There has never been a time in my life when I've felt as overwhelmed and behind as I do now. Even with four children going twelve different directions when they were home and in sports, clubs, and going to school and I had a part time job, I didn't feel like I was floundering like I do now.
I was told once the children leave the nest, you have more time. Not so for me. That's when I picked up the writing gauntlet and charged full steam ahead to try my hand at becoming a published author. I made the published part and am still trying to feel like an author and not a writer.As a reader, how much publicity or what kind brings you to an author you've never read before? Every time I hear about a new place to put up my books either for sale or for promotion I feel like I should do that, but there goes a day of writing.Then there are blogs. My own and the group blogs I feel will attract more readers to my writing. That takes my time away from my WIP(work in progress). And all the other promotion "fun" I think up takes time.
I've attended two reader conferences and haven't noticed any correlation to sales from those. So I'm thinking not worth my time and money even though they were fun. I teach at several writer conferences. I like helping other writers as I was helped. And they usually allow us to sell books and some pay for a night or two of the motel rooms or a free entry to the conference.
So readers, I ask again, how does an author get noticed in the millions of books out there? Any ideas or suggestions? I need to narrow my publicity down to a more manageable level. Or should I go with the most common piece of advice I've been told, "Just write the next book"? I'm thinking that may be my motto for 2014 and not do any publicity just to get a couple of series finished and to see if not doing anything but writing does more for me than all the other hoopla that takes me away from writing.
Next year watch for the third Isabella Mumphrey book and the next two books in the upcoming Halsey Trilogy.
www.patyjager.net
www.patyjager.blogspot.com
Well, as a writer, it is hard for me to do promotion, but I know it is important to get the word out about a new book or the type of writing you do, as well as build a readership. But it is time consuming and I need to focus more on writing the books. I think contests or drawings are good, and networking with readers in person at events, etc. Even if it doesn't result in a sale at that moment, talking with readers and what they like is helpful and many have emailed me after an event about meeting me and saying they bought my book. I will say this, of the three classes I have attended on marketing and promotion, they said to focus more on building a personal relationship (of shared interests and entertaining tidbits) with your audience that isn't all about "look at me, buy my book" promos. One successful author said to use free social media sites to post about fun or nteresting things in general to help build a readership. But that guy admitted he had people working for him that searched for stuff and posted it for him. I try to post interesting stuff, but need to use my time to write. As a reader, I read reviews to see if a book is sonething I would like to read, or learn about new authors from friends who read their work. Not much help, was I? lol.
ReplyDeleteAshley, it is a never ending cycle isn't it? I love to connect with readers, but not sure what the best way is. I do better online because I'm such an introvert in person.
DeleteGood post, Paty, and a timely one for me, too. How do we attract readers? With all the friends, followers, likes we attract and go get, most of those are writers who are looking for the same thing -- readers. I'm in a big promotion deal, as are you, that, while it's fun and enlightening, most of the people are authors not readers. I, too, blog and support my author friends' blogs when I get to them, look for promotion sites, etc. all that you and Ashley mentioned. When I sit down to write, I'm tired and don't write much or well.
ReplyDeleteI'm a newby with one book self-pubbed, so if you experienced writers with several books published are struggling with this, then what does that say for other newbies like me? The situation is daunting but I have hope that we'll all figure it out. So back I go to my work in progress and to getting book 2 out there. Good luck to you and if you figure anything out, share pretty please??
Carra, If I figure it out, I will definitely share!
DeleteI'm convinced that the people who are doing the most effective job at this are those who have other people doing it for them. I'm rapidly coming to the conclusion I will never get a book finished because of all of the time I'm devoting to trying to push the ones I've already finished. ..... A guru once told me to spend 25% of your computer time on promoting yourself, but spend the other 75% on writing. So the next trick is to determine how much is 25% and what to include in that fraction.
ReplyDeleteAnna Jeffrey
Anna, I heard that too, and I think in 2014, I'm going to stick to that. But it is hard when in self publishing you are doing everything along with writing the book. Then that leaves even less time to do the things you're supposed to do to get noticed.
DeleteWhat Jeffery said. The authors who are successful in today's market have help--a publicist, someone else to run a street team, someone to create promo materials, someone to maintain the website, etc., all down the line. I do all that myself and either the book doesn't get written or the promo doesn't get done--one of the two.
ReplyDeleteJacquie, I need to go back to writing and less promotion. I have a list of books that need written.
DeleteI'm a strange one. I love promotion and figuring out different ways to do it. I am very lucky in that I'm a retired empty nester with a wonderfully supportive husband. I use Facebook, my blog, paid and free sites and post trailers on YouTube.
ReplyDeleteI talk to people everywhere, even the check out girls.
Seems to be paying off. I am very happy to promote fellow authors at every opportunity and make a point of reading their books so I can honestly recommend them.
Just keep positive. I allocate 2 hours of non interrupted time every day and it's amazing what you can get done. Always happy to help out any of you.
Paty, I think you can get so caught up in the marketing/promotion arena that you lose your focus on what is truly important: writing the next book and the one after that.
ReplyDeleteOne can get so caught up in the pressure to promote that the writing begins to take a back seat. That's never good.
Paty, you are asking the question I am. I am trying to use Twitter a little more but it's true everything you do that way takes energy from the books or research needed. I keep thinking if there was a site that offered the books listed with info and in each category where readers could go, like an online bookstore, that might be the best idea. At this point, I don't know if such a place exists. I don't think it's Good Reads which has its pluses but isn't that easy to navigate (at least for me). I do the blog on writing to encourage wantabe writers and promote my books but it's limited in how many it really can reach. I used to keep the books out of my bigger blog but have decided-- it's mine and they're going to be there once in awhile. it was that or dump that blog totally and I figured I'd try this out and see how the readers there respond. They are not though romance readers; so not sure exactly how it works out unless I can convert a few ;)
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