Archive for November, 2011

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Enhance Your Book Marketing Skills

Sunday, November 20th, 2011

Toward the end of my book, Promote Your Book, Over 250 Proven, Low-Cost Tips and Techniques for the Enterprising Author, I include a chapter on “How to Enhance Your Marketing Skills.” Here is an abbreviated excerpt from that chapter:

1: Join trade/genre organizations and mingle with other experts in your field or genre.

2: Continue to study trends in your field or genre. Once you write a book on a topic or in a genre, you become an instant expert. Don’t disappoint your readers. Continue to learn and widen your horizon on issues, trends and news related to the theme/genre of your book.

3: Never stop reading about book promotion. You can’t overload on the subject of book promotion. Study everything you can get your hands on and continue to hone your marketing skills and come up with new ideas. I’ve been promoting my books for around thirty years and I still learn new tricks of the trade, hear about new and innovative ideas and gain new perspectives that serve to enhance my approach to promotion. If you haven’t bought a good book on book promotion in a while, maybe now is the time to treat yourself. Of course, I recommend my book, “Promote Your Book.”

4: Join publishing organizations and clubs. Keep abreast of what’s happening in the world of publishing.

5: Attend publishing/writing conferences. Many of them are geared toward the author now and include good sessions on book promotion.

6: Promote, promote, promote. Never give up. Stop promoting and your book will die.

7: Create a marketing plan. There are probably several promotional activities you have thought about pursuing, but haven’t found the time. This is a good reason to establish a plan with reasonable goals and follow it. It will help you to make a commitment and follow-through.

8: Create a hot file. I love this idea. Establish a file and every time you hear about, read about or think about a good idea for promoting your book, tuck it into that file for later reference. Don’t let any of those great ideas slip past you. Tip: Take a look in the file at least once every two weeks and implement a new idea or pursue a new outlet or other source.

9: Track your sales. This is not easy in this age of computer sales. But one thing you can do is include a question on your online order form that says, “How did you hear about us?” You’ll get some idea of which promotion is working.

10: Be thankful. Whenever you get a review, your article appears in a newsletter, someone interviews you, always reciprocate with a warm “Thank you.”

And I want to thank you for your attention to this blog. This is a loosely represented excerpt from my book, Promote Your Book, Over 250 Proven, Low-Cost Tips and Techniques for the Enterprising Author (Allworth Press, 2011). Order the book at Amazon, at the publisher’s website or here: http://www.matilijapress.com/PromoteYourBook.html

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How to Promote Your Presentation

Saturday, November 19th, 2011

When you schedule a book signing, workshop, demonstration or other presentation, how do you promote it? Or do you expect the bookstore manager, specialty store owner, publicity chairman or program director to do the promotion?

Most of the time, there will be some publicity for your scheduled talk, but you should not leave this entirely up to the host. In order to get a full house, you need to be a proactive promoter. Here’s what I suggest:

• Post an announcement at your blog a few times prior to the event.

• Place an announcement at your website.

• Send an email to acquaintances, friends, colleagues, customers, clients, etc.

• Contact the list of names you’ve collected at local book festivals, workshops, etc.

• Announce it in appropriate online forums.

• Place announcements in your member newsletters.

• Suggest to your colleagues that they tell their customers/clients.

• Hang posters at the venue (where appropriate).

• Create fliers to be included with customers purchases (such as in a bookstore).

• Post fliers at libraries, bookstores and others appropriate places related to the theme of your presentation.

• If the program chairperson will not do so, arrange for press in your local newspaper and newsletters.

It’s not easy to get people out for book signings, workshops and other presentations these days. You’re competing with many other activities and interests. So, if you want to attract a crowd, it is important that you do what you can to get word out.

By the way, for those of you who live in Southern California, I’ll be teaching a one-day workshop at the Ventura College on Writing Magazine Articles for Fun and Profit Saturday, December 3 at 9:00 to 12:00 pm. The cost is $49. Sign up here:
http://www.communityed.VenturaCollege.edu or call 805-654-6459

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Sometimes Procrastination Works for an Author

Friday, November 18th, 2011

Yesterday I wrote about procrastination in this blog. It’s something I’d been doing to avoid tackling a workshop I needed to write. But after I finished that post, I went back to my documents file and actually found an old workshop I had presented on the same topic. I didn’t have to outline a whole new program, there it was. All it needed was a few updates.

A friend pointed out to me that sometimes there’s a reason for procrastination. If I’d launched right into writing the new workshop, I would have spent hours of time unnecessarily. I would have been Johnny-on-the-spot, but it would have been wasted time and energy. So, while yesterday, I considered procrastination a negative, today, I’m glad I dragged my feet on this project.

Thinking back, I can recall other times when taking immediate action was not appropriate. If I’d gone with my first instinct, it would have been the wrong decision. In some cases, things transpired during the time I was procrastinating that meant I had to change my approach. In these situations, if I’d jumped in with my usual enthusiasm to complete the projects at hand, I would have found myself backtracking to catch up. In fact, I have had that very thing happen. Haven’t you?

It certainly pays to be organized and to stay on top of the things that come across your desk or that you commit to. But there’s also a lot to say for being flexible. Sometimes it is wise to stop and think before taking action. And the fact that I did this with regard to my freelance writing workshop I’ll be presenting at Ventura College in a few weeks, afforded me extra time to spend writing and promoting my books.

Speaking of books, my latest book, Promote Your Book, Over 250 Proven Tips and Techniques for the Enterprising Author, seems to be doing well. My only gauge at this point is the Amazon rating. I’ll get an accounting from the publisher next month. Order your copy at amazon.com, BarnesandNoble.com, IndieBound.com, at the publisher’s website http://www.skyhorsepublishing.com or at my website http://www.matilijapress.com/PublishYourBook.html.

I heard from my publisher this week—Allworth Press, an imprint of Skyhorse Publishing. They are putting the final touches on my next book, Publish Your Book, Proven Strategies and Resources for the Enterprising Author. We are in the process of getting expert quotes for the cover. It has gone to the typesetter, so I will get a copy to proof any day now. I’ll also be creating the index at some point. Publication is set for February. It’s going to be a busy holiday season here in the Matilija Press/Patricia Fry offices.

You can learn more about the new book at Amazon.com

In the meantime, if you need an editor for your novel or nonfiction book, check out my credentials and experience here:
http://www.patriciafry.com

I offer free manuscript evaluations and free estimates for editing. PLFry620@yahoo.com

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Procrastination in Action

Thursday, November 17th, 2011

Now that’s an oxymoron, isn’t it? Procrastination indicates lack of action—putting off tasks, postponing duties that you know need to be done. To procrastinate is to ignore and neglect things you are planning to do, right? You say, for example, “I’m going to get my shopping done before the holiday rush,” or “I will write a page a day until my book is finished.” If you find yourself making excuses for not going to the mall or you fill your time with things other than writing, that could be procrastination in action.

Do you tend to procrastinate? Do you ignore deadlines? Or maybe you are keenly aware of your deadline, but you keep finding other things to do. Most of the time when we procrastinate, we also suffer with some level of guilt. We know that a project needs to be completed, and we really want to do it, but we can’t bring ourselves to turn away from our self-proclaimed freedom in order to buckle down and commit to a long-term (or even short-term) task we’ve accepted responsibility for.

I don’t consider myself a procrastinator. I am fairly well organized and I generally get things done. I’m one of those who handles most things as they come across my desk. If it is something that will take more than an hour of my time, however, I tend to put it off until I have a clear slate, a larger pocket of time, less chance of interruption and so forth. Can you see the procrastination in my logic? Or is it logic in my procrastination?

I’ve been procrastinating this month, but I feel I have some perfectly good excuses. Hmmm, I guess that’s what even the worst procrastinator will say… “I have a good excuse for not getting that done.” I wonder if a true, hardcore procrastinator ever finishes the project—or maybe he doesn’t even start it. I like to think there are levels of procrastination. But then that’s the way my mind works. Everything can be measured. There are different levels of good, bad, enjoyment, attentiveness, caring, knowledge, trust and so forth. So it follows, for me, that there are different levels of procrastination. Let’s explore that concept:

• There are those who procrastinate forever on a project—it never gets done.

• There are those who procrastinate a little bit on a daily basis—putting off various tasks throughout the day, but often finally completing most of them.

• Some people set aside a project until they have the appropriate mindset, knowledge and time allotment and then they dive in and quickly complete the job.

• Others procrastinate only on certain things. They get their housework and paying work done, but are slow at taking care of what they actually want to do—the writing they dream of doing, or the gardening they love doing.

I guess a psychologist could see the underlying causes in the way an individual procrastinates (or doesn’t). It might be an interesting study and one that has probably been done before.

Do you procrastinate? Which category do you fall in? I guess there is no real problem with procrastination except when it harms the procrastinator or someone else. For example, if you are so stressed by the time you decide to take care of business, you probably won’t do a very good job of completing it. And you may make yourself sick in the meantime. I think some of you can relate to this. You put something off, feeling guilty with every excuse you make. And when your deadline is looming, you dive in, rush, work impossible hours, possibly do a lousy job, complete the task and then come down sick with a cold. Ever have that happen to you? I believe I have.

Sometimes we wait so long to do the job that we can’t get it done and we end up letting someone down. That stings. Even our creative excuses can’t sooth our feelings of shame and disappointment. Shudder, shudder.

Today, I am taking on a project I’ve been putting off. Well, at least that is my plan. Every week for several, I have written into my schedule that I would outline the freelance writing class I’m teaching at the local college weekend after next. And every week, I get involved in other things—always with that class outline project in the back of my mind nagging me. Yesterday was finally the day I designated to work on the class outline. But that morning, my publisher contacted me with a request that took priority and most of the day to complete. I decided to procrastinate with regard to the class project just one more day. But today is the day I will stop procrastinating, at least on that project. Wish me luck.

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

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Is Controversy the Only Way to Inspire Blog Comments?

Wednesday, November 16th, 2011

I’ve discovered the secret to getting people to comment at your blogsite. Controversy.

Bring up a controversial topic and, if you have any followers at all, you will get comments. People will take sides, criticize you and some of those others who comment, rant, thank you for bringing up the subject, lambaste you for bringing up the subject and everything in between. And some of those comments might become fodder for future blog posts.

Another way to get comments at your blogsite is to make it personal. Post on topics close to the hearts of your visitors. If it resonates with them at an emotional level, they are more apt to respond.

But just because you don’t get a flurry of comments at your blogsite every single day doesn’t mean that you don’t have followers. Most people are not going to comment. Heck, some don’t even acknowledge your personal emails to them when you have responded to their emailed question or concern.

We no longer RSVP when it is requested. (I had to call nearly half of the people invited to my mother’s recent 90th birthday party to find out if they were coming or not. We needed a head count because we were footing the bill for the meal.) We neglect to contact colleagues or friends when we change our plans—even when those changes will affect the other people. Many of us show up to engagements and meetings late—and with no other excuse than, “Time just got away from me,” or “something came up.” And what about the person who holds up a meeting and has no excuse.

I am firmly against waiting for the latecomers. If a meeting is slated to start at 7, it should start at 7. I never understood why we cater to those who are irresponsibly (or even justifiably) late, when we should show more consideration for those who are prompt.

But I digress—I’m off on my own rant this morning. And there are probably people who do not appreciate that trait in a writer. (Although, this topic may evoke responses…)

If you have a blog that does not receive many comments, you probably feel like you’re blogging into the ethers—that you are not being heard/read. But I think it is more likely that your visitors just aren’t moved to comment. I get very few comments at my blogsite. I actually had two people comment on one of my blog posts this week—but they emailed me directly to tell me what a good post it was. And while at a recent book festival, I had a handful of people come to my booth and say such things as, “I love your blog.” “You give so much good information. Keep it up.”

I’m always encouraged when I get this sort of feedback, but sometimes I yearn to see a string of comments at my blogsite coming from a variety of people living all over the world. And I think I know how to accomplish this. I could bring up the horrible Penn State scandal. What a mess that is. And those who are blogging about it are sure getting the comments. Why? The world is curious and this is definitely an emotional issue. No one can think about this situation without feeling an emotion—generally those in the anger category (fear, disgust, hatred, sadness etc.)

I’d like to know—what blog topics inspire you to comment? Is there something related to writing/publishing/book promotion that you would like to discuss with me and my other followers?

By the way, I want to say a huge thank you to those of you who have provided feedback by way of your comments at my blogsite. I SO appreciate all of you.

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

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The Warming Up of the Cold Call

Tuesday, November 15th, 2011

Most of us do not like making cold calls—that is, calling someone out of the blue and asking for something or pitching something. I did quite a bit of cold calling when I was writing articles for magazines. I’d call experts for quotes, professionals or others involved in a particular topic for their perspective, and authors for permission to quote something from their books, for example.

Why do most of us have such a distaste for the cold call? I maintain it is because we fear rejection. Maybe the expert won’t talk to us. They might resent the fact that we called them. They might be rude on the phone. We fear that we may come across as unprofessional when we make the call. What sort of impression will we make?

The cold call is practically a thing of the past now. It’s one of those practices that is no longer necessary—at least in its original form. The Internet and email have changed the “cold call” to what we might term, the “warm call.”

Now, we can introduce ourselves and our projects via email. We can follow-up with a phone call only if we get the go-ahead. Our call is expected and, in most cases, welcome. There is no awkward introduction to stumble through. You won’t hear the person on the other end of the phone saying, “This is who? What is it you want?” They’ll be prepared to speak to you and, perhaps, to answer your questions.

Very often, you can handle your business and even conduct a complete interview through email. How convenient is that? If it is a crucial or sensitive interview, you may want to follow-up with a phone call to get clarity on some of the issues and/or to hear the tone, inflections and attitude of the interviewee.

Who would have thought that the cold call could become warm through the use of technology?

While an email introduction might work well for obtaining quotes and permissions for your book or article, for example, it might not be as effective in presenting a pitch. That’s because of the “What’s in it for me,” mentality we all harbor. We are bombarded many times each day by requests for our money, time, attention and help. So we tend to pretty much ignore another sales pitch, favor request, etc. that comes to us from strangers.

Have you found that the cold call has become warmer because of the Internet? How are you using technology for the pitches and requests you formerly sent or solicited the old-fashioned way?

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Milestones: Stepping Stones to Success

Monday, November 14th, 2011

We all have milestones. We celebrated one yesterday. My sister, brother and I threw a big party for our mother’s 90th birthday. What a great event. All but a handful of her 32 kids, grandchildren, great grandchildren and great great grandchildren were there.

As writers/authors, we have milestones, too. For example, in 2013, I’ll have been writing for publication for 40 years and I’ll have been an author for 35 years. When my next book comes out in February, it will be number 35 for me.

Did you know that I wrote most of my first book while recuperating in bed after a back injury? It was called, Hints for the Backyard Rider. The first publisher I sent it to accepted it and it was published in 1978 in hard cover and paperback. I started writing books for authors and freelance writers a dozen years ago. And this year, I celebrated 15 years association with SPAWN (Small Publishers, Artists and Writers Network).

I like to look at milestones, such as the beginning of a new year as opportunities. These are opportune times to re-evaluate our writing/publishing work and our goals. I like to ask myself, have I met all of the goals I’ve set? Do I need to make adjustments? Is my writing business going in the direction I want to go? What steps do I need to take in order to help more writers, sell more books, gain greater name recognition, etc.? Shall I apply to do workshops at more writers’ conferences? Do I need to submit more articles to appropriate magazines/ezines? What value do I need to add to my offerings, my website, and so forth? Should I do more in the area of social media? Is this the year I need to hire an assistant?

Do you stop to re-evaluate your writing business or hobby at specific intervals? You might vow to devote more time to writing. Can you find or make the time? Maybe you want to finally finish and publish your book in 2012. Do you know what steps to take in order to make that happen?

Yes, milestones provide great opportunities for redirecting your career or finally living your dream. But you must also have a plan and be willing to implement it. If your dream is to finally be published, you might want to read my book, The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book. It is one of the few books that helps the author explore all publishing options and select the one that is best for the author and his/her particular book. It also helps the author to understand more about the publishing industry and how to more successfully navigate it. It includes information, tips and resources on every aspect of publishing from a timeline for self-publishing to book promotion and everything in between.

Order your copy of this book here: http://www.matilijapress.com/rightway.html Order now and save almost 25 percent of the cover price.

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Book Promotion Tips for Very Busy Authors

Sunday, November 13th, 2011

There’s so much going on this time of year. In our family it is a 90th birthday celebration for my mother this month. We also have a new baby in the family—born prematurely, but doing well. Most of you have issues in your families—both difficult and, hopefully, happy.

Halloween is over and Thanksgiving is less than two weeks away. And we’re already thinking ahead to Christmas/Hanukah. Some of you have started the planning process for entertaining, travel, gift-giving, etc.

So where do your book promotion activities fit in this time of year? Does book promotion take a backseat to holiday and family activities? What can you do to keep from backsliding where your book is concerned? How can you keep up the book promotion momentum? Here are a few ideas that might help:

1: Carry a pen and pad with you or a handheld recorder and make notes related to promotional ideas or leads whenever you have brief periods of downtime—while waiting for a bus, client or your dentist appointment; while eating lunch, etc.

2: Give up some of your habits. Send press releases or seek out new book reviewers or speaking engagements instead of reading the morning paper, working out at the gym every day, going clubbing at night, taking on an extra client, reading mysteries, cleaning every crevice of your home, cooking gourmet meals, working overtime or sleeping. Yes, get up an hour earlier or stay up an hour later. You might be surprised what you can accomplish.

3: Make a few phone calls with regard to book promotion while in waiting mode, during lunch hour at work. You can send emails at any time of the day or night—after dinner, when you can’t sleep in the middle of the night or in the wee hours of the morning, for example.

4: Hire people in other communities/states to promote your book to independent bookstores and specialty stores. Give them a percentage of sales.

4: Use smidgeons of time to post comments at blogs pertinent to your book theme. Participate in appropriate forums and online groups. Just take a few moments to do an Internet search to find out who is talking about the topic or genre of your book. Comment at those blogs.

5: Do some piggyback marketing. Purchase books that would compliment yours from other authors to use in promoting your own book—offering two books for a special price, for example. Or you could exchange promotional material with another author. Send hers/his with books you ship to customers and ask the other author to send your promotional material with their shipments.

6: Order a print or digital copy of my new book, Promote Your Book, Over 250 Proven, Low-Cost Tips and Techniques for the Enterprising Author. You’ll be surprised how many of the ideas can be used during brief pockets of time. There are also ideas for those who can’t get out due to illness, weather, etc. You’ll find tips for authors who love to write, who are good speakers or storytellers, who have connections, who want to make connections, who travel, who want to use the Internet for promotion and for those who just can’t come up with good ideas on their own.

Is this book designed specifically with the nonfiction author in mind? Absolutely not! While the nonfiction author will glean an enormous amount of help from this book, it is definitely for the fiction author and children’s book author, as well. I went through the book a while back and counted over 120 specific mentions of how novelists and children’s book authors can use some of the ideas in this book. Practically all of the ideas are generic—for authors in every genre. But, because I know that fiction writers have more trouble shifting from writer to promoter, I take them by the hand and walk them through the process of using some of the ideas for promoting their specific book.

Order your copy today at: http://www.matilijapress.com/PromoteYourBook.html or at Amazon. http://amzn.to/oe56Ia

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Book Promotion Bonanza

Saturday, November 12th, 2011

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?

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Should You Use Your Photo on Your Book Cover?

Friday, November 11th, 2011

I happened across an article yesterday about whether or not you should include your photograph on your book cover. The professional suggested that this tactic should be left only to those who are already in the public eye—who are recognizable celebrities.

I have a different take on this issue. I believe that readers want to see what the author looks like. I often turn a book over and look at the back cover to see what I can learn about the author of a book I am thinking about reading or that I am in the process of reading. Don’t you? It’s sort of like when you are on the freeway and the driver in front of you suddenly slows way down, veers into the next lane without warning or does something else out of the ordinary. When you get a chance, don’t you take a look in that driver’s direction just to see what he looks like? Don’t you have this urge to see what sort of person would behave in this way or what is wrong with him? I think it is a universal response.

We judge people by their appearance. It’s true. If the driver, for example, has gray hair, you are more apt to excuse their driving mistakes by saying, “Their old and confused.” Or you’ll decide, “That woman shouldn’t be driving at her age.” If it is someone of another culture, you might determine that they don’t understand our driving laws. You will get a look at the driver if you possibly can and you will pass judgment.

We pass judgment with regard to authors, too. What do you think when you discover that the author of a book on motorcycle mechanics is actually a woman or that a burly man wrote a children’s book you just read to your kids? Readers have expectations about the authors of the books they read and they will try to find out more about him or her.

Should you post your photo on the cover of your book? If you plan to do personal appearances, if you are developing a brand around your line of books/your persona, if you hope to become familiar to your audience and want to be recognized within your field or genre, then you certainly should include your photo on the back cover of your book. You’ll also want your photo on your brochures, website and even some press releases.

We have discussed your publicity photo a couple of times in this blog. One of the points I always make in posts, articles and books is the importance of using a photo that fits the purpose. In other words, if your book is about dog grooming, by all means, use a photo of yourself interacting with a dog. If it is a book on humorous grooming tales, you might get bold and post a photo of you attempting to lure a dog into your grooming shop, for example. Or use that scenario on the front cover in a caricature drawing and use a more professional shot of yourself on a corner of the back cover.

The bottom line for me, as far as whether the author should use his or her photo on the cover of their book depends on how much recognition they want. Sure, most of your readers don’t know you, but you want them to, right? You want them to remember you, attend your book signings, presentations and workshops. You want them to purchase additional copies of your book for friends and to buy any new books you produce. You want them to know who you are when you walk into an exhibit hall or conference.

I say, sure you may not be a celebrity, YET, but becoming an author could be a start.

On a personal note: Today, as you all know, is 11-11-11. It is also Veteran’s Day. And it is my mother’s 90th birthday. Not only that, this week, my mother’s first great, great granddaughter was born and she was named after my mother. What a birthday gift.

Speaking of gifts: I haven’t seen it yet, but I understand that The Writer has listed their top ten books for writers and authors and my new book is included in the list. Can’t wait to pick up my copy of The Writer today. The new book, in case you’ve forgotten, is Promote Your Book, Over 250 Proven, Low-Cost Tips and Techniques for Promoting Your Book (Allworth Press). Order your copy here: http://amzn.to/oe56Ia

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