Writing and Publishing News from

It has been a good few days as far as publicity for my new book, Promote Your Book, Over 250 Proven, Low-Cost Tips and Techniques for the Enterprising Author. And that’s pretty much because I have been constantly putting myself out there. I’ve had two professionals with followings recommend my blog in their interviews this week and a few articles published (with bios mentioning the new book), including one accepted by Jim Barnes at Independent Publishers. It will go live before the weekend: http://www.independentpublisher.com/article.php?page=1471

Tomorrow my guest blog for Christina Hollis goes live at http://www.christinahollis.com

Also, the publicist from the publishing house says that we’ll have something in The Writer about my book very soon.

Now if only they would get the Kindle and other digital versions up and running… I have customers waiting to purchase the book on Kindle.

I’ve been watching my book’s ranking at Amazon. This seems to be a fickle system. Not quite sure how much validity or clout it holds. Last week, we were in the 800,000’s. Yesterday we were at 200,000-something. This morning we rank 453,166.

While some other books in my category are lower, some others by known professionals are higher. In case you’re wondering, lower is better.

Some authors organize mass buying sprees for their books in order to generate a higher rankings. They ask everyone who plans to purchase a copy of their book to do so on a certain day at a certain time so the blast of orders will make the book rank really high. I’m not sure what the point of this is. Isn’t this sort of an artificial way of getting that ranking? And how long will it last? Also, who cares? I don’t think I’ve ever bought a book based on the way it ranked at Amazon, have you?

It is an interesting system, though, and one that publishers and authors seem to pay close attention to, even if no one else does.

Did you know that the ranking figures might change by the hour—not the day or the week—but the hour! Well, this is true of those with very high rankings. Books within the typical ranking range (10,000 on up into the millions) are calculated once a day. And, according to some analysts of this ranking system, a large jump up the ranking scale does not necessarily indicate huge sales. Depending on what is happening with other books within the range, a big jump could mean only one or two sales.

You can actually track your own book sales at Amazon through a handful of sites. But most offer a disclaimer indicating that the results are only minimally accurate. Here’s one such site:
http://www.ranktracer.com

I see that Aaron Shepard’s Sales Rank Express has closed down.

Do you try to keep track of your book’s ranking at Amazon? What have you learned about this process? About your book sales?

Of course, if you are the publisher/distributor, and Amazon is ordering books from you, you have a pretty clear idea of Amazon sales. They are going to order more books when they have sold most of those in stock. But when you have a publisher, they get the orders and you don’t know anything about your sales figures until you get your royalty check.

For more information about my new book, Promote Your Book, Over 250 Proven, Low-Cost Tips and Techniques for the Enterprising Author, visit the book’s Amazon page. Order the book and watch the ranking figures change. Now there’s a fun way to spend your afternoon.
http://amzn.to/oe56Ia

Most authors strive to get book reviews. Book reviews sell books. But it is irritating when your book is misrepresented by the reviewer. Yet, it happens more often than one would think.

You see your book in one light—you wrote it with a certain audience in mind and you believe that you spoke to that audience throughout the book, for example. But a reviewer might see the book in a different light. The reviewer’s assessment of your book might not jive with yours. He may focus on an aspect that you feel is insignificant to your purpose for the book. A reviewer might even pick apart what you feel is the best quality of your book.

The thing is, you never know how your book will affect a reviewer or what they are will say about it. And when they reveal what they believe is a flaw or criticize an element of your book, it can be quite painful for the author. Some authors are so sensitive that they won’t even put their books out there for review. It’s not easy to have your work criticized, especially if you feel you’ve been criticized unfairly.

You’re all familiar with my new book, Promote Your Book, Over 250 Proven, Low-Cost Tips and Techniques for the Enterprising Author. This book has collected around two dozen reviews—18 of them appear at the book page on Amazon.com. I’ve been a tad put off by a couple of comments that a handful of reviewers have made.

One is that the book title says the tips are low-cost, yet I mention hiring a publicist and I suggest advertising. Yes, I do include one 6-page chapter featuring a couple of more pricey things you can do to promote your book. It’s a viable option, don’t you think? I also talk about creating a book trailer. And I say that, for those who can’t do this on their own, they may want to hire a friend or a company to do the work for them. I added these things in an attempt to be thorough—to include every option. You’ll still find over 250 low-cost tips, techniques and resources PLUS a few that might cost you some money.

The criticism that makes me really crazy, however, is when reviewers (or readers) say, “This book is for those who write nonfiction.” Say what? Have you read the book? I purposefully mention how some of the tips, techniques, etc. can be used by authors of fiction books and children’s books at least 120 times throughout the book. I did this because authors of fiction have a difficult time relating book promotion ideas to their projects. So at least 120 times, I said, basically, “If you have a book of fiction or a children’s book, use this idea in this way.”

I expected authors of fiction, children’s books, poetry books, etc., to take it from there. I thought that with my explicit suggestions, they’d begin to understand that, yes, they can also implement this idea and that one and many of the others. And, certainly, some novelists do.

For others, it takes exposure and training and practice to adopt the marketing mindset. If you are writing a novel or a children’s book or you are compiling a book of poetry, for example, I suggest that you order my book today and start studying it. Get used to the concept of book promotion because, without it, you won’t sell many books. Adopt at least 5 activities that you can and will engage in—some that you can pursue before your book is a book and some that come after publication.

After you’ve been using these promotional activities for a while, add to your marketing plan. And remember, your book will sell only for as long as you are willing to put in the effort toward promoting it.

There is very little difference in the way you promote a nonfiction or a fiction book. In fact, you could use many of the ideas in Promote Your Book for an ebook, as well. But you must be able to look at the world of publishing and book promotion with a realistic marketing eye in order to see the possibilities. Promote Your Book, Over 250 Proven, Low-Cost Tips and Techniques for the Enterprising Author is your marketing education. Order your copy now at http://amzn.to/oe56Ia

“A daily blog? How in the world do you come up with something to write every single day?” People—even writers—often ask this question. The workshops audience I spoke to on Saturday, were curious about this, as well.

I think it is easier for those of us who do consulting, speaking and writing on our topics. Also, my background in article-writing for so many years and having to come up with so many different articles on such a variety of topics is useful in my ability to create new blog posts so regularly. I’m up to over 1,240 posts now on topics ranging from freelance writing, blogging and editing tips to publishing, book promotion and public speaking. I use this blog to announce new books, the start of an online course I’m teaching and my latest upcoming presentation. I post to share details of interesting encounters with clients or students or to share something of interest I learned at a conference or during a consultation.

Occasionally, I dig into my gigantic file of documents to locate articles on topics I think you would be interested in. I write tip sheets, share excerpts, post reviews of my recently published books and respond to questions and concerns I’ve received from other authors.

There are many things throughout your daily life that you can turn into a blog post. For me, it might be a comment from someone I meet in the post office that day. This encounter might result in a post about new shipping regulations or tips for packing books so they don’t skid around and get scratched while in transit. I might see something in one of the many newsletters I receive that sparks an idea for a blog—a question someone asks about whether it’s worth creating an ebook or not or an editorial related to an issue within the bookselling industry. I might read an article that prompts a blog post. No, I do not copy the article. In fact, I might have an opposing view and share that with my blog followers. I also get many of my ideas for blog posts while researching for the SPAWN Market Update which I compile each month.

Recently, one of my online course students was struggling with an aspect of the course. After helping her through the situation, I wrote a blog post about how to avoid this particular pitfall. And sure, I wake up in the middle of the night with ideas for posts—sometimes a whole week’s worth. I generate a lot of ideas while I am working on a book or a speech and I make note of them as they occur to me.

I generally have more blog ideas than I can manage. So I jot them on post-its for eventual reference.

I think that my ideas are more relevant for nonfiction authors. But I know fiction authors who carry on meaningful weekly blogs beautifully. You just need imagination, creativity and outside-the-box thinking. It might help you to jumpstart your imagination with regard to establishing and maintaining your active blog in the following ways:

• Visit websites and blog sites on topics related to the theme/topic of your book. Glean ideas from these sites.

• Use the Table of Contents—and even the Index—from your book to generate new ideas.

• Hang out at forums devoted to the theme/genre of your book.

• Once you get a list of topics for your blog, dissect each one and create many sub-topics.

It takes discipline and practice. But if you start now by using some of the methods I’ve described in this post, you’ll find that discovering and recognizing ideas for your blog will soon become second nature.

If you are planning a book or you have a book to promote, be sure to order my latest book: Promote Your Book, Over 250 Proven, Low-Cost Tips and Techniques for the Enterprising Author. http://amzn.to/oe56Ia

Two new reviews appeared at my new book’s Amazon page this weekend—both 5-star reviews. Excellent.

The book is, “Promote Your Book, Over 250 Proven, Low-Cost Tips and Techniques for the Enterprising Author.”

One reviewer says: “If you’re looking for a combination road map, recipe and shopping list for developing a marketing plan for your book, this is it. Be prepared to take notes. The information will be coming at you rapid-fire like popping corn in an open skillet.”

She also says: “If you don’t emerge from reading Promote Your Book with at least a couple dozen new ideas on how to market your book, you haven’t been paying close enough attention.”

Another author wrote: “This is a ‘must have’ book for all authors in today’s publishing world.”

So how do you get reviews for your book posted at Amazon and other places? Ask for them.

• Keep track of your customers and ask them if they would write a review of your book—or at least give you a brief one-liner you can use in promoting it. For example, “Apple Betty says: “I couldn’t put it down.” Or Sam Strong calls this book, “Absolutely delightful and really funny.”

• Ask friends, neighbors, co-workers and others who are avid readers or who can relate to the theme or genre of your book to read it and comment.

• Invite experts and professionals within the genre/topic of your book for a written or verbal review after they have read it.

• Send your book to reviewers in your genre/topic as well as to some general reviewers. Many of them today will accept the e-file.

Sure, you’re taking a huge chance when you start asking for reviews, that’s why you want to present the best book possible. So good reviews start way before your book is a book. How can you ensure good reviews?

• Write a book that is wanted/needed.
• Keep your audience in mind throughout the writing process.
• Write with clarity and a good sense of organization.
• Edit, edit, edit.
• Hire a good book editor for the final edit.
• Work with a professional on the cover design and page layout.

Once you’ve produced the best book that you can, following advice from the professionals in your field/genre, it is pretty much up to the reader/reviewer after that. Some will love your book, others will be mildly interested in it and still others may have strong issues with it for some valid or even unfounded reason. Authors have no control over sour grapes or unreasonable prejudices, for example.

If you have a book in the works or in the marketplace, do yourself and your project a huge favor and purchase my book today: Promote Your Book, Over 250 Proven, Low-Cost Tips and Techniques for the Enterprising Author. http://amzn.to/oe56Ia

Check out all of the 14 five-star reviews.

http://www.patriciafry.com
http://www.matilijapress.com

Why is it so important to promote your book? Why is it necessary to reach out in so many different ways in an attempt to bring attention to yourself and to your book? Why can’t authors just trust that the wonderful, amazing book they have just produced will be noticed? You already put tons of time and energy into the writing of it. Isn’t that enough? Won’t your efforts be recognized?

Yes, they will—but only after you do appropriate promotion to make it happen. In this highly competitive publishing climate, the books that are noticed are those that are being constantly pointed to, referred to, showcased, mentioned, written about and spoken of.

May I remind you that in 2008 (I believe it was), it was noted that over 76 percent of books failed in the marketplace. That is, they sold fewer than 100 copies during that year. Why do books fail? For two reasons:

• Authors don’t understand their role in the promotion of their books.
• Authors become discouraged and quit promoting.

The thing is, your book will sell for as long as you are willing to promote it. And it’s never too late to promote your book.

Some of you are actually promoting to the wrong audience. You may have written a bulldozer book—a book designed to change minds or hearts. You may have an audience for that book, but, perhaps, not the one you are aiming for. I wrote my little ebook, The Author’s Repair Kit, with you in mind. This book is designed to help you heal your publishing mistakes and breathe new life into your book. Check it out here: http://www.matilijapress.com/author_repairkit.html

As many of you know, I’ve been promoting a new book for authors. This is a must-have book for every future, new and struggling author. Promote Your Book, Over 250 Proven, Low-Cost Tips and Techniques for the Enterprising Author is packed with information and guidance about book promotion as well as hundreds of ideas for authors in every genre, category and ability.

Book promotion is a reality for authors. Prepare yourself NOW. Order this five-star book and keep it at your elbow throughout the promotion process. http://amzn.to/oe56Ia

Read what others are saying about this book at the book page at Amazon. Also read an interview with me, Patricia Fry at Brian Feinblum’s BookMarketingBuzzBlog August 18, 2011. And read what Khalid at Jumbo Publishing Blog says about the book.

http://www.matilijapress.com
http://www.patriciafry.com

We’ve talked before about the importance of your audience. Most authors, however, don’t even consider their audiences until they have a published book. The author writes in solitude, chooses a cover design that resonates with him and then a publisher. When he finally has a book in his hands, THEN he goes in search of readers.

Doesn’t this seem like the wrong way to approach a business as competitive and tough as publishing?

One thing that makes this such a difficult business for most authors is the fact that they don’t approach it as a business. They think that publishing is an extension of their writing and that they can enter into the world of publishing using the same mindset and skills they used in their writing room for all of those months/years. You have people without a business head crashing through professional barriers with, sometimes, inferior books and no intentions of following any sort of business protocol. All they want is for people to read their books and they have no idea how to get from point A (they have a published book) to point B (getting people to buy and read that book). In fact, before they published, many of them didn’t even know that it would be up to them to deal with marketing and sales. The last thing they remember thinking was, “I want to write a book.”

A lot can happen and a whole lot needs to be considered between that first thought, “I want to write a book,” and the actuality of being a published author. Many of you reading this right now know exactly what I’m saying. You remember your first publishing experience and all of the things you learned after making tons of mistakes. Right? Some of you walked away from publishing extremely disappointed. And many others used what they learned toward their next publishing projects.

Folks, you absolutely must begin considering your audience at the very moment that you decide to write for publication. And never lose sight of them throughout the process. Write for your audience. Design and organize your book for your audience. Create a cover that will resonate with your audience—speak to them—rather than to please or thrill yourself. And, when it comes time to present your book to your audience, you will know who they are, what they want/need, where they are and how to approach them with your marvelous book.

Your Book Cover
I mentioned your book cover in passing. But I’m here to tell you that it is highly important to the success of your book. While there is no one right cover for your novel or nonfiction book, there certainly are right and wrong ways to approach your book cover.

Again, if you sincerely and accurately keep your particular audience in mind when you design (or okay the design) of your cover, you probably can’t go wrong. Here are some things to consider:

• Is your cover eye-catching—appealing?
• Does your cover accurately identify the nature of your book?
• Is the title meaningful to your audience—especially for a nonfiction book?
• Is the lettering sharp and easy-to-read?
• Does the graphic relate well to the theme of the book?

Some authors choose their title long before they write the book because it has meaning to them. It might also have an obscure implication that only a few members of the public understands. But if it is not clear to the majority of your audience, they won’t be picking up your book when they see it in stores. Nor will they click to order it when they see it online or in a catalog. You could probably sell it in the back of the room when you give presentations because you’ve explained what the book is about.

But an author should not have to explain his or her book at all. That is the job of the cover—front and back. The front cover identifies the nature or theme of the book—self-help for recovering addicts, military memoir, handbook for caregivers or a historical novel, for example. The back cover gives more detail about what to expect from the reading experience.

Learn more about how to build promotion into your book as well as how to promote your published book by reading my NEW book, Promote Your Book, Over 250 Proven, Low-Cost Tips and Techniques for the Enterprising Author. http://amzn.to/oe56Ia

http://www.patriciafry.com
http://www.matilijapress.com

I have a new book out—it’s a little over a week old now. And, in the midst of all of the promotion I’m doing, I’m also getting a lot of invitations, requests and propositions. So how should a busy author respond? By saying, “Yes.”

The requests for interviews and review copies; the invitations to speak, to sign books, to be a guest blogger, etc. need to be acknowledged now. You must say yes and you need to follow through.

It’s never too late to promote your book. In fact, book promotion is ongoing for as long as you hope to sell copies of your book. But it’s during those first weeks and months, when the book is new, that you should focus on promotion almost exclusively.

If you cannot spend hours every day promoting your newly published book for several months, then you should probably table the book until you do have the time. Those authors I know who could only give their books a smidgen of attention for a week or ten days, are not selling books. I know one author who got nice write-ups in two newspapers and that was it. She is sitting on boxes and boxes of books because she just doesn’t have the time to spend promoting it.

Not every potential customer will purchase your book the first time they hear about it or see it. People do not remember. We have to be reminded over and over again about your wonderful book. You don’t reach every potential customer with one or two attempts. Your customers are all over the place and they each respond to different messages, presented different ways, in different venues. Some may be very interested in your book, but not today. If they never see or hear about your book again, they may never consider purchasing it again.

However, if this individual sees your book on growing medicinal herbs in your kitchen, at the pharmacy and again in a write-up in the newspaper and from you when you speak at her garden club meeting and then again in the nursery she frequents and at the local farmers market, she’s bound to eventually buy a copy. If she likes it and she continues to hear about it and see it, she might purchase copies for gifts throughout the year.

What happens if she doesn’t see the book around town or hear about it? She will forget about it, right?

Some authors are afraid of or they resist spending money. Hey, if you go into any other business, you will expect to spend money on advertising, advice/counsel, supplies and so forth. Don’t lose sight of the fact that publishing is a business and, if you want to succeed, you must probably spend a little money. On what, you might ask? I’m sending out a lot of review copies right now. The publisher sent quite a number of them, but I am responsible for the review copies that go out from now on and each book that goes out costs me money. Is it worth the cost? Sure, if you’re sending books to the right reviewers.

Consider, where will the review appear: In a magazine or newsletter, at a blog or website, at amazon.com? Is this publication or other venue read or visited by your specific audience? How many people will likely see the review? It might help if you would follow-up on the posted or published review by offering to be a guest blogger, by submitting articles to the publication, by participating in or launching a contest at an appropriate website where they featured your book.

If you need additional help, suggestions, ideas, tips and resources to guide you in creating your marketing plan, read my book, Promote Your Book, Over 250 Proven, Low-Cost Tips and Techniques for Enterprising Authors. Order your copy at amazon.com now. http://amzn.to/oe56Ia

http://www.patriciafry.com
http://www.matilijapress.com