The Web abounds with writers who ponder how to develop that proverbial network that’s supposed to represent their 1,000 true fans…those fans who are supposed to make serious growth possible. Those fans who want anything we have to offer, and tell others about it. It’s a 2007 concept developed by a man named Kevin Kelly, […]
Submitting Your Creative Nonfiction Writing
/ 2021-08-13Ten years ago, I would have told you to review Cliff Garstang’s ranking of literary magazines for nonfiction and begin by submitting to the best. I did that for many years, dutifully submitting my short memoirs and personal essays to a prioritized list of literary magazines, with limited success. Thankfully, I eventually realized there was […]
How to Produce a Kick-ass Book Trailer for under $20
/ 2021-08-07A whopping 72 percent of people prefer video over text when learning about a product or service. Video captures a higher degree of attention and more engagement than other forms of content, so it’s no surprise that book trailers are the hot new marketing tool for authors. Here are the top reasons publishers are investing […]
Presenting Your Book Online
/ 2021-07-17More specifically, I’m talking about how your book should present to the public on any venue. I recently spoke to a writer who spoke of only doing their book in ebook format. Another only wanted their book in print. I responded, “No, no, no.” The credibility of your book is reflected in its presentation, delivery, […]
Six Rookie Mistakes to Quit Making
/ 2021-03-05If your middle school years were anything like mine, the cafeteria was a dangerous place. Where to sit? What to say? And just when you thought you figured it all out, everything changed. Entering the writing world gave me a déjà vu of walking back into the middle school lunchroom. Even if I knew the […]
Want Publicity? Go Local
/ 2021-01-22Writers appreciate that reviews are golden, but self-promotion is also key. Sometimes that means promoting ourselves through guest blog posts or interviews with a podcaster. But in addition to all the work to reach a wider audience, it’s also important to remember where we came from, or where we are. I found as a writer […]
Boost Your Writing Income with Themed Merchandise
/ 2020-10-23Merchandise that highlights your writing, freelance work, or author brand can boost your writing income in multiple ways. The most obvious is through selling those products. Beyond that, people showing off your wares become your “street team,” shoring up the personal connections and word-of-mouth critical to book sales and freelance referrals. “As human beings, we […]
Channel the Need
/ 2020-10-17Recently I was advising a political Facebook group, and one key factor I could not get some of the candidates to understand was “define the voter’s need then fill it.” The candidates only wanted to say how good they are. That’s like saying a new drink product is good, when the best ads for drink […]
Should You Add an Ebook to Your Promotional Toolkit?
/ 2020-09-18Along with your blogs, social posts, author website, and newsletter, an ebook can be a powerful part of your promotional mix. Ebooks are a subtle-type selling, too, that lets you editorially showcase some of your experience and expertise, so readers start to associate you with a particular area. And despite the name, writing them is […]
Start Local and Move Out
/ 2020-08-21We’re stuck at home and sick of Zoom. How do we tell the world we are open for business as commercial or freelance writers or editors? We start at home and work out from there. Meaning, we start with who knows us, who lives near us, and who understands where we come from. This is […]
How to Organise a Book Launch
/ 2020-02-23You’re publishing your own book, now you need to organise your own launch event! Here’s a handy checklist… Draw up numbers Your event will mark the moment that your book will be launched to the world, but you’re footing the bill, so be clear about why you’re doing it and how to maximise the event’s […]
Five Pro Tips for Killer Email Subject Lines
/ 2019-09-05When you email an agency or editor to query new work or chase a submission, the subject line is almost as important as all the other elements of your email put together. Here, based on 20 years of working with email agencies and the CRM teams of big brands, are my tips for writing a […]