10 Myths about Being an Author

My name is Julie and I’m an author.

Hold your applause.

What? You weren’t planning on applauding? Oh.

Anyway, people are always asking questions. The big one is “Would you like fries with that?” but sometimes the questions relate to being an author. I’m not sure how they know that I write books for a living. Perhaps it’s my author-like scent. I’ve heard all authors emit this special sort of scent- Ode to Words, but I never believed it. Not till CURSES! was released last week and I noticed this stench clinging to me. Sure you could blame the whiskey, but I prefer to think that the smelly author myth is actually true.

By now you’re probably asking yourself, is there a point to this rambling? And the answer is…”Can I supersize my drink?”

Okay, now that my order’s complete, let’s talk myths, especially those 10 little ones that cling to authors:

10. Books are easy to write.
I hate to burst this particular bubble, since most people I know say stuff like, “I should write a book.” (And they should. Everyone should try at least once, and then I would never, ever hear that statement again). But book writing (at least good, publishable book writing) is damn hard and it takes months, sometimes years to finish.

9. Authors are all rich.
Sigh. I wish. Like me, most authors I know have a day job or a very nice spouse who supports the authors dream. Even semi-famous authors aren’t making the big bucks. For every six-figure book deal you hear about, there are twenty four figure ones. Worse, if you get an advance, you have to sell enough books to pay that advance (called earning out) before you make a dime on any book you sell.

8. Authors sell thousands and thousands of books.
To who? Please tell me where can I sell that many books? An average mid-list author with a new release will sell anywhere from 500 to a couple thousand book a year. Most books don’t even sell that many copies.

7. Once an author sells a book to a publisher, the author can just step back and reap in the royalties.
Ha! How I wish this myth was true. I sold my first book thinking this same thing. Boy did I learn a lesson over the next year. I had to arrange every book signing, send out all newsletters and press releases for media attention, and buy all my own book swag. A publisher does their part with editing, printing and distributing my book as well as helping to promote it.

6. All books are somewhat autobiographical.
Let me answer this as quick and easily as I can: NO. No. No. No. I am not a fairy tale villain. I’ve never been a fairy tale villain. Nothing in my novel is me or about me.

5. The narrator in the book is the author.
See the answer above. Whatever point of view a book is told in is a decision made by the author as a means to tell a story. I, the author, am not the narrator. I am merely the chick who types the words.

4. The day a book is released it will be front and center of the bookstore.
Not true. Here’s another painful lesson I learned. The books you see in the front of the bookstore, well, those are there because someone, likely the publisher, paid the store to place them there. Sadly, bookstores have less and less space for books. Many are now selling e-readers in space that used to house books. So the odds of finding your book on a store’s shelves are about 50/50.

3. Authors love attention and talking about their book.
Some do. Others, like me, would rather not be the center of attention. But it’s the nature of our business. If I want to succeed I have to tell people about my book.

2. If a book has vampires or a kid named Harry in it, you’ll make millions.
False. Please, for the love of all words, stop writing to what you think the market is or wants. If J.K. Rowlings or Stephenie Myers jumped off a bridge would you? Be fresh. Be unique. Be yourself.

1. All authors are young, sexy and hip.
This one happens to be absolutely true.

j.a. kazimer is a writer living in Denver, CO. With a master’s degree in forensic psychology, j.a. has worked as a private investigator, bartender, and at the Jack Kerouac School of Disembodied Poetics. Books include The Junkie Tales (2010), The Body Dwellers (2011), CURSES! A F***ed-Up Fairy Tale (2012), and Holy Socks & Dirtier Demons (2012). The next book in the F***ed Up Fairy Tale series, FROGGY-STYLE, is forthcoming from Kensington in 2013. Read more about j.a. at http://www.jakazimer.com

Book Marketing Inventory – Part 4 of 4

By Janet Fogg

Whew!

Today is the fourth and final installment of developing your book marketing inventory (let’s say it together – “Thank goodness!”) We’ve looked at the basics, such as social networking, your bio, website, and a one-page book summary, and then we started to review questions you could answer to develop your text and document inventory, which, along with all of the research we’ve discussed, will translate directly into a solid start for your marketing plan. But first we need to review a few more questions and then consider some odds and ends.

1. Do you know of any facts or unique selling points for your book which could be used to demonstrate its importance and relevance to the present time, i.e. anniversaries, celebrations, topical news related stories?

What’s in the news and does it happen to be a part of your book? A Presidential campaign? Fracking? Earthquakes? What’s relevant? If you do have something timely, use that information when you query newspapers or magazines about writing an article. Think about whether you would you be willing to discuss your research on the radio.

2. Prepare a list of organizations for potential speaking events, signings, etc., including book clubs.

Again, think outside that dratted square box. For example, our neighbor invited us to speak at the local Experimental Aircraft Association meeting, but we were skeptical - our book is about WWII. Yet pilots love to hear about and discuss flying, and we had a rapt crowd who enjoyed our presentation. (Thank you again, Paul.)

By the way, if you’re uncomfortable with the idea of actually speaking in front of an audience, now would also be the time to sign up for a public-speaking course! Don’t shudder, it will serve you well.

3. Create a list of nearby towns and then a sub-list of local papers, bookstores, radio and TV stations, libraries & Friends of the Library, and library associations.

You’ll probably be sending press releases to some or all of these folks, so get organized. As for radio and TV, can you say, “public speaking is my friend?” If not, as I mentioned above, get signed up for that class!

4. List any interviews (television, radio, print) you’ve done in the past two years and have copies of those interviews on hand. Include dates and contact details.

These are handy as you might mention a previous interview in a new query, and you could also contact the person who interviewed you to see if they might be interested in your new book and a new interview.

5. Prepare a short 300–500 word “article” about your new book. If you’ve been published before, include your other books. Local papers will often pick up these articles as might a number of ezines. Make sure to sign all your articles with your name, website and publisher contact info.

6. Odds and Ends (Other items to consider or research):

a. Do you want a book trailer? Or video interview?

b. How about a PowerPoint presentation so you’re ready for future speaking engagements?

c. Webwork: There are numerous sites where your bio and/or book or book trailer may be posted along with a link to your website or blog. (In some cases your book has to be traditionally published.) Here are just a few examples – you can find more!

Manicreaders
Goodreads
Authorsden
Shelfari
And don’t forget your author page on Amazon!

d. Should you develop a Facebook fan page for yourself? How about a page for your book?

e. Are you considering a blog tour? If so, start a list of pertinent sites and contact the blog owners so you can schedule your tour.

f. Awards: There are a number of awards for recently published books, and having your writing honored not only feels great it creates extra publicity. The awards I’m aware of are annual events and your book has to have been published within that calendar year to be eligible. A few examples include the Rita and Golden Heart Awards, HOLT Medallion, Edgar, and the Colorado Book Awards. There are many, many more for various genres, and you'll need to research submittal criteria and deadlines.

And now to summarize, over the past four weeks we’ve looked at everything from the basics, such as social networking, your bio, website, and a one-page book summary, to questions you can answer to develop your text and document inventory, which, along with all of the research, translates directly into your marketing plan.

A marketing plan!

Just think, your text will have been massaged and spiffed, you’ll know who you want to contact and how to contact them so those press releases and interview queries will simply fly off your computer. Plus, when you are interviewed, by having already drafted answers to questions similar to those you’ll be asked, your responses will have been embedded in your brain. You’ll appear cool, calm, and collected. Okay, maybe you’ll be nervous but you’ll also be prepared – and able to speak confidently about yourself and your book.

Oh, and a couple of final thoughts… Remember to plan your book signings and launch party! Celebrate!

Book Marketing Inventory – Part 3 of 4

by Janet Fogg

Two weeks ago I mentioned some of the basics, including social networking, your bio, and a one-page book summary, and last week we began to consider what information will help you market your book. By having research well underway and an inventory of text and documents on hand before your book is released, your marketing process will be streamlined and you’ll be able to enjoy book signings and celebrations instead of fretting about sales.

We’ll now continue the Q&A exercise for your book marketing inventory with these questions:

1. Why did you write this book?

2. How does your book stand out from similar books? List those books and compare.

3. What is it about your life experiences that led you to this book?

4. What are some of the highlights you enjoyed while writing it?

5. When did you first realize that you wanted to become a writer?

6. What is it about writing that appealed to you?

7. Do you have any advice for budding authors wanting to get published?

8. How much research did you do for the book? Can you give us some tips on this?

9. How long did it take you to write it?

10. What do you like most about your book? Why should we read it?

11. Where and when do you usually write?

12. Who are your favorite authors, fiction and non-fiction, and why?

13. How do you relax? Do you have any hobbies or interests?

14. Have you read anything lately that you'd like to recommend?

15. What are you working on at the moment?

By answering Questions 1 through 15, you’ll essentially have an interview ready, one that could be sent to blogs, newsletters, etc. You’ll also find yourself cutting and pasting portions of your responses to re-use in query letters and to post on FB, etc.

16. Make a list of key blogs, websites, twitterers, Facebook profiles, forums, and any other online communities you or your publisher should be contacting.

This could be a very long list, so get started! And then make a plan for contacting them. (Yes, this is part of your marketing plan!) If you’re doing it all yourself, decide how many you’ll contact each week. Pace yourself!

17. Do you have a personal mailing list of friends, relatives and work colleagues, etc. who would be interested in purchasing a copy of the book?

Your publisher might offer to do a mailing, but if they don’t, shouldn’t you? So get to work on that list, including mailing addresses and email addresses. Then you should prepare a postcard and email version of that card so you can begin a mailing campaign. You can post announcements on FB and in other venues, but having at least a few physical postcards will be handy, as you can use them at book signings and as leave-behinds at speaking events.

Now would be a good time to think about what other leave-behinds you might want or need. Bookmarks? Business cards? Press-release kits? Posters for signings?

That's enough for today! Next week I'll conclude the Q&A inventory exercise and run through some odds and ends for you to consider as you begin to implement your marketing plan.

See you bright and early, Monday morning!

Book Marketing Inventory – Part 2 of 4

by Janet Fogg

Last week I mentioned some of the basics you need in your book marketing inventory, including social networking, your bio, photo, and a one-page book summary. Now we’re going to think about your book and what information will help you market it. The answers to the following questions could become part of a marketing plan that you’ll refer back to, so you might want to copy and paste these questions to start your own document(s). A few of these questions apply more to traditionally published non-fiction, but if you pause and reflect, you can also apply them to marketing your novel.

1. Where do you think the main market for your book lies? Remember to identify market(s) beyond the obvious.

Here’s an example. For Fogg in the Cockpit, the main market would be readers interested in World War II, since the book is about my late father-in-law’s life as a fighter pilot during the war. A secondary market would be railroad fans. Railroad fans? Yep. Post-war, Howard Fogg pursued his dream of becoming an artist, painting railroad and locomotive scenes, ultimately becoming famous in that specialty, so fans of his art might be interested in the book. How about historical societies and railroad historical societies? What about WWII museums or railroad museums? And so on.

Now list the various possibilities for your novel or book - and be creative! Don’t build any artificial roadblocks!

2. What journals, magazines, or blogs do book reviews on your genre or topic(s)?

Spend time researching this. Read their reviews so you can see what they like and don’t like.

For example, the editor of Flying Models Magazine was interested in Fogg in the Cockpit. What does Flying Models have to do with our WWII book? Quite simply - flying. The editor was excited about our query and requested a copy of the book. Here was an audience we hadn’t anticipated. Of course we sent requests to WWII magazines and railroad magazines, but we found an unexpected opportunity. So can you! Remember to turn ninety degrees to see who is looking over your shoulder.

3. Prepare a list of colleagues, associates, or experts you know who can offer a review of your book on Amazon, as well as those who might provide an endorsement.

I suggest you make a list of a dozen or more names and addresses, including email addresses. If you’re seeking an endorsement or quote for your book jacket, obviously you’ll need to plan ahead, as the colleague or expert will need time to read the manuscript draft. Many may graciously decline this opportunity. Don’t take it personally! They may be under deadline and simply don’t have the time to read your book.

As far as book reviewers, ask your publisher whether they’re willing to send ARCs or the final book to potential reviewers. Casemate was terrific about this – if we had a nibble for a review they’d immediately send a copy of the book. You can do this as well, and should, but remember to communicate your efforts to your publisher.

4. List names and addresses and contact names of any associations, societies and institutions, local, national and international, having members to whom your book should be of interest.

For example, if you’re writing a lumberjack murder mystery series, include lumberjack associations as well as arborists, orchardists, and perhaps even gardeners. What other societies leap to mind?

With this list, you’ll be poised for action, ready to send the association a query and press release about whether they might publish an announcement in their newsletter. Or, if they’re looking for articles, offer to write one! Again, think big and take ninety degree turns. Websites and newsletters are hungry for interesting, well-written content.

5. List any colleges/universities that may be interested in using your book as a text for continuing education.

While this is most applicable to non-fiction, there may be exceptions, so think about it!

6. Names and addresses of public personalities (other writers, bloggers, and experts) whose opinions about your book might help it find a larger audience, or who might specifically like to review your book on publication.

Know anyone famous? How’s your six degrees of separation? Well, you don’t really need to know a famous personality to query them as you can track down mailing addresses on the web, and you could be surprised by who might respond. (We certainly were!) A professional query goes a long way, and if the subject of your book is of interest, a public personality might just say they’ll review your book.

With that vision of stars dancing through our heads, it’s time to pause until next Monday, when I’ll continue to look at developing your book marketing inventory, with questions such as, “Why did you write this book?” and how your response might be utilized.

Book Marketing Inventory – Part 1 of 4

by Janet Fogg

So you’ve just sold your first book? Or decided to self-publish? Congratulations! After you recycle those champagne bottles and generally sweep up the debris, what’s next?

If you’re being traditionally published, it might be a year before your book is actually released, so what should you be doing until the day that lovely brown truck rumbles down your drive and delivers a box of books into your eager, shaking hands? Of course you’ll need to work on edits, and also keep working on the new manuscript that you’ve started, but what else should occupy your time?

Marketing!

Now don’t groan and roll your eyes. Oh all right, you can moan just a little, but if you prepare your book marketing inventory now and then slowly implement your marketing plan, maybe, just maybe, it’ll be fun instead of a burden. (How’s that for positive spin?) And if you’ve decided to self-publish, you need to jump on your inventory and action plan right away!

I’ve had two books published; a novel by a small press and a non-fiction by a large press, and I’ve learned a heck of a lot between book one and book two. I fumbled along in my marketing efforts for the first, my novel Soliloquy, and while the editors and staff at The Wild Rose Press were wonderful to work with, they rely on their authors to do the bulk of the marketing. So I became involved in loops and groups and joined Facebook, but I didn’t have a plan and it showed. I stuck my toe in the social networking pool, held my breath, and backed away slowly. For example, I did some blogging but didn’t have a theme, nor did I seek guidance on how to link to other blogs, or proactively look for blogging partners, all of which I have done since.

Seeing as you’re reading this blog you likely know quite a bit about tweeting and blogging and all such social stuff, but if you don’t, please look back at some of the blogs here on the Rock, such as “Catch that Twitter Love” by Tamela Buhrke. I’m not going to delve into the specifics of social networking in this series, other than to reiterate how important networking is, but instead will focus on preparing a book marketing inventory - an inventory of documents and text as well as suggested research for use in your marketing plan.

Let’s start with a few basics.

1. Think about your web presence, both professional and personal. Do you have a website? Do you have accounts with Facebook, Twitter, etc.? Do you contribute to any online forums, websites, communities, or blogs?

It’s my very great pleasure to inform you that from now on, it IS all about you, so don’t squirm. As I mentioned earlier, if you haven’t plunged into social networking, get started NOW. You don’t have to do everything, but you should get involved somewhere, somehow, and soon. Facebook is certainly one of the largest venues, but there are many others, such as Google+, Linkedin, and so on. If you don’t have a website (or blog that substitutes as your website), start one soon.

2. Make an appointment for a professional photo, as your “author photo” will be used repeatedly. In this digital age that picture will hang around forever, so you want a flattering photo that can be used on your book jacket, website, in press releases, and so on. If you hire a professional photographer, request full rights before the shoot. Most will be amenable to this, if they receive acknowledgment whenever possible. Get a written release from the photographer that you own those rights. If a friend or relative is a good photographer, that’s great, but get a release from them as well. Also, if you have the software, you might want to save the photo in various sized jpgs, pdfs, and tifs.

3. Next? Draft several versions of your bio. A very short (single paragraph) bio plus a medium length and longer version, though no more than one page. You’ll edit this text later on, and spin it slightly depending on where you’re using it, but it will be very handy having multiple versions saved and available to edit. In the long version also include the book’s topic and highlights and where a reader can learn more (your website).

Include most if not all of the following details – and of course, keep it interesting!
Name in full (including degrees, honors, title etc.):
Nationality and place of birth/ hometown
Possibly your date of birth
Summary of Education
Previous books (with dates and publishers)
Periodicals which you have contributed to
Any professional or civic organizations to which you currently belong and does your writing appear in any newsletters?
Anything personal which you think might be of relevance

4. Now you can start on the draft of a one-page summary about you and your book. You’ll need ISBNs, page count, pricing, and your book cover image to complete the one-pager, but text and format can and should be underway, so you’ll have this summary ready to attach to press releases.

Ultimately, your one-pager would include:

Book title and author
Book cover
Blurb/book description
Author photo
Author bio
ISBN(s)
Retail price
Publisher’s name, address, phone, website
Page count
Publication date
Your website and/or blog
Your email

Okay, that wasn’t too bad, was it? Next week we’ll begin to think about what else you need in your book marketing inventory. If you’re fortunate, your publisher will be your marketing partner, and the answers to the questions I’ll pose will be helpful to you AND to them.

See you next Monday!

Writers Over The Edge: For Real

Grumbles from the desk of Tamela Buhrke

I was about to start the 4th blog post in my series on Building Your Marketing Machine, when I stumbled upon an article that made me smack my forehead—repeatedly. So instead of my original post, I am bringing you a cautionary tale about poor marketing strategy.

Recently, aspiring author, Mark Davis, sent query emails to agents, which began with the sentence: “By the time you receive this, I will have already have kidnapped your child.” You can read more about his stunt by clicking here.

To clarify things a bit, the novel that Mr. Davis was querying featured a character who snaps after his novel is rejected one too many times and he decides to kidnap an agent’s daughter. He gives the agent 90 days to publish his novel. Davis thought that sending this threatening email to an agent in the guise of his character, was a great marketing tactic that would help his book stand out from the crowd.

Now you understand why my forehead is red from the earlier smacking.

I write a series for this blog entitled Writers Over The Edge where I lampoon the crazy lengths that writers will go to get (and stay) published. I see now that I may not be projecting the right message. So let me be clear: Writers Over The Edge was never meant as a training manual for publication.

Yet there it was in black and white, a true Writer Over The Edge threatening the children of agents. Even if those agents only believed it for a moment—what horrible moment!

I know we are writers and thus are eager to get the attention of the Gatekeepers to Authordom (aka agents). We have all made a faux pas or two. Writers have been known to follow agents into bathrooms while pitching ideas. Some try to bribe agents with bakery goods, theater tickets or alcohol. Even if we haven’t done crazy things, we’ve at least thought about them. So I can forgive you if you can’t help but wonder (even as you cringe at this man’s tactics) did it work?

Thankfully, no. He did receive a phone call from an agent—who yelled at him. In the end, Davis was signed by an independent publishing company. No word on agent representation. After a stunt like that, I wonder if he ever will.

Davis chalked his actions up to marketing. This was not marketing. This was a desperate gamble for attention. Marketing works when it is backed by a good book, contains a strong plan and has a longterm strategy for sales.

Threatening a gatekeeper is not marketing.

Creating Your Book Marketing Machine

From the insane world of Tamela Buhrke comes a new kind of author marketing.

When I mention marketing strategies to most writers, their faces squish up in a most unattractive way, then the whining commences. Finally, I’m given a litany of reasons why marketing doesn’t work; how it takes too much time away from writing or is something the publishing company will do.

It makes me giggle... a little hysterically.

Here’s the deal. If you have a book, then you already have a marketing strategy. Your marketing strategy might be that you depend on your publishing company to do all the work. Your marketing strategy may be to tell your friends and relatives about the book, then let word of mouth sell you book. Maybe you posted a website? Maybe you are on Amazon.com or Goodreads.com? Those are all pieces of a marketing strategy.

So people who don’t like or believe in developing marketing strategies are still marketing. They just aren’t marketing effectively.

The good news is that, for those of us who are eager to put our books in front of more eyeballs, there are better strategies to help us market. One strategy that works well is to build yourself something that I like to call the marketing machine.

What is a marketing machine?

A marketing machine is a way to multiply your efforts. It is created by building a dedicated team of market-savvy authors. They are not professional marketers or promoters. You do not pay them. Instead, they are authors that are in the same or similar genre. They have books available for sale (books you've read and enjoyed) and are dedicated to promoting their books—and yours.

Why would they market your books? Because you are going to market their books, in return. By building a marketing machine, all the members of the team help market each other. The team rises together. The effort of one is multiplied through the team. Plus, marketing ideas can be shared and tested. A marketing machine is a great way to quickly build your platform and sell more books.

There are several components to a successful marketing machine. They include:

• Building & Brainstorming
• Create a Blogging Crew
• Forming Social Media Allies
• Joining Author Marketing Networks
• Promoting Reviews

Your goal is to build a team that works together to market each other. This is why I had you building your board of directors first. You will want to mine the best people from your board to build your perfect team.

Join me for the next five weeks as we go over the ins and outs of building your marketing machine.

Networking: How to Connect with Critique Partners, Agents & Editors

From Tamela Buhrke

There is nothing like connecting with a fellow writer when you are stuck or need someone to bounce an idea off. Yet, as your career progresses, you will need more than just a pat on the back. You will need guides and experts who can help you put your writing career into the fast track. When networking to build your writing career, there are several areas you will want to explore. First, find critique groups and writing coaches. Second, network with agents, editors and published authors.

The Benefits of Critique Groups

If you’ve been showcasing your work to friends and family, then you may not be getting the most accurate assessment of your work. Critique groups can be a healthy reality check, offering feedback from more experienced writers.

If you are nervous about meeting with people, or just don’t have the time for an ongoing critique group, then an online critique site is the way to go. The nice thing about starting with an online site is that it’s impersonal. You won't be worried about hurting a friend’s feelings and they won’t worry about hurting yours. The critique of your work will be unbiased. Here are a few online critique sites:

• CritiquCircle.com
• Scribophile.com
• Writersbeat.com
• Writing.com
• Reviewfuse.com

Each of these sites offers different styles for critiques. Some are offered by fellow writers and some by regular readers. Each will offer a different perspective so use your judgement to see which site is right for you.

If you need something more consistent and personal, that’s when a real world critique group might be better for you. One of the benefits of a critique group that meets in person is that you get more than just the feedback on your own work. You get friendship and camaraderie. You also have the benefit of learning each other’s style. The critiques can become more relevant and personalized.

How do you find a local critique group? Sometimes writing organizations have critique groups you can join—Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers does here. You can also build one yourself. Start by pulling from the friendships you have built in your writing communities. Once you have a base, you can build your group by posting membership openings on sites like Craig’s List, Meetup and even Twitter.

Networking with Agents & Editors

Once you have your critique groups, now it’s time to find people who can give you insider industry information. There is no better place to get to know and learn from agents and editors than Facebook and Twitter.

I heard that collective groan. I have no sympathy for you.

With these two social media sites, you can tap directly into the minds and hearts of the most sought after people in the publishing industry; agents, editors and successful authors. Every day, I follow agents and editors on Twitter. I read agent’s complaints about industry issues and query letters mishaps. I see their requests for certain genres or styles of work. Reading their tweets regularly is a great way to get to know the style and interests of specific agents.

Best of all, you can often ask them questions about your genre and get tips on everything from the best time of the year to query to how to market your book and more. Just please, please don’t try to pitch or query an agent or editor on Twitter or Facebook. That is considered rude. Instead, use the opportunity to learn from and about them.

Be professional. These social networking sites provide an opportunity for getting information and starting intelligent conversations. Earn respect from these people by being interested in them and learning from them. Build a relationship with them and it can only benefit you as you go into pitch sessions or send query letters.

Networking this way works. My experience is a perfect example. Last summer I was on Facebook, searching for writing groups. I ran across the RMFW Facebook page. On that page, I chatted with a someone named Dave. I didn't know him, but he knew a lot about the upcoming Gold conference. We agreed to connect at the Conference. After our meeting, I offered to help him with this blog. After some time to consider it, he agreed. Now I blog with this great group of writers and have had the opportunity to interview agents and editors. If I hadn’t started that conversation with Dave on Facebook, I wouldn’t have had this wonderful opportunity.

That is the power of networking.

Next week we'll take networking to a whole other level. I'll go over how to use your connections to build a marketing team and grow your readership.

See you next week!

Your Writer Board of Directors—Creating Connections

A guide to networking by Tamela Buhrke

If you’ve been reading my series on building Your Writer Board of Directors, then you are probably wondering where you can

meet these mythical guides to your writing career. How will you connect with people who are willing to provide support and give advice on writing, getting published and the business of being a writer?

By joining a writer community, that’s how.

No I’m not talking about that sweet little ladies group that meets in the local church basement (though, they’re nice too). I’m talking about an organized group of writers who live, eat and breathe writing.

These communities come in two flavors: online and real world.

You can join one or several. Plus, you can find groups that deal with specific topics, such as young adult or women's subjects. Here is a sample of the types online communities that connect writers:

• WritersCafe.org is, according to their website, an online writing community where writers can post their work, get reviews, befriend other writers, and much more.
• Protagonize.com boasts over 16,000 authors from around the world. It too let’s you post your work and get review, connect with authors and ask questions.
• Mibba.com is a site for teens and early twenties. You can connect with other young writers, upload stories and poetry then get feedback.
• BookCountry.com is a new social network created by Penguin. You can post part or all of your manuscript and let the community give you reviews and feedback. They also plan to add self-publishing services.
• SheWrites.com Offers the largest community of women writers online. They approach the topics of writing from a woman's perspective. However, men are free to join.

These free social networks provide you with the best of all possible worlds. You can meet and mingle, get inspiration and share your writing frustrations without the commitment of regular meetings. Best of all, you can do it on your own time and it’s always there when you need it. Have a busy week? Don’t log in. Need advice or a pat on the back? Hop into a forum or chat room and find a friend.

These sites are a low maintenance way of learning, growing and networking in our field. You may even pick up a few local friends and be able to set up local meetups, write-ins and coffee talks.

Once you’ve gotten your feet wet online, getting involved with local writing groups and organizations can help you build your connections within the publishing world. There are so many organizations; it would be hard to list them all here. Fortunately, I found a link to a site that has the most comprehensive list I’ve seen:

http://www.forwriters.com/groups.html

From the Alamo Writers group in San Antonio to our own Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers, the list will help you to find a group near you or a group that represents your genre or other connections.

Now that you are mixing and mingling with writers, the next step is to build friendships. You don’t need to build your board yet. Right now, just get to know people. Listen and learn. People who attend these meetings regularly often have a world of experience and understanding about the business of being a writer.

Start by getting comfortable with your fellow writers and finding information, friendship and support. As your career grows, you will need critique, publishing and marketing partners. Next time, I will show you where to find groups for more specific purposes.

See you next week.

Does Book Marketing Work?

From the desk of Tamela Buhrke

Okay, time for cold, hard facts. Many of us are out there tweeting, posting, and frantically building a presence in the internet world. So the big question is whether any of it is working? Is it selling books?

As usual, the answers are mixed. If you write a horrible book, you can market the you-know-what out of it, and your results will often (but not always) be tepid. On the other hand, the best book in the world won’t sell if no one knows it's there.

For those with a strong book and a marketing plan, there is good news. Studies show that book marketing will improve sales. According to a study by Wellesley Hills Group, authors who hired a marketing or promotion company to promote their book sold more than twice as many books as those who relied on their publisher’s marketing. The study also showed that the internet was the most successful vehicle for selling books. Getting press in a trade magazine came in second. Book signings were deemed ineffective.

So if internet marketing is the most effective, then which internet tools should we use? I don't know about you, but I sometimes feel like a hamster in a social media ball, rolling from this social network to that. Often, it is hard to know which efforts are paying off. Evidently that is true for most authors. A study by FSB Associates, which tracked the Twitter chatter of 20 authors then compared it to their Amazon sales, found mixed results. Sometimes the Twitter chatter created buzz, and the book sales soared, but just as often it didn’t work. However, there were some consistent benefits. The use of Twitter increased all the author’s website rankings on Google and often created a much stronger brand for the author. Additional research will be needed to determine why some social chatter created more sales than others.

What about online advertisements? Mashable recently did an interesting study of Facebook ads. They found that folks between 40 - 65 were the age bracket most likely to click on the ads, so if you are targeting a younger or older audience then ads might be less effective for you. Though overall, ads with products that were considered “fun” did better. So fiction would have an easier time over nonfiction.

The whole field of internet marketing is so new. It will be awhile before we have concrete answers on what techniques work best. However, studies show that, overall, internet marketing is working for authors. Use the social networks to get your name and your books into the public eye and then monitor what networks are best for your particular circumstance.

Most of all, be patient. Seth Godin, the Grand Poobah of marketing, said that "the best time to start promoting your book is three years before it comes out." Marketing takes time. If you are in this for the long-haul, then the time will be worth the effort.

Sources:

“Book Marketing Statistics” Author Insider. 2006
“Study: Twitter Chatter Sells Books, Sometimes.” The Huffington Post August 11, 2010
“Do Facebook Ads Sell Books?” Book Cover Designer. March 09, 2011
"Advice for authors" Seth Godin. August 02, 2006