Promote or Perish

For those of you who have not checked the Children's Book Insider, I highly recommend it. They have writers, teachers and connectors who help children's writers become successful. 

This week, Jon Bard, the co-owner of CBI is teaching about marketing. In fact, I am in the middle of a video on the subject right now (paused). Jon just made the statement that publishing is not much about "publish or perish" anymore, but much more like "promote or perish." 

That hit home. For those of us who write, have children and hold down crazy hectic day jobs, the idea that we also have to find time to promote our work is beyond daunting. It sounds more like mission impossible. Anyway, I hope to take on a professional view of marketing (er, book advocacy) with CBI's help. I'll let you know how it goes. - Q

Marketing for Introverts

I am a quasi-introvert. I enjoy people, other writers, children, etc, but still recharge my creative batteries in solitude (hiking, photography, reading). So, like other introverts, marketing is less than a good time for me because I see it as being uninvited and in your face (e.g., telemarketers at dinner time). I prefer a more sincere approach (i.e., helping others). This plays into my comfort zone since I am more than happy to market for other writers and illustrators. I also like helping folks find reading that meets their needs.

Recently, I rediscovered Rachelle Burk's Writers' Resources blog with TONS of great info. writing/publishing topics as well as great marketing links. I am now making lists of parent organizations, stores, school, journals and anyone else who comes to mind that might genuinely be helped by offering Alphabet Puke - Monsters' Medicine A-Z to their children, patients, or clients.

I know this is intuitive (and I have been doing it to some degree), but now I'm looking at marketing through a different lens and don't mind the process. I'm helping! This mindset change has made all the difference in my marketing foot dragging. Give it a try and let me know what you think or send along other marketing tips for introverts and extroverts. - Q 

Marketing - Be the Reader

Marketing is not my cup of Earl Grey. As soon as I open my mouth, I have visions of all the overbearing sales people I've ever met mocking me. However, I realize it's nutty to write for publication and never talk about it. I'm not a hermit. I just like to write.

So, what to do? Be the reader. 

I've started sitting on the floor with a picture book and thinking about color and text choices. I'm spending time (minutes) on particular characters and/or characteristics on each page like a child would do.

Olivia by Ian Falconer is a good book to try this with. Black, white, and splashes of red tell the story in addition to words. I love it. The words and illustrations focus the attention, but also let an active imagination wonder what will happen next.

When I became the reader of my books instead of the author, the marketing monkey got off my back.
-Q

The Deep End

Authors are talking about the pros and cons of online connectivity. 

Pros = keeping current with publishing changes, linking/friending writers, editors, and readers, as well as marketing your work 

Cons = finding time to write, attend conferences, and spend time with family, horses, dogs, and cats.

Initially, I kept to the shallow end of the pool with 2 websites (fiction and non-fiction). Slowly, I waded in with LinkedIn, Facebook, blogs, Twitter, and Pinterest (fun!). I'm up to my neck now, but wait, there's more! 

With global competition for a reader's attention, authors must take on much more of a book's online and hands-on marketing efforts. 

How many hours are there in a day again? Where's a pesky time machine when you need one?

Do I have the answer? Well, I recently read an eloquent Writer Unboxed post by Robin LaFevers on prioritizing and saying no to time-consuming things that don't grow your writing dreams. For me, it was a life preserver in an increasingly murky marketing pool.

With a new picture book, Alphabet Puke: Monsters' Medicine A-Z, ready to launch next month, Robin's post reminded me that saying no was not just an option for writers, but a necessity. 

Sans a time machine, saying no, gives writers time back to relax in/out of the pool.  
-Q

Into the Fray

My new picture book, Alphabet Puke - Monsters' Medicine A-Z is coming out in March and I need to jump on the internet marketing highway in a major way. Yikes!

Do I know all the things you need to do to get a book noticed among the thousands of children's books published each year? Nope, not even close. Am I going to throw up my hands in defeat? (maybe) I mean, NO! 

I am going to assimilate all the marketing wisdom shared by children's authors and other online experts to guide my forays into advertising and "horn tooting" territory. I may even buy a bigger horn! (Probably not, but I may get one with more bling or maybe a steampunk horn. I'll let you know.)

Got any marketing pearls to share? Pass them forward and I'll do the same. 
-Q

Books as Gifts vs. Gift Books

I love books! For gift giving occasions, I love giving and receiving books. When giving, I try to match the person's interest with the gift. For science fiction writers, it might be How to Write Science Fiction and Fantasy by Orson Scott Card. For photographers, it might be Magnum Contact Sheets. In other words, I look for informational or how to books.

Other times, I gift fun books. I buy what someone will like vs. what he/she can use. For children's book writers, it might be The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore by William Joyce. For family members, it might be A Day Late and a Dollar Short by Spike Van Cleve, one of my father's favorites. 

It is also a great chance to do pay it forward marketing for author friends. I love to share great books written by author friends with family and non-writing friends. Whatever your gift giving needs. Think books!

Happy Holidays!
-Q