Not that I know anything at all about this subject, mind you.
Just watched (for the umpteenth time) Julie & Julia, and it is like picking a scab: Gee, since it's so easy to get an agent /slash/ book contract, why doesn't everybody start a clever blog? The first time I saw the movie, my mother's elbow made a permanent impression on my rib cage when all the offers started coming in from people interested in Julie's blog - "See, that's all you have to do."
But honestly, most film treatments of the writer's life are like this. They're fairy tales, dressed up in modern clothing. As I've said before, the writing is easier than the selling. And the writing takes years (if you have to have a day job)...and the selling takes longer, unless you are incredibly lucky.
I say lucky because I don't think talent has much to do with it. I think that the publishing industry is just as susceptible to fads (mob behavior) as the general public. Maybe more so, even. For a period of several years, the only literary fiction being published was that written by people with a definite ethnic perspective. And then we went through a phase where everything (even fiction) was a memoir. Or wait, was it the memoirs that were fiction? Hard to keep track - but harder still to try and sell a mainstream novel. And don't get me started on vampires and zombies.
It's hard, folks. And I guess that's the way it is...but while the publishing industry goes through some seismic changes, let's not forget that companies such as iuniverse help the starving artist get her work out in the marketplace. Now if only an agent would take a look at it...
Showing posts with label Writing vs Marketing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Writing vs Marketing. Show all posts
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Sunday, July 18, 2010
Here's my heart
Walking into a bookstore and asking the manager to a. sell your book, and b. allow you to speak and/or sign books there is like walking in the door, reaching a hand into your chest cavity, ripping out your heart and handing it to someone. Please, take it. Really, I don't need it any longer. My heart is here in these pages.
Doing marketing yourself after self-publishing is even better. You have to do it yourself, and therefore, no one wants to talk to you. As if the beating bloody heart you just offered is diseased somehow. So no, thanks anyway. We'll wait until you're famous and have a marketing department pushing your book on us. Which we will then complain about too. Because we never get any say about what we sell. Duh.
So, it's hard.
What's gratifying is the emails, facebook posts, and yes, even phone calls from people telling you they finished the book and loved it. One friend took it on vacation to the British Virgin Islands and left it there in the lending bookcase at the pier. How cool is that?
And it really is wonderful to walk into a public library in, say, Farmington, and to be welcomed by a very nice librarian named, say, Hal Bright, who offers you a cozy corner to set up and a bottle of water and even joins in the talk when another dozen or so brave the monsoon rains and come to learn about your book. THAT's what keeps this writer's heart beating.
Doing marketing yourself after self-publishing is even better. You have to do it yourself, and therefore, no one wants to talk to you. As if the beating bloody heart you just offered is diseased somehow. So no, thanks anyway. We'll wait until you're famous and have a marketing department pushing your book on us. Which we will then complain about too. Because we never get any say about what we sell. Duh.
So, it's hard.
What's gratifying is the emails, facebook posts, and yes, even phone calls from people telling you they finished the book and loved it. One friend took it on vacation to the British Virgin Islands and left it there in the lending bookcase at the pier. How cool is that?
And it really is wonderful to walk into a public library in, say, Farmington, and to be welcomed by a very nice librarian named, say, Hal Bright, who offers you a cozy corner to set up and a bottle of water and even joins in the talk when another dozen or so brave the monsoon rains and come to learn about your book. THAT's what keeps this writer's heart beating.
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Attracting readers
That's what we do when we market our books - try to get the story out to readers. It's why we write, yes? To share the stories of the characters that live in our minds and hearts? So if our objective is to make money, then I can't relate to that. Obviously, one would welcome the call from Oprah and a place on the New York Times bestseller list. But if that's why you write, then I wonder how involved your heart can be.
There's a place for genre writing: take the recipe or formula of the romance novel or mystery, and apply it to a set of characters and a time/place that provides a "hook" of some kind. And then, crank 'em out.
For me, the focus is about writing the kind of book I like to read, and then finding a way to share my excitement about it with others. Without sounding like the biggest egomaniac ever, it's hard to strike the right balance when you want to encourage people to read your book, share their enthusiasm (but not the actual book) with others, and help spread the word. The best thing is the word of mouth from readers who post comments or reviews that attract others to pick up the book.
Why read this, even? Is the constant struggle of a self-published author of interest to anyone? I hope it is. Writing a blog feels alot like being in therapy, without the feedback from the shrink in the chair. It IS all about me, and how I feel. And how much I need you to like my book (and therefore, me). Yikes! Time to stop now!!!
There's a place for genre writing: take the recipe or formula of the romance novel or mystery, and apply it to a set of characters and a time/place that provides a "hook" of some kind. And then, crank 'em out.
For me, the focus is about writing the kind of book I like to read, and then finding a way to share my excitement about it with others. Without sounding like the biggest egomaniac ever, it's hard to strike the right balance when you want to encourage people to read your book, share their enthusiasm (but not the actual book) with others, and help spread the word. The best thing is the word of mouth from readers who post comments or reviews that attract others to pick up the book.
Why read this, even? Is the constant struggle of a self-published author of interest to anyone? I hope it is. Writing a blog feels alot like being in therapy, without the feedback from the shrink in the chair. It IS all about me, and how I feel. And how much I need you to like my book (and therefore, me). Yikes! Time to stop now!!!
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
The Turkish Novel
So, this one took me about 19 years and gallons of blood, sweat, and tears to complete. And it's good. I'm happy with the end product - not thrilled with the idea of needing to write a sequel, but we'll address that later.
The thing is, as much as I like to write, marketing a book is something else entirely. And this is what I'll share here in this blog. Plus whatever exciting news comes down the pike - awards, movie deals, etc.
Stay tuned.
The thing is, as much as I like to write, marketing a book is something else entirely. And this is what I'll share here in this blog. Plus whatever exciting news comes down the pike - awards, movie deals, etc.
Stay tuned.
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