Interested in Marketing Your Fiction?

[Get ready. I'm going to offer a commercial. At the end, I might even offer you a Ginsu knife. You've been warned.] 

I've long been bugged by the fact that most marketing books you read about in publishing are focused on non-fiction. They tell authors to create websites that give away content, or to go on a speaking circuit and talk about your topic, but most of the ideas are really best for non-fiction. What do you do if you're a novelist? 

I've been talking about that a lot in recent months -- how novelists can create a readership, build a following, establish a presence as a novelist. Several of my recent blog posts have been focused on things like social media, and establishing an author brand, and the importance of social media. So, working with longtime marketing specialist Jim Rubart, we've put together a two-day seminar on marketing your fiction. This is aimed at writers who have a book coming out sometime in the next year, and want to be able to create their own marketing plan. In fact, the goal of this seminar is to make sure, at the end of our weekend together, each novelist walks away with a unique marketing plan for their upcoming book.

Okay, so we're not going to include a bunch of hype, or motivational you-can-do-it speeches, and there won't be any pie-in-the-sky, "maybe this could work" type of ideas. We're not going to sell you any products. Instead, here are a few things we're going to cover:

• What a novelist’s brand is, how to, discover it, and how to establish it

Five things you can do to become your publisher’s favorite author (and get extra help because of it.)

What you should expect from your publisher, and what you shouldn’t

 How get the maximum impact out of social media, your Web site, and your blog.

The seven keys to great ad copy, and how you can use those keys to get free (or nearly free) advertising

How to find new, untapped markets for your books

Three strategies for working successfully with an outside publicist

Most importantly, we'll show you how to create and implement your own, personalized marketing paln to make your novel stand out in a crowded marketplace. And we'll cover the philosophy behind WHY to do certain things. We'll get you thinking like a marketer. 

Jim and I have already beta-tested this material, and found it to be really helpful to authors. We are going to do this next month -- November 20-21, in Dallas. Then we're going to repeat it December 4-5 in Indianapolis. We'll be meeting at a hotel conference room close to the airport, so you can either stay at the hotel, or drive in if you're local. (We plan to do this again next spring in Nashville and Chicago.) We're going to keep these small, so that there will be lots of one-on-one time for each author, and it'll be very hands-on. You'll be creating the plan, not just talking about it. 

Okay, so the cost is normally $499. We decided to charge $399 for these first two, just as an inducement to get people involved. But then I had a bunch of readers of this blog ask about participating, so... tell you what. If you go to the website (www.themasterseminars.com) and mention this blog, you can come for $300. And yeah, space is limited. There's just two of us, and we can only work with a small group. 

Can this sort of focused marketing really work with fiction? Well, I've been working with novelists for years now, and have a good track record of helping them move forward in their careers. So if you really want to figure out what to do in order to market your fiction effectively, plan to come join us. I'd love to meet you there. Thanks for letting me offer you a commercial. 

(Yes, I should have worked for Ronco -- "And, if you order before midnight tonight, we'll send you this lovely set of cheese straightners for FREE!") 

Comments

[Jim MacKrell]

This is a great offer and one I am looking forward to attending...

[Tamara]

I'm interested in the Nashville presentation!

[Tim Osner]

Have you thought about turning it into a book? I'm sure you would have a big seller. I think it would quickly get legs. Bet you'd have a best seller just from all the people who read your blog. Afterall, you're in the book business. I'd buy one.

[Deborah Piccurelli]

What a great offer, Chip. Wish I had a book coming out within the year.

[chip responds]

Glad to have you attend, Jim.

And Tim, we might turn it into a book at some point... but for now, we want the one-on-one time that a two-day seminar offers. Keeps us from giving the same information to everyone, you know?

[Lisa Jordan]

Wow, I've always wanted a cheese straightener...

If I had a book coming out next year--well, if I had a book coming out period--I'd really consider the marketing seminar. Helping writers plan a stable career path and educating them on how to accomplish the marketing side is a great product to offer! Something to consider when my book does sell.

[Sharon A Lavy]

I hope you continue to have these classes for those of us who do not yet have a book coming out.

It sounds like something I hope to need in the not too distant future. Or in the distant future.

Thanks for the post and the encouragement.

[Judith Robl]

Oh, Wow!! What I wouldn't give to live in one of those areas instead of the backwash of central Kansas at this moment.

But then, my novel isn't ready yet, either. So I'm looking forward to your 2010 and 2011 schedules. You will be keeping this ongoing, won't you?

[Leah Morgan]

I signed up for the free Sham Wow. Where's the blog with the free Sham Wow?

[Carla Stewart]

Chip, this seminar is so timely for me. I'll see you in Dallas.

Thanks!

[Anne Lang Bundy]

Aarrgh! I'm within driving distance of Indianapolis and attending would have been a MOST worthwhile birthday gift to myself. But without a book contract in hand ... I don't think I can justify the investment of time and money quite yet. *sigh*

[Jenny B. Jones]

While I think this sounds AWESOME, and I wish I could attend, I think you guys would get more takers if it came with a free Snuggie.

[chip responds]

We thought about offering a free Snuggie, but decided instead on the Cap Snaffler. Easier to take on a plane with you, Jenny B.

And I appreciate everyone being so positive. This is a dream of mine -- I've long wanted to help novelists with their marketing, and felt that a lot of publishers were struggling with fiction marketing. But I needed a good marketing partner -- thus when I met Jim Rubart, I thought the time was right. We've done this once, are working out the bugs, and really hope this has an impact on writers and their books.

[Alison Strobel Morrow]

Ah, the drawbacks of a nursing baby...

Please tell me you'll bring this to Denver in the next year!!!

[Michael Snyder]

Put me down for Nashville.

And speaking of oddball, Ginsu-esque products...whatever happened to that bald spot spray paint stuff? It was like creepy black cotton candy.

[chip responds]

Hey... what do you think I've got on my face, Michael?

[Lynette Eason]

Hey Chip, this sounds great. Wish I could attend. My first book with Revell comes out in April and while we've got some great marketing stuff going on, I'm sure I would learn a lot from your conference. When are you doing the Nashville one? That's the one I'd be able to come to. As long as it's not the week of March 28, 2010. I'll be on a ship in the Caribbean somewhere...hehe.

[Carla Gade]

Any chance of turning it into a webinar at some point?