Friday Speak Out!: Easy Book Marketing for Authors Who Hate Marketing

by Linda Strader

I haven’t met an author yet who loves the marketing aspect of book promotion. Certainly I don’t. I’ve never been particularly outgoing, nor social. Not that I’m a recluse, but I’ve never been one to talk (which in my world means brag) about my accomplishments. Simple compliments throw me, to the point that I often pretend I didn’t hear them.

However, I knew that if I wanted people to know about my book, which I did, I was going to have to get them interested long before it was published. How to do this? I had a Facebook account, but never used it. I didn’t have many friends, and certainly not on Facebook. I needed to meet people beyond the few friends I had. I mean, seriously, how much promotion could a few people help me with? I decided to explore further.

I discovered Facebook Groups. I’d no idea these existed. I decided to join a few that were focused on writing, as well as my other hobbies, including gardening and art. To my surprise, I found people quite sociable and friendly, to which I responded in kind. I never mentioned my book, but once in a while a post would come up that opened the door for me to talk about myself. And what do you know? People were interested to hear about me, my book, my life…which I reciprocated, because it was fun to share.

What I’ve discovered is this: if you want people to buy your book, you need to connect with them on a social level. Sending out a gazillion emails that essentially say “Buy my book!” will not work. Neither will the accumulation of hundreds of email addresses of people you don’t know in order to blast them with book release news. You wouldn’t stop a stranger on the street and whip out a copy of your book saying, “Hey, want to buy my book?” would you? That’s essentially what you are doing.

It took over a year, but I made not only new friends, but important connections that led to guest blog-posts, interviews: written, video, and audio, as well as speaking opportunities, and book signing events. All of these resulted in over 150 pre-orders for my book, and not just in the U.S. New friends and connections from all over the world wanted a copy—all by me simply connecting and being friendly with people I met online.

Never discount the importance of a connection. That one connection might not be interested in your book, but maybe they know of someone who would be. People “share” with others online, and your news is spread even farther. It’s all good. You can do this! I know you can.

* * *

Originally from Syracuse, New York, Ms. Strader moved to Prescott, Arizona with her family in 1972. In 1976, she became one of the first women on a U.S. Forest Service fire crew in the Santa Rita Mountains south of Tucson.

Summers of Fire: A Memoir of Adventure, Love and Courage is her first book, released on May 1st, 2018 by Bedazzled Ink Publishing. She is currently working on a prequel.

In addition to writing, Ms. Strader is a landscape architect, certified arborist, and watercolor artist. She currently lives in the same area where her Forest Service career began.

Blog address: https://summersoffirebook.blogspot.com/
Facebook author page: https://www.facebook.com/LindaStraderauthor
Twitter: @desertplantlove
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Would you like to participate in Friday "Speak Out!"? Email your short posts (under 500 words) about women and writing to: marcia[at]wow-womenonwriting[dot]com for consideration. We look forward to hearing from you!
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10 comments author advice, book marketing, book promotion, connecting with readers, facebook groups, Friday Speak Out, guest blog post, Linda Strader, marketing tips for authors

Emotion: Bridging the Gap Between Your Character and Your Reader

For the last couple of weeks, I’ve been doing prep work to try my hand at a novel. Although I don’t normally write either fiction or for an adult audience, this time I’m going to be writing a cozy mystery.

The first task has been to develop my main character – Clara Cunningham works in a small museum and sings in her church choir. I’ve put a lot of effort into making her unique but then I started to worry. Will my readers identify with her? After all, not everyone works in a museum, wears period clothing or sings in a church choir. How am I going to bridge the gap between Clara and my reader?

Thank goodness for my book club. This month’s book is The Lying Game by Ruth Ware. Ware has shown me how to forge a connection between the reader and the characters even though our circumstances differ greatly.

In The Lying Game, four teen girls meet at boarding school and play a game where successfully lying to someone outside of the group earns you points. They form a tight clique and then one girl’s father turns up dead. They think it is a drug overdose and for various reasons decide it will be best to hide the body. Fifteen years later, the bones are discovered. I don’t know about you, but I never helped three classmates hide a body. Nope. It never even came up in our little group of nerdy girls, but I still managed to identify with the characters.

Ware accomplishes this by giving the characters emotions and situations that are real to me because I’ve experienced them. Consider Isa, the POV character. She’s the mother of an infant and worries that she will lose her child if what they did as teens is discovered. Many of us who are mothers can identify with this powerful connection. Even if you don’t have this connection, she is outraged when she is accused of something she didn’t do. Ironic though it may seem coming from someone who helped hide a body, that’s a rage we’ve all felt and it helped draw the connection tighter.

Isa’s roommate at school was Fatima. Although it wasn’t the case in high school, she now wears a hijab and prays five times a day. Not Muslim, I can still identify with Fatima’s annoyance at her old friends when they all jump to the conclusion that becoming outwardly religious was forced on her by her husband. Any woman who has ever had to defend her mate to her friends will understand Fatima’s frustration.

Fear of losing a home. Fear of losing a career. Anxiety when wrestling with whether or not to betray a trust when either choice will harm someone. Layer by layer, familiar emotion by familiar emotion, Ware builds a bridge between the world of her women readers and the world of her women characters. Whether your book is a murder mystery, a thriller, or historical fiction, using character emotion can help readers connect with unusual or unfamiliar characters as these characters face challenges unique to their worlds and their situations.

--SueBE

To find out more about Sue Bradford Edwards' writing, visit her blog, One Writer's Journey.  Sue is also the instructor for Writing Nonfiction for Children and Young Adults. The next session begins March 12th, 2018.

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2 comments characterization, connecting with readers, cozy mystery, creating a bridge

Friday Speak Out!: How I Ventured the “Road less traveled” …and Found the Path to Success!

by Jennifer Brown Banks

I did everything wrong. At least, according to the experts. As a newbie blogger six years ago, I allowed my gut, business instincts, and personal goals to navigate my journey.

I didn’t blindly follow the advice of every “Tom, Dick and Harry” who fashioned themselves as being an authority on my blogging career. Instead, I sought “mentorship” by studying the top guns: Darren Rowse, Brian Clark and a few others who demonstrated true “success” by their cult-like followings and impressive incomes. But even then, I was selective in what I chose to apply to my own efforts, realizing that we all have different strengths, resources and lifestyles.

I blogged on a free platform. A decision that many said would serve like a “scarlet letter,” branding me as an unprofessional, unworthy of serious consideration from clients and peers.

I said “no” to SEO. Many times when I tried to apply it, I felt it made my writing seem stiff and redundant. I opted to write for readers and not robots.

Instead of trying to grow my fan base through the social media frenzy, I opted to grow my knowledge base. I read a lot, experimented, encouraged feedback, was transparent about my failures, and eventually found answers that caused fewer detours on the path to success.

And you can too.

Here are a few principles and lessons I discovered along my blogging journey, to shorten your learning curve and help you go the distance:

1. Be willing to fail, in order to succeed.

This may seem contradictory here, but it isn’t. Here’s a case in point. Though I have been fortunate to garner several blogging awards at my site, Pen and Prosper, (including Top 25 Blogs for Writers honors), it’s not my first blog attempt. The former two were a flop! But, I didn’t stop. And you shouldn’t either. As they say, “If at first you don’t succeed…”

2. Be a detective; follow the clues.

Want to know if you’re on the right track with the content that you provide? Pay attention to readers’ comments, Google analytics, and the flow of traffic. For example, I used to publish on weekends, until I noticed that I got very little views and levels of engagement. With time, wisdom and discernment, you can become your own “expert.”

3. Remember that blogging is a relationship.

Give. Be courteous. Though you may not be able to schedule a “date night,“ you can “woo” your readers. Take periodic polls and survey them to understand their needs. Shake things up a bit, keep things interesting. Why not interview a comedy writer? Or sponsor a contest, conduct book reviews, or share links of interest? Successful blogging is not all about numbers; it’s about “connecting” with people.

Regardless to the obstacles you may encounter along the way, stay on track. Chart your own course.
Keeping in mind what matters most: “It’s not how you start, but how you finish!”

* * *

JENNIFER BROWN BANKS is an award-winning blogger, ghost writer and veteran freelancer. Her work has appeared extensively online, including: Pro Blogger, Tiny Buddha, Daily Blog Tips, and the Well-Fed Writer. When she’s not at the keyboard, she’s typically in the kitchen. Visit her award-winning site at:
http://Penandprosper.blogspot.com/

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Would you like to participate in Friday "Speak Out!"? Email your short posts (under 500 words) about women and writing to: marcia[at]wow-womenonwriting[dot]com for consideration. We look forward to hearing from you!

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10 comments advice, blogging, connecting with readers, Friday Speak Out, Google analytics, Jennifer Brown Banks, knowledge, learning from mistakes, success

Marketing is All About Connecting

Writers, published or not, have to think about marketing. I recently read an article, where the author stated if you're planning to publish a book, you must start building your marketing platform three years in advance. But what does this really mean? Are you supposed to have a certain number of Twitter followers? Blog on a regular schedule? Create business cards and brochures?

Sure, all of those are important. But what's really crucial and what builds your contacts is connecting with your audience. It's really no different than your personal life. With your loved ones, you make connections--there's a give and take in these relationships. It should be the same with your marketing. You need to connect with your audience. You need to provide information or service, and you can also be a little personal, as long as you stay professional.

So how do you connect with your audience and build your contacts?

1. Show your value: No matter what you write: memoir, self-help books, romance novels, or children's picture books--you have something of value to share with people. This marketing strategy is easier for nonfiction writers because the content of their work is usually what their audience wants to learn about. For example, if you write books about saving money, you can provide tweets and blog posts with tips about saving money. Your audience will follow you because they want to learn more.

Fiction writers have a harder time with this, but it is still important. For example, I write children's books. What is my value? My books entertain and teach about a child's world. As a teacher, I also know a thing or two about kids and reading. So, I can provide information on the value of reading, fun kids books, books similar to mine, questions to go with books, and more. I could even point out sales on Amazon or library programs to check out. All of these things have value to people in my network, and they help promote my books and me as a speaker and teacher.

2. Be honest. This sounds so simple, but it's true. Sometimes, we struggle. Sometimes, we fail. I think one of the problems new writers have is that they read a lot of blog posts or writing craft books, which make it sound like if you just try hard enough, a publishing contract will be waiting for you at your doorstep. I mean, the likelihood of eventually having success if you work hard is high, but it's not guaranteed.

Honesty is one reason why I love Stephen King's On Writing so much and recommend it to all my writing students. I don't like reading horror books. But King's honesty in the first part of On Writing , about his struggles with drug addiction and becoming a successful writer and then years later, recovering from being hit by a car, is amazing.

Be honest with your network, but remain professional--this is what King did. How can you do this too?  Let's say: you are struggling with finding time to write. You could send out a tweet: I'm not writing every day. What works for you? Let's say you received a rejection or didn't win a contest, you could write a blog post about this failure. But then give it a positive spin: so I am reworking the beginning of the story and sending it back out to these five places tomorrow.

3. Think about your audience.  Do not think only about yourself and what you want. You need to consider what your followers want to. This is simply a matter of putting yourself in their shoes. Does someone really want to read blog post after blog post about your daily writing struggles or about the tricks your dog can do or about all your success on the bestseller list? No, people want variety. They want value (see number 1) and honesty (see number 2). Mix up your marketing. Think about the authors you like and follow. Why do you follow them? Can you do the same with your own unique twist because that's what your audience wants?

The bottom line is marketing is about connecting. How do the writers you follow connect with you? Study this, and then find a way to do it with your own style and flair.

Margo L. Dill is the author of three books for children and teens, owns an editing business (Editor 911), and teaches online novel writing and children's writing classes for WOW!    

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4 comments connecting with readers, Margo L. Dill, marketing, social media, social media marketing, Stephen King

Connect with Your Audience with This Key Element

Whether you want to form a relationship with your blog audience, those that visit your website, your twitter followers, or even readers of your book, you need one key element.

What is it? That's what I'm blogging about over at FireText. And I'll give you a hint: it starts with empathy.

Today I'm specifically giving examples of how to use this method as it relates to texting and connecting with your customers through an SMS limit of 160 characters, but it's a technique that works well for just about anyone who wants to connect on a deeper level with their readers.

I just got a gig blogging for various businesses and sites about topics related to writing, marketing, and making money with writing, which is fantastic because I get to stay in my niche and help out other audiences that I normally wouldn't reach. I'll share more about this gig later, but in the meantime, check out my post: Creating a Deep Connection with Your Customers Through Text.

And if you've used empathy as a way to connect with your readers, I'd love to hear about it!

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Leave a Comment connecting with readers, empathy, Firetext, marketing tip, texting

A Few Random Thoughts About Readers and Their Existence

I had an interesting conversation at the post office today. I was sending Caught Between Two Curses to the winner of WOW!'s contest and a Goodreads contest. On the envelope, I had written WOW! winner and on the other, Goodreads winner. The mail clerk had trouble finding a place to put the postage and media mail stickers, and I said, "You can just cover up WOW! winner."

She said, "Oh no. I can't. This is very important to know that they won a book. It might encourage them to read more. Nobody reads anymore."

I smiled and said thank you, and then I said, "You're right."

Although I know that the WOW! winner reads all the time, and most people that enter book contests also do; but in general, the depressing thing is that people read less. Right? Or am I wrong? Or does it seem like there are just more books out there than ever before, and that's why people seem to be able to read fewer books--because there are so many?

On Friday, I went to an elementary school for an author visit and talked to 90 fourth graders. I like to do a lot of audience interaction, and I said, "Raise your hand if you like to write." About 75 percent of the students raised their hands. (I realize this is probably more than actually like to write, but they don't want me to think that they don't like writing, given my profession.) Then I asked, "Who likes to read?" And at least, 90 percent raised their hands, and I even heard one child exclaim, "Oh yeah, I do."

So, it's not true that all kids like to do is play video games. And it's not true that no adults read, in my opinion. But here are two points we need to consider as writers: 1. we need to read ourselves (please do not say you are too busy writing to read. Part of being a writer is being a reader).  2. We need to find READERS. We are very good at finding other writers. We find them at conferences, on Facebook, in Twitter chats, and more. But really, readers are going to buy our books and talk about them and give them as gifts to friends and family. Many writers are readers, too, of course; but people who just love to read and not necessarily write do exist.

I realize this post is a bit all over the place--that's the way my brain feels tonight. But lately, I've had several conversations with writers about looking for readers--don't only spend your marketing efforts and budget on sites where other writers are the main audience. Other writers are very supportive and often have blogs and will give you reviews, but you also need to take time and find reader blogs--they exist. People who just want to read really do start blogs and review books, and many of these are quite popular.

What's the bottom line? I think this is an optimistic post. I'm trying to say that reading is still alive! People still love to read, and it's our job as writers to write for these readers, find our audience, and be readers ourselves.

SO, what are you reading?  

Find out more about Margo L. Dill and her books at http://margodill.com/blog/ or take a class with her from the WOW! classroom (novel writing and children's writing): http://www.wow-womenonwriting.com/WOWclasses.html

photo above by Mo Riza (http://www.flickr.com)

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5 comments connecting with readers, love of reading, Margo L. Dill, reading, reading as a writer

How to Make Your Writing Red Hot

In this competitive world we write in, making your article or story stand out is an important piece on the road to success. You want readers to take notice and read your work.

How do you make sure this happens?

I stumbled on this little gem of wisdom this week, and even though the article focuses on business content, it got me thinking. I'm a journalist, so I employ the ideas in the article a lot. I'm also a playwright, poet, and occasionally, a writer of fiction, and these tips make sense when it comes to promotion and writing.

In a nutshell:

1. Ideas are everywhere. If you stop and think, you could undoubtedly create a story or article about almost any moment occurring through a day. Think about the unexpected places where stories may come from: an incident in the grocery checkout line, a school board meeting, a doctor's visit, a phone call. Tap into those moments and get creative!
2. Think in headlines or titles. This tidbit of advice is my step number two once I've contemplated the 5 W's and 1H. I envision the headline for the piece and write.
3. Answer the question. What's the takeaway or bigger lesson for readers? It's the essential element for developing connections with your readers.
4. Make it snack-sized. When I read these tips, my mind raced with social media and marketing efforts. We promote 140 characters at a time on Twitter. We engage readers on Facebook or through an author's website. We give enough for a nibble, a sweet taste that entices the reader to want more and more content.
5. Don't overthink it. Just get to the point. You don't need two paragraphs of flowery prose if you can create the same message in a single, impactful sentence.

Think precision. Think creativity. Most importantly, think about writing red hot content that leaves readers wanting more.

by LuAnn Schindler

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Leave a Comment connecting with readers, develop ideas, get to the point, headlines, LuAnn Schindler, networking

Are You Connected with WOW?

Recently, I had a Twitter conversation with one of our followers and she asked how she could get more involved with WOW! I'm asked this question by several of my WOW! online students also; and so I thought I'd take a little time today to highlight some of the ways you can interact and connect with other WOW! fans, readers, and team members. You want to stay connected!

• Newsletter: We have a free newsletter when a new issue comes out and periodic e-mail blasts about special opportunities for WOW! subscribers. To sign up, go to our home page at http://www.wow-womenonwriting.com . On the top right-hand side, you will see a box that says, "Sign up for our free newsletter." If you were already signed up, you would have been notified about our new issue, our special offers from our sponsors, and what we are looking for from freelancers this week!

• Facebook: Like us on Facebook! We allow fans to post information about their blogs, books, or businesses once a week. We let you know about all our new classes. We respond to questions on what type of submissions we are looking for and when contest notifications go out. Our Facebook page is a great place to ask us questions and let us know what YOU are up to with your writing. You can also meet other women writers here for networking and support. Anytime we have a special offer or new blog tour with a book giveaway--we post it here.

• Twitter: We have two Twitter accounts you can follow--our general one at http://www.twitter.com/womenonwriting or one specifically for WOW! blog tours at http://www.twitter.com/WOWblogtour  On both, we interact with followers; on our general account, we tweet links to helpful articles and contests as well as updates to our class lists and the freelance job board. We point out our sponsors whom we have checked out, and we encourage writers through the hashtags #amwriting and #nanowrimo. Our WOW! blog tour account lets readers know where our authors are appearing and when people can win a prize or learn important information.

• The Muffin:  Our blog, which you are reading now, can be subscribed to through e-mail or RSS feed. We update The Muffin each day, so you don't want to miss one thing our bloggers have to say. You can also become a part of our blog through the Friday Speak Out program. For more information, click on a post written on ANY FRIDAY, read it, and then contact Marcia at marcia (at) wow-womenonwriting.com

Finally, don't forget about our quarterly flash fiction contest, judged in the final round by a literary agent, or the WOW! classroom, where the 2012 classes are now listed--there are some new ones to check out. And if you are freelancer, we are accepting queries (send them quick!) for our January/February issue--it's an open theme, but anything about beginning a new year, editing NaNoWriMo, getting organized, and so on is surely welcome. Check out our archives to see what type of articles we've had in past Januaries! 

As we go into the holiday season, it's easy to forget about your writing and yourself. So, make sure you stay connected--at least a few minutes each day. 

post by Margo L. Dill; Margo is teaching online classes through WOW!'s classroom in 2012. Her class listings include blogging, social networking, freelance writing, middle grade novels, and writing for children. Go to the classroom for more information!

photo by cogdogblog www.flickr.com

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6 comments connecting with readers, connecting with writers on Facebook, Facebook, Margo L. Dill, WOW Classes, wow twitter

Find More Than Friends on Facebook

Smart writers use Facebook to their advantage. They network with fans and writers, promote their work, and create engaging dialogue.

Smart writers also know that smart readers use Facebook and book apps on the networking site. On Friday, Jason Boggs listed the top 20 Facebook apps for book lovers on the Media Bistro site. As I perused the list, I discovered I had only heard of four of these apps. Book lovers and writers may want to check out:

• I'm Reading. List and rate books you're reading. Share reviews.


• Lendle. This is a Kindle app that lets you share or borrow Kindle books.


• Avon Romance. Perfect for women searching for a great forever and ever read.


• The Ultimate Harry Potter Quiz. Questions from the novels and movies are listed. I've taken it. It's tough!

Smart writers will think of ways to connect with readers and potential readers through these book applications. You never know how future readers will learn about your work.

Which Facebook book apps do you use?

by LuAnn Schindler. Follow LuAnn on Twitter @luannschindler or read more of her work at LuAnn's Writing on the Wall.

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Leave a Comment connecting with readers, connecting with writers on Facebook, Facebook, facebook apps, LuAnn Schindler

Spread the Word: Do Authors Need an E-Mail Newsletter?

After you start publishing work, after you begin building a following of readers, you realize you need to stay connected so you can inform readers of what you're working on or offer writing advice or promote your latest book.

Now, you may be wondering what the best method of communication may be. You've got a website, you promote your work on Twitter and Facebook. Maybe your blog allows for an RSS feed. Do you also need a newsletter?

Before you starting penning a periodical, several questions need to be addressed. What reasons drive your desire to begin a newsletter? Who will read your newsletter? And perhaps the most important question of all: Why should readers peruse your publication?

Why Start a Newsletter?
Obviously, an e-mail newsletter can help you stay in touch with readers and grow a larger circulation base. Do newsletters give all writers and genres a boost?

• Non-Fiction writers - experts on the topic they write about - benefit from this type of promotion. By offering articles, breaking news, and links to other information regarding your area of expertise, readership will increase. In many cases, cross-links with other websites draw additional readers.
• Fiction writers use a newsletter to update fans about the latest news: book or article updates, blog posts, book tours, speaking engagements. Some authors offer book excerpts or links to video or podcasts.

Who Will Read Your Work?

Determining your intended audience will help you decide what type of content to include in the newsletter. Plus, defining your readership helps you focus on places to find potential readers.

Once you've defined who your audience will be, you need to ask why this audience will want to read your updates. Are they looking for specific advice on the topic? Do they want general information about books, articles, blog posts? Are they interested in personal information?

Sometimes, a writer may try to cover all bases. Trust me, as an avid reader of newsletters from several of my favorite writers, their publications don't always contain the information I'm most interested in. But that may be okay, too, since it forces me to check out their websites.

Formulate a strong mental picture about the type of newsletter you want. Play with several different design ideas. Make a list of potential articles. These strategies provide focus for you and the kind of information you plan to impart to readers. I scoured my favorite writer newsletters and found the following items:

1. Top-# lists
2. Features
3. Reviews
4. Q & A
5. Guest Writers
6. Classified

What Elements Haven't I Considered?

Think you've thought of everything? Think again. Here are a few other considerations:

• How often will I publish a newsletter? Weekly? Monthly? Only you know for sure how much information you'll have to make a newsletter a worthwhile reading experience.
• Will I write every article? Depending on the scope of your publication, a newsletter can be a time-consuming project. Can you afford to pay others to write for the newsletter?
• Should I offer a premium subscription or should my newsletter be free of fees? Once again, the size of the project may point you toward the best answer for you situation.
• Does the publication need a copyright? Good reasons exist why you should copyright you work: a copyright establishes public record, copyright registration is necessary before filing an infringement lawsuit, and in some instances, a copyright lawsuit victory can include attorney fees and court costs. (No, I'm not a lawyer and I don't play one on TV, so you may want to double check with your legal counsel prior to filing a copyright.)
• What service should I use to distribute work? Some of the most commonly-used programs include Yahoo Groups, Constant Contact and Aweber. Sure, other distribution systems exist. Best advice is to ask fellow writers what does - and doesn't - work, based on their experiences.

Still interested in starting a newsletter for readers and potential audience members? E-mail newsletters make great promotional tools. But, a newsletter also requires a time investment. Make a decision that works best for your writing situation.

by LuAnn Schindler. Check out more of LuAnn's work at her website.

Photo by LuAnn Schindler

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3 comments author promotion, connecting with readers, email newsletters, LuAnn Schindler, newsletters, readers, writer promotion