 |
Related Reading
|
 |
1001
Ways to
Market
Your
Books
1001 Ways to Market Your Books is a tome of biblical
proportion, a 700-page "organized potpourri" of
useful ideas, examples, tips, and suggestions. You name
it, Kremer covers it: publication scheduling, series and
directory writing, attaining bestsellerdom, direct mail,
cover design, offbeat advertising, online sales, alternative
markets, and much (really!) more. — Jane Steinberg
|
|
Novel Ideas:
How to Get Published
|
|
After what seemed like an eternity, Peter and Pam were united
to live happily ever after. An apt ending to the romantic
web you wove into the 350-page manuscript you call a fiction
novel. Great job! ... But now what? With zillions of Peter
and Pam stories out there vying
for shelf-space, why should yours be the one to rock the
charts?
Writing a great book is only half
the story. If it doesn't land in the right hands, it'll
remain just another piece of work that died a perhaps
not-so-silent death. Which explains why the choice
of publisher
can make or mar your book's future. While
there's no sure way to know who's the best publisher for
you, examining details like the number
of books reviewed in the past year and marketing initiatives
undertaken can give you a foot up on the competition.
You can also short-list publishers based on subject
areas and/or type of publication. Don't want to do
the groundwork yourself? Hire
a literary
agent.
Be prepared for changes in the publishing
industry. You can make your book available to customers
virtually around the globe with e-publishing.
Of course, as with any other quick-fix solution, getting
published electronically has its
pros and cons, so weigh your options.
OK, so you're impressed with the way
ABC publisher made a success out of XYZ writer. Your gut
feeling about this alliance is positive, but for one niggling
doubt. ABC publisher is hounded by about 200 aspiring
writers each day. Will he even know you exist? An introduction
is due.
Present the publisher with a query
letter, a one- or two-page mini-representation of
your writing skills — and your best marketing tool.
Sample
query letters are available online. It's also a good
idea to call the publishing house beforehand to check
their submission guidelines and protocols. As a rule,
never send an unsolicited
manuscript.
So, now you know how to wheedle your
way onto the right publisher's desk. But, if you'd rather
keep all the profits to yourself, and you're ready to
do what it takes, consider self-publishing.
Some present day bestsellers, including The
Bridges of Madison County and What
Color Is Your Parachute? started out as self-published
titles. Just food for thought.
Written by Lalita Aloor
Share your book marketing tips!
E-mail
us.
|
|
On the Web
|
|
Is
Self-Publishing for you?
Web-Assisted
Self-Publishing
Writers
Market
How
to Market to Associations and Newsletters
|
Book Writing
|
|
Here are some savvy tips to successful
book writing.
Choose a subject that hasn't
been delved into too much. Give readers what they don't
already know.
Write what the audience wants to
read. Personal memoirs or your strongly-held opinions
on some issue are better reserved for reading to your family
and friends.
Think about hiring a professional
editor. No matter how much you trust your language skills,
it's easy for you to miss the forest for the trees, overlooking
things that are obvious to you, but unclear to your reader.
And it's so easy to pass by the same typo time after time.
Create a snappy title. Short
is best. While clever is nice, don't sacrifice clarity.
For nonfiction, be sure to include a subtitle as it gives
you extra mileage in helping readers understand what the
book is about.
Publicize, promote, publicize, promote.
Eat, sleep, and talk your book. Nobody cares about it as
much as you do. Never quit. Keep your antennae up for new
review opportunities, freelancers who write articles on
your topic, etc.
Modified from www.publishing.about.com
|
