 "Photo: Priscilla Reyna-Ovalle")
Writers need to plan on marketing their work, a panel of writers told the Cheshyre Cheese Club Nov. 5.
Author Tori Bailey, editor H. Christine Lindblom and blogger Robyn Deangelo shared their expertise on writing, publishing and self-marketing.
“You have to believe in yourself,” Bailey said, adding, “Publishing houses no longer spend the big money on marketing your book.”
A Google profile is effective in making sure people can find you online, she said. A personal Web site can be of minimal cost and provide a solid and accessible online résumé.
Deangelo called blogs the “marketing vehicle of the 21st century” and discussed their role in marketing campaigns. The ideal blog should be about 100 words per entry and be continually updated, she said. What keeps people interested and coming back to a site is its relevance and simplicity.
Whether writing in a stream of consciousness or on a specific topic, a blog will allow the public to understand and appreciate a writer’s style, Lindblom said. The No. 1 rule in publishing, Lindblom said, is, “If they don’t know about it, they can’t find it.”
“As a writer, we want the editors who write the checks,” said Lindblom, a development editor with The Author’s Press. Authors looking to cash in on the $60 billion a year business of fiction writing or the $200 billion a year business of nonfiction writing will want to meet the standards of an editor who is looking for something that sells.
Lindblom works closely with authors to improve every aspect of a manuscript, at a price of $3,000 to $8,000. Less then $3,000 might be too good of a bargain and spending more than $15,000 probably involves a scam, she said. But “I can’t make that author a millionaire,” she added.
“Watch how people buy books,” Lindblom said. “Know where you fit on the shelf. If you write poetry, persevere. The best poets are famous and rich after they’re dead.”
Current poets are advised to concentrate on children’s books and song lyrics to realize a profit. “Find ways to make money doing your poetry. Just don’t let go of it,” she said.
Bailey discussed her marketing techniques that include a plethora of online strategies that have helped her build a persona on the Internet. She is the author of “Coming Home.”
Be the first to comment on this article!