You may very well be a terrific writer and anyone who reads your work may certainly keep you on their radar for future works. Your priority, once the book is accepted for publication, is to make sure there are LOTS of anyone’s out there reading your work.
Each publisher will promote your book differently in degrees varying from nice to none, nada, zilch. Even if you are lucky enough to find a publisher with a big publicity budget though, the chances of them taking the responsibility of promotion and marketing off of your shoulders is often negligible unless you are already a proven best-selling author. In the long run, no matter what investment the publisher has made to get your book published, YOU, the author, still has more at stake than anyone else.
New writers frequently assume that a great title, one or two good reviews, or an eye-catching cover are enough to sell a book. Lots of terrific book jackets have accumulated dust sitting in a warehouse; many of these new books don’t even make it onto a store’s shelves. Without sales, whoever foot the bill for publication is going to have to recoup their losses before considering reprints or new acquisitions from that author. You can be your best advocate by making sure your book gets every chance to be sold.
Start with a plan, it’s a good idea to help organize your efforts AND more and more publishers are asking for detailed promo/marketing plans before signing a book.
1) 1.- Define your target audience – who would be interested in reading your book? Understand that not everyone will want to read your book (ie: most men do not read chick-lit) do narrow the market down. How will you reach your target audience? If you write sci-fi hen you might want to advertise in a scientific journal. Look for blogs that cater to your target audience and ask about guest-blog opportunities. How about arranging speaking engagements with clubs? Find something unique about your book that will spark some interest.
2) 2.- What is your goal for the book? Fame and fortune is not an answer (even if it really sounds nice). You may be satisfied in just knowing your name is on a published book and if that is your goal, that’s okay. But if you want this book to be the beginning of a series, then you need to get both your name and your book’s name out there so that a publisher will be interested in a subsequent book. One word of advice, it CAN happen, but don’t expect to become independently wealthy off the sale of this one manuscript.
3) 3.- Make a to-do list. These are the things you will DO to promote your book like contacting booksellers and arranging book-signings, setting up library appearances, scheduling interviews, etc. Be realistic with your time and finances. If you are going to go on an in-person tour, how big an area are you covering and who is paying for it? Set a budget for “swag” (giveaways like T-shirts, bookmarks, pens, etc) and shop around before ordering.
Ultimately you have to do everything possible to get your name out there and put your book’s title in front of potential customers. Be consistent and follow-through. Don’t wait or expect someone else to do the work – it’s YOUR book, YOU need to make it work.
Writing exercise: Write the introduction a radio host can use to introduce you to listeners. Be sure to include something interesting about you and to plug your book. Keep it short, you are only on for a five minute spot INCLUDING the introduction.
Writing prompt: Come up with a name for each of the following characters, try to make it a name that fits the character:
Male, 23 year old computer geek, grew up in a middle class neighborhood
Female, 40 something, divorced, works as a bartender, likes to flirt
Female, 19, store clerk, privileged upbringing, working as “lesson in life”
Male, late 40’s, police detective, cynical, waiting for retirement, womanizer
Male, 17 year old, younger brother of 19 year old store clerk, spoiled
Female, 30’s, assistant store manager, NO sense of humor, stickler for the rules
Male, 20 years old, exchange student studying computer engineering
Female, 40 something, divorced, works as a bartender, likes to flirt
Female, 19, store clerk, privileged upbringing, working as “lesson in life”
Male, late 40’s, police detective, cynical, waiting for retirement, womanizer
Male, 17 year old, younger brother of 19 year old store clerk, spoiled
Female, 30’s, assistant store manager, NO sense of humor, stickler for the rules
Male, 20 years old, exchange student studying computer engineering
