Writing and Publishing News from

December 5, 2013

How to Successfully Use Today’s Book Publishing and Marketing Services

Filed under: Publishing,Research — Patricia @ 5:55 am

What happens when you launch an Internet search using keywords, “publishing” or “book promotion?” You are barraged with advertisements—“let us publish your book for a fee,” “we can help you sell your book.”

Services that did not exist even five years ago are now vying for your patronage. There are so many companies—so much competition for your publishing or marketing dollars—that it is mind-boggling for the professional, let alone the new author.

What is an author to do? Tons of research. Here are my recommendations:

  • Adopt a do-it-yourself policy. Study the ins and outs of the publishing industry so that you can make more informed decisions. Even if you decide to hire a marketing company, for example, stay involved. The more well-educated you are with regard to publishing and book promotion, the more potential your project will have for success.
  • Don’t be in a hurry. Sloooowwww down. Take it easy. Rush, and you will make mistakes. You will miss opportunities. Most authors who later admitted they made serious mistakes, were trying to meet unrealistic deadlines.
  • If a publishing or marketing service sounds good to you, kick into high gear with your research. Visit some of the author warning sites (a few listed below). Do an Internet search using keywords, “name of service or company” and “warning,” or “complaint.” Now a word about what you might find. One or two nitpicky complaints about a company might not be anything more than sour grapes—a misunderstanding. It happens—more now than ever before. But if you run into complaint after complaint coming from different sources, pay close attention. Reconsider this company or services.

There are some legitimate companies poised to help and support authors. And there are those running something akin to author mills or drive-through, quickie mart businesses whose principals are interested primarily in the fast buck. You need to know more than they do in order to protect yourself and your project.

I wrote Publish Your Book, Proven Strategies and Resources for the Enterprising Author for those of you who are new to the publishing arena. It is a great starting place to gain that education you need before entering into this highly competitive field. The information, guidance and resources within this book could make the difference between the grand success of your project and failure.

Keep in mind that nearly 78 percent of books today fail—that is they sell fewer than 100 copies total.

Warning sites

http://www.sfwa.org/for-authors/writers-beware

http://www.todayswriting.com/poetry-scams.html (offers warnings for more than just poetry scams.)

More listed in Publish Your Book, along with hundreds of tips, ideas and resources. This book also features advice and anecdotes from two dozen other professionals and authors. Available at Amazon.com in print, Kindle and audio, as well as at many other online and downtown bookstores. Also here: http://www.matilijapress.com

 

 

December 3, 2013

Bookselling Opportunity LA Times Festival of Books

Filed under: Book Promotion — Patricia @ 4:26 am

 

Do you have books to sell? Many of your readers might attend the huge Los Angeles Times Festival of Books April 12 and 13, 2014. SPAWN (Small Publishers, Artists and Writers Network) has secured two booths. The idea is, this is such a big event and the booths are so costly—and individual authors are often lost in the shuffle of their own booth—so SPAWN rents booths and provides space for members to sell their books. These authors share in the cost and it is more affordable for everyone.

Read more about this opportunity in SPAWNews. http://www.spawn.org. Click on “SPAWNews.” The link to sign up is here: http://www.spawn.org/latfb.htm. Once you have read the article in SPAWNews and visited the site, if you have questions, email me here Patricia@spawn.org or PLFry620@yahoo.com

December 1, 2013

It’s More Fun to Promote a Novel

Filed under: Book Promotion — Patricia @ 5:38 am

Yes, I’m finding this to be true. Yesterday, for example, we created sweet little tiny promotional booklets to hand out and tuck into holiday cards. Those I’ve shown them to, love them. They aren’t utilitarian like bookmarks, but they’re something you might commit to hold onto at least for a little while—possibly longer than you would a postcard, promotional email or flier. (Does anyone promote using fliers anymore?)

I first saw the tiny mini-booklet idea at the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books. One of our SPAWN members had created some to promote her novel and they were a real fascination for the women visiting or walking past our booth. If the author handed a booklet to one woman, others would reach for them. Many women stopped to look at them scattered on the table in front of the author and ask if they could take one.

Mine is just a 4 x 4, four-page booklet with the cover art for both of my novels on the front along with brief reviewer comments. Inside I have a synopsis for each book and the back is all about ordering information. I added a sweet bow made of narrow red ribbon. I chose red because of the holiday and because one book cover has a woman with a bright red polka dot skirt. Paw-print ribbon might have also worked because the books also feature cats. I even found some red polka dot ribbon at Michaels, but it was too wide to work for my purposes.

It’s interesting how an author—in order to sell books—must also become a savvy promoter, creative marketer, public speaker, design artist, social media expert and so much more. This serves to remind us of the blatant fact that so many debuting authors miss or entirely disregard: while writing is a creative endeavor, publishing is a business—a fiercely competitive business. Publishing is NOT an extension of your writing.

For more book promotion ideas for both fiction and nonfiction and for a clear understanding of book promotion and the author’s responsibilities, read “Promote Your Book.” It’s at Amazon in print, Kindle and audio and at most other online and downtown bookstores. Or order your copy here: http://www.matilijapress.com/PromoteYourBook.html

November 29, 2013

12 Unique Ways to Promote Your Novel During the Holidays

Filed under: Book Promotion — Patricia @ 4:59 am

The holidays are in full swing, which means you’ll probably be slacking off on book promotion. You’ll be too busy planning, shopping, preparing for guests, sending good wishes to friends and family all over the globe and so forth. Yet, this is the biggest shopping season of the year, so why not take advantage of that fact and step up your book promotion activities? Too busy, you say? Then consider multi-tasking—use the opportunities before you at any given moment to pitch your book. Here are a dozen super easy ideas that may surprise you:

  • Send out your holiday cards early and be sure to write something about your latest book and slip in an advertising bookmark.
  • For a novel or children’s book, for example, create sweet little booklets with the cover of your book and a poem or brief description of your story, etc. Bind it with a piece of pretty ribbon. People love receiving these tiny booklets.
  • Enclose bookmarks in those paid return envelopes you get in the mail. And tuck them in with your bill payments.
  • Pull out a bookmark or two when you’re paying for purchases at the mall. Hand them to the clerk with an enthusiastic—“I’m an author—this is my latest book! Makes a great gift.”
  • When picking up your cleaning, making a bank deposit, buying groceries at the usual supermarket, paying for your massage, getting your teeth cleaned, picking up your pooch from the groomer, etc., mention the availability of your new book—offer a discount if they buy it from you.
  • Bring up the subject of your book in social gatherings. Keep business cards or bookmarks in your pocket so you can quickly put your hands on them during opportune moments.
  • Send an online holiday greeting to your email list with a mention of your latest book. Offer a discount to those who order it during the month of December.
  • Recruit friends and colleagues to spread the word about your book. Offer them a percentage of sales they make for you during the holidays.
  • Submit articles to newsletters and websites where your readers congregate. Ask to be interviewed at important blog sites this month to bring attention to your book.
  • Give copies of your book or Amazon gift certificates (if your book is on Kindle only) to people who are influential within your readership.
  • Tie your attractive bookmarks on the gifts you wrap for family, friends, coworkers, hairdresser, gym manager, manicurist, barber and those other special people you remember during the holidays.
  • Leave small stacks of your bookmarks at your hairdresser’s station, in the library and in those specialty stores that your potential readers frequent. This might be pharmacies, bakeries, pet stores, feed stores, gift shops, toy stores and so forth.

I’ll just bet this list spawned a whole lot of other ideas you can use to promote your book this holiday season without stepping too far outside your realm of traditional and everyday activities.

Would love to hear some of your ideas—so would my followers. Leave a message under comments here or email me: PLFry620@yahoo.com

In the meantime, if you are looking for an enjoyable read this holiday season for yourself or someone else, consider purchasing my cozy mystery novels for your Kindle or a gift certificate for Amazon for friends and family.

The first two in the Klepto Cat Mystery series:

To order Catnapped for your Kindle http://amzn.to/14OCk0W

To order Cat-Eye Witness for your Kindle http://amzn.to/1bJiq0x

For a lifetime of book marketing ideas, put my book, Promote Your Book, Over 250 Proven, Low-Cost Tips and Techniques for the Enterprising Author on your holiday list. It’s at amazon in print, Kindle and audio. Or order it from me: http://www.matilijapress.com/PromoteYourBook.html

November 27, 2013

Publishing is NOT a Hobby

Filed under: Authorship,Book Promotion — Patricia @ 4:17 am

Every time I launch out to do some marketing research—locate reviewers for my novels, seek bloggers who attract my readers and who host guest bloggers or conduct interviews and look for other promotional activities, I find new opportunities. If I stay in my comfort zone and do not pursue opportunities, I do not find them. If I read the newsletters I subscribe to, visit blogs, look at some of the promotional emails I receive and, of course, reach out and search for opportunities, I will find them. I will get my books reviewed, I will be invited to participate in interviews or be a guest blogger, my books will be featured at new blog and websites and I will sell books.

Likewise, when I take my books to a book festival or go out and speak to a group, I sell more books than I would have if I’d stayed home. Without exception—every time!

If my message isn’t strong enough this morning—if this doesn’t spur you on to take action on behalf of your book—you don’t want to sell books.

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving. We all have things to be thankful for. Family, friends and good health are at the top of most lists. But if you also treasure your ability and opportunity to write, as I do, and if you are physically capable of getting your work and/or your message out there, be thankful and, from this day forward, be proactive in promoting your book.

One day spent researching appropriate reviewers isn’t enough. A week spent writing press releases probably isn’t enough. A month-long blast of promotion may not be enough. Book promotion is ongoing for as long as you hope to sell copies of your book. Book promotion is a lifestyle. If you have a published book, you really must accept the mindset that you are the CEO of your book and it is your job to get word out about it, mingle with your readers both in person and online and talk to them about your book.

If you have an older book that is not selling, start promoting it now. It’s never too late. If you have just come out with a new book, plan to dedicate a portion of your life from now on to promoting that book—making people aware of it. If you have a book in the works and you hope to publish it, start now studying what book promotion is all about and begin developing your marketing plan.

Publishing should not be considered a hobby—something you engage in for fun and games. Publishing is a highly competitive business. In order to succeed, it is going to take a lot of your time, concentration and energy. It’s hard work. But you can do it. It’s all in the mindset and the education. Here are the two most important things you can do on behalf of your book:

1: Study the publishing industry so you understand what it takes to produce a successful book and your responsibilities as an author.

2: Consider yourself the CEO of your book from the very idea through the entire marketing process.

I’m thankful this Thanksgiving season that I can offer you the tools you need in order to write a more marketable book, choose the best publishing option for your project and launch a more successful marketing program.

Publish Your Book, Proven Strategies and Resources for the Enterprising Author. http://amzn.to/1a7KUOt

Promote Your Book, Over 250 Proven, Low-Cost Tips and Techniques for the Enterprising Author. http://amzn.to/larxoo5

These books are available in print, Kindle and audio at Amazon and most other online and downtown bookstores.

November 26, 2013

Are You Killing Your Novel?

Filed under: Book Promotion — Patricia @ 5:02 am

Are you promoting your novel? Or are you sitting around waiting for people to notice it? Are you more interested in writing the next story than promoting the one you’ve just published? This is pretty typical. It’s not a good idea, but it’s typical. And this is also the reason that way more books fail in the marketplace than succeed. This is why so many novels go unread and unnoticed, because there is no one promoting them. The fact is, when a book is not promoted, it will die.

Books, especially in this fiercely competitive publishing arena, must be touted, advertised, flaunted, plugged, publicized in order to be noticed. If no one knows the book exists, they won’t be buying it or borrowing it or even stealing it. It won’t be noticed and it won’t be read, making your efforts in writing it for naught.

Do you enjoy pursuing activities for naught? I wouldn’t think so. But if you write a book, go to the trouble of self-editing it, hiring an editor and getting it published, why wouldn’t you take the next majorly important step and introduce it to your readers? Why would you keep it a secret? Why wouldn’t you expend at least as much time and energy getting word out about your book as you did producing it?

For many of you, it’s because you just didn’t understand the publishing business. You didn’t know that books need to be promoted; that the number of books in the marketplace is growing as compared to the number of readers; that no one will know about your book unless someone tells them about it; that it is the author’s responsibility to promote his or her book.

I’d like to invite you to read my books, Publish Your Book and Promote Your Book. Every author should have booth books at his elbow throughout the writing and marketing phases of their projects. I recommend that you read Publish Your Book before you even start writing your novel, nonfiction book or children’s book. But it is never too late to get the education provided in this book. Study Promote Your Book early on, as well, in order to gain a clear understanding of book marketing and how to pursue it with regard to your particular book.

If you care about your book’s health, you will heed this message.

Publish Your Book, http://www.matilijapress.com/PublishYourBook.html

Promote Your Book, http://www.matilijapress.com/PromoteYourBook.html

Also available at Amazon.com in print, Kindle and audio and at most other online and downtown bookstores.

November 25, 2013

How to Avoid Lawsuits When Writing About Other People

Filed under: Authorship,Writing — Patricia @ 7:53 am

When is it safe to write about other people in your book and when is it risky? I include other people in many of my books, but not in any sort of slanderous way. I quote them for my publishing and book promotion books. I also get permission from them before I go to press. It used to be signed permission—in writing, but now you can get permission via email—and probably texting.

But what if you want to write an article or a book about something that happened in your life—a situational memoir, for example? Certainly, there were other people involved in the incident. And some of those people may have treated you or someone else badly or committed a crime. How do you handle that part of the story? How do you get permission to slander someone? And how do you keep from being sued if you do slander them? Will the truth protect you from a lawsuit? Can you prove that what you’re presenting is the truth? Can you afford to defend yourself in court if someone comes forward and launches a defamation of character case against you?

I’m the one asking the questions today. I would love to hear your stories along these lines. Have you written about other people? How do you protect yourself from lawsuits? Have you been sued because of something you wrote about someone else? What would you advise authors who want to write an exposé?

November 24, 2013

Tips for Locating Publishers’ Submission Guidelines

Filed under: Publishing — Patricia @ 4:40 am

Excerpted from Patricia Fry’s book, Publish Your Book. http://www.matilijapress.com/PublishYourBook.html

Once you have found several appropriate publishers, visit their websites for more specific information. Print out a copy of their submission guidelines (or “editorial guidelines” or “writers/authors guidelines”). Sometimes the guidelines are difficult to find. If you don’t see a link button to the submission guidelines, click on “About Us” or “Contact Us.” If you don’t see the guidelines on either of these pages, look for a new link on that page. Sometimes there will be more link options available to the left or across the top of that page. No luck? Go back to the home page and search links within links. Put your cursor on the available link buttons and see if a menu appears. Read the selections on the menus.  Also check the links that sometimes appear at the bottom of the home page.

If you cannot locate the guidelines at all, email the editor and ask for a copy. Or send a letter of request for submission guidelines in the mail along with a self-addressed-stamped envelope (SASE). That is, an envelope with your name and full address as well as enough postage for the return trip.

Before you can attract a publisher’s attention, you should know what he or she requires. You have a better chance of being noticed when you send the publisher exactly what he wants in the manner he wishes to receive it. In today’s highly competitive publishing industry, it is not easy to stand out from the crowd. One way to do it is to follow policy. Each publisher sets his or her own policy and standards. While some are certainly lax, others want authors to jump through hoops. If it is important to you and your project that you land a publishing contract, you must conform.

 

November 23, 2013

Five Common Author’s Mistakes

Filed under: Authorship,Publishing — Patricia @ 4:55 am

This is excerpted from my book, Publish Your Book, Proven Strategies and Resources for the Enterprising Author. http://www.matilijapress.com/PublishYourBook.html This book is also available at Amazon.com in print, audio and Kindle as well as other online and downtown bookstores.

1: Inexperienced authors write a book that is not publisher-friendly. In other words, they write the book to suit their own emotional or altruistic needs without considering its commercial value. Once the book is completed, they try to find a publisher. What’s wrong with this approach?

Most manuscripts that are written without concern for the target audience are not marketable, thus would not be profitable. A publisher may reject a manuscript featuring your grandfather’s World War II experiences, but would welcome a book focusing on blacks in the armed forces during that time period. Your book on selling buttons through eBay may not appeal to a publisher, yet the public might be screaming for one featuring the most unique items ever sold online.

If you had written a complete book proposal first, your project would probably be more appropriately targeted. And if you’d submitted a query letter before writing your book, the publisher could have more appropriately directed you—greatly increasing your chances of becoming a published author.

2: Newbie authors frequently send their manuscripts to the wrong publishers. Much like doctors these days, some publishers specialize. More and more publishers accept either fiction or nonfiction. Some specialize in children’s stories or textbooks while others focus their energies (and their finances) on true crime, poetry, romance, cookbooks, how-to, self-help or business books.

There’s no such thing as one publisher fits all. You wouldn’t send your collection of poetry to DAW Books, but the editors at Red Hen Press might be delighted to receive it. These editors would reject your fantasy or science fiction manuscript on the spot, but those at DAW Books might welcome it. The publisher at Paulist Press doesn’t want to see books in any of these genres, but send them a good children’s or young adult book with a Catholic theme and you might score with them.

3: Eager authors often set their hearts on being accepted by a mega-publisher. In so doing, they miss out on more realistic publishing opportunities. I’m not trying to discourage you from starting at the top. I have no quarrel with you giving the big guys a whirl. But please develop a backup plan.

4: The most common mistake authors make when contacting publishers is to ignore their submission guidelines. In fact, many inexperienced authors don’t even study them. While there are basic standards for contacting publishers, there are also differences in submission requirements between publishing houses. Most publishers want to see a query letter first. If they are interested in your concept and impressed by your credentials, they will generally request your book proposal. Of course, there are exceptions to every rule and this is why it’s crucial to locate and study the guidelines for each publisher before approaching him or her. (See details for locating submission guidelines below in tomorrow’s post.)

5: Too many hopeful authors neglect to make a clear, concise and clean presentation. Some inexperienced authors believe that a publisher can see through a poorly written query letter to the magnificence of his story. Others are so eager to get their works into the hands of a publisher that they simply don’t finish dotting all of their i’s and crossing all of their t’s. I’m here to tell you that your chances of winning a contract with any publisher are extremely slim when you submit an error-riddled, disorganized, rambling query letter, book proposal or manuscript.

In order to be successful in this business, you have to stop looking at your project from an emotional place and start thinking like a professional. Don’t worry; you can adopt a business persona without losing your creative edge. In fact, if you want to be published, it’s necessary to shift from artist to businessperson on demand.

Whether you decide to approach a mega-publishing house or a smaller one, vow to give nothing less than your most polished presentation. Think about it, what is the point of leading with your second or third best shot when there may be 300 other authors soliciting this publisher with equally good ideas and highly polished presentations?

 

November 22, 2013

The Editing Dilemma

Filed under: Editing — Patricia @ 5:46 am

Authors often ask me what type of editorial services I offer. “What kind of editing do you do? My response: “Whatever I feel your manuscript needs.”

Sometimes an author will come to me for proofing. “All I want is for you to proof my manuscript.” So what is proofing? In my world, it is whatever the manuscript needs.

Whether an author hires me to proof his work (check for errors) or do complete line and content editing, he’s going to get pretty much the same thing—whatever I determine this particular  manuscript needs.

First, I provide a free sample edit/proofing and estimate. So the author understands from the start the type of problems I see going on in his or her manuscript and how I plan to approach them. While some manuscripts are pretty clean—they don’t require a lot of editing, others need a lot of help in many areas. The author may not understand how to properly use the apostrophe and the em dash. She might have a habit of writing run-on sentences or use clichés. Her story might need a facelift to make it more interesting and I might have some ideas for her. If so, I generously lay them out. Some authors repeat words, are inconsistent in presenting facts and information, don’t have a knack for fleshing out their characters, etc. I try to help in these situations.

I’ve worked with authors who paid me to proof their manuscripts, even though I provided strong editorial feedback. One, in particular, didn’t believe he needed an editor—just a proofreader. So I hired on as a proofreader and edited his manuscript. By the way, it was in dire need of editing. Not ready for proofing. The thing is, I don’t care what you call it—proofing, editing, critiquing, altering, revising, correcting… If you bring it to me, your manuscript will get what I think it needs and I believe that’s how most editors work. Who would hire on to proof a manuscript and neglect to point out editorial errors?

Do you need an editor or a proofreader? If you’ve written a book and you’ve already done hours and hours of self-editing, it’s time to turn it over to a book editor. Before you hire an editor, you might ask some of your more astute friends and family members to read your manuscript and provide honest feedback. You’ll learn a lot through this process. Based on this feedback, do another several rounds of self-editing. Then contact one or more editors and ask for a sample edit and estimate.

What’s it going to cost you? Anywhere from $800 to $3,000 or more depending on the size of your manuscript and the shape it’s in. Contact me for a free sample edit and estimate: PLFry620@yahoo.com

 

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