Publishing and Promotion

See below:

Publicity for Writers

Professional Literary Links

Marketing / Profile raising / Promotion

Guest Speaking / Where to go and why

Getting Published / Options to consider

Self-funded Publishing / Belong to professional networks

1. Publicity for Writers

Karen Reid - Publicity for Random House Australia addressed the Australian Publishers Assoc professional development run in Sydney, May 2011.

The following are some of Karen Reid's suggestions:

a. Main aim of publicity is to sell 'the book', raise profile of the writer and to generate public interest to bookshops etc.

b. Angles / themes / spin -
Fear, Fat and Finance

c. Assigning a publicist -
Who? (Primary / Secondary Market)
Where? (Why do events etc there?)
What? (What do they - in your market - read, listen to, media do they watch?)

d. Digital marketing is essential and writers encouraged to partake in a variety of means. No way of gauging sales through medium. Showcasing books through Ipads etc.

e. Book sellers - encourage them to get involved with the book to give as their personal recommendation. **However, word-of-mouth is still the best and most reliable way of selling books.

f. Publicity is what drives the public into the bookstore to find 'that' book. What would drive the public to purchase your particular book?

3. Marketing and Promotion

a. Marketing and promoting takes consistency, persistency, planning, kindness and working on building relationships with publishers, editors, local media etc.

b. The reader and the public will remember you if you create an emotion, give them a moment of wow followed by how.

c. Don't forget to thank people and to ask the question: "How can I support you in what you are doing?"

d. The key to good marketing is to build relationships that increase genuine and supportive networks and literary connections.

e. The best marketing for a writer is to continue learning about the craft, writing daily, and producing published works.

f. The best attitude to take in marketing and promoting is to be professional.

g. It is important to associate with professional writers who have had the experience in writing and promoting and who can lend professional and constructive advice.

h. The relationships you build today create your future for tomorrow. Networks are essential.

2. Professional Links

Australian Writer's Marketplace

Literature Development for London:

Australian Society of Authors:

Copyright Agency Limited:

Good Reading Magazine:

Public Lending Rights:

Arts Nexus:

4. Guest Speaking

There are guest speaking agencies that may help you to speak in public. There are professionals who can teach you how to advance your skills and to present with confidence.

**See Public Speakers button on the left on this site for Trainer who could assist you in the skills necessary.

One of the avenues for self-promotion can be attending, profiling and speaking at festivals, book clubs, presenting at local organisations, schools or libraries. The more practice you get the better you speak and the more confidence you build.

Public speaking could give you a professional profile and build your contacts, database and sales if you know what you are doing. Build on your contacts and always ask for the next lead of where else you could be speaking.

'Know your audience' is a catch phrase in writing but it is also in promoting. Be informed about the people attending and gear your presentation to those present not to an imaginary audience or one you would like to speak to.

Be approachable after the presentation and keep smiling no matter the comments made by people or the lack of sales. You and your books are the product being marketed.

The following organisations usually welcome guest speakers. Contact the president /or secretary. **Guest speaking positions can be booked out a year in advance.

Organisations

Probus

Scope

Red Cross Associations

War Veteran Widows Leagues Clubs

Independent Retirees

Victoria Leagues Clubs

Inner Wheel Associations

Soroptomists

Rotary Clubs

Lions Clubs

Apex

Quota

Rotary International

Zonta International

5. Getting Published

Be informed and professional -

a. Be informed about the industry.

b. Check Australian Publishers Assoc for publishers.

c. Know what the publisher specialises in.

d. Send only what they require / ask for.

e. Some publishers need you to go through a literary agent or have the manuscript appraised.

There are several publishing options.

f. Traditional publishers who pay for the book production but difficult to break into as a new writer.

Check the Australian Publishers Association for list or the current Writer's Marketplace available online - see link above.

Consult with the publishers on this site who offer some of the following options.

g. Some Publishers offer you the option to do part payment to produce your book and offer distribution.

h. Self-funded publishing an another option some writers choose.

i. Join groups such as Book Creators Circle so you have a platform to ask other writers for their informed opinion based on experience and not spin.

6.Self-funded Publishing Option

a. Self-funded publishing is an option in today's market. However, you must be careful that the book you produce is affordable. Many books are selling online / electronically today for a few dollars and can be read on so many formats.

b. Produce the best product you can. Have an editor, proof reader and experienced professionals give you advice. Writing is a craft and must be taken seriously.

c. Produce a book you can be proud of and know why you embarked on this option, remember at all times why you wrote the book in the first place and how far do you expect it to go.

d. Be careful of websites that promise you the world and deliver very little in the way of number of books produced and tangible evidence of their support. Check what they promise, ask others who may have used them and know exactly what you are getting into before you sign up.

e. Be informed about the writing experience, the promotional work required to get your book out there into the marketplace and all your selling options before you decide on one option or one quote.

f. Don't be frightened to ask and find out: What is 'selling on consignment'? Which bookstores will take on my books in my town, country or internationally? What other options do I have? Be informed now - not after the books are produced.

g. There are few distribution channels such as bookstores and websites that will take on your books. The ones that do will expect a good return or fee and the accounting for your books is not always straightforward. Several writers have found that they can sell online through their own website. Be informed - ask the opinion of several writers who have experienced self-funded option/route before you embark on a costly website for you to manage, 'the magic wand' or someone's dream solution that may not give you what you wanted.

h. Know that you can do Print-on-Demand that does not require you to do large print runs and therefore you can produce only one book if you desire.

i. Ask the printer/ publishers on this site and elsewhere and get as many quotes as you can so that you know what you are doing and your costs.

j. Keep all receipts for tax purposes. Run a professional set up from the very beginning.

k. Your book is a product and you are the best person to sell it. You might be the only person to believe in it passionately and ultimately to market it. Do it properly and professionally so the experience remains a pleasurable one.

l. Marketing can be difficult for people like writers who are more inclined to be shy /or recluses. A website like Book Creators Circle gives you internet presence that is affordable and easily found on the net, a network of writers who have published and can give informed opinion based on 'their' experience.

m. Go to the Blogroll on this site found through the Homepage. Read what others have to say about the industry and you can begin to be informed. Contact the writers directly through their web page/email address and ask for their opinion. Scroll down from Contributors to All.

n. There is no magic in selling books and anyone who sells you the dream is doing you and their company a disservice. Be informed and live your dream through your own passion and have an internal drive that will sustain you well after the book is in print or in electronic format.

o. Know your audience and why you are writing this book. Who is going to benefit and why? Who else might work with you to get your book out there? Other writer etc? Can you run a workshop around the book or do a backup book, cd etc that might encourage sales? Nothing is guaranteed these are only suggestions.

p. Writers etc do not have Freedom of Speech. A writer must be careful what is put in print at all times.

q. Books are affordable today and found in many formats. EBooks are now the trend and very cheap to purchase. They get your book out there into the hands of readers and get you a presence you could only have dreamed about years ago.

r. Many writers are finding ways of publishing their own EBooks - so see how to do it yourself. Some publishers on this site offer putting your book into electronic format for you.

s. All things are possible if you are informed, and realistic about the quality, production, sale and marketing of books.

t. Self-funded and affordable publishing is possible today more than ever, especially with
Print-on-Demand.

Good luck and don't forget to be inspired by being around inspirational people who have done it. It is the journey that counts and writing to share the experience with others.

Join groups such as Book Creators Circle for a professional platform to source others' experiences with the book industry.

Consider purchasing -
Seven Secrets for successfully Publishing 'The Book' available through Contact Us on this site.

PUBLISHING AND PROMOTION
BOOK CREATORS CIRCLE