Question: What is the single most important thing you can do to promote your book? Here's the good news: if you decided to become a writer, as you probably already know, you're crazy.
And crazy is exactly what it takes to tackle the immense, many-headed beast of today's book marketing. Most of us go in blind, swinging whatever makeshift weapons we scavenge along the way, like Don Quixote. But isn't that how you tackled your first blank page? Tip 1 - Trust the process, follow wherever it takes you, and keep swinging. Hopefully my story will at least point you in the right directions, and give you an idea what to expect. In November, , I got the phone call writers dream of - my agent, B.
My fourth novel, but first sale. My God, I would have my very own editor! Then I will never forget B. Think of it as a job, an investment in yourself and your new career. The words hit the pit of my stomach like the proverbial chunk of lead. Five months earlier, I had retired from years of teaching high school English, years gleaning early morning hours to write before school. I retired to write full time. Now, my new job was book promotion?
Days later B. I went and soaked up everything. And read everything you can find on the subject. On a grueling Saturday eight workshop participants refined and practiced our "elevator pitches," learned how to give good readings, how to make a "Marketing Plan," get media attention and much more.
What struck me most was the power of "niche marketing" and this harrowing truth: If you rely on your publisher's publicity department or on book store signings, you'll most likely be very disappointed, i. Premature remaindering. Tip 3 - Find a niche or several for promoting your book. Sexy, fun, full of female empowerment - perfect for spa-ing. All my Adobe PageMaker practice with students paid off. Then followed up with phone calls and advance copies of the book to those interested, and started scheduling events.
