Friday Speak Out!: No Appearance is an Island

by Blaise Ramsay

Has this ever happened to you? You're sitting at a table on a Saturday morning in the middle of Barnes & Noble, yet it doesn't appear like anyone is interested?

As authors we can get discouraged when sitting at a signing and it appears no one is coming up to see us or avoids eye contact the moment we look in their direction.

Why? Is it something we said?

Quite the opposite! It's what you aren't saying!

Now, you're probably thinking "I'm afraid to come off as too sales-y" or "I'm shy with approaching people." The truth is, readers are thermometers for enthusiasm and confidence. They can either catch or not see them a mile away.

A hard truth, not all events end in massive book sales. Some may not at all and that can be upsetting.

But! There's hope! It's not the end of the world. Promise!

The trick is finding ways to benefit from your signing other than for just selling books. Often, readers head into book stores knowing what they're looking for. They might not even know they want your book!

Here are five things you can do to make the most out of these signings without selling a single book but still benefiting from them:

• Start up a conversation - People love to engage with engaging people who are interested in what they're interested in. Don't bash them with "Buy my book" right out of the starting gate. Greet them and ask how they're doing first. They may want to talk or in some cases need to.

• Don't sit behind your table - That's one thing that's an immediate deterrent for many. Authors who're sitting with their heads down or looking at their phones can indicate they don't really care to be there. Get on your feet and shake some hands. You're missing your readers!

• Take a guestbook - Many readers like to sign up for lists who offer something in return. This can be an eBook, template, contest, etc. It's a great networking tool and can help build lasting relationships. Don't forget your book swag! Readers love those too!

• Be Approachable - There's professional and there's approachable. It all depends on your target audience. If an author has a deep scowl on their face, odds are readers aren't going to stop and chat. Keep that smile, they might just need one that day.

• Be Willing to Listen - So many times, our readers want to talk about how they wanted to write but are too scared to or want to share an experience. They may need encouragement to pursue their ideas or ask some questions. This builds trust and shows them you care.

Not selling can be disheartening but it doesn't have to be the only benefit from live events. Invest time and energy in your readers, build your brand and in time, they will invest their time in you!

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Fyresyde owner and creative entrepreneur Blaise Ramsay is the indie published author of the paranormal romance Blessing of Luna. When she's not writing for herself, she's a full-time ghostwriter and freelancer, blogger, mom, and wife.
Twitter: https://twitter.com/bramsayauthor
Website: https://fyresydepublishing.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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5 comments Blaise Ramsay, book signings, book-selling, Friday Speak Out, selling your book, writer tips

Taming the Beast: From Pitch To Query To Synopsis

So you’re almost finished with your book. Perhaps you’re leaning back in your chair, thinking, “Whew. The hard’s part nearly done!”

Ha!

HahahahaHA!

Unless you’re planning on self-publishing, you’ll need to convince someone—either an agent or an editor—that your book is amazing. For that feat, you’re going to need a pitch, and a query, and probably a synopsis, too. And those thousands of words you wrote for your book will seem like child’s play compared to the beastly task ahead of you.

Why is it so hard to write a pitch or a query or a synopsis? One reason may be that we’re a bit confused. What makes a pitch different from a query? A query from a synopsis? You can research—and it’s as easy as asking, “How to write a query letter (or pitch or synopsis)?” But you can start with my quick, down and dirty tips for whipping these beasts into shape.

The Pitch

When I’m figuring out my pitch, first I figure out the essence of my story. Somebody wants something. A pitch is usually around 30 words, so you need to zip to your want, and then cut to the twist, the part of the story that makes it different.

If I were pitching Beauty and the Beast, I might write:

Beauty is prepared to sacrifice her life to save her father from a terrifying beast. (The initial want.) But this Beast doesn’t want Beauty’s life—he wants her love. (The twist to the story.)


The Query

The query has several parts, but for now, we’re concentrating on the bit about your plot to understand the difference with a pitch.

With the query, you get a couple sentences to explain your story. (Whee!) But you do not get to tell the ending! The point of your query is to generate interest, to rattle an agent’s brain so much that he or she must read the rest of your story.

So you write the set-up, follow with the conflict, and include stakes and the twist. That’s usually about three to five sentences, and that’s really all you need to reel ‘em in.

A query for Beauty and the Beast might read:

Belle’s father has plucked a rose from the Beast’s castle and now he must pay with his life. But Belle, who asked for the rose, insists on taking his place. (The set-up) The Beast surprises Belle with kindness, instead asking for her hand in marriage. Belle refuses, for she does not love him. (The conflict) But the Beast has a terrible secret, a secret that will take his life—and only Belle can save him. (The stakes, and the twist to the story.)

The Synopsis

Oh, joy! With the synopsis, we at last get lots and lots of words to tell our story, from beginning to end. But often, writers struggle with the synopsis as well.

If the synopsis is challenging for you, try this technique: take each chapter and sum it up in one sentence. When you’re done, go back and edit. Take out anything that doesn’t move the story along, and perhaps add transitions to make it all sparkly.

Whew! Now you’re ready to tame your own pitch, query and synopsis. All you have to do is finish the darn book.

~Cathy C. Hall

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8 comments Agents, Cathy C. Hall, Editors, query tips, selling your book, synopsis, writing pitches, writing tips

What I Learned About Selling Books (At An Arts and Crafts Festival)

This past weekend, I wore out my flip-flops at an arts and crafts festival here. And early in my trekking/shopping, I passed a booth where a musician was selling his self-produced CD. The lovely notes were wafting through the air and my friend, who happens to be a gifted musician and singer, said, “I could so do that.” And I said, “You so could. But what about selling it?”

We talked about selling strategies for self-produced CD’s and self-published books as we walked on, and a funny thing happened. We learned a few lessons while we bought.

Location, Location, Location (Or Targeting Your Buying Audience)

Most of the shoppers were like me, looking for unique, fun gifts. We had to consider carrying the product (so bulky furniture or heavy items were a problem), and whether we wanted to risk buying something we couldn’t try on (so the clothes were a no-go). It occurred to me that it’s pretty darn important to sell your product where people will buy it. For an author, that might include book festivals or conferences. Or a place of business with a tie-in, like selling your dog-grooming book at your vet’s office. But I don’t think I’d try to sell that same book at a Renaissance fair.

Oh, Look! (Or Hooking Your Audience)

When I saw something really different, or taking-my-breath-away beautiful, I stopped. I entered the booth, and picked up the object for a closer look. Getting readers to take a closer look at your book is huge. So it might be a good idea to spend the money on a professional cover photo, especially since it’s the book cover that a reader/buyer notices first.

How Much? (Or Deciding on Your Price)

Of course, after I looked, I check the price. Is the object of my desire worth the money? Now, honestly, there were many times I could fully appreciate the seller’s price point. They’d invested time and money into making their craft. But if I thought I could get something similar, cheaper, then guess what? Yeah. I passed it by. You might need to sell your book for $15.00 to make a profit. But see that shiny, lovely book over there? It’s $9.00. So why not price your book competitively so you can build your audience? Eventually, readers will be clamoring for your next book. Then, you’ll start making money.


Hi, Y’all! (Or Do You Love Your Job?)

Here’s the thing. I got talked into buying (lots of earrings!) because the seller truly loved chatting about his/her work. That kind of enthusiasm is a powerful marketing tool, my friends. So I’d say remember you’re not just selling a product (your book), you’re selling you (the fabulous author!). I really, really hope you love what you do!


~Cathy C. Hall (who really, really loves her job!)

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4 comments book covers, book marketing, Cathy C. Hall, self-publishing, selling your book