| Why don't I write? What's the primary reason I don't meet my word count goals? I can talk about my dogs bugging me, being compelled to clean and tidy, the call of the weedy beds, but I'd be fooling myself, the biggest distraction from my writing is self promotion. Every morning, the first thing I do is check, respond and update my livejournal comments, myspace, facebook, blogger, the League and even twitter (new this week). Now with the help of Missy, who League readers see in the comments, a Yahoo group is in the works. Then there's the bookscan numbers and the dissecting effectiveness of various promtional activities and items. Is there a jump in sales from con attendance? Who knows? I don't. I can speculate. Boy can I speculate. What I can tell you for certain is...I'm about freakin' crazy. Not about. Totally freakin' crazy. I'm sitting here with 500 pens that didn't show up until after I'd already left for Romantic Times. I'm lucky I used a generic slogan and not something specific to Happy Hour or they'd just be a useless expense. I'm not even certain whether people buy books based on a recommendation of a pen. I doubt it. I like pens, especially free ones. But I've yet to ask my doctor for some Ambien or Viagra just because they're hanging out in my pen cup. I'm more convinced that a face to face connection at cons and readings/signings is probably the most effective tool (the pen is just the reminder). Second is the blog stuff and interacting in comments. Third? Social networking has gotten me a few sales, I suppose. The rest of the stuff that sells a book is totally out of my control and that's what bugs me most. I imagine elaborate marketing plans. Fantasize about tv spots. Viral video. Real life zombies shambling around with ad boards bolted to their backs. A Starbucks marketing tie-in would be perfect. But still--and I know this--the most effective promotional tool is writing a better second book and a third and keeping them coming. Momentum is an author's best friend. I need that to be my mantra, before my three book deal becomes just that; a three-book-deal. I think I'm going to have stress diarrhea. |
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You're doing fine, Mark! I'd say the other best friend of writers is word of mouth b/c I'll buy a book recommended by a friend over most others. And definitely will hesitate if they down it. (Which reminds me, three more bought by friends... bwahaha!! And you must be doing well b/c it's nigh impossible to find a copy in any of the bookstores I traverse.)
I'm not so much concerned about sales, as I am the feeling of helplessness to impose an effect on them, personally. Does that make any sense?
I think that makes total sense. It's one thing to have a cart full of a product that you can take around and talk to people and watch them buy it and know you've sold those. There's personal satisfaction that comes from the passing of your product through your hands to theirs. Having to leave it up to the shops and online stores and hope you've done enough is a little nerve wrecking when you're a hands on kind of personality.
But definitely the best thing to do is write more really good books. :)
If only you worked inside the sales department of your publisher like most other authors...
oh wait...
Oh, Anton... you are special indeed... on so many levels. ;)
But yeah, that makes sense, Mark. Though I think you are doing everything you can to pimp yourself... cons, readings, online chatting... unless you literally start toting copies door to door (please don't. you'll scare the children!), you're doing all you can.
Breathe deep and let the Plague Carrier take you to a whole. 'nuther. level. ;) (I really need to cut back on Mad TV.)
This is Missy btw. Not sure why it sometimes says Missy and sometimes Melissa... I think it's b.c I have two gmail logins with the same password: simsygirl and simsybee. D'oh!)
I have sold some books because of conferences, but in general I don't think it was worth the $1,000 or so I spent to attend. :)
I don't think ads sell books--and advertising used to be my life. I don't think bookmarks do either, but I like to have them. I think people reading your book, and liking it sells books. Social networks if you reach people who read the kind of books you like, can sell some books. But mainly authors seem to just pimp to each other--not that we don't buy books, but...
I hate it when people say it, but I think it's annoyingly true that the best thing you can do is write a really good book that appeals to *your* reader and then do it again and again...
And then treating the people who are your readers like the gods they obviously must be!!
Lori
I would think that as a newer writer, getting out there and meeting people would make a big difference, but then once you have the popularity of like Anne McCaffrey you can relax more and write more, pimp less.
I don't know... just a thought.
My wife had her own business some years ago. She's a massage therapist and bought up cases of pens with her number and such on them. I hauled them all over and gave them to everybody. They netted a few clients at best. we've still got a handle of the things - dried up but still here.
I believe Missy is spot on about face to face. Not to mention your web presense. You've got a playform. Now about that BIC issue...
relax and repeat after me..I am selling books I am selling books.
I do think your social networking has done wonders for you. I met you that way and frankly I want to sell your books cuz webe peeps and stuff. But if I didn't know you maybe not so much.Contacts are valuable however one makes them..
You are good at that sheiiit.Do not undersell yourself DUDE!!!
Synde
Meanwhile, Stacia, imprisoned far away in the UK, gnaws at her nails in frustration about limited opportunities to promote the excellent Personal Demons stateside.
Todd - Lucky for Stace, she's got people over here pimping in her absence.
Synde - And don't think I don't appreciate it.
Lori - no doubt. I love readers, period. Even ones that don't read my books. They're my peeps.
Pike - I'm telling you. The pens might be cool (and they are), but unless they're used like a business card, to remind, they're useless. Except as pens, of course.
So the conundrum of advertisers is to find that one that that will stay in everyone's mind or gets set in front of everyone's face and be used so not forgotten (see a pattern?)... but it has to be small, cheap and easily mass produced.
Gee- not a tall order at all!
The rest of the stuff that sells a book is totally out of my control and that's what bugs me most.
That's what I find most reassuring. Because I suck at self-promotion. And I suck at doing things that require effort and organizational skills. And I suck at making myself do things I know I suck at.
What I don't suck at--I hope--is writing, so that's what I'm mostly sticking to for now...
Gotta say, though, it's tough shoving that bird out of the nest knowing that--regardless of anything you can personally do--it has a good chance of ending up a little mound of feathers with its feet sticking up in the air.
Sounds like those wipes we talked about would come in handy right about now.
I suck at promo--BIG. Nonetheless, I feel your stress.
So leave me some TP, would ya?
And P/S--you wrote a rawkin' funny book, dude. I don't think you have to worry :)
DC :)
My promotional efforts revolved around sitting in New Zealand and using mind control techniques to get unsuspecting people to go and buy my book. This took up a surprising amount of time for no visible results, but on the plus, side it helped convince to get back to the writing!
ps - omg, I watched Black Sheep the other day. Is it wrong I got scared?? I swear I'm the most wimpish zombie writer who ever existed!
".....because I'm good enough, I'm smart enough and dog-gone-it, people like me!"
Amanda- Black Sheep freaked me out a bit too...
Jessica- You're my hero!!