Working on book 3

Book 3, CRIMSON PSYCHE, which used to be old book 2 when originally published, is due to be turned in [at least a clean draft] Dec. 31, 2012. Well, I can probably slide until after the New Year, but the time frame is generally the same.

I'm discovering that rewriting/expanding a 120,000-word book is harder than writing it to begin with. Because I changed so many things in the new book 2, this book doesn't make sense as written, so I need to stay awake while reading/editing it to make sure I catch all the things that no longer work.

I have several folks reading the chapters as I go, which is saving my butt. Their eyes are crucial because I've read the material so many times over the years that parts of it are invisible to me.

For some reason, I'm having a rough time disciplining myself to slam through the chapters for a first read. You'd think I'd be eager to turn this book in and finish up my 3-book contract. I really am. So maybe this is just the latest flare-up of my procrastination pattern.

I wrote my graduate thesis in 3 days before it was due, pulling an all-nighter before I had to take it to the instructor's office.

Maybe I like the adrenaline rush.

One thing for sure, I've lost some of the joy of writing that I had for a while and the whole process isn't nearly as much fun as it used to be. Maybe discovering the true face of publishing -- repeatedly --  pushed me over the edge and I'm still wandering around in shock. I actually had the thought today, "maybe I'll just stop," and for the first time I didn't put up an argument.

I figure, one way or another, after getting Crimson Psyche ready for publication, I'll be starting over. I just need to figure out what that means to me.

Promo 101

My British editor asked me to blog about marketing/promo because I’ve been promoting myself as an author since I sold my first fiction short story in 2006. Well, actually, I guess I’ve been plugging my writing even longer because I had a newspaper column for five years and I did a lot of blowing-my-own-horn for that. And, come to think of it, I’ve worked for myself as a psychotherapist, hypnotherapist and professional tarot reader for even longer than that, so I guess I do have a lot of experience with self-pimpage. Then there were my early rock singer years . . .

But, for this blog post, I’m going to stick to author promo.

Authors used to believe [back in the dark ages 2-5 years ago] that publishers handled most of the marketing for a book. We believed if one were lucky enough to get a book contract, all the hard work was over. Um, not so much. I think if an author managed to be a best seller, perhaps she/he received more help from the mother ship than mid-listers. Whether that’s true or not doesn’t matter anymore, because 95% of marketing and promotion now rests firmly on the shoulders of the author. All authors. Not just self-pubbing authors. Especially since the role of bookstores has changed so radically.

Since I’ve been traditionally published, epubbed and self-pubbed, I have first-hand knowledge.

I can tell you it’s a 24/7 job.

The big word these days is Discoverability.

How will readers find your book? Especially in the flooded online market. What can you do to make your book/series stand out?

To begin with, you need the basics: a professional author website and blog.

Let me take a step back and talk about branding. An author’s brand is something distinctive and recognizable – a theme – which identifies the writer across all platforms. I’m a paranormal author, so all my promo includes fangs, full moons, graveyards, ghosts and other spooky elements. A horror writer might surround him/herself with blood, dripping knives, etc.  A romance writer, gorgeous models exposing skin.

Your web site and blog need to reflect the brand you’ve selected for yourself.

I write paranormals, so my website fits with that category (http://www.lyndahilburnauthor.com) It’s best if you can blog often, to keep your author name/brand in front of readers’ eyes. The best way to blog is to offer something beneficial to readers, such as information/education, humor, contests, enticing man-chest photos, etc. Even though everyone knows you have a website and a blog in order to sell your books, all promo works best if you use the formula of 10% blatant “buy my book” content, and 90% “I’m a real person” communications.

I recommend you have a quality website built by a professional. The difference between a pro website and a quick-and-dirty one is obvious. A poorly designed website reflects negatively on the author.

In today’s publishing universe, social networking is crucial. At the very least, have an author page on Facebook and a Twitter account. I know. Social networking can be overwhelming. It never ends. And really, who needs to know what you had for breakfast? [I don’t!] But it’s a great way to keep your name recognition growing. The key is to do what you can. If you have hobbies and interests you can share, that’s best. People who simply spam FB and Twitter with “look at me” posts are quickly deleted. If you find you enjoy social networking, you can add Linked In and Pinterest to your activities. Some authors like them, some don’t.

Another important level of online promo is to make sure you have an account at Goodreads. I used to also suggest spending time at Library Thing and Shelfari, but my Virtual Assistant recently informed me that they are no longer beneficial. Spending a lot of time at Goodreads can be a major time-suck, but you’ll connect with readers.

It’s helpful to schedule guest appearances on blogs in your demographic. You can either set them up yourself, or hire a company to arrange a blog tour. This is a great way to introduce yourself to new readers.

Joining all the appropriate writing/author groups – in your community and online – is an excellent way to deepen your name recognition and to give back to other writers. Attending conferences and, when possible, participating on panels and in workshops, will lend you authorial credibility and spread your fame [infamy?] to yet another readership.

Which leads me to another important issue: Genre. Since there are only so many hours in the day, focus your promotional attention on sites and events that cater to your specific genre. It won’t do you a lot of good to attend Romance conferences if there are no romance elements in your work, or to frequent Sci Fi or Horror cons if you don’t write those things. Conferences are expensive. Choose wisely.

And never forget that everything you do in public and online colors your author persona forever. Be professional at all times. Avoid getting drunk in the conference hotel bar and giving your opinion about agents or your last publisher, who gave you the worst cover possible. Karma bites.

I’ve saved the biggest marketing/promo tool for last.

Amazon.

Amazon matters. Doing whatever it takes [for a traditionally published or self-pubbed book] to catch the attention of Amazon’s algorithms can make or break a book. Utilizing the best key words, book description, and cover, as well as gathering as many 4- and 5-star reviews as possible, and driving people to your Amazon author page can increase your Discoverability. If you’ve done everything right and Amazon notices you [with its very mysterious and secret book-noticing formula] it will begin to promote you.

Back in 2010, during the brief time between traditional publishing contracts when I had two novels in my Kismet Knight, Vampire Psychologist novels up as ebooks myself, they became best sellers in one month’s time. That was due entirely to Amazon’s efforts after I managed to select some highly effective key words and tolerable vampire covers. They sent out emails to potential customers for me. They put me on “if you liked this, you’ll like this” lists. They added my books to the pages of well-known paranormal authors. Prior to Amazon making my books best sellers, I had done very little to promote them. I mostly posted on www.kindleboards.com to announce my books and interact with other indie authors. [Kindleboards has nothing to do with Amazon. I don’t participate in the Amazon forums.]

Then, after the novels did well at Amazon, they began to sell on other ebook sites.

But there’s no resting on one’s laurels in the world of Amazon. Promo reality changes moment-to-moment. Marketing that worked yesterday no longer works today, so stay informed. Belong to as many digital publishing email loops as you can.

I was on a panel recently at a local [Denver, Colorado, USA] Mystery Writers of America meeting, talking with a couple of other seasoned authors about the new publishing realities. We all agreed that over the last couple of years [in the USA], ebooks and expanded opportunities for authors have changed everything. Publishing is now a brave new world, and none of us can take anything for granted. Being an author is just as much about marketing and promotion as it is about writing. Whether we like it or not.

Ideally, your publisher will work with you to enhance your promo. You’ll be part of the official team, involved in decisions. If you’re not included, the outcome won’t be as favorable.

One of the best organizations for today’s published authors is Novelists, Inc. [www.ninc.com]. Even if you can’t come to the USA to attend their excellent conference each October, the information provided on the email loop is worth the price of admission. Right now the hot discussion at NINC is finding help with all the marketing/promo requirements. Virtual Assistants and Author Assistants are the next happening thing.

Even if you have a Virtual/Author Assistant, you’re still in the driver’s seat. Despite the extra work and challenges, I can rightly say it’s a glorious time to be an author!

 

 

 

I need an assistant!

Updated Sunday, Sept. 30, after speaking with my previous VA. She and I are going to be brainstorming about my goals [which I was very vague about in the past because I didn't KNOW what my goals were] and she'll be handling some of my assistant needs. And I'm still looking for local help.

I'm looking forward to attending the Novelists, Inc. conference in late October for many reasons. The fact that we'll be discussing "team building," and hiring virtual assistants is icing on the cake.

I have avoided trying to find an actual assistant who lives close by because I expect they will have to charge reasonable fees by the hour. Like I do for my psychotherapy services. But my budget is limited and I can't afford that.

On the other hand, many many things I need to do aren't getting done because I don't have the time, computer savvy and patience to do them.

So, I'm going to try to find someone who lives near enough to come over perhaps every other week for a couple of hours so we can work in-person and brainstorm, and all the rest of the time she'll work from home.

Here are some of the things I'd like my assistant to do for me:

Be computer/online savvy, be someone I can call with all my "I screwed up" computer questions.
Attend some local book signings and appearances with me.
Post updates [that I will write or suggest] on my FB author pages.
Send regular Twitter posts [which I'll suggest] daily.
Contact blog and website owners to arrange guest dates for me.
Contact bookstore owners to arrange signings for me.
Write promo copy, blurbs.
Be on the alert for other promo opportunities for me.
Seek out reviewers for my books/stories.
Talk me and my books up on various sites and chats.
Write/send press releases as needed.
Write and send newsletter [I have one that I've done nothing with].
Contact other paranormal authors on my behalf to create joint promo opps and or perhaps start a shared blog.
Help me with my calendar, remind me I have blog posts due and suggest topics.
Do all the tech stuff I don't want to do [really, I have no interest, time, patience for what some other authors love doing].

I know that's not all, but you get the idea. To be amended as we go along.

I want someone who is creative, talented, online/computer savvy, and availabe. Someone who knows way more about computers than I do and a fair bit about publishing.

It sounds like a lot, but we'd have to settle on a number of hours [small] per week to start. If she's worth her weight in gold, I'll take out a loan! LOL

If I need to find a separate computer person, and then another assistant for all the other aspects, I'm happy to do that.

Virtual/Author Assistants are a hot topic these days. Something for an enterprising, talented person to consider getting into. If you think you'd be interested in helping me with my writing/publishing career, I'd like to talk to you.

Lynda

False Start

I created this blog about 3 weeks ago and then forgot about it. Actually, anything computer/tech takes me so much longer than it should, because my blurry vision [cataracts, which I'm having surgery for in 4-5 months] makes me lose patience with trying to figure out the constant changes everywhere. Anyway, I need to have an outlet to write about author things besides my paranormal blog, which is mostly for readers. It's my intention to keep this blog going. [Remind me I said that.]

What a mad, mad world this is

I've attended a few conferences recently. One theme that repeats is fear of publishing changes. Everyone is afraid. The more successful the author was in the old system, the greater the resistance to the in-process transformation.

A common discussion: should we let indie-pubbed authors into our group? That's a challenging question because some writers really do just upload their words without benefit of editing or critique. The consensus of the "in" groups is that we don't want those folks in our group. It's true that sometimes some of their writing is less than professional.

But the discussions never fail to set off my alarm bells.

I've discovered that authors are a clique-y bunch. Territorial.

Once there's a "we," there must be an unacceptable "them."

Since I've often been in the "them" group in my life, I'm sensitive to the differentiation.

I like the way NINC has handled this issue. It's about money -- which is what authors should be concerned with, primarily, anyway. If we can't make a living at our craft, what good is it?

I know. You write because you love it. You can't not write. I'm not like that. I write for a living. If I don't make money at it, I won't be able to do it.

Is it jealousy that causes some traditionally-pubbed authors to slam the gates on the indies?

Well, regardless. Change is guaranteed. We can be a part of the solution, or part of the problem.

Take a deep breath. It won't be so bad. Maybe.