Where is the line between getting yourself out there so that you can be found and shamelessly screaming into the interweb and elsewhere in ways that only add to the noise (he asked in his pointless blog)? I’m addicted to a few publishing industry blogs; keeping track of what these published authors, agents, and editors (anon or otherwise) are thinking about and discussing. There are also open social media like Facebook and more insular social media like publishing industry message boards (I’m looking at you, Verla).
I know, some of these aren’t about self-promotion, but self-growth and focus. I love me some inside scoop on how to approach agents and editors, and there is no better place to get that than writer focused message boards. Not even agent web sites are as helpful. But, as I said, those aren’t about self-promotion.
Blogs and Facebook. That’s where I see authors promoting their works and even the flavor of their lives. For the more sparkly among us, that works. They get their voice out there simply by covering their lives and incidentally mentioning and displaying published works. Others, cover writing related activities like the recent prison trip research articles posted by Jennifer Hillier. They made for fascinating reading and gave me an insight into how she goes about fleshing out her thrillers. I also have HUNDREDS of publishing industry related “friends” on Facebook. Okay, some are actual friends (online or otherwise), some are people I met at conferences and others are people I would love to meet. I don’t have hundreds of friends. I don’t have dozens of friends. (Stop me if I digress.)
Of course, it’s too early for me to worry much about promotion. Despite various nibbles on one or another manuscript, agents haven’t beaten a trail to my door, just yet. I’m not published. Really, what I want to promote is a book or five, not me. I’m dreaming ahead to the golden days beyond my first book signing event. Anyone out there have any guidance? Are blogs effective? Do author pages on Facebook improve sales and name recognition? Do I really need to get all Charlie Sheen so that I stand out in the crowd? Because I’m up for the WINNING part. (Whether I go warlock remains to be seen.)
I am seriously looking for feedback on this one. Feel free to comment, IM or email as our relationship status indicates. What forms of self-promotion are actually working for writers today?
7 comments:
Blogs.
The industry is rapidly shifting to accommodate technology and with this comes the rise of electronic promotion.
You also have to know your market and research other successes in your field, and how they got the word out.
For me, the HP fans, World of Warcraft, Marvel and Dc comics fans; RPG gaming fans; LOTR...Star Wars..Narnia fans are my audience. Because of this, I am in a particularly savory situation; my promotion will stem from Youtube videos of the book, ads in Comic book rag mags, gamings mags and on their websites.
I also intend on taking out newspaper ads six months, three months and then one month before the release where I host a $1000 cash prize to anyone who can design a superhero based upon my novel.
Yes. I know what I want, who to market to and how.
It varies, so there is no self-promoting "trump" that will reach the most readers. But if you have to define it, from my point of view, I will choose a blog, facebook and twitter. That's all you need to reach a lot of people. Of course, you must post and comment regularly for it to be effective; of which not many people do.
Good points about focusing on what else draws your audience. That would be easily researched and acted on.
Hey Sam. You know, I don't think it's too early to think about promotion. I started blogging almost two years ago, long before the book was finished, because I couldn't help but think that if it ever did sell, having a few followers in place already couldn't hurt.
I'm trying to expand my blog so that I'm not constantly discussing the writing journey. A lot of writers already do that, and they do it better than me. I'd like to try and target readers who are non-writers for a change. But it's not easy! Promotion, in general, doesn't come easy for me.
Great post, and thanks so much for the mention!
I started blogging 2 years before I sold. I continue blogging (and facebookimg) because I truly enjoy it. If social networking is your thing then it is absolutely never too early. not sure any of it helped my sales, but it certainly didn't hurt. just be yourself and be sure to enjoy it.
Thanks for the mention! It does my heart good :-)
Be myself? Possibly the worst advice ever. 8-)
I'm lousy at promoting myself. I hate doing it and whenever I've attempted it, I've come off all wrong and shamed myself. I don't consider blogging self promotion. I consider it self preservation and letting off steam. I also believe that by doing it regularly I can learn how to meet writing deadlines.
If I ever sell my books, it will be interesting to see whether I can actually tweet about my own stuff. I'd far rather somebody else did it for me so I didn't end up looking ridiculous.
All I can offer is what got me here were those witty comments you'd leave at le R's. Especially the one about making out with your mirror - that was like the Comment of the Year.
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