relevant information and a sample (more…)
When to turn your blog into a book: The fuzzy lines between formats
How many inches doth fill up one mile…-Wm. Shakespeare
The Power of Paper in a Paperless World
So many people out there are blogging. These daily (and sometimes posted several times daily) entries track concepts and topics while communicating content to friends, family and the general public. Some bloggers who place ads on their sites make some money. For others, it’s a serious career, earning enough to live comfortably. But for most bloggers, this is not the case.
One way to drive the traffic to your blog is to aggregate and publish collected thoughts in print. There are several books that have become bestsellers which had originally been published online as blogs. Often the publication of the book drives more traffic to the blog and vice versa. Perhaps having a printed version of your blog for sale is the equivalent of pop stars having fragrance lines and clothing lines. It’s a way to leverage your notoriety to further cement your own financial footprint, thus also preserving your ability to focus on citizen journalism and blogging with more of your time.
Moving across platforms to draw larger audiences is the rule for success in many creative fields. Many new bloggers are working at the local level to make a splash with their thoughts. By ‘crossing over’ to other media you can improve the odds that people might see your name more than once or recognize your brand as more prevalent.
This goes for those of you who are writing books as your main focus as well. You can go out there and start free blogs on the Web. You can use this platform to sell your books and to expand your perceived expertise in your field.
Our duty is so rich, so infinite, that we may do it still without accompt.-Wm. Shakespeare
