You've Written A Book! NOW What?!

You DID IT! You got it there! Whether you self published or you didn't you're overjoyed, you're ecstatic.
You refuse to daydream but let's face it YOU DO A LITTLE!
Maybe it'll really take off! Perhaps you'll make a name for yourself, perhaps...!

There is one horrible, evil, vicious monster that's lurking though. People told you about this spectral being but it never sank in, not really. NOW IT DOES!

Oh yes, brothers and sisters it does! It is--! Dare I say its name? I will close my eyes and say it fast:
hell hath no terror like PROMOTION! Like BOOK promotion!

You realize (as if you didn't already know only perhaps more so) YE OF LITTLE STATURE IN THE PUBLISHING WORLD, you are NOT Stephen King!

The monster lays it on you: "You are most insignificant, only your family and friends have heard of you! You have a page on Facebook?  BIG DEAL, little minor league player! Going to try some arm twisting, eh, think that's going to win them over?

THINK AGAIN!

Yes! You cry out in your bravest voice! I will tame you, beast! I will learn all about it!

You know what? That's the only way to go!

Here are my own thoughts on book promotion and then I have two great quotes from two great writers that follow giving their opinions.

First thing I would advise is not to get upset with the promotion! You'll do it. Remember this whole writing thing is a learning game. You have to learn that's all.

Consider what's best for you. There are virtual book tours (I'm starting one very shortly for my novel). Have a blog! I love Google Blogger, it's easy and it's fun.
Decide what sort of blog you're going to keep, who it's aimed for.
This blog is the key for much of your promotion! You can have contests, attract followers.
Facebook (mentioned before) is great, get an author page! I think having an author page before your novel comes out is okay, provided your novel is coming out SOON! People might get bored otherwise.

Twitter is good, you tweet things--not only self-serving but fun stuff. Stick your neck out, people will notice, get known!

There are some people who have business cards printed and hand them out, hey! If that works for you, go for it! Me, I'd die! Seriously!

Be on the lookout for all the advice you can get with regard to promotion.
Learning is the key, learn and you will TAME THAT BEAST to the point where you'll holler:

'Hey YOU, promotion beast, sit down, shut up! I'm in charge now, just watch me!

Here is Author Blaze McRob next to give you some excellent advice on the subject.


'We need to devlope, not so much a fan base as a personal relationship with writers and readers on the social sites. We have to be genuinely interested in them; their feelings; their wants and concerns. Facebook is an absolute must. Groups within Facebook in our genre are important. We need to contribute and not self-promote. Our Author's Page can do that. If we are real, people will come to us and want to be a part of our family. From there, everything blossoms.

I think it's important to reach out to writers and publishers who are in a different house than yours. For example: yes, I am writing a novel for Vamplit Publishing, but there are many other great houses who should be praised as well. A lot of my friends write for them. I would be most unkind not to mention their publishing house. So, I do just that: extended family.

Blogs are very important. I just started up mine, and it takes a lot of work, but it's worth it. I have made people happy. Goal accomplished. Now to make more people happy. Adam Best from FanSided says to blog original, blog often, blog outstanding, and have blog obsession. Be passionate with your blog; don't let it be luke-warm, boring pap for babies. Pound on your key-board! Use it as a bully-pulpit! This is your blog. You're not boring, are you? One other very important point: add links to friends, sites, publishing houses, books, everything. Let people know they're there. Let them know you care!

Editing is marketing. If you write crap, you're marketing crap. Edit yourself, and get professional editing. Gaynor might just need a few red pencils handy for me.

Keep open to new avenues of marketing. Author Marketing Experts has a free newsletter. What a wealth of information! Smashwords has tips in their free marketing guide. Gaynor (Vamplit) has a ton of them in her valuable Vamplit Publishing tips. These folks are professionals. Let's listen to them.'

Thank, Blaze! Next is writer/author, Mikel Classen.


'For independent authors promotion is a two-edged sword. We have to promote ourselves or our stories will never gain readers, but if ALL we do is promote ourselves, the author comes off as nothing but a continuous advertisement. Simply put, no one will care. Our activities in social environments such as Facebook and groups we join have to be tempered with interactions that allow others to get to know us as individuals, real people, not just an avatar that advertises.

Unlike the big publishing corporations, our task of getting the writing in front of readers is a daunting task. Because there are no avenues set for independent authors like there are for the mainstream, it leaves the creation of the roads out of obscurity to us as individuals. In other words we have to create our own independent infrastructure.

Like the fire brigades of old we come together and pass links and information like the firemen passed the buckets of water. It is our biggest chance and out biggest tool for success. Though we are independent authors, we are dependent on the system of friends and groups for spreading our literary offerings. By interacting on a social level we build this infrastructure. We help and nurture those that come along and support their construction. Eventually a network appears, of not just struggling writers, but friends, family. There's a grace in that. Business and pleasure can mix.'

Thank you, Mikel and Blaze.

There you have it, very good advice--as good as we can give it because it's based on our own experience.

Writing is hard work but the hardest work people will tell you is when your book is out there with all those other books!

But you can do it, because you'll find what works for you and you'll go for it because there's really no other choice!