Hello all!
Time to rock the writing world, or give it a bit of a shake, eh? Let's hear what you've got this month.
Alex's awesome co-hosts for the September 1 posting of the IWSG are Rebecca Douglass, T. Powell Coltrin @Journaling Woman, Natalie Aguirre, Karen Lynn, and C. Lee McKenzie! Pop by and thank them for giving their time!
How has your month been? Success with submissions, angst from agents, peanuts from publishers ... or have you defined your writing month by your own terms?
You've been in a little cabin at the beach with the water at your toes and your fingers on your laptop, haven't you? No interruptions. Isolated. Freedom to create. Lots of wine, coffee or tea at hand to celebrate finishing that novel. Ah, sorry, got carried away. That's my fantasy. You may be happier writing at the kitchen counter with your family raging around you.
September 1 question - How do you define success as a writer? Is it holding your book in your hand? Having a short story published? Making a certain amount of income from your writing?
There's nothing uniform about writing or writers. We all write with whatever time/place/talent we have and can't control everything. And if I interviewed everyone of you who came by today, success would be something different. I follow a lot of FB posts where authors take a photo/video as they open a box of their published books. I find that scintillating. Their pride resonates with me. But I'm not there yet.
I think all the questions this month are legit. Some writers post about their submissions for the month. That's cool. I'm not a submitter, preferring to tap away doing my own thing. Save myself the angst of rejection, LOL.
But there's nothing wrong with making a bit of money from this writing gig and that's one of my goals. Whether you look at your writing as a profession, a career or a hobby, I totally believe in financial rewards, however small. But unless you have bucketloads of luck, even though you have it all sorted - the writing courses, craft books, beta readers, alpha readers, editors, cover artists, formatters ... phew ... wringing a few dollars out of our books is hard ...(someone I know with about 20 books on Amazon reckons they've made 45cents when he/she deducts expenses). Who'd work for that wage?
...which is why I'd like you to give me a few tips on your most successful marketing tool. I'd greatly appreciate it. Currently I'm building my mailing list through Bookfunnel which has been ultra successful, and now this month I'm trying out their sales promos. Will let you know if it's successful in gaining new readers who're willing to pay for one of my books rather than get them for free. All part of the process.
So, here are my questions to you. Choose one/all ...
* what has been your most successful marketing tool?
* have you built a mailing list and if so, how?
* what is your favorite marketing book?
* what is your process in writing a book - ideas, premise, writing/self-editing, beta readers, editors, cover artists?
* what authors do you currently admire - classic? modern? risk takers? genres?
~*~
Just letting you know - I FINALLY have my first in my Renaissance Vampire Romance series up for pre-order and about to go live - on September 8. There are at least 5 books in the series, have written 3 in full (as I'm a slow writer).
HERE is the link to BETRAYED.
39 comments:
Success is such a loaded question/definition isn't it?
Huge congratulations on your own writing forays. You, and indeed all writers. are my heroes.
Ooh, thanks for sharing your process and progress with us! I'm always interested in the new promotional and how-to-reach-readers methods that are out there!
Before, my most successful marketing tool was a blog tour. But that was years ago, so I don't know how well it will translate to my next book. Guess I'll find out!
Hi Denise - I am sure you'll achieve ... you have so many ideas ... and I wish you well and success with 'Betrayed' ... looking forward to reading more. It's a daunting process actually promoting your book/s - but the IWSG offers a great route. All the best - Hilary
Yes, we would all define success differently. Congrats on your new book. Email me if you want me to shout out about it in Follower News around its release date.
Hi,
You're right about success being different for each author.
I look forward to Betrayed.
Take care and best wishes for your launch.
Shalom aleichem,
Pat G @ EverythingMustChange
Success changes for me as well. It's a fun process!
I haven't tried BookFunnel yet - but I'm leaning toward giving it a shot one day :) My best marketing strategy so far has been 'write the next book'. Gotta do more than that one day!
It takes a lot of book sales just to break even over expenses.
We do have a mailing list. As for books, 1001 Ways to Market Your Book is still my favorite. (Although I need to peek at my own now and then just to make sure I'm remembering what I already know. LOL)
I can see next month's WEP entries being screamingly good - and an excellent choice of prompt for the month of Halloween!
Ouch, I would struggle to answer your questions with any good advice. I've enjoyed some moderate success with ARCs and blog tours, but it's hard to maintain interest after the launch. That's the part I need to work on. Like many I keep writing and trying to get the next book out there.
The more of these blogs I read this morning the more ideas I get about things I can count as success in writing. Thanks.
I'll answer the last question on your list of five.
The authors I admire are the ones who start a series and continue it until they can no longer lift a pen or tap a key. I admire the authors who introduce me to characters who become like acquaintances to me. It drives my spouse crazy because I'll be reading in remote room and I'll come out and announce something a character has done as though I'd just talked to them on the phone. "Guess what Beaumont has gone and done now?" I'll say, for instance.
Luckily, some of those series my spouse and I have read together, so it's not quite as weird to talk of the characters to each other as though they are real people who we both know. At least it's not weird between just the two of us. However, the rest of our family might think we're nuts.
It seems as if you've had quite a bit of success! Congratulations on your book. That is huge.
Congrats on your upcoming book. That's definitely a success.
You are a hero too Sue, for different reasons. Thank you.
My pleasure, Deniz. There's a lot out there. It's hard to choose the most beneficial ones.
Thank you Hilary. It is certainly daunting.
We do. Thanks and thanks. I'll email you.
I hope you enjoy the refreshed copy of Betrayed. Thank you.
I'm too swamped to be having fun yet, Jemi, but I will...BF is awesome.
I think I have yours Diane. Haven't read the other.
'Screamingly good', LOL. They say the best promotion is the next book.
Love what you said about series. Hope mine enchants as much.
Thanks Lee.
Thanks Olga.
I tend to think blog tours have run their course.
May your writing fantasy come true, Denise! I couldn't possibly write with my toes in the lapping water on a beach ~ for so many reasons ~ LOL! My favorite spot is at the kitchen counter, usually with the tv on. I have a lovely office downstairs, but I just can't work there. I'm at the writing, self-editing stage, so I can't share any marketing advice. When I helped my sister with her books, we did a number of conference presentations and workshops, but we didn't cover our expenses with sales. Good luck with your book release!
Thanks Fundy Blue! May your writing fantasies come true, too. I'm doing my best!
LOL, I feel like I am living the fantasy. Maybe that's why I can't seem to get back to the promotional side of things, besides the cost. It's the stressful part. The 'little' successes are where I hang my hat, at least today. LOL As you say, things change daily!
It's physically impossible to do all the things we want!
Success is tough to define. I'm happy to finish things. At the same time, I really would like a better paycheck than the one I get currently from my writing. :)
For marketing, what's worked best for me is: author buddies who help me with shout-outs, reviews, and book tours. Second best: live events like classes or panels, online or in-person via other organizations. If I run my own class through zoom, I don't get much of a difference in sales, but if I run a class through another writing group, I get sales and reviews. So...I'm trying to figure out how to do more of that.
Also, "short" sales like sales of poems or short stories to ezines or anthologies have a tiny influence on my book sales. I can see the difference in the months I had something short published somewhere - again, anywhere but at my own site.
That's all interesting Tyrean. Lots to learn.
Hi Denise,
CONGRATS on you forthcoming debut novel... YAY! Wishing you all the success in the world! I know I have enjoyed reading your works in the past, and I am positive other readers will, too!
Sadly, no marketing advice from me, nothing to market, yet. But, knowing you, you will figure out what is best for you!
Thanks Michael. Hopefully if you go the self-pub route, I'll be of some help. As you've read Betrayed ARC, I'm hoping you will review it.
Success is ever changing. I'm building a mailing list via newsletter. In my marketing research, that seems to be on everyone's list. It's a pull them in and have your own list that you can market to when the time comes.
I use storyorigin (like bookfunnel) for my reader magnet. They have a free option. It's limited but does what I need for now.
Thanks Holly. There are lots of options for sure. Storyorigin is on my list of to-try.
We all write with whatever time/place/talent we have and can't control everything.
So true! here's to your success-- and I want to be cheering from the rooftops. No actionable marketing advice here--all I've done is been myself and that seems to work sort of all right for me.
I'm glad you found something that works.
I’ve never done a box-opening video. I tried once, but I was doing it by myself, so it didn’t come out well. lol
Thank you so much for visiting my blog recently and leaving a comment. I greatly appreciate that. :)
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