MARKETING for WRITERS

MARKETING FOR WRITERS

ONGOING STORY OF WHAT IT TAKES TO BE A BEST SELLER (ARRRGGG!)

Okay, guys, I have been writing and having books published for more than two years now. No matter what the dreams may be, this is a brutal business unless you have a built-in platform, such as a TV show, or are a recovering alcoholic, drug-addled celebrity, or have already sold a ton of books.  Does this mean I am ready to throw in the towel--no way Jose!  It just means I again need to work harder, and smarter.

This next series of blogs will be my journey through some of the process, but not all of it, because some of it is too dreadful to share.  As I said in the beginning, my precious dog, Scruggs, taught me to laugh and share, so bear with me while I learn to laugh through this grueling process.

But, first, some history:

When my first two books came out in 2011 and early 2012, I did all the right things, including book fairs, book signings, and lots of public speaking.  But, man, it was difficult, and somewhat soul-sucking, but also funny, enlightening, and always amusing, even when I was the main joke of the day.

Book signings are not like "Castle" on TV or any book signings, except for maybe J.K. Rowlings, who has thousands of screaming fans waiting for her.  Nooo, it is more like trying to hype liquid joint medicine at Costco.  No one really wants to try it, but the woman at the table stands bravely, smiles and offers it to anyone who passes by.  Book signings at a bookstore are similar.  You have a beautiful table, a poster, and a nice manager of the store.  But, expect to sell maybe 20 books during a six hour day.

What you do get  are wonderfully frustrated writers who want so desperately to write and have their messages heard.  Sometimes it is heartbreaking, sometimes enlightening, but always fodder for future tortured characters.  They will take your time, suck your breath out of you, and probably disrupt sales, but without them, you otherwise will stand alone for hours.  

If you are lucky, a sympathetic assistant manager will come by occasionally and offer you water, or maybe a cup of coffee.  Don't refuse it, it may be the only attention you get for another half-hour or more!

But, at the end of the day, when the sales are totaled, the manager will come to you and tell you that you sold more books that day than any other author in the store!  Take the complement and run, because it is true.  You did hustle, you did sign books, and you did make contacts.  Be grateful, keep an e-mail list of the people you met, and let them know how much you appreciate their support.  In the end, it does make a difference.  You have touched at least 20 people's lives, and isn't that why you wrote your book?

Writing books is not glamorous.  It is like anything else in life--if it was easy, anyone would/could do it. 

Stay tuned for next time, I will talk about mistakes I made.  Of course, that will take multiple posts, but so what, maybe it will prevent you from making the same ones.

Lots of love to all of you writers, and readers.  Without you, we are nothing.

Mary (M.J. Hatch) de la Pena

Oh, yeah, my website for books, www.marydelapena-author.com  also, they can be purchased through Amazon, http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=scruggs+and+Samantha or http://www.amazon.com/Immigrant-American-Hero-Mary-Pena/dp/1450773842/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1383583017&sr=8-1&keywords=an+immigrant+american+hero