Putting Together Your Team - Tips for Writers

Whether your traditionally published, an indie, or somewhere in between, you’ll need to put together a team to help you produce and market your books. Here are some tips that can help you as you find the right resources.

• Writing is a business, and you need to treat it that way. Make sure you have a contract or statement of work before someone starts the job.

• Make sure you have clearly explained your requirements up front for the task.

• Understand the fee structure and payment before the work starts. Is it a one-time cost? If it’s ongoing, how much and how often are you charged?

• Know exactly what you’re getting for your money.

• Get the person’s contact information at the beginning. You may have a need to reach them other than through a website contact.

• Ask other writers for references.

• Check out samples of the person’s work.

• Understand the timeline (theirs and yours).

• Keep a list of your contacts. You may need to reach out to them in the future.

• A lot of the tasks (e.g. website maintenance, graphics, book trailers) you can do yourself with a little training. Google and YouTube are your friend. There are a lot of tutorials out there that will teach you how to use the software.

• Make a budget and determine what you have the time/interest to do yourself and what you need to hire others for.

You’ll receive lots of offers from people and companies to help market you and your books. Make sure you know what you’re buying. Do your homework and find the right resources for your brand.

Discussion Questions for Your Books

Book clubs, whether in-person or virtual, are great ways for authors to reach readers. It’s a good idea to provide discussion questions on your website. Many authors and publishers also include them at the back of the book. Here are some ideas that can help as you think about your book from a reader’s perspective.

• It’s good to provide readers with 6-10 discussion questions about your book and its characters.

• Try to avoid spoilers as you craft your discussion points.

• These are to spur discussion and thought, so avoid ones that can be answered with a yes, no, or quick fact.

• Look for themes in your book that you can highlight for readers.

• Make a list of pop culture and other references in your book. These can be incorporated into discussion items.

• Google '“book club questions.” There are lots of sites with generic questions that you can sprinkle in your list.

• If you have different books in the series, make sure that your questions vary and aren’t the same for each book.

• Create a page on your website for book clubs with the discussion questions.

• Think like an English teacher as you compose your questions. Look for items to compare, contrast, or explain.

Make a List to Help You Market Your Book

As you start to market your book, it’s a good idea to have ideas for blogs, podcasts, interviews, and author talks. Here are some things that have worked for me through the years.

• For every new book, make a list of the themes and references in the story. You will find things that interest readers outside of your genre. Highlight these in your book promotions. For my Jules Keene Glamping Mysteries, my list includes: vintage trailers, tiny houses, the Blue Ridge Mountains, glamping, cybersecurity, bluetooth devices, and Jack Russell Terriers. These are subjects that you can use as you promote your book.

• Look for online and local groups that share these interests and approach them about doing a guest post or a talk.

• Also make a list of your interests and areas where you have expertise. These can be used for blogs, workshop topics, and marketing ideas. It is much easier to pitch a workshop topic if you have expertise to share.

• When I create handouts and slide shows for classes that I teach, I always make sure that they are branded with my website and include my contact information.

• Libraries and other groups are always looking for speakers for programs. I keep a list of topics for readers, mystery lovers, and writers. I have a synopsis of each in a file that I can pitch to possible event sponsors.

• Look for other groups in your area that offer classes. There are many active senior communities, clubs, and learning centers that look for guest speakers. Many of these also have book clubs that host meet-the-author events.

• When you do guest blogs, many times, it will be up to you to come up with the topic. You’ll have more success if it’s entertaining or informative instead of 800 words about “buy my book.” The idea is to introduce yourself and your writing to a new group of readers. You want your headline and post to catch the reader’s attention.

• When you do interviews, podcasts, and author panels, make sure your anecdotes are fresh. Don’t tell the same story at every event or interview.

Bookmarks - An Inexpensive Marketing Tool for Authors

Everybody likes give-aways. Make sure that you have bookmarks to hand out at your events. I always give them out to everyone I talk with. Many times, I’ve seen a spike in ebooks after the event.

Here are some things I've learned over the years.

1. Pick a size that works for you and fits the size of your book.

2. Order enough to be economical (printing and shipping costs), but not so you have thousands to store.

3. Make the cover, your name, your story's title, and website large enough to read.

4. Use matching or complimentary colors. There are plenty of free color wheels online that will help you see what works with the colors you choose.

5. If you add pull quotes or story summaries, make them short enough to be readable. Eight-point type is too small. Less is better when you're working in a small space.

6. Use the back to promote your other books. That way, visitors know what else you write.

7. If this is your first publication, use the back to promote your blog and social media sites.

8. Make sure the any pictures (including the book cover) you add to the bookmark are in proportion. The book cover should be a rectangle. Use a high-resolution graphic. Most graphic design programs will let you hold down the shift key as you resize a graphic go keep it proportional.

9. If you include an author picture, make sure it’s recent and professional. Selfies may not have the resolution that you want when the bookmarks are printed.

10. I use NextDayFlyers because they have sizes that work for me. There are lots of companies out there. Shop around and look for discount codes.

11. I add bookmarks to any give-aways that I happen to do. A little book swag is always a nice surprise.

12. Many of your independent bookstores or libraries will give away your bookmarks. Ask if you can leave a few when you visit.

What else would you add to my list? Happy reading!

How to Make a Writer's Day - Inexpensive Things Readers Can Do

It’s the holiday season, and here is my list of things readers can do to make their favorite author’s day…

1. Write a review. It doesn’t have to be a book report. It can be one or two sentences. Reviews on Amazon, BookBub, Goodreads, Barnes and Noble, and other sites help writers.

2. Recommend a book you like to your library for purchase.

3. Recommend an author or book to your book club.

4. Buy books as gifts for your family and friends.

5. Post on a social media site when you have a book recommendation. (Don’t forget to tag the author.)

6. Follow the author on social media. Subscribe to his/her newsletter to keep up with what’s new.

7. Follow the author on Amazon and Goodreads.

8. Take pictures of the book and post to your social media. Instagram and #Bookstagram are great places to highlight your favorite books and authors.

It's Okay to Be Picky - Tips for Authors

I am a picky eater, but that’s a whole ‘nother story. This is about being choosy about your promotions. Writers, your time, money, and sanity are valuable, and it’s okay not to do every conference, book signing, and event that comes your way. It’s hard. You want to be a part of things and to sell books, but life obligations and writing your next book are important, too.

When we started out with the anthologies, we did just about every promotional event that came along. One year, I had something bookish to do every weekend, and a lot of them included travel. There were some weekends where there were multiple events in the same day. I love to meet readers and talk about books, but I have two series now, a day gig, and everything else that life throws at me.

Events

• I try to choose events where my readers are. I did some ComiCons early on. They were so much fun, but the audience wasn’t really for cozy, mystery readers.

• Evaluate the cost (including travel and your time) for events that charge. Sometimes, there is value by gaining newsletter subscribers, networking, or the opportunity to talk to readers. It may not always be book sales.

• Be creative. We’ve had some really good book sales at “non-book” events (e.g. an art festival at a winery, a happy hour at a museum, a table at a beach-themed store, a table outside a card shop ahead of Mother’s Day weekend). Try new things and learn what works for your readership.

• Know where you will be at the event. I sunburn easily, so if it’s outside in the heat, I need shelter or a tent. Will you be expected to bring a tent, chairs, and a table? We did an outside event in January once and almost froze to death. I always have a box of books in the trunk of my car, too. I can’t tell you how many times we’ve sold out or the book order didn’t arrive at the venue on time.

• Be prepared. I pack an event bag with swag, giveaways, a tent card, table cloths, extra pens, tape, painter’s tape, scissors, and seasonal things like sunscreen and sunglasses. I also pack a little cooler with drinks and snacks.

It’ Okay to Say No, But Be Professional

• Sometimes, we take on too much because we don’t want to or can’t say no. Give yourself permission to be choosy and don’t feel guilty about it.

• Be gracious and professional when you decline an invitation. Don’t burn bridges in case you may want to participate at another time.

• If you accept an invitation, try not to back out unless it really is an emergency. Think about the event planner. It is often difficult to get last-minute replacements.

• Be on time and be prepared.

• It’s okay to stand up for yourself and to push back when there are issues. Just be professional. Tirades and outbursts on social media make you feel better for a moment, but they can damage your reputation for a long time. You are your brand.

• Don’t be a diva. A lot of events and conferences are staffed by volunteers. Many bloggers, bookstagrammers, and podcasters don’t get paid for their efforts either. Demanding authors get a negative reputation pretty quickly and word spreads.

Facebook Takeovers - What are They? What Do I Do?

A Facebook Takeover is when another site (author, book group, etc.) on Facebook lets you control the content for a short period of time to talk about your books and interact with the readers. Usually the administrator of an established group will give you access to the site, so you can post. This allows you to meet an established following, and only members of that group are able to participate in the event. (This means you can’t invite your friends and fans unless they join the group.) Sometimes, takeovers are set up as Facebook Events, and you can usually invite your friends to participate because they are open to anyone who is interested.

Facebook takeovers are promotional tools to help you market your book and meet new readers. I love to interact with people on social media, so I’m excited when I get to introduce my cozies to a new group. Here’s what I’ve learned about takeovers....

• It’s usually a good idea if you’re part of the group or community and that you are familiar with the members and their interests. If you’re not a member, join and visit ahead of your takeover, so they get to know you.

• Follow all the instructions the administrator provides you for posting. Many want you to do a series of give-aways, and they provide guidance about dates, length of the event, prizes, and ways to interact.

• Find give-ways that you can easily mail. Remember, most of these sites have a worldwide audience. If you have restrictions on your contest, you need to specify it up front. (It’s really expensive to mail a book or a mug to another country.)

• Make sure all links work and you have access before your takeover begins.

• Once you agree on a date and time, make sure to create a reminder for yourself, so that you’re not late. Also verify the time zone with the host.

• Check out other takeovers on the site to see what the readers are expecting. Bright, fun graphics and short posts are usually best. I use Canva or BookBrush to create graphics that are sized correctly. I also like to have them branded with my book and website.

• I open a Word document ahead of my event and post a copy of my graphics. and the text that I’m going to use. This allows me to proofread it and make sure it covers everything I want to highlight. Then during the take-over, I just have to copy the block and post the graphic.

• The event is a place for you to introduce yourself and your book. Many authors talk about themes or places in their books and ask questions for the participants to answer in the comments. I make my questions related to an upcoming holiday and my book. (I talk about my sleuth’s job or hobbies and have a contest question about that. There is always a fuzzy sidekick in my book, so I do some kind of question/game with pets. People love to tell you about their pets and show pictures. Clothes, styles, food, and pop culture make great conversation starters.)

• The idea is to have fun and get people to respond to your games or questions. Don’t over-complicate things with too many rules or conditions.

• Some takeovers have multiple authors, and you get usually only one post, but you can add more information and links in the comments. Other events allow multiple posts. Remember, if you do twenty posts, you have to respond to all of them. For a take-over that lasts several hours, I usually do an activity or give-away every 30 minutes.

• This should be a fun time for the participants where they can interact with you. Don’t just post and return only to select a winner. Check in periodically and make sure you react and comment.

• If given a choice, I like to leave the contests open until the next day. This gives people in different time zones a chance to play.

• Let the participants know where they can find you and your books.

• Always thank your hosts and your participants. I usually create a “thank you meme.”

• Check with your host; sometimes they announce the winners. If not, I make a graphic with all the winners. I also post it on my author page and tag the winners.

• Remember that most of these sites or groups are administered by volunteers. Be a gracious guest and not a demanding diva.

Book Marketing - A Marathon Not a Sprint

I hear a lot of disappointed comments from new authors as they struggle to promote and market their books. Posting a couple of “buy my book” links is not all there is to book marketing. Good promotion is a marathon and not a sprint. It’s a lot of work, but if you put the time in, you will see results. Here’s what I’ve learned through the years…

While You’re Waiting - There is a lot of down time while you’re querying and waiting for edits. Use that time to build your author platform. You need the foundation for your promotional efforts.

• Spend at least 30 minutes a day on your main social media sites. Interact and share others’ information. Work to build your followers. Follow people who have similar interests to you.

• Build your email list. Participate in online contests to add readers of your genre. Take a sign up sheet to all of your in-person events. Put a sign up option on your website.

• Create your marketing contact list of librarians, bookstore owners, and other authors. Relationships are important.

• Make sure you have an author website. This is the hub of your promotions. Check to make sure everything is up to date. The look should match your social media sites.

• Start driving traffic to your website. The easiest way is to have a blog with fresh content that will bring people back. (You will also need to promote your posts to build an audience.) Most websites don’t have frequent enough updates to bring people back regularly.

Network - Writing is often a solitary adventure, but you do need those special people who share your celebrations.

• Find a writers’ group where you can share the good times and the disappointments. The support is invaluable.

• It is much easier to get reviews, blurbs, and promotion opportunities if you’re part of a writing community. Plus, they are a wealth of information and experience.

• Be a good citizen. Don’t show up on pub day and ask for a bunch of help unless you’re willing to return the favors.

• Be willing to volunteer and help where you can.

Be Creative - Look for different types of virtual and in-person events.

• Make a list of themes in your book. (For my latest, some of these are: vintage trailers, glamping, Blue Ridge Mountains, and Jack Russell Terriers.) Look for places that cater to these. My Delanie Fitzgerald mysteries feature a Sears Catalog house, and I was a guest on a blog that restores these classic houses.

• Look for sales opportunities that aren’t book stores. I have friends who have book displays in restaurants, giftshops, and museums. We’ve done a lot of book signings at wineries and craft breweries.

• Volunteering to conduct workshops, give talks, or teach classes is a good way to get your name out to new audiences. Some will even feature your books. And even if you can’t sell books, you can pass out bookmarks and share your contact information.

Book marketing takes a lot of time and effort. Start early and build your base. (I started with 3 Twitter followers.) Best wishes on your writing projects and marketing efforts!