Besides the writing of the world’s best novel, there are a few things to consider before that novel makes it to print.
Create a pitch. When I spent my years writing novels before I published my first medieval mystery, I also spent a lot of time planning what would happen when one finally was published. And part of that planning was, of course, the nuts and bolts of completing a manuscript. Not only do you need to have it finished, but once it is, you need to sit down and complete the business aspect of the writing and write a synopsis. You’ll need the 25-word pitch, the paragraph, the one page, and then the full. All of these are handy to have. The pitch is for queries and for networking when you answer that inevitable question, “What’s your book about?” Know it. Memorize it. Use it.
(Advice on how to promote your book.)
Guest column by award-winning author Jeri Westerson, who writes
the critically acclaimed Crispin Guest Medieval Noir novels. Her brooding
protagonist is Crispin Guest, a disgraced knight turned detective on the
mean streets of fourteenth century London, running into thieves, kings,
poets, and religious relics. Her fifth in the series is BLOOD LANCE
(Oct. 2012, Minotaur), available in bookstores in hardcover, e-book,
and audio book. When not writing, Jeri dabbles in gourmet cooking,
drinks fine wines, eats cheap chocolate, and swoons over anything British.
Think marketing. Once that’s all done it’s time to think beyond the writing stage and start thinking about the marketing stage. When you sign a contract these days, very often the publisher wants to see a marketing plan from you.
Marketing plan, you say? Didn’t I already do the hard part and write the bloody novel? These days, that is only the beginning.
Part of that marketing plan is, of course, your online presence. Do you have a blog? Do you have a website? Are you on Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads? Are you keeping up with the ever-changing industry?
(When building your writer platform and social media, how much growth is enough?)
First, let’s talk blog and website. But if you’re not published, what would you have to put up on a website or a blog? True, a website won’t have much more than your bio, maybe some short stories you wrote, and perhaps a few awards. But even if all you have is a bio, it’s a good idea to get that all important domain name (places like GoDaddy.com can help you with that). As for content, tell us about your series. Give us an excerpt of the first chapter. It’s a chance to create your public persona. Are you going to be outgoing and open? Funny? Mysteriously aloof? Once the book is published it’s almost too late to get that presence on the internet, so start getting that presence well before you even finish the manuscript.
And as for your blog, please don’t give us another newbie blog on “how I’m working hard to get published” with stories about your cat and your Aunt Sadie. Unless your Aunt Sadie is a famous actress or explorer, leave her out of it. In fact, get used to being a professional. Lose the personal Facebook page or blog. Do you really want your family, your kids splashed all over the internet? Frame your blog on your book series. Is it about a detective who quilts? Then let it be about quilts. Is it a thriller set in L.A.? Then become the expert on the down and dirty of Los Angeles. Mine is about history and mystery. You are the expert on whatever it is you write about.
Speak freely. And speaking of being an expert, you will want to get yourself speaking engagements at your local and not-so-local libraries, at professional organization luncheons, at any place they want to have you. And so you need to prepare some presentations, something that says a little about you and a little about your books. You can’t always do a reading of your book and, let’s face it, a lot of authors are pants at reading aloud. Have something interesting to offer by way of a presentation. I talk about medieval history. And I bring props, my medieval weaponry. You can bet that gets an audience’s attention. Word gets out that your talk is interesting and fun. You will get asked to a lot of places. Again, remember you are the expert in whatever it is you are writing about. If you are writing a cooking mystery, then get ready with that hot plate and start talking.
(Public speaking is all part of building your author platform.)
Is all this part of your marketing plan? Yes, it is! Include your marketing strategy the places you plan to go to talk about your book and what that presentation is. Do you have an email list to announce about your book release? You should be working on amassing that. Goodreads friends? Friends on Facebook? Do you Tweet? Do you have followers? These are the places to start on now before the book is in print, the things that should be on your marketing plan.
Buckle up and enjoy the ride. Is it a lot of work? Yes. Is it rewarding to have your book on bookshelves and in people’s hands, in audiences that have come to hear you talk? You bet it is. But it happens because you are prepared. Prepared to hit the ground running.
Agent Donald Maass, who is also an author
himself, is one of the top instructors nationwide
on crafting quality fiction. His recent guide,
The Fire in Fiction, shows how to compose
a novel that will get agents/editors to keep reading.
Other writing/publishing articles & links for you:
- When Can You Call Yourself a Writer?
- Read a Query That Worked and Snagged an Agent.
- “How I Got My Agent,” by Novelist Carsen Morton.
- Sell More Books by Building Your Author Platform.
- Literary Agent Interview: Peter McGuigan of Foundry Literary.
- Follow Chuck Sambuchino on Twitter or find him on Facebook. Learn all about his writing guides on how to get published, how to find a literary agent, and how to write a query letter.
Want to build your visibility and sell more books?
Create Your Writer Platform shows you how to
promote yourself and your books through social
media, public speaking, article writing, branding,
and more. Order the book from WD at a discount.
Doesn’t posting an excerpt from chapter one before the novel is published mean you’ve ruined your first rights?
At this juncture in my writing ‘career’ I’m so glad that I have 16 years as a business owner under my belt! However, I must admit that when I first heard that a writer needed a platform, I was surprised.
Good stuff. As an aspiring science fiction writer, it’s good for me to know these things. I’ve started with the blog part, looks like I got some presentations to prepare.
Unfortunately, I don’t have a built-in series of novels to talk about on a website. My novel takes place in New York City Transit. Fascinating place, but don’t think I’ll be giving talks on interlocks, signals, and subway car specs. Coming up with a marketing plan is challenging. I’ll be working on it while revising my first draft. In the end, plan or not, when I complete the revisions, I’m searching for an agent. Thanks for clarifying what a professional website should look like. I’m getting started now.
Surely there must be fascinating (mostly) untold stories of the New York subway system. It’s an underground world. How could there not be?
Surely there are related stories to tell. Certainly you could weigh in on the upcoming film at the Tribeca Festival about the upcoming film “Stand Clear of the Closing Doors,” a based-on-real-life story of a 13 year old autistic Mexican immigrant who runs away from home and hides in the subways http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/12/movies/tribeca-film-festival.html?pagewanted=all
Thanks for the concrete examples of how to get things started. Perfect ‘where there’s smoke there’s fire’ strategy that can be done by anyone. Best of luck with Blood Lance.
Great advice. It’s true gone are the days where the publishing house helps market you. These days you have to have your own game plan to help get your book out there.
Thanks for this great blog post.