My book sales are up. SPAWN membership is on the rise. Clients are requesting my assistance. The writing life is good. I hope you all can say the same. Are your extra efforts to get your articles published or to sell books paying off for you? Why shouldn\u2019t they be?<\/p>\n
Sure, we\u2019re in a severe economic situation. But does this mean we should give up our dreams or our careers? What is the unemployment rate now\u2014in some places it\u2019s over 8 percent. But this means that 92 percent of us are working. Likewise, magazines are folding. But, believe it or not, new magazines are also being launched at a fairly good rate. Book sales may be down, but books are selling\u2014why not yours? <\/p>\n
This is no time to slack off when it comes to promoting your book or yourself. In fact, this is your opportunity to get noticed. Is the competition still stiff? Well, yes. But there are also many freelance writers and authors who have been scared off by industry rumors that the times are bad\u2014that books aren\u2019t selling and that magazines are not buying stories and articles. Think about it, this might be a perfect time to hit it hard\u2014when others are retreating.<\/p>\n
So what are you going to do this week to boost your book sales or get your articles or stories published? Here are some ideas:<\/p>\n
Sell More Books<\/strong> \u2022\tTravel around outside of your community on weekends and visit independent bookstores with your books. If you can coordinate a signing, a radio or TV appearance, a workshop or talk someplace locally, you\u2019ll have a greater chance of getting into the bookstore AND of selling those books.<\/p>\n \u2022\tRun a contest or another project to bring awareness to your website and your book. In preparing this program, remember to respond to your potential customers\u2019 most burning question, \u201cWhat\u2019s in it for me?\u201d<\/p>\n Get Your Articles Published<\/strong> \u2022\tContact those magazine editors with whom you have good working relationships. Ask for an assignment.<\/p>\n \u2022\tGet out and around town. Visit new businesses. Attend festivals, art shows, plays, concerts, etc. seeking article ideas. Ideas might come through eaves dropping, from interviews with key people at the event or business or simply as a question in your own mind, for example. Expand on the idea and you may quickly generate a good article concept.<\/p>\n There\u2019s a lot that we can do in order to increase our visibility and value as writers and authors. Sitting home and fretting about the economy and the future is not one of them.<\/p>\n So the theme for today\u2019s blog post is \u201cGet Out and Make Something Happen.\u201d If you are in the process of writing a book or even if you are just thinking about doing it, order my book, The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book<\/em><\/strong>. http:\/\/www.matilijapress.com\/rightway.html<\/a><\/p>\n If your book sales are lagging and you, as a published author, are floundering, order my ebook, The Author\u2019s Repair Kit<\/em><\/strong>. This book will help you to breathe new life into your failing book. http:\/\/www.matilijapress.com\/author_repairkit.html<\/a> <\/p>\n If you want a fun, frolicking, furry, purry read, order the ebook or print (comb-bound) copy of my newly illustrated (with over 80 photos of kitties), Catscapades, Tales of Ordinary and Extraordinary Cats<\/em><\/strong>. http:\/\/www.matilijapress.com\/catscapades.html<\/a> <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" My book sales are up. SPAWN membership is on the rise. Clients are requesting my assistance. The writing life is good. I hope you all can say the same. Are your extra efforts to get your articles published or to sell books paying off for you? Why shouldn\u2019t they be? Sure, we\u2019re in a severe […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[5],"tags":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t
\n\u2022\tMake news and then report it. How? Get involved in something pertaining to the theme of your book\u2014develop a children\u2019s hour at the local library, conduct a workshop for seniors who need help budgeting in these difficult times, open your offices to couples financial counseling FREE every Friday afternoon, establish a weekend sandwich or stew feed for local homeless and other struggling families, volunteer to read your entire novel over a two-week period to folks at a local senior center, for example. And then report it to the newspaper. Your book will get a plug. Parlay your publicity by getting folks in other communities involved in similar programs and get more press outside of your area.<\/p>\n
\n\u2022\tSeek out new (to you) magazines\u2014some of those that may be a bit obscure, but that pay pretty well. Approach them with some of your best article ideas or fiction stories.<\/p>\n