Marketing and Publishing Questions

I moved recently, and that's put me behind in my blogging. Sorry! The good news: I'm now in my new place on the Oregon coast, trying to get my office organized, and I'm back to your questions about writing and publishing. We've got a backlog, so let me get cracking...

Darlene asked in a comment on a recent post, "In marketing my books, what's the most effective use of my time and money? I'm planning to market my work, but... I'm not sure what to do first."

The answer is going to be different for each author, of course. However, keep in mind that the basics of marketing your book are simple: Figure out who your readers out, find out where they're going, then try to get in front of them. Researching those basic questions will probably help you figure out what to do next. The internet has made marketing MUCH more accessible for every novelist. You can blog, write articles, participate in a discussion, and become an expert in an area without leaving the comfort of your writing space. So I think many novelists need to think through how they can use the web to get their name and their book titles in front of readers. That's the first place I'd explore, Darlene. 

Dan said, "I want to be able to show my novel to production companies, but my publisher says I have to pay them $500 to get a PDF file with the edited, formatted version of my own book. Is that fair? Is there anything I can do?"

Charging authors for a PDF file or Word doc of their edited manuscript is something that's come up in the past few years. Authors want the file in case the book goes our of print, so they've got an edited version on their hard drive. But publishers are wary of giving it to the author, for fear it will get distributed and they'll lose sales. The solution? Ask for this in your contract negotiations, and explain to the publisher that you will not be selling the digital version of your book while it's still in print with the publisher. (An alternative: If your publisher creates a digital version of your book, simply purchase a copy for your Kindle or Sony reader.  Then you've got the finished version in an e-file.) 

Jason wrote to say, "I really want to be published, and friends of mine suggested I try self-publishing. One suggested publishing a mediocre work, just to get my name associated with published material. I was thinking I'd be better off submitting to literary journals and commercial magazines to establish some legitimate publishing credits. Your thoughts?"

I'm glad you wrote, Jason, since you are clearly hanging around with idiots. Publishing a mediocre work that doesn't sell is a great way to kill your career, since it lets everyone know you can't write. (Your idea of submitting to literary and commercial sources is a much better plan.) You could also start submitting to online 'zines and publishing online articles -- both have the potential to garner you some readers. Self-publishing is only good for one type of author -- the one who can sell a bunch of copies. So if you're doing seminars where you can do book sales in the back-of-the-room, it's a fine option. But if you're writing literary works and are hoping to get noticed as a novelist, it's usually a terrible choice. Nobody notices it. Nobody read is. So it's only good for leaving out on the counter, in hopes that your friends will notice when they come over for dinner ("Set your coffee cup right on the...oh, excuse me, let me move MY BOOK!"). 

My buddy James Scott Bell had some good things to say about fiction marketing on a recent blog. Check out his thoughts at:

http://killzoneauthors.blogspot.com/2009/08/writer-this-is-your-job.html

Got a question about writing and publishing? Send it in and we'll get you an answer. -Chip

Comments

[www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1041093039]

I've got a question for you! First off, great post.

My question:

I'm working on an idea for a book that would likely straddle the line between the ABA and the CBA market. Although I'm a Christian, most of my work up to this point has been geared more toward the ABA (when I eventually get them published!), and I've never really explored publishing in the CBA. I'm getting the feeling that the book will be too edgy for the CBA, but too spiritual for the ABA. Is there an in-between market out there, or when I begin working on it, should I work on making it stick in one or the other?

[Marla Taviano]

I couldn't get past the words "Oregon coast." This middle-of-Ohio girl is drooling.

[chip responds]

Yeah, I sometimes see books that fall into the no-man's-land of being too edgy for CBA, and too Christian for the general market. Is there a middle ground? Sometimes, for certain books (some of the titles at HarperOne fit that bill, as do some of the books at Jossey-Bass). There's an entire group of mind/body/spirit publishers, and occasionally a house like Thomas Nelson will do something that stretches the boundary a bit. However, for the most part, books in no-man's-land don't ever see the light of day. It's like creating a vegetarian restaurant that serves great steaks. The end result may not be bad, but it's hard to make it work with the buying public.

[Sharon A Lavy]

Thanks for the continuing education. Sorry you were still limping a bit at ACFW Conference. Hope you continue to heal.

[Linda Yezak]

Thanks for the link to Bell's encouraging post.

I'd like to know the answer to the question posted above. I'll keep an eye out for your response.

Hope you're healing well!

[Jim MacKrell]

Chip, I wonder how many authors truly understand the word "Marketing"? I have a self published friend who after getting his work on Amazon and Kindle got tired of the, as he expressed it, Huckster approach and is disappointed with the whole process. I can't tell you how many actors I've run across who went to Hollywood to seek their fortune and gave up in six months. Same, I am sure is true with writers. I view a novel as the front door to a business. One that can last for years, with multiple iterations. I guess its my advertising and television background but once the project is defined then the enjoyment of bringing the book to the market is begun. If that's not fun and exciting for a writer..then just keep writing "query letters".

[David Burton]

"Set your coffee cup right on the...oh, excuse me, let me move MY BOOK!"

ROTFL! FUNNY!!!!

Great post!! Thanks!

[twitter.com/Writers_Cafe]

My heart jumped straight into my throat when I read what Jason said! I was so happy when you told him he was 'clearly hanging around with idiots'! Good grief!! Common sense, people!!
You are correct when you state that the marketing process would be different for each novel - but it also applies to genre. You wouldn't market a children's book to adults, just as you wouldn't market an erotic romance to children. So, genre makes a difference, too.
I'd venture to say that it might even vary with the part of the country. A book on snow skiing wouldn't do well in Texas, no matter how incredible the marketing plan - as a book about salt-water fishing might just bomb in Iowa!
It's amazing that any sort of marketing plan can be put together without the aid of a marketing professional.
Chip, thanks for yet another great post! I enjoy every one!
Julie

[Indian Literary Agency]

Thats a great post. New authors certainly need some education about how publishing industry works. It could save a lot of time for both writers and publishers. These days, no writer is expected to publish a book and remain at his home. Writers are expected to be present at promotional events, interact with readers, doing interviews and stuff like that. Having a few social skills apart from writing ability, can help writers a lot.