Writing and Publishing News from

November 25, 2010

Be Ready to Sell Books This Thanksgiving Week

Filed under: Book Promotion — Patricia @ 6:07 am

It’s the morning of Thanksgiving. While those of you in the East are already up and your kitchens are a-bustle with activity, here in the West most people are still in bed only contemplating the busy day ahead. We are hosting a group of ten this afternoon.

Of course, this is the season of giving. We start by giving thanks and then we move quickly into the giving of tangible and heartfelt gifts to our loved ones. Something else happens this time of year. I notice that book sales, inquiries from potential new clients and SPAWN memberships are on the rise this time of year. Why? I believe it has something to do with the fact that people are home. They are on the computer. And they are doing some of the research or taking care of some of the details they’ve been putting off.

Folks are looking for gift books. They are making plans to finish the one they are writing and need assistance. They are taking their writing more seriously and decide to join an organization that could give them additional help. I typically get some unexpected activity both at the SPAWN site and my websites this time of year. How about you?

Are you prepared to welcome visitors? Do you have something at your site to keep them there for a while—to encourage them to purchase your book? Do you ask visitors to sign up for something so you can, perhaps, connect with them again? Is your site interesting and/or informative so that people will want to return? Are you checking your email often during the holidays so you can reply promptly to inquiries?

If you have books or services to offer, this is no time to wander too far away from your computer. While you are enjoying your Thanksgiving feast and festivities with family and friends, make sure to also check your email occasionally throughout the long weekend. Field the questions that come to you. The few minutes you spend responding could result in a new client or a book sale.

Keep in mind that this person is probably bored and is using this time to contact several authors with books on aviation, breeding rabbits, sports figures, beauty tips, etc. And you can be sure that he will most likely purchase a book from the person who responds most promptly and aptly to his questions.

If you are ready to take a course designed to walk you through the book proposal, book promotion or the self-publishing process—if you want to start an article-writing business, learn more about publishing and book promotion, etc., or if you need editorial help, visit my websites this week:

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

November 24, 2010

Build Your Author’s Platform Through Connections

Filed under: Book Promotion — Patricia @ 3:50 am

As you know, I’ve been discussing aspects of your platform these past few days. This is the fourth in the series. Today, let’s talk about your connections.

Everybody knows somebody of influence in their field or interest. I want you to make a list of everyone you know and every organization affiliation related in some large or even minute way to your book project. Consider how each of these people could assist in the promotion or your book. Here are some ideas. Let’s say that you have written a book featuring historical stories of your region.

• Contact the most influential researchers and librarians you worked with while gathering material for your book. Ask them to recommend librarians and museum gift shop managers you can contact about placing your book for sale or giving a presentation.

• Call on a teacher or school administrator you know who could put in a good word for you at the district and state level.

• Speak with people you’ve met at local chamber mixers (you should belong to the Chamber of Commerce) who can introduce you to potential booksellers, radio talk show hosts, a newspaper reporter, program chairpersons for various civic organizations and so forth.

• Visit your neighbor who frequently travels the region depicted in your book and ask him for bookselling recommendations.

• Keep abreast of events and activities planned for your area and neighboring cities and find out how you can get involved.

• Arrange with a librarian, museum director or school administrator to present a program based on your book. If it goes well, ask this individual’s help in setting up similar programs in other venues.

• Contact someone you know at local newspapers and regional magazines. You might be able to negotiate some press. Offer to let them run a story from your book. Ask for an interview. Ask if that person can introduce you to reporters/editors from other publications.

Use this example toward your own book project. Think about who you know that might be of some help in introducing your book to your audience—well-known authors in your genre or topic, experts in your field, company or organization leaders, bookstore managers, college professors, active public speakers, magazine or newsletter editors, etc.

Once you’ve made your list, think about how each of these people can help you in your quest to promote your book. If the book is completed, start contacting them. Where possible, offer some benefit to the individual when you ask for their assistance. Take him to lunch to discuss how a partnership might benefit both of you. Offer her a deep discount on box of books to give to new customers if she will promote the book in her company newsletter.

Be creative. Be smart. Become successful.

For more about me and my work, visit me at:
http://www.matilijapress.com
http://www.patriciafry.com

November 23, 2010

Build Your Platform Through Public Speaking

Filed under: Book Promotion — Patricia @ 6:56 am

I often suggest that a hopeful author of a nonfiction book start speaking and presenting workshops (where appropriate) before they actually write the book. Not only is it a good way to determine whether your book idea is a good one, this will help you to focus clearly on the book that is most needed/desired by your audience.

You’ll receive feedback that is worth paying attention to. If you can’t attract enough people to your weight-loss, self-esteem, anti-bullying or fall gardening workshop, perhaps your planned book isn’t such a good idea. You might want to tweak it to more appropriately fulfill your audience’s needs.

Conducting workshops and getting out and speaking on your topic will also help you with name recognition. People will be more willing to purchase your book if they already know and trust you. If you also provide a signup sheet where you speak, you’ll have a leg up when it comes to promoting your book. You’ll have the names and contact info for dozens or hundreds of people who are interested. You will have a following even before you have a book to sell.

So how can you prepare for your speaking/workshop debut?

• Join a Toastmasters Club and/or a storytelling group in order to hone your speaking skills.

• Practice speaking at work, during committee meetings, etc. If you are a little timid about speaking up, join a writers group, a committee or a special task force at work and be verbally involved.

• Create speeches and present them in front of your family or a patient friend. I used to practice presentations for the benefit of my cats.

• Attend other presentations and pay close attention to what is working and what isn’t. Incorporate the positive aspects into your presentations.

• Design a workshop, where appropriate. If your book has a how-to aspect and/or it is conducive to a lesson plan, for example, create a workshop using your book as the text. You may need to do a little experimenting in the process of developing an effective workshop.

• Learn from each presentation. Listen to the feedback. Pay attention to the demeanor of your audience. Are they interested in what you’re saying or eager for the program to end? Do they pay closer attention to some topics more than others? Gear your presentations to what you know your audience wants.

For some books, live author appearances are the best selling method. If your book fits into this category, you’ll most definitely want to hone your speaking and presentation skills.

For more about me, my services and my work, visit:
http://www.matilijapress.com
http://www.patriciafry.com

November 22, 2010

Build Your Author Platform Through Your Writing

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

Well, I have to apologize. I thought I could manage this blog while attending a conference and taking a little time to see the New York/Connecticut countryside. But I failed you. I even pre-wrote four blog posts—one for each day that I would be away and I ended up posting only one of them.

What was the problem? Two things: I was having way too much fun and staying way too busy to spend much time blogging. And the Internet connection was lousy. Although, after complaining about the Internet everywhere I take my little Acer, I’ve decided that maybe the problem is with the computer. We will be testing it this week.

In the meantime, let me say that it was a wonderful two day conference preceded by and followed by two long, challenging travel days. I spoke at the Cat Writer’s Association conference in White Plains, New York on how to build promotion into your book. It seemed to go over well—the comments following my presentation were unsolicited and favorable. And the conference was extremely well run, inspirational, motivational and downright FUN!

I’m home now with access to truly fast speed Internet and I want to continue the theme I promised. Here is more on how to build your author platform.

This is my absolute favorite way to build my platform and I’ve been pursuing it for years!!! If you are a writer at heart, it is probably your favorite platform-building activity, as well. So how can you attract readers—develop a following through writing? Let me count the ways:

• Write articles or stories related to the theme/genre of your book and submit them to magazines, newsletters and websites. Lots of them. And don’t wait until your book is a book to start doing this. It’s never too soon to begin establishing yourself as an expert in your field or a wonderful, entertaining writer. Put your writing out there in front of your audience for years (or at least months) before your book is published and you will gain the name recognition you need in order to attract readers.

• Establish a blog and post regularly. People interested in the subject or genre of your book will find your blog through your tagline at the end of your articles, from the information on your business cards and brochures as well as through their Google alerts reports.

• Write booklets and pamphlets for a nonfiction book, and short story booklets for fiction. Either give them away as samples via your website and/or at your presentations, or bundle them with your book to offer more value to your customers. If you have a book on cars of the 1950s, you might create booklets featuring hood ornaments for that era, 1950s cars in famous movies, movie star car collectors or great photos of cars from this period. For a book on rainy day crafts for children, you could come up with a never ending array of booklets featuring paper crafts, scissor/cut-out crafts, kitchen crafts, Valentine’s day crafts, animal crafts and so forth.

• Write spin off books. Perhaps you have enough stories or information in you to create one or more additional books for your audience. I’ve found that promoting two or more books on the same topic or in the same genre takes pretty much the same effort as promoting one. And I also find that one book sells others. If someone is interested in my book promotion book, they will likely purchase one or more of my other books on publishing/book promotion.

Writing is an excellent way to promote a book as well as to build your credibility as the author of a book in a particular field or genre. If you are thinking about writing a book, begin the process of building your platform now by submitting articles or stories to publications nation/word-wide, blogging and so forth.

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

November 19, 2010

Build Your Platform One Step at a Time–Your Web Presence

Filed under: Authorship,Book Promotion — Patricia @ 3:58 am

During these next four days, I plan to blog about building your platform. Sure, you hear it all the time—“If you want to be a successful author, you need a platform.” But few people tell you how to create one.

On pages 102-105 in my book, The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book, you’ll get a lot of information on building a platform. And I’m here this week to offer up some step-by-step, day-by-day lessons in building your platform.

Today we’ll discuss your web presence. You hear from experts that, in order to properly promote your book, you really do need a website. It’s true. But even more than that, you need a web presence. Here’s what I suggest:

• Build a fantastic website that showcases your book in the most interesting, attractive and easy-to-navigate and understand way. Add a book trailer (video depicting your book) if you want and do a webcast at your site where you can be seen talking about your book. But avoid having so many bells and whistles that it takes forever to load your site. People will give up and go someplace else. And make sure that your visitors know immediately that you have a book for sale and what it is about. Do not be vague in your web presentation.

• Engage in social media. First and foremost, start blogging about the theme/genre of your book. You might also establish a Facebook account, sign up for Twitter and others. Share information and stories of interest to your readership.

• Get involved on other websites—those related to your book’s topic/genre. There are many levels of involvement you can pursue. Just become acquainted with the movers and shakers there through email communication (comment about their great site and some of the activities they have going on), join their discussion group and comment often, write for their newsletter, teach an online course for them, become their message board host or a member of their organization board.

• Leave your mark at many related sites. Get your book reviewed and/or showcased wherever possible at sites related to your book’s theme.

• Comment at blogs related to your book—other sci fi writer sites, or sites where they’re discussing parenting, pet care, horseback riding, etc.

• Include some of the appropriate organizations, websites when writing your blog posts—announce what they are doing, point up their current projects or just give them a plug. You will get more traffic to your blog and the organization leaders will appreciate you.

Tomorrow we will talk about building your platform through writing.

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

November 17, 2010

Email Communication for Authors

Filed under: Authorship — Patricia @ 7:13 am

What kind of email communicator are you? Do you keep your eye on your email during all of your waking hours and respond immediately to everything that comes in? Do you view your emails once a day or even once a week and ignore most of them? Or do your email habits fall somewhere in between.

Do you have a system for sorting email into categories such as: Respond Immediately, Think About Before Responding and Ignore?

Do you check your spam box regularly? I find good mail in with the multitude of spam emails often enough that I check it every day—sometimes several times per day. And I respond to most of my legit emails as soon as I receive them.

I field a lot of questions throughout the course of a day—questions related to publishing, book promotion, writing a book proposal, finding an agent, etc. as well as the subjects of some of my other books (grandparenting, youth mentoring, local history, metaphysics and so forth). I get questions about SPAWN (Small Publishers, Artists and Writers Network). And I welcome them all.

The really good questions and those that I get often become blog, article or even book topics. I figure that if one or two people are asking it, there are probably many others who need to hear the answers.

Sometimes someone who asks a question becomes a client. Sometimes they also become a friend.

Do you have pet peeves with regard to email communication? I sure do. Here is my short list of annoying email practices:

• My emails are ignored. This is especially annoying when it is an expected email or it is in response to the other person’s email. When I follow-up with that person, I sometimes learn that my email went into their spam folder and they do not check their spam folder but once every week or so. Other times, they just didn’t intend to respond—no manners, I guess.

• People neglect to acknowledge the time and effort I put into responding to their questions. I can’t tell you how often I spend 30 minutes or more writing out my detailed recommendations, including resources, etc. in response to some questions and the recipient doesn’t even acknowledge receipt of it or thank me for my time.

• Emailers use a vague, useless subject in the subjectline. I’m going to at least hesitate when I see a blank subjectline, one that says “Need Assistance,” “Proposal for you,” or “help,” for example.

What are some of your pet peeves when it comes to email communication?

I’ll be gone from my desk-top computer for a few days, but someone will be here taking care of the cats and I will have a baby computer with me in case anyone has any burning questions that can’t wait until I return. I plan to continue posting to my blog site even while traveling.

In the meantime, learn more about me and my work here:
http://www.matilijapress.com
http://www.patriciafry.com

November 16, 2010

What an Author Needs in Order to Succeed

Filed under: Authorship,Publishing — Patricia @ 5:45 am

What was the first action you took when you finally emerged from your writing room with a completed manuscript? Of course, you protected yourself from distractions of any kind while you were writing your valuable business book, children’s story, novel, memoir or how-to book. You didn’t want to divert your attention toward anything while working toward the completion of your book.

Oh, you did take time out to read about the successes of other authors. And you may have attended a couple of critique groups. You need all of the inspiration you can get, after all.

But the day comes when you finish the work—you have a completed manuscript and you’re ready to move on to the next step. What is the next step? For most, it is publishing.

So here you are, ready to transition from closet writer to published author. What is the first thing that you do?

Many people with fresh manuscripts contact me to say, “I’ve just written a book, how do I get it published?” To me, this is like asking “How does the world financial market work?” or “What do you need to know in order to be a doctor?” or “How does one parent a child?”

Yes, the business of publishing is that big and that complex! And, if you are thinking about writing a book, you really, really need to be planning your publishing strategy from day one. While your manuscript is incubating, you should be studying the publishing industry, becoming aware of your options and working to strengthen your platform.

How many of you are covering your eyes and repeating, “lalalalalala” right now? Of course, this doesn’t sound fun or interesting or even timely. In fact, it sounds rather confusing. And you may wonder, “What is a platform?” “What do you mean options? I just want to find a publisher for my book—what’s so difficult about that?” “What do I need to know about publishing except the email address for a few publishers? An introduction to one would be even better.”

Authors, don’t try to go to college before ever enrolling in kindergarten. And don’t neglect to view publishing as a business. The minute you decide to write a book, you should be learning about the world of publishing. When you graduate from your writing room with a completed manuscript, you will be much more well-prepared to make the best decisions on behalf of your book project.

One of the absolutely best books around for learning about the publishing industry is The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book. http://www.matilijapress.com/rightway.html

This book is designed to inform, teach and guide you through the entire publishing process including choosing the right publishing option for your project and gearing up for the huge process of promoting your book. Read some of the testimonials from authors who read this book on the book page: http://www.matilijapress.com/rightway.html

Let me know if you have questions: PLFry620@yahoo.com

November 15, 2010

Have Your Writer’s Dreams and Live Them, Too

Filed under: Writing — Patricia @ 6:21 am

How many of you would like to hear me say that suddenly publishing has become easy. It’s no longer a business. It no longer takes a left-brain approach in order to succeed as a published author. You can just write to your heart’s content and publishers everywhere will gladly accept your manuscript, quickly turn it into a lovely book and promote it forevermore to eager readers worldwide.

What if I told you, there is no need to hire an editor, your writing is wonderful the way it is. The publisher thinks so and your readers are crazy about it. All they want are more of your books. Your books are selling so fast that you have nothing to do but write, write, write. There is no need to dirty your hands promoting your books. Your audience doesn’t particularly want to meet you or receive promotional messages from you. They want more of your books. You’ve realized your dream. You have enough money coming in and your books are in such demand that you can spend the rest of your years writing anywhere you desire—tropical islands, an ancient city, in a rich forest someplace exotic…

There, are you happy now? Is this your dream? It sounds like a nice life for a while. But wouldn’t you miss having a connection with your readers? Wouldn’t you become weary of doing the same thing day in and day out? Wouldn’t you crave some of the challenges you’re no longer facing?

Each of us has a fairytale living inside. We all have our real lives and then our phantom lives—those involving unrealistic dreams and desires. For some of us, the two lives are worlds apart. Others live a mix of both the real writing life and the one that is only wishful thinking. Do you notice when you are actually living partially in your dream world? I feel it when I am having a really good writing day—my writing flows as if it has a mind of its own and I am loving every moment of the process.

I feel it when a client calls to tell me his manuscript was picked up by the publisher of his choice. I notice it when a customer lets me know how much one of my books helped her. I experience it when I’m facing a group of people who are each sitting on the edges of their seats listening to what I have to share with them. And I feel it when a publisher issues me a contract for one of my books.

I am even aware of it when I am walking on the beach on a glorious blue sky day or experiencing a new city where a writers’ conference is being held.

So what is my advice today? This is my roundabout way of reminding you all to enjoy the path you are on and to take it seriously, but remember to live a little of your dream along the way.

I would like to hear from those of you who resonate with my message today. PLFry620@yahoo.com.

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

November 14, 2010

Want Publishing Success? You Are in the Driver’s Seat

Filed under: Publishing — Patricia @ 5:16 am

You probably get tired of hearing (reading) me harp about publishing being a business that should be taken seriously—that new authors have a responsibility to approach publishing with knowledge and awareness. Yet, every week I hear/read about another author who has crashed the publishing party with little or no understanding of how it all works.

These authors don’t know anything about the industry. They are so ignorant about publishing options that they literally fall into the arms of the first person who offers to publish their book no matter the conditions. And they are totally oblivious to their responsibilities as a published author—to what comes after publishing.

This is a three strike situation if I’ve ever seen one and, believe me, I’ve observed many, many authors going down for the count, along with their beloved book projects. It’s sad and so downright unnecessary.

Anyone can publish a book today. That’s what makes publishing such a desirable activity for so many. Everyone wants to be published—to have their words, story, rant, opinion go down in history—to, perhaps, make a difference. But not everyone is cut out to be a published author of some merit.

I talked to someone just last week who said, “My book is finished. I’m ready to publish. Only I don’t know a thing about how to promote it.” If he would listen to me, I would tell him, “Buddy, it is time to shut down the book factory and start focusing on what comes after the publishing process.” In fact, he should have launched a study of the publishing industry, including the huge task of bookpromotion, before getting involved.

How many of you took the time to study the publishing industry before producing a book? How many of you are in the process of learning about publishing now in anticipation of becoming a published author? Have any of you changed your minds about publishing after learning something about the industry and your responsibilities as a published author? We would like to hear your stories.

If you visit this blog site often, attend my presentations, read my books/articles, take my courses, etc., you know that I am a strong proponent of writing a book proposal before writing the book. This is important for several reasons—two main ones are:

• Through the process of writing a book proposal, you have the opportunity to learn more about how the world of publishing works, what it takes to get involved and what is expected of you if you hope to succeed to any degree.

• By developing a full-blown book proposal, you will discover whether or not your book idea is a good idea—a viable project. If you determine it is not, you still have the option of revising it to make it more salable.

Why would anyone short change themselves or purposely sabotage even a small measure of
success by ignoring the recommendations of professionals? The challenge for professionals, however, is to first locate hopeful authors and start educating them before they make expensive and heart-breaking mistakes.

When a would-be author hides out in his/her writing room for months working on a book, only to emerge in order to find a publisher, there’s little hope of educating him. He’s on a mission and he doesn’t want to be distracted. Unfortunately, this author will probably follow along after thousands of others who have avoided asking directions. They will find a publisher. But, without knowledge and information, most of these authors find themselves in way over their heads in territory and with stipulations they never ever expected and often can’t deal with.

Authors, if you believe in your book project, give it and yourself a chance to succeed.

• Study the publishing industry.
• Know what your options are.
• Understand the possible ramifications of the various choices.
• Educate yourself as to your responsibilities as a published author.

I pat you on the back for your decision to read this blog post today. Now go forth and read books by myself, Patricia Fry (I recommend “The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book”), Brian Jud, Dan Poynter, Penny Sansevieri and others.

Learn more about publishing, writing a book proposal, book promotion and more at:
http://www.matilijapress.com
http://www.patriciafry.com

November 13, 2010

When Publishing Becomes an Addiction

Filed under: Authorship,Publishing — Patricia @ 7:07 am

Sometimes we get so excited about writing and we are so prolific that all we want to do is publish, publish, publish.

Perhaps you’ve published a book or two and you have several more ready to go. There may also be numerous unfinished book projects on your desk which you are eager to produce. It can become all too overwhelming and confusing for an author who has become a bit addicted to being published.

There are a couple of things that can happen to prolific authors. They are so in love with writing that they can’t stop. And they feel they must justify the time they spend writing by doing something with it other than line their drawers or wallpaper their bathrooms. The most logical solution to a filing cabinet full of manuscripts is publishing. Besides, many writers don’t feel validated unless someone is reading what they wrote.

I must admit that I fit into this scenario to a degree. Thankfully, however, I was blessed with (or I somehow managed to develop) a sense of organization and order where my writing projects are concerned. I have gained an understanding of the importance of focusing rather than approaching publishing using a scattershot method—well, most of the time, anyway…

If you are feeling overwhelmed by the many projects you have piling up on your desk—your memoir, a compilation of poems, a couple of children’s books, a manuscript featuring a play on common words and the outline of a mystery or two—you may need help focusing. Try this:

• Choose the one project that you are most eager to produce. Or choose based on the timeliness of that project, the value of it and/or the potential publishability of it.

• File all other manuscripts away—out of sight. If you get an idea related to one of the other projects, you learn the name of a good illustrator for your children’s book, you come across a piece of info for your nonfiction book, open the file and toss that material in. That’s all. Do not direct any more attention to the other manuscripts than that.

• Proceed to complete the manuscript you chose. Write a book proposal. If this is a nonfiction book, write the proposal as one of your first steps.

• Work hard on your platform for promoting this particular book—yes, while you are writing it and revising it and having it edited.

• Decide which publishing option you will pursue with this project and start researching those companies within that option.

• When you have your ducks in a row, begin contacting the publishers of your choice (or start the self-publishing process). Be sure to study each publishers’ writers’ guidelines and follow them with a query letter first or a book proposal first—whatever the publisher requests.

• Focus your writing desires on the project at hand. You’ll be writing your book proposal (see above), writing a query letter, writing promo copy, etc.

• When you decide it is time to start working on another book project, choose one similar to the first one. Why? Because, it makes more sense to address the same audience rather than trying to reach a whole new one with a new topic/genre.

Are some of you having trouble with this very problem? Let me know how you remedy it. Perhaps this post has given you some ideas for handling it in the future. Let me know:
PLFry620@yahoo.com.

Visit my websites:
http://www.matilijapress.com
http://www.patriciafry.com

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