Archives for August 2015

Writers tend to work alone and shy away from self-promotion.

If visions of mega book sales, or even just steady book sales dance around your head, you’ve got to put aside your shyness and get busy. And what better time than now, the official start of the holiday season.

Great content is essential, but you must put be willing to promote your book if you want to enjoy sales.

Building your list and creating your social media presence are the most common ways to do this. But you can’t afford to leave any page unturned.

Take a clue from the sign flippers on many city corners  pointing passing drivers to a nearby store, open house or special event.  They get attention and that means sales.

Broadcast your book at the gym, during your walk, picking up the kids, etc. with a stylish and comfortable t-shirt that has a simple but compelling message: Ask me about my book

No matter what your genre, your book will make a great gift and generate multiple sales.

Grab your promo-on-the go t-shirt or two during the 10-day promo that ends 11:45 pm November 22, 2015

LIMITED EDITION OFFER!
Available in a variety of styles, colors, and sizes.

Book Promo on the Go

These make great gifts for your friends and family who are authors too.

Get yours now at  http://teespring.com/book-promo-on-the-go

• Let your shirt do the work!Sell more books!
• Get buyers coming to you every time you wear this shirt.
• They won’t be able to resist asking you about your book.
• Then be ready with your pitch, card, or your book in hand!
• Great for increasing sales AND list-building.

LIMITED EDITION OFFER!
Available in a variety of styles, colors, and sizes.
NOT AVAILABLE IN STORES!
Get yours now at  http://teespring.com/book-promo-on-the-go

Image courtesy of Ambro at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

My clients often ask me to recommend the best resources for advice, tips, and trends in blogging and self-publishing. There is so much rich help, advice, and encouragement that such a list would never end. Here are a few refreshing answers from around the blogosphere to questions I’m frequently asked.

How important is it to publish fresh content on my blog each week?

What would happen if you stop publishing new blog content for a month?
Kevan Lee at Buffer

Kevin shares an experiment that challenged what we’ve been told about the importance of fresh content. Here is what he said. Discover what they learned.

Well … what might happen if we didn’t?

To find out, we stopped publishing new content for 30 days, focusing instead on repurposing and refreshing our content from the archives. I’d love to share with you every single thing we tried and all that we learned, both what worked and what didn’t.

Should I go after a contract with the big guys or self-publish?

The Top 5 Reasons I’m Self-Publishing – Instead of Going Back to the Big Guys
Sheri McInnis

Many aspiring authors believe that landing a contract with one of the top 5 traditional publishers is the holy grail, as Sheri McInnis knows from experience. In her guest post on Gordon A. Wilson’s blog she reveals the 5 reasons she chooses self-publishing.

Gordon asked me to explain why I’ve decided to self-publish my third novel after working with traditional publishers on my other books. He said most writers consider a book deal the “holy grail.” Why would I make the change?

I know what he means. All my life I dreamed about getting published too. I was lucky enough to have it happen twice: first by Simon & Schuster/Atria and then again by MacMillan/St. Martin’s Press.

I know a lot of writers are on the fence about going indy, so if you’re confused, I hope my top five reasons can help.

 Where can I keep up with self-publishing changes?

• The effect of Amazon becoming biggest ebook seller in India has on other distribution agreements
• Author Solutions (ASI) still facing legal actions
• The fate of Authonomy
• A major fact that will make you rethink how your books are designed, marketed and sold
• Social media presence affect on sales
• The post by Sheri McInnis mentioned above came from this issue

 

[It’s my pleasure to welcome Susan G.Weidener as guest blogger today. Her post is part of a blog tour through WOW! Women on Writing.]

As writers we’re putting ourselves out there. We’re being judged all the time. The lofty perch is that place where the critics reside. They decide which books are “worthy” and which aren’t. It’s the college classroom where professors tell you “what works” and what doesn’t when it comes to writing. It’s the newsroom where someone gets promoted because ‘so and so’ decided this reporter fit a certain mold better than you. It’s those who put down any form of publishing other than the traditional one.

Mostly, though, the writer is her own worst judge and jury . . . whispering . . . what you’ve written isn’t worth anything . . . it isn’t good enough.

My advice: Don’t subscribe to the view that there are only a few lofty perches out there and they’re off limits to you.

No two artists or writers will present a subject the same way and some will take risks with their work. Honoring your vision and motivating yourself to try something new – a different way of telling a story, for example, is what I wanted to achieve in A Portrait of Love and Honor.

I’m pleased when readers give me good reviews. It’s validation of a sort, although a writer can’t live on accolades. Support in the form of a well-written and thoughtful review is inspiring . . . but the confidence a writer needs to move forward has to come from within.

Here’s another thought . . . there’s nothing particularly new about the struggle women historically have had with perfectionism. We talk about this in the Women’s Writing Circle, a group I started to support and engage women to tell and share their stories. Dozens of scholarly articles have been written about the quest for perfectionism.

Lean In by Sheryl Sandberg served as a kind of rallying cry to encourage women to ditch the impossible standards, empower themselves and honor their authentic selves, goals and ideals for living a meaningful life. In terms of writing – it’s important not to concentrate or focus on impossible standards or criteria devised, designed or subscribed to by those with an agenda, political, personal or otherwise.

• Realize the difference between perfection and perfecting something. There is a reason why Navajo weavers purposefully weave a mistake into their work – only God is perfect. (There is no “perfect” pen, no “perfect” desk, no “perfect” manuscript.)

• Honor your voice, your authenticity as a writer who has a unique message and story to tell.

• Take action. Set your intentions by practicing balance and boundaries.

• Commit to writing each day.

• Get rid of the competition inside and outside your head.

• Don’t wallow in negative thoughts or comparisons with other authors.

• Enjoy touting and marketing your work.

• Find a writing group that validates and restores you.

• Believe that you have what it takes to be successful.

How do we move forward with our work?

• When we feel carefree, it opens our creative muse. Be receptive to a willingness to play with words and imagination.

• If the writing isn’t going well or fast, don’t panic.

• If you decide to publish, find a way, however you can.

• Recognize and accept that it’s normal to feel nervous about how your work is received.

• Believe that if you tell a meaningful and truthful story, an audience will read and enjoy your book.

The gifts of writing are abundant. Celebrate and move forward. Allow your own creative wisdom, expression and voice to guide you. Forget the lofty perch and write.