Platforms, Business, and Kindles

Linda wrote to ask, "Could you give some action steps for nonfiction writers who want to create a media-ready personae, as your friend mentioned in last week's post?"

Sure. The basic idea is that you want to be able to show a publisher you have the training and experience to be involved in the media push for your book. So you might start by getting involved in some media training, in order to demonstrate you know how to talk about your book and it's message. You could create some DVD's of yourself, speaking to a group. You'll want to demonstrate that you're an expert on your topic. Here are some questions to think through...

• What types of places do you speak? Tell me about your audience, your venues, etc.
• Give me a list of places where you have spoken over the past year.
• Give me a list of where you are scheduled to speak in the next year.
• Can you give me a list of radio programs (local and national) that you’ve done? 
• Can you give me a list of television programs (local and national) that you’ve done?
• Can you give me a list of articles you have written that touch on your book's topic?
• Of the various media we’ve explored so far, what do you feel you do best?
• Of the various media we’ve explored so far, where do you feel you are weakest?
• Can you give me a list of articles about you or your books that have been written by others? Also include any television reports that have been done about you.
• As you look back on past books, what has the publisher done that, in your opinion, worked well?
• As you look back on past books, what has the publisher done that, in your opinion, did not work well?
• Describe the internet marketing have you done on yourself and your books.
• What other marketing have you done on yourself and your books (tours, direct marketing, your own publicist, music, product sales, etc)?

Carla wrote to say, "I'm trying to establish a good business foundation for my writing career. could you share some keys as to what I should be trying to accomplish?"

Okay -- if you approach your writing career as a business, you're going to want an overall PLAN. That means you need to think about what you want to do with your writing. What is success? What's the goal? What are you hoping to achieve? I work on the business side of publishing, so I encourage authors to think in terms of outcomes, which generally translates into dollars. How much money are you hoping to make next year with your writing? What plan do you have in place in order to earn that?

There are a number of other things to think through. From my perspective, you need to have a place to write, a time to write regularly built into your schedule, and a project that you're writing on. You need to set up a filing system, a "to-do" list, a contacts list, and a writing calendar. Further, I think you should set up 90-day and annual goals, both in terms of "what I'll write" as well as "what I'll earn." Finally, I encouarge you to set up the necessary professional relationships -- an agent, a critique partner, and strong editorial relationships. All of this, of course, is dependent upon the idea that you have a handle on the craft of writing. If you can't write, the best business plan in the world isn't going to help you.

Ashley wrote to ask, "Is it more difficult for a first-time author to break into the market with fiction or non-fiction?"

The truth is, it's hard to break into the market, period. But from my experience, there are more open doors in non-fiction than there are in fiction. If you come up with a salable non-fiction idea, support it with strong writing, and show that you can help your publisher market it via a growing platform, you stand a good chance of getting published. But even a good idea and strong writing can be a tough sell in the fiction market -- we've all seen too many great novels die quickly.

A bit of techno-news that's important: In case you haven't heard, Kindle is going to be the next big thing in publishing. It's an electronic book, being released today by Amazon. Similar to a cel phone, you can download up to 200 titles onto it (each title is a relatively cheap $9.95), and you don't need wi-fi or a special membership to do so. It has a built-in Oxford English Dictionary, by the way. And Jeff Bezos, the head honcho at Amazon, insists that Kindle is going to replace the printed page. Oh, yeah -- the cost is $399. Um...I think I'll wait.

Comments

[Tiffany Colter]

Wow Chip. Thanks. I never thought of basically creating a press kit on writing as part of my marketing for projects. That is an excellent idea.

And your point that NF is "easier" to break in than Fiction. That really gives some food for thought. I honestly thought it the other way around.

Tiff Colter

[Pam Halter]

Many of the PR things for nonfiction are spilling over into fiction, as well. Fiction writers are being encouraged to set up interviews and speaking engagements. It forces you to be creative. As a children's author, I've visited schools and homeschool groups, speaking and teaching writing workshops. I've hosted tea parties at churches and the public library where I served kids tea and goodies, read my books, answered writing questions and sold & signed books. When my middle grade fantasy sells, I'll arrange an appearance on the local news show. They love to have people from the area on.

As for Kindle ... I believe nothing will replace the printed page. Even though kids today are growing up with electronics aplenty, there's nothing like holding a book, looking at the cover, opening the pages. It's like opening a treasure chest! My little granddaughter (14 months old) will hand me a book and immediately turn around and plop herself in my lap. Reading a book, a real book, is a whole body experience for us. I'm not sure an electronic book can do the same thing. Maybe I'm old fashioned, but I love books.

[Ashley Weis]

Thanks, Chip.

And Pam, I agree with you, but maybe I'm old fashioned, too. Technology nowadays, it's crazy. I remember New Years 1999 hoping that computers would crash. Sure, they've created amazing ways for us to pay bills, read books, and shop without leaving our house, but truthfully, like is so much better outside of technology. A book will never be the same on the internet. It's kind of sad to me, but I guess that's where it's going.

Pretty soon we'll be able to eat using the computer.

[Ashley Weis]

I posted a comment, that vanished. Ironically, the comment was all about how I could do without technology.

Anyway, thanks for your answer, Chip.

And Pam, I definitely agree with you. I think I'm a bit old fashioned myself. New Years 1999 I hoped computers would crash, but obviously that didn't happen. The internet is a great source for paying bills, marketing businesses (and books), and even grocery shopping without leaving the house, but life outside of this little box is so much better. Just like a book that ran through a printer will be better than an electronic one.

The way it feels to peel open those pages, and the smell that brushes through your senses...Mmmm...books I can feel and smell will always be my pick.

[Timothy Fish]

I’ve said plenty about the Kindle in other places. Michael Hyatt apparently thinks that it is the best thing since sliced bread, but he probably has more money than I do. I think that electronic content will replace books in some areas, but the idea of a standalone book reader is an antiquated idea. The current trend is toward one device that does everything. $400 is a lot of money to spend on a Black and White device that does nothing but display text. It doesn’t browse the Internet, it doesn’t make phone calls, it doesn’t make French toast. If it had a color display and offered the ability for the author to provide an interactive book then maybe, but at $400 a pop for a device that every member of the family would need at least one of we are looking at least $1600 for a family of four and that doesn’t include the price of books. At this price, it is a toy. Yes, it is a toy that I would like to play with and yes, it is a toy that I would like to have my books in and one that it makes sense for Thomas Nelson to transfer their books to, but it is still a toy. The thing is, you can buy a color PDA for half the price with many more features. People have been able read books on PDAs for years, but the Amazon Marketing department repackages a PDA, removes a bunch of features, doubles the price, doubles the weight and suddenly people start thinking that this device is going to revolutionize the book industry. Me thinks the emperor has no clothes.

If the rating and discussion on Amazon.com is any indication, Kindle is the miss of the year for Amazon. Instead of developing a hardware device, I think Amazon should have spent the time developing software to put Kindle on our desktops, laptops, PDAs and cell phones. They should give the software away free and then sell electronic content that we could use on all of them. It wouldn’t be as comfortable to read as a book, but these are the devices that we always have with us. I don’t see carrying a standalone $400 book reader with me, but if I happened to be in a waiting room I could see pulling out my cell phone and reading a book on its little tiny screen while I waited.

[Linda M Au]

I tend to think e-readers in general are failing so badly because they are being pushed by business people, not avid readers. Frankly, I developed my chronic dry eye condition from computer screens, NOT printed books, so I'm a skeptic already.

I realize there is a place for such devices -- carrying around tons of reference materials, other books you'd need in a pinch -- but I think e-readers are a wholly different animal from printed books.

Plus, apparently this is a device you'd have to turn off during takeoff and landing on a plane, and I'm just plane-phobic enough to NEED to be reading during those times. I don't have to turn off my printed book.

Oh, and what about the old paperbacks-on-the-beach argument? Get a printed book wet while reading by the pool and it gets, well, wrinkly. Get an e-reader wet, and it gets, well, broken.

And don't get me started on battery life.

If someone gave me a Kindle for free, I'd enjoy it and use it. Just not as a book replacement. As a friend mentioned, $399 buys a LOT of lovely printed books.

Plus, the Kindle's just, well, ugly. ;)

[Stevie Rey]

Kindle shmindle, Chip!
That there's high falutin'! Ain't nuthin' ever gonna replace the feel of a good book in ye hands. They smell good too. And if'n the dawg chews it up, ye ain't got to file bankruptcy!

Kindle. That's about all it's good fer. "Honey, we's out a firewood. Where's that there high falutin' book reader yer momma give us? I bet it'll burn real nice!" Kindle. Pshawww!

Next time, I'll let ye know how I really feel about somethin! Hee-haw!!

Happy Thanksgivin', y'all!
Stevie Rey
The Hillbilly Bible

[Hervict Jacobs]

Excellent advice from a true legend in the biz. Way to go Chip. "Two thumbs way up !"

[Carla Gade]

Thanks, Chip, for answering my question. Your tips give me some great practical advice for working on in 2008. I think of my writing as a ministry, as well, but I do know that the business end is very important and want to be a good steward of any talent the Lord might have given me. I'd really like to balance it out correctly. Learning to write well is definitely my current main goal, but I see that as one that will continue to develop with experience. I do want to have good understanding of the business end of publishing and appreciate your helpful words.