I’ve been thinking about a few of the authors I’ve met over the years who lament that they are not doing well with their books. They aren’t selling books. They aren’t actually doing much promotion. In fact, they didn’t plan to. Going in, they knew they didn’t have time to promote a book. They were in a hurry to bring their books out so they could get back to their paying work or their complicated lives. But now some of them are complaining because their book isn’t selling.
These authors should have held onto their dream of publishing a book until they could foresee that they had the time and space to adequately promote it.
• Are any of you rushing to finish a book because it is taking up time you need for other things?
• Will you be glad when the publishing process is over so you can get back to your regular life?
Well, I have to tell you, if you expect to sell more than a few token copies of your book, there will be no “regular life.” If you hope to earn your money back on your book project or even make a little money, your life from here on out is going to be about promotion and marketing. If you do not plan to carry your book forward full-steam into the promotional process, you will probably be sorely disappointed in sales.
Few first-time authors realize what it takes to promote a book and this is to be expected because they simply haven’t hung out in that realm before. That’s why I urge new, eager authors to read my book, Promote Your Book, Over 250 Proven, Low-Cost Tips and Techniques for the Enterprising Author. And read it before you make up your mind how your life will look once you become an author.
Read this book and, preferably, also The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book, in order to gain more understanding about the hugely competitive and demanding process of successful publishing and book promotion. And then believe what you read and prepare for what’s ahead—or scrap your mission to produce a book. If you have no intentions of seeing your book through to some measure of success, why bring it out? If you’re not going to make sure your audience is aware of your book and that they recognize the value of it (and believe me this can be a long and tedious journey), then perhaps you should shelve it until the timing is better. Wait until you have the time and inclination to spend in promotion mode because this is the only way you will sell books and it is probably much harder than you think.
It may sound as though I am trying to scare you off—talk you out of publishing your book. But that’s not the case. On the contrary, I want you to have a successful publishing experience and this can occur only if you are well-prepared and have a clear understanding of what it takes to publish and sell a book today. It is NOT as easy as it looks. It is going to take your full concentration, a great deal of your time, creativity and, possibly, some serious stretching and growth on your part.
This is not to say that it isn’t also fun. I’m heading out to a book festival this morning to meet and greet members of my audience. I get to decorate a booth and spend the day talking to hopeful authors and other readers in a festive atmosphere among other authors. I also get to be part of a panel discussion on self-publishing this afternoon. Now this is enjoyable to me—challenging, but enjoyable.
I hope that if you are planning to join the million or so people who produce books each year, you will adequately prepare yourself for everything you will encounter. If you haven’t given much thought to what’s ahead, please order either (or both) of the books I mentioned: http://www.matilijapress.com They are also at Amazon.com. “Promote Your Book” is in print and also on Kindle and Nook.