Writing and Publishing News

Have you seen the December 2011 issue of The Writer, yet? This is the one wherein they list my book among their top 10 of this year’s “terrific writing books.” (See pages 19-21.) Chuck Leddy, a reviewer and member of the National Book Critics Circle, wrote this article.

Promote Your Book, Over 250 Proven, Low-Cost Tips and Techniques for the Enterprising Author is listed in the number four spot, right after comedy writer, Gene Perret’s book, Write Your Book, Now! In fact, my book is the only one related to book promotion or even the business of writing. All the rest seem to be focused on the craft of writing. There’s also one about the history of proper language and one on the future of books. This is certainly an interesting array of titles. One of the book titles is, An Absolutely Phony Guide on How to Write More Good. It says on the front cover that this book is presented by Fake AP Stylebook. The focus of this book is how not to succeed as a journalist. Sounds hilariously off the wall.

Also in this issue of The Writer, are articles for poets, fiction writers, journalists and authors. I notice that this magazine still leans heavily toward the freelance writer and the writer of fiction. While they are now including information and resources for authors who are or hope to be published, this doesn’t seem to be their primary audience.

Do you subscribe to The Writer? Do you subscribe to Writer’s Digest? What about Writer’s Journal? What do you like/dislike about these print magazines?

Did you get your copy of Brian Jud’s Book Marketing Newsletter yesterday? If you have a book in the works or you are promoting one, this is one newsletter you should subscribe to. http://www.bookmarketingworks.com/mktgmattersnews

Get the September 5 edition and you’ll see my guest column on how to locate speaking gigs. I contribute probably four or five articles each year to Brian’s enewsletter. I also contribute fairly regularly to Fran Silverman’s Book Promotion Newsletter, Ron Pramschufer’s Publishing Basics, of course, SPAWNews ( http://www.spawn.org), Dana Cassell’s Freelance Writer’s Report, Writer’s Journal, Perspiring Writer and my articles are posted at the websites of several newsletter sites (Writing World, for example). I have a couple of articles coming out soon in The Writer and IBPA Independent. My articles are published in various regional writers/publishers’ magazines throughout the year—in Arizona, Texas, Northern and Southern California, Tennessee, New Mexico, Virginia and a couple of Christian writers’ publications.

Are you subscribing to the right kind of writing, publishing and/or marketing newsletters? Are you reading them? They won’t do you and your writing business any good if you don’t open them and study them. I wonder if people who don’t read the publications they subscribe to think they already know everything they need to know about the subject. I doubt it. These people are probably just making themselves too busy or they’re not managing their time well—their writing business isn’t a priority.

Do yourself a favor and vow that this month you will pay closer attention to the newsletters and enewsletters you subscribe to. If you don’t subscribe to any, locate those that relate to where you are within the writing/publishing process and subscribe to a few of them. Then read them when they arrive. Unless your mind is glued shut, you WILL discover ideas and resources that could benefit your book project.

Is the concept of writing within your genre or topic rather interesting to you? It’s a great way to become known in your genre/field. This is one method of developing a following–engaging people who like what you write and who will, most likely, be interested in your book on the subject or in the genre. I’m going to write more about this method of book promotion from your perspective tomorrow.

While you’re on a roll educating yourself, purchase my new book, Promote Your Book, Over 250 Proven, Low-Cost Tips and Techniques for the Enterprising Author (Allworth Press). Available now at Amazon. http://amzn.to/oe56Ia

Some authors that I meet are reluctant to go out of their way to promote their books. They say, in essence, “It’s a good book, isn’t that enough?” Sure, they want to sell a gazillion copies, but they resist the marketing process. They just want to write.

The truth is that, whether you self-publish, you have a traditional royalty publisher or you go with a fee-based, POD publisher, you must participate in promoting your book.

While I strongly urge authors to stretch beyond their comfort zone, there’s nothing wrong with starting the process in familiar territory.

Here are five ideas for promoting your book while involved in the process of living your life.

1. Talk about your book everywhere you go. Show your book to your coworkers, clients, vendors, members at your gym, the waitress who takes your lunch order and your dry cleaner, for example.

I suggest that authors create a 30-second commercial—a spiel that describes their book in 100 words or less. Repeat this anytime someone at a business meeting, class reunion, the supermarket, the auto parts store or your child’s school asks what you’re working on now.

Your 30-second commercial should be concise, clear and clever. If you’re not sure how effective your mini-speech is, rehearse it in front of friends. Your goal should be for people to walk away with a clear understanding of your book without feeling overwhelmed by too much information.

As an example, instead of saying, “I wrote a book about making wreaths,” try this: “I just finished publishing a book featuring living wreaths. I explain how to make wreaths using succulents, small garden flowers and ivy, for example.” If the listener seems interested, explain a little about how the wreaths are constructed. If your topic isn’t this person’s cup of tea, mention that it makes a great gift for someone who loves gardening.

2. Promote your book on the Internet. If you use the Internet to chat or conduct research anyway, why not do some promotion while you’re there. Go to the sites that reflect the subject of your book and get involved in chats, leave notes on bulletin boards, offer the site host excerpts from your book. Visit other blogs on the topic/genre of your book—comment and ask to be guest blogger. A literary site may feature your poetry book on their author’s page. A gardening site would probably be thrilled to post information about your book on living wreaths.

And when conversing with anyone via the Internet, don’t forget to add a “signature.” A signature is a little plug you can insert automatically at the end of your email.

3. Join clubs and organizations related to your book topic. Attend meetings and show your book around. Offer to give presentations reflecting your expertise. Donate books for special events. Get even more exposure by volunteering for community service projects that these organizations promote.

4. Write letters to the editor. Watch your local newspaper for an article or letter that relates to the topic of your book. Respond with information or opinions that reflect the content of your book. Be sure to include the title of your book in your letter.

5. Sell books on the road. Anytime you travel, take a box of books with you to sell along the way. Arrange in advance with a bookstore or specialty shop to have a book signing while there. Send press releases to local newspapers announcing your event. Make sure the store has plenty of copies of your books to sell.

If you don’t have time for a book signing, make cold calls to independent bookstores and appropriate specialty shops in the area. Leave them with a copy of your book or a promotional package.

As you can see, you don’t have to go too far out of your way to get exposure for your book. In order to increase sales, however, it’s wise to challenge yourself to stretch outside your comfort zone.

Here’s an idea: try at least one new marketing technique every month. Become a public speaker, for example, offer your book as a premium item, tap into the library market, create a promotional display to offer bookstores and specialty shops that sell your book or get added recognition for your book by entering it in contests.

My book, “The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book” is on sale. Save money while getting a major education about the publishing industry. You will want to read this book all the way through and then keep it closeby as a treasured reference book. http://www.matilijapress.com/rightway.html

Need a good book editor? Could you use a publishing consultant? Check out my services at: http://www.patriciafry.com

Sign up this week for my online Book Proposal Course. http://www.matilijapress.com/course_bookpromotion.htm

Today I’d like to recommend some books. These are books that I have either reviewed, used or both.

For authors who are considering going with a pay-to-publish company:
The Fine Print of Self-Publishing, Everything You Need to Know About the Costs, Contracts and Process of Self-Publishing (4th edition), By Mark Levine

Also read: The Right Way to Write Publish and Sell Your Book, by Patricia Fry

For authors who want to become independent publishers:
The Self Publishing Manual, by Dan Poynter

The Complete Guide to Self Publishing (5th edition), by Marilyn Ross and Sue Collier

Also read: The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book, by Patricia Fry

If you want to write a book proposal:
How to Write a Book Proposal in 8 Days or Less, by Patricia Fry

Write the Perfect Book Proposal, by Jeff and Deborah Herman

The Author’s Repair Kit: Breathe New Life Into Your Book, by Patricia Fry

For Poets who want to sell their work:
Poet Power, The Complete Guide to Getting Your Poetry Published, by Thomas A. Williams

How to Make a Living as a Poet, by Gary Mex Glazner

For fiction writers:
The Art and Craft of Fiction: A Practitioner’s Manual, by Victoria Mixon

For children’s book writers:
Writing Picture Books, A Hands-On Guide From Story Creation to Publication, by Ann Whitford Paul

For book promotion:
Red Hot Internet Publicity, An Insider’s o Marketing Your Book on the Internet, by Penny C. Sansevieri.

1001 Ways to Market Your Book, by John Kremer

Plug Your Book, by Steve Weber

Also read: The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book, by Patricia Fry

For screenplay writers:
The Perfect Screenplay, Writing it and Selling it, by Katherine Atwell Herbert

For freelance writers
The Well-Fed Writer and The Well Fed Writer Back for Seconds, by Peter Bowerman

Six Figure Freelancing, by Kelly James Enger

This morning a freelance-writer friend emailed me with news that an editor from a new (to her) magazine had tracked her down and wanted an article from her. She was certainly pleased. It’s always thrilling to get an assignment without having to do all of the legwork, creative-thinking, pitching, begging…

I responded to her email with congratulations and by saying that freelance writers who stay in the business for any length of time enjoy some wonderful opportunities and experiences.

So what are some of the gifts that writers receive?

• Assignments, of course. It does happen—editors will see your article in a competitor’s magazine and commission you to write one for them. Editors and publishers also go on the prowl for good writers at blog sites. If you’ve been putting off establishing a blog, this is one good reason why to move forward with it.

• Perks. As a journalist or freelance writer, you may be invited to tour an off-limits area, meet high profile people, have interesting experiences, etc. that most people wouldn’t have. Because of my status as a freelance writer, I’ve been given private tours of massive natural gardens, a bird rehabilitation center, factories, amazing homes, etc. I was even invited to enter a cage with a pair of Pallas cats at a zoo in Denver years ago in order to photograph the wild cats for a story.

• Opportunities. Since I wrote regularly for The Toastmaster Magazine for many years, I was noticed. In 2006, I was invited to be the keynote speaker at a Toastmaster convention. I said YES and I was presented with an all expenses paid trip to Dubai where I spoke before 800 Toastmasters from all over the Middle East.

If you’ve been freelancing for any length of time, you’ve probably already experienced some of the gifts that come with the profession. I’d like to hear about some of them. PLFry620@yahoo.com. Or leave your comment here.

Sign up for one of my 7 online courses:
http://www.matilijapress.com/courses.htm

Learn more about my services:
http://www.patriciafry.com

It was the flu—or at least that’s what seemed to kick me in the stomach and knock me down yesterday. I hope at least some of you missed my daily blog post. I’m much better today, however, thanks to nurse Lily kitty. She was my hot water bottle all day long. When she wasn’t smashed up against me keeping me warm, she was sitting a few feet away staring (probably wondering why I wasn’t up feeding her and playing with her).

When I arrived back at my computer this morning, amidst the 150 emails (around 100 of them spam), I had a few inquiries about my editorial services. I’ve already presented an evaluation and estimate this morning. And someone who contacted me for a free evaluation some months ago has returned to have her manuscript edited. PLUS I’m doing the final edit for another client. I appreciate the work.

You’ve probably “read” me say that if we each pay someone for a service or product, the trickledown effect might help the economy. Just last week, I noticed that there were two houses in the neighborhood getting new roofs; one neighbor had hired a housecleaning service, another one had a gardening service for her yard, one had to have a plumber and I had a new stove delivered. I think is a nice little indication that the economy is struggling upward.

What about you? Do you see an increase in freelance writing jobs coming your way? Are you selling more books? And I have to ask this: Are you continuing to promote your work, your services and yourself with enthusiasm—with a positive mindset?

If your articles/stories are being rejected, perhaps I can help you revise them. If you’re close to completing your book manuscript, let me see if I can help you fine-tune it to a more perfect state. Contact me here: PLFry620@yahoo.com. I have some very happy clients. See some of the testimonials here: http://www.matilijapress.com/testimonials.html