(no subject)

[shadowkat]

So, I asked my brother for marketing advice on my book.

His response?

" If you don't have a following, I think it's unlikely that your book is going to do well, so either figure out how to get a bunch of people to buy it, or start building a following today.”

This is obviously the trickiest, having thousands of contacts to promote it to directly. If you don’t have them find someone who does (do you know Oprah?). Essentially public relations - traditional reviews or social media recommendations - to get the word out. Otherwise it’s buying traffic through Google adwords.

Well, I suppose I have this blog. Although I don't know if I have a following or not.
It's hard to tell. According to my profile, 199 people have friended me. But half of those have either left LJ, are dead (seriously, they are dead, gone from this world),
or not really following it.

Also, of the group that is following - would you buy my book? I don't know. I have to admit I was surprised anyone read my Buffy meta.

Comments

[fenchurche.livejournal.com]

Just read the summary you posted earlier and yeah, I'd buy that...

[beer-good-foamy.livejournal.com]

I might, since I enjoy your posts.

Someone once said that publishing a collection of poetry is "like dropping a rose petal into the Grand Canyon and waiting for the echo". In my experience, that very much applies to self-publishing as well; if (and obviously that's a big "if") the goal is to sell a lot of books, and you don't have a pre-existing audience large enough to do that, then you really need to know who your target audience is and how to market yourself to them through social media, word-of-mouth, Goodreads giveaways, etc etc etc; that's pretty much a full-time job for those who succeed at it. For every self-publishing success, there's a lot of books that only sell in the single digits because the authors thought all they needed to do was put 50,000 words up on Amazon and wait for the checks to start coming in. That said, there's obviously something to be said for the feeling of having published a book you're proud of, regardless of whether it's a bestseller or not. I know I wish you the best of luck!

[elisi]

I'd probably buy your book. Sounds entertaining!

(Also, I am in the process of writing a book myself. Although unlike you I have not chosen a subject I am mostly familiar with. I need to do So. Much. Research. /o\)

Anyway, have been meaning to say congratulations, and good luck!

[shadowkat67.livejournal.com]

Yeah, that's why I procrastinated going the self-published route for so long. Had a professional editor look at and line edit my book in 2008, who told me - this is really good, but you are going to have a really hard time getting anyone to publish it for you - because it is so quirky.

Which was true. I'd send it off to contacts in publishing that liked my writing, but couldn't handle the dark snarky comedy - not their genre.

My response to my brother? Well, I have an acquaintance whose book I actually proof-read at one point, who won an Edgar Award, got a mention by Oprah on her network or magazine, but still can't make it into a book store and is well doing so-so.
(Her books just don't stand out from the crowd.)

Then there is Amanda Hocking. Who self-published a bunch of YA paranormal romance novels. She had no job. Little money. Used her savings to publish the books, and launched a kickstarter campaign, requesting people buy them so she could go to a big Jim Hensen Muppet Convention/Exhibit. Within six months, she sold over 200,000 copies. And of course, EL James of 50 Shades, who ahem, published it as WIP on a Twihards fan board, then ironed off the serial numbers, tweaked it a bit, self-published through an Australian publisher - and made billions.
She did launch a major marketing campaign though - and had a huge fan following.

And, sigh, my family.

* Cousin Casey - who has self-published a new adult romance, that is well doing okay, but not great.
* Uncle P - who has self-published 8 paranormal YA Christian novels, marketing and business books
* And my Dad - who has self-published 6 mystery novels, which make about 1000 if that a year. He did it before it was cool. Went the agent route first, the agent couldn't get it anywhere, so did it himself. He sucks at marketing though.
* Sister-in-law - who has published two craft books, one through a publisher, the second herself. Neither did that well.

LOL! There's a lot of frustrated self-published writers in my family.

My friends have also self-published...it appears to be the thing to do?

[shadowkat67.livejournal.com]

Thanks! Yeah, I try to write about stuff I know, because I love to write but despise research. Although it easier to research now than it used to be.

Good luck!

Self-publishing is also easier, and cheaper than used to be.

[shadowkat67.livejournal.com]

Thanks, so much! Hope there are more out there...

I was thinking this morning, well, I've been on line for more than a decade. Maybe that's a following? LOL!

[shadowkat67.livejournal.com]

All that said? My book fits more in the Elmore Leonard, Christopher Moore category...than ahem, paranormal romance or silly erotica. So there is no way I'm going to grab the level of readership Amanda Hocking and EL James did.

It's what I told create space, when they asked what my goal was.

I said, well, it's a quirky book, edgy, dark comedy - not exactly 50 Shades of Grey, more Jonathan Lethem's Motherless Brooklyn.

Create Space: In other words it's not a paranormal romance.
Me: Or YA dystopia fiction. Or erotica.

I did set up a Twitter account last night. I have one follower. I have no idea who she it. LOL!

[fresne.livejournal.com]

e-book version, yes.

Have you looked into giving your book away on Goodreads or Librarything? It's a give a book/hope for reviews sort of deal. Also for what it's worth, Smashwords has some good suggestions on self marketing here: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/145431

[shadowkat67.livejournal.com]

How do you do the give-away? That's what I have been able to figure out - is how do you give-away books for reviews? Do you buy the book and then send it to them?
Do you work out a deal with Amazon and have them send it??

[fresne.livejournal.com]

You buy them. Since I've got Amazon prime, which as it happens ends up being cheaper to send people books (no shipping costs) versus the Amazon (get a copy of your book, but with shipping).

E-copies are much simpler. You can basically just get a coupon for the book and send it.