Writing and Publishing News from

August 7, 2012

Does Your Book Promotion Toolkit Have the Right Tools for Success?

Filed under: Book Promotion,Guest Blogger — Patricia @ 4:37 am

Today, we welcome guest blogger, Sandra Beckwith:

In today’s publishing environment, writing and publishing a book isn’t enough. It’s a huge accomplishment, for sure, but it’s just the start.

Whether today’s authors have a printed version or an e-book, whether they’re traditionally published or have gone the indie route, they also have to promote their books so readers learn about them. Many know this and are smart enough to lay the groundwork long before the book is available http://bit.ly/paCKuX, but for others, the realization that they now have to get the word out comes as a big shock.

Don’t worry, though. If you have the right tools in your book promotion toolbox, you’ll be able to build a solid foundation for your book’s success. And, just as a screwdriver, hammer, and saw serve different purposes, each one of these four book promotion tools contributes in a unique way.

1. A plan. You might have heard this quote related to planning: “Failing to plan is planning to fail.” I believe it was Yogi Berra who said, “If you don’t know where you are going, you will wind up somewhere else.” Take some time to learn about book promotion, then develop a plan that incorporates tasks that will help you get your book title in front of its target audience.

2. A website. I’m a little surprised at the number of authors who don’t have one. It’s essential in today’s online-driven marketplace. Your site doesn’t need a lot of razzamatazz, but it does need to look and feel as good as your book. Find a few that you like and use them as role models.

3. A press release that announces your book. You plan on sending out review copies, right? Every copy needs to be accompanied by a press release that announces your book’s publication http://bit.ly/Q34AtL and describes what readers will find between the front and back covers. It is the most essential author publicity tool because it has so many uses.

4. A whizbang, knock-em dead book announcement e-mail message. All you’ve talked about for the past year (or two, or 10) is the book you’ve been writing. Now you want to tell everyone in your e-mail address book that it is finally published and available, Be careful about how you share the news http://bit.ly/Mnzm0L, though – you don’t want to overwhelm or annoy them.

There are lots of other tools you might want in your toolkit, too, but if your time is limited, you can be assured that these essentials will work hard on your book’s behalf.

Sandra Beckwith is an author, freelance writer, and book marketing coach. Subscribe to her free book publicity e-newsletter, Build Book Buzz, at http://www.buildbookbuzz.com

August 6, 2012

Are You Where You Want to Be as a Writer?

Filed under: Writing — Patricia @ 3:44 am

Nothing makes you think about your writing career path like being interviewed. Where have you been, what have you accomplished as a writer and where are you going? If this is something you haven’t thought about for a year or more, you really ought to.

Consider why you write. What measure of success have you had since you started writing for publication? What steps did you take to get where you are? Are you enjoying the process? What aspects do you enjoy most? Can you rearrange your work schedule to spend more time doing that? What tasks or obligations bring you the most results (sales, attention)? What is stopping you from moving forward—making more sales, for example? What can you do to remove these obstacles?

Perhaps you want to sell more copies of your book. The obstacle to that seems to be that you’re not spending enough time promoting it. Maybe you’ve come to some dead ends with it—your promotional tactics are proving stagnant. You’d rather be writing than marketing. You’re tired of promoting your book. But if you decide that you really want to sell more copies—reach more people—an evaluation might reveal that some changes are in order.

Maybe you want to create a living writing articles. Let’s say you’ve been at it for a couple of years and you’re still not earning enough to quit your part-time job. Once you examine your way of working your freelance business—your approach—you might discover that you are not coming up with as many ideas as you were a year ago and are not submitting as many queries. Perhaps you’ve become lazy about finding new article ideas.

What more could you do? Research what’s news—what’s hot—in your area of interest. Or branch out into other topics. Also research publications. Magazines and ezines open, close and change their focus regularly.

I know some writers who are stuck on one topic written one way and are determined to get published in only certain major magazines. When they reevaluate their writing work, if they are astute, they will surely realize that they have two basic choices. Branch out and start writing about things other than your pet project or find ways to spoon-feed your message to your audience through, perhaps, a different approach and through smaller, easier-to- approach publications. There’s always a third choice, of course—give up.

You know the “if-it-ain’t broke…” concept. But what about when it isn’t working? Are you willing to take an honest look at your approach to your writing work and the results of your efforts as they are? Can you make necessary changes? For some of you, this means giving up the pen. You never wanted to be a writer. You don’t like writing. You definitely don’t like the constant need to promote. All you wanted was to be noticed or to make a statement or make a difference.

Sorry, but with all of the competition for books and articles today, it takes more than most people want to put in to realize even a minimally successful outcome.

Why don’t you respond to the questions posed at the beginning of this post and see if you can determine if you need to make some u-turns along your pathway toward writing or publishing success?

Drop in on tomorrow’s blog post. Sandra Beckwith will be guest blogger. She’s talking about the most important book promotion tools you need in your author’s toolkit.

For editing services and publishing consultations contact Patricia Fry at http://www.patriciafry.com

Check out Patricia’s online courses: http://www.matilijapress.com/courses.htm

August 5, 2012

More on Marketing Ebooks

Filed under: Book Promotion — Patricia @ 4:20 am

How do you promote an ebook? How do you promote a novel? How do you promote a children’s book?

What many new authors don’t get is that book promotion is book promotion. In other words, there are no strict rules for and major differences in the way fiction or nonfiction print or ebooks, can be promoted. It’s a matter of knowing who your audience is, where they are and finding ways to address that audience.

I believe that some authors of fiction feel so unnatural in the role of book marketer that they simply don’t recognize (or they close their eyes to) even obvious book promotion opportunities. Some authors produce ebooks in hopes that they won’t have to promote them. How do you promote something that is rather intangible? I mean, you can’t hand it to someone to examine. Or can you?

Yesterday’s post focused on ebook promotion resources. I hope that, if you have an ebook in the works or for sale, you will open your mind about the book promotion possibilities for an ebook and run with some of them. Download my FREE ebooklet now: 50 Ways to Promote an Ebook. http://www.patriciafry.com

Are you marketing an ebook? I’d love to hear how you promote it—what is your most effective book promotion idea? I’m particularly interested in promoting ebooks in more traditional ways—similar to how you would promote a print book, for example: getting reviews, taking a booth at a book festival, submitting articles or stories related to the theme/genre of your ebook to attract attention and so forth. For example, do you have a Quick Response code on your promotional handout so someone can download your ebook on the spot?

Comment here:

August 4, 2012

All Abuzz About Book Promotion

Filed under: Book Promotion — Patricia @ 4:11 am

I hope you enjoyed Nancy Barnes’ guest blog yesterday on her expertise, memoir-writing. There are more guest blogs to come. Tuesday, Sandra Beckwith of Build Book Buzz will talk about four of the tools you need in your book promotion toolbox.

Have you noticed that there’s being more written about promoting ebooks? I just reviewed an ebook focused on this topic. Check it out at Amazon. It’s Sell More Ebooks by Lucinda Crosby and Laura Dobbins. This ebook focuses on increasing sales through Kindle Direct Publishing. If you don’t know what this is and if you want some information and tons of resources to help with the promotion of your ebook, do take a look at this ebook.

You can also download my free ebooklet, 50 Ways to Promote Your eBook. http://www.patriciafry.com Most people are surprised at some of the ideas I present.

Here are additional links with information about marketing ebooks:
http://www.sellingbooks.com/promote-a-self-published-ebook

19 more ways to promote an ebook:
http://denisewakeman.com/marketing-trends/19-ways-promote-ebook

This site offers a list of free sites where you can promote your ebook: http://www.mediabistro.com/galleycat/free-ebook-promotion_b52130

Here’s a site that gives you a list of directories through which you can promote your ebook:
http://www.ebooksubmit.com/ebookdirectories.html

7 ways to promote your ebook on Facebook.
http://www.ebookauthoracademy.com/public/eBook_Marketing_Tips__7_Ways_to_Promote_Your_eBook_on_Facebook.cfm

Well that ought to keep you busy over the weekend.

Whether you are promoting an ebook or a print book, if you are new to the concept or if you are struggling to sell your book, order my book, Promote Your Book, Over 250 Proven, Low-Cost Tips and Techniques for the Enterprising Author. You’ll finally gain a full understanding of book promotion, what it takes to promote in this competitive publishing climate, why you should be thinking about promotion even before you start writing the book and, of course, oodles of book promotion ideas for the bold and the bashful author. Order the book through Amazon.com or any online or downtown bookstore. Also available here: http://www.matilijapress.com

August 3, 2012

Guest Columnist on Memoir-Writing

Filed under: Writing — Patricia @ 4:03 am

Thanks, Patricia, for the gracious invitation to guest blog. Readers, I am Nancy Barnes, the lead editor of Stories To Tell Books. I am here today as a specialist in memoirs and family histories. We also handle fiction and nonfiction, but in memoir and family history a style has arisen called “creative nonfiction” for books grounded in fact and presented using the tools of literature.

These are special books, not only because of the subject matter, but because of the unique way they are designed – usually with photos, and in some family histories, a genealogist may want to include endnotes, charts, appendixes and an index. An illustrated book is a whole different project than text-only. As a book editor and designer, I enjoy producing illustrated books because they are so interesting to look at as well as to read.

Lots of people have a dream book they know will fascinate their family and friends. Memoirists and family historians aren’t necessarily writing for profit. Many of the book projects we edit, design and publish are for private printing, for limited distribution, or for small-scale self publishing. Others need our help to “commercialize” a book so that it will sell to the general public. Our specialty is to help authors – many of them first-time authors – through the whole process step-by-step, from the draft manuscript through publishing. Imagine how much easier it is to write and publish a book when you can ask your editor what to do every time you get stuck.

What is the best way to write a memoir or family history? Many beginners think in terms of chronology. But reporting events this way can be tedious, and literature has developed many devices, such as flashbacks and a story within a story, to manipulate time itself. The topics and themes, once identified, will often suggest the best order.

As always with editing, the biggest decision is what to include and what to cut. In this genre, writers really struggle with cuts. Since it really happened, it must be included, right? Not true! Ask “who is my reader, and what would they care about?” You can’t fit every story into one book, so pick the guaranteed winners, the stories sure to entertain or evoke deep feelings, as well as to inform. A final writing tip: for memoirists, the best tool is “voice”, so use an intimate tone to share thoughts and feelings, not just the facts.

Each month in my newsletter (you can subscribe free on my website http://www.StoriesToTellBooks.com I write a column on role models for writers. By exploring these well written books and the craft of good literature, writers can influence the style of their own work in progress.

When I edit and design a book, my decisions are based on the final goals for the book. How will it be printed? Hardcover or soft? Digital? Does the author want it up on amazon.com? How many copies does the author hope to distribute? These decisions effect my design choices: the book’s size, length, whether to use color, etc. These factors also determine the right publisher or printer for the book. This is where my experience really helps, as authors caught up in writing rarely anticipate what’s ahead.

If you would like to know more about this type of book project, check out our blog at http://www.StoriesToTellBlooks.com/blog where we discuss writing, editing, design, publishing and more. While you’re there, post a comment or ask a question. We’re happy to help!

August 2, 2012

Permission to Quote

Filed under: Authorship,Publishing — Patricia @ 5:28 am

I get questions from authors occasionally. Today I received an email with a two-fold question.

“Do I need to get permission to quote a colleague in my book?” And “How do I handle her quotes? Do I include them in the text or note them in the back of the book?”

Here’s basically what I told her:

“If you are including personal anecdotes throughout the text in your book and/or you are writing the book in first person or you simply write with a friendly tone, it makes sense to flow her comments or stories about her into the text. But if your book is a reference or informational book without anecdotes, you could put her comments in an appendix or use footnotes. You have one of my books, so you know that I prefer using a more friendly approach and that I quote people and share anecdotes throughout the pages of my books.

I suggest that you study other books like the one you plan and see how other authors handle this situation. Find a solution that works for you and your project. You are the CEO of your book, so you get to make all of the decisions. The key is to educate yourself in what the possibilities are and make an informed choice. The best way for me to plan my book format and style has always been to check out other books like the one I propose and determine what would work best for my particular project.

About getting permission: Not only would I for ask permission to quote, when you are ready, I would send everyone you quote or write about a copy of exactly what you want to publish to make sure they are okay with it. Get signed or email permission. A publisher will want to see these authorized permissions before he will publish your book. No matter which publishing option you choose, you will want these permissions in your own files, as well.”

You’ll find these and a whole lot more important questions answered in my 240-page book, Publish Your Book, Proven Strategies and Resources for the Enterprising Author. Available at amazon.com in print form and Kindle as well as other online and downtown bookstores. Also at http://www.matilijapress.com

Have you downloaded your free copy of my latest ebook, 50 Ways to Promote Your Ebook? Download your copy here today: http://www.patriciafry.com

August 1, 2012

What Does a Publisher Want?

Filed under: Authorship,Publishing — Patricia @ 5:26 am

Are these some of the questions you are asking?

How many words should my manuscript be?
Do publishers accept submissions all year round or just during certain months?
How long does it take to get a response from a publisher?
Do publishers pay advances—how much?
What percentage royalties to publishers pay?
Do publishers produce both fiction and nonfiction?
What sort of promotion does a publisher do?
What’s the best way to approach a publisher—can I send the completed manuscript?
How many books does a publisher produce in a year?

Do these represent some of the questions you have? I often get these very questions from hopeful authors because some people still believe that a publishers, is a publishers, is a publishers. Not so.

Publishers come in all flavors, sizes and styles. This is why it is imperative that, when an author decides which publisher(s) he or she wants to approach, he or she obtains a copy of each publishers’ SUBMISSION GUIDELINES or WRITERS’ GUIDELINES or AUTHORS’ GUIDELINES.

Don’t rely on the information in the listings you find for these publishers in various databases. Sure, this is an excellent place to start when you are contemplating which publishing house is appropriate for your project. But before you contact a publisher (or several publishers), go to their websites and locate a copy of their Submission Guidelines. Then study them and submit to each publisher accordingly. If you don’t easily find Submission Guidelines, check under “About Us” or “Contact Us.” Perhaps you’ll see a link titled “Write for Us” or simply “Submissions.” Use your imagination in locating these guidelines. In some cases, you’ll need it. If you can’t find them, contact the editor and ask for a copy.

Perhaps you have completed your manuscript and it encompasses 150,000 words. One publisher’s Submission Guidelines, however, states that they publish books of from 75,000 to 100,000 words. If you want to go with this publisher, be prepared to cut your manuscript down to size. Tell this publisher, for example, that you will present to him a manuscript of around 85,000 words. Don’t apologize for the fact that your book includes 150,000 words and ask if he will look at it anyway.

Likewise if the publisher’s guidelines note that they are accepting only fantasy and thriller manuscripts at this time, don’t send a query letter for your book on raising guinea pigs and hamsters.

And if the publisher asks for an overview or a detailed prospectus related to your platform, make sure you provide plenty of honest information in this regard.

The competition is just too stiff today. There are too many other authors out there with great projects that are ready to go and with built-in followings and marketing skills. Publishers strive to choose projects that will make them some money. Part of that equation is—projects they are familiar with and have the connections to promote successfully. The other part is you—your connections, expertise, skills, abilities and willingness to present an appropriate project and vow to aptly promote it.

If you have questions about your publishing options, how to choose the best option for your particular project, how to choose the best publishing company within that option, how to work with a publisher and what exactly is expected of you as the author of a published book, read my book, Publish Your Book, Proven Strategies and Resources for the Enterprising Author. It’s available at amazon.com in print and Kindle form and at most other online and downtown bookstores. You can also purchase this book at http://www.matilijapress.com

July 31, 2012

Summer Bookselling Opportunities for Enterprising Authors

Filed under: Book Promotion — Patricia @ 5:33 am

Have you taken advantage of bookselling opportunities this summer? Do you recognize when an opportunity comes up and do you follow through with a sales pitch? Or are you oblivious to the bookselling openings that occur throughout your day?

Let me ask you this: Is there a sample chapter or two packaged with your amazing book cover and ordering information in the company lounge and/or lobby where you work? When you are chatting with people at the gym, the local coffee shop, your children’s karate lessons, the PTO meeting or at the reception after a concert or theater production, do you watch for openings to mention your book?

Do you strike up conversations with people on the topic or theme of your book while traveling? Better yet, did you set up a couple of book signings in appropriate specialty stores or libraries ahead of your travel dates?

While the kids are playing at a neighborhood playground, or your dogs are happily socializing at the dog park, find ways to chat about your book topic with other parents/dog owners. Likewise, without monopolizing the conversation during barbecues, camping trips and other social outings, certainly you should tell others about your book. Whether it is a novel, a memoir or a book featuring the history of churches in your area, facts about circuses, Indian feather headdresses, the Edsel, gardening in the Northwest or bird watching, someone is going to be interested or know someone who is.

If you have a children’s book, offer to read it to a group of children at the park, during a camping trip with other families, neighborhood gatherings and so forth.

Who have you talked to in the past few weeks without mentioning your book? Your mailman, plumber, the janitor at your children’s school, several clerks at the mall, your children’s day care provider, an old school chum, the gals in your genealogy club, members of a civic committee you belong to, customers at work? Just look at all of those lost opportunities.

If you’d spoken up, you may have made a sale or several. Perhaps the manager of a store would like to carry your book. Someone you didn’t speak to may have a connection with a newspaper reporter or radio show host. You never know—that is, until you ask.

Today—don’t delay—go out (or go on the computer) and order new business cards. Yes, you might have personal business cards. That’s fabulous. But now I want you to order business-size cards with the cover of your book on one side and ordering information on the other. Order 500 or 1,000 and strive to hand out (and leave in strategic places) at least 250 of them by September 1—more if you’ve reserved a booth at a local flea market or book festival.

You’ll find many more book promotion ideas in my book, Promote Your Book, Over 250 Proven, Low-Cost Tips and Techniques for the Enterprising Author. This book is available at amazon.com in print and Kindle as well as at most other online and downtown bookstores. You can learn more about it and order it here, as well: http://www.matilijapress.com

July 30, 2012

Promote Your Book by Strutting Your Stuff

Filed under: Book Promotion — Patricia @ 4:51 am

This post appeared in October of 2007. I thought it was worth repeating.

Do you write articles to promote your nonfiction book? If you don’t, you’re really missing out on an opportunity to strut your stuff. Your informative, educational articles help to position you as an expert in your field. Each article can also serve as a vehicle to promote you, your book and your services.

What if your book is a memoir or a novel? You can still write articles and stories designed to promote it. Here are some suggestions:

1: Offer book excerpts to appropriate magazines, newsletters and websites. Be sure to represent your material as an excerpt when you submit it. You may need to do a minor rewrite so that the piece has a beginning, middle and end.

2: Write new stories related to your topic/genre. For example, if your memoir or novel takes place in Nashville, come up with an article about a recent occurrence in that city or one featuring a little-known aspect of Nashville history. Maybe your memoir or novel features struggles with MS. Write a new story or an article with this theme.

3: Multiply your ideas. You will be amazed at how one idea, theme or topic can grow into hundreds once you get the hang of this concept. Let’s say that your story involves an eccentric woman with lots of cats, publicize your book through articles and stories on many aspects of cats: caring for a cat, unusual cat stories, how a cat colony works, profiles of cat people. Now take each of those topics and watch your list of article/story ideas grow: Under caring for a cat, there’s how to prepare when bringing a new cat home, cat-proofing a home, introducing the new cat to the resident pets, traveling with your cat, grooming the cat, the aging cat and so forth. You should be able to come up with at least a dozen article/story ideas related to your theme or sub-themes in just one attempt.

4: Look for ideas everywhere. Here’s where your observational skills will come in handy. Did you notice a cat wandering through the aisles at your local independent bookstore? Interview the bookseller about his shop cat. Maybe you saw someone walking a cat on a leash. Hey, there’s an idea to research and write about. I met a woman at a cat show once who had her cat dressed up in a little coat, hat, glasses and she was even carrying a cat-size purse. Wouldn’t cat lovers be interested in an article or even a fictionalized story about playing dress-up with your cat?

5: If you are promoting a novel, you probably have drawers full of short stories that you’ve written over the years. Dig them out, polish them up and start sending them to appropriate magazines.

Remember, the reason that you are writing these articles and stories is to position yourself as an expert in your field, gain credibility in your topic or genre and generate a following (readers) for your book. Make it your goal to write highly informative and/or entertaining articles or stories. And then include information about your book and yourself in the bio at the bottom of the article.

For details on submitting articles and stories for publication, read pages 217-219 in my book, Publish Your Book, Proven Strategies and Resources for the Enterprising Author and on pages 112-114 in Publish Your Book, Over 250 Proven, Low-Cost Tips and Techniques for the Enterprising Author. Available at Amazon.com in print and Kindle as well as other online and downtown bookstores.

July 29, 2012

Author Offerings From Patricia Fry

Filed under: Announcements,Authorship — Patricia @ 6:18 am

Today, I’d like to remind you of what I do and what tangible items I offer authors.

I started out writing for publication in 1973 and discovered how to make a career of writing (I am so blessed). Over the years, because of pressure from other writers, I now focus on helping authors with their book projects.

I do this by offering editing services. I edit articles as well as book manuscripts. I also help with book proposals and query letters. Sometimes just a tweak in a query letter or book proposal or a deeper understanding of their purposes can make a difference between a rejection and an acceptance.

I write a lot of articles designed to inform and educate newbie and struggling authors. My articles appear regularly in Publishing Basics Newsletter, Book Promotion Newsletter, IBPA Independent, Freelance Writers’ Report, Book Marketing Matters, SPAWNews and others. I write this daily blog and the SPAWN Market Update. You’ll find many articles and resources posted at my website: http://www.matilijapress.com

I post a free report for download at http://www.patriciafry.com

Currently it is “50 Ways to Promote Your Ebook.”

I also write books for you. My latest two are:
“Publish Your Book, Proven Strategies and Resources for the Enterprising Author” and
“Promote Your Book, Over 250 Proven, Low-Cost Tips and Techniques for the Enterprising Author.” http://www.matilijapress.com

At this website, you’ll also find a collection of interesting and informative books such as, “The Successful Author’s Handbook,” “50 Reasons Why You Should Write That Book,” “The Successful Writer’s Handbook,” “The Author’s Toolkit,” “A Writer’s Guide to Magazine Articles.” And be sure to watch for my upcoming book, “Talk Up Your Book, How to Sell Your Book Through Public Speaking, Interviews, Signings, Festivals, Conferences and More.”

I visit writers’ group meetings and speak on various topics related to publishing and book promotion. You’ll also find me on the schedule at writers’ conferences around the country.

In my spare time (chuckle), I run SPAWN, a networking organization and resource center for authors at any stage of their project. http://www.spawn.org

If you have a book in the works, in your mind or actually completed, I have resources for you. Don’t try to go it on your own. While writing is a craft, publishing is a serious business that takes a heads-up, informed approach. And you should begin your education even before you start the writing—at least before you make any publishing decisions. I’ve known more than one author who had to go back to the drawing board and revise their manuscripts once they learned more about the world of publishing.

So, what can I do for you? I can take a look at your query letter or book proposal. Are you ready for an editorial evaluation and free sample edit? If you are new to publishing, the book I would definitely recommend—because I wrote it expressly for you—is “Publish Your Book, Proven Strategies and Resources for the Enterprising Author.” This is your publishing education in book form.

Do you have a published book that is not doing well in the marketplace? Order my book, “Promote Your Book, Over 250 Proven, Low-Cost Tips and Techniques for the Enterprising Author.” You’ll learn concepts and perspectives about book promotion that you’ve probably never considered while discovering numerous book promotion tactics that could work well for your particular book.

Both of these books are at Amazon.com in print and Kindle and most other online and downtown bookstores. Or order your copies here: http://www.matilijapress.com

For more about my editorial services, go to: http://www.patriciafry.com

Questions? Contact me here: PLFry620@yahoo.com

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