I had no idea writers did so much self-promotion. Over the past couple of months, I've been reading blogs and have joined lists that focus on promotion. Some people are saying they spend up to $40,000.00 per book. It boggles my mind. They hit 300 bookstores, and pay for their own travel expenses. It exhausts me just reading about it. But then it dawned on me that many of these people are fairly new authors.
In the early years of my career, I drove all over the country in all kinds of weather in order to sign books. I spoke at conferences and workshops. I talked to libraries and clubs. I bought ads, I did bookstore mailings. I even hired an ad agency for a couple of books. One thing I never did was the personal stuff. I never went around to stores and introduced myself. Well, not the truth. I tried, but it made me feel like a whore.
How do you get over that????
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And what if the store CRM hates me – which has happened. If the store CRM hates me, then I've actually screwed myself and hurt my sales. Here’s where I'll admit that I once got into a physical hair-pulling fight with Mrs. Streable, my high school PE teacher. Those kind of women – the Mrs. Streables of the world -- still hate me.
I grew up in the sixties and to the point of self-detriment still refuse to kiss ass. I wanna be Bob Dylan, not Britney Spears. Then again, maybe I'm just a bitch.
8 comments:
Anne, yeah, there are a lot of methods of self-promo out there, but you have to do what you're comfortable with. And personally I don't care how big an author is, 40,000??? Holy crap!
If I ever sell, I know I'll be comfortable with on-line methods because I'd totally suck at public speaking! LOL!
yeah, i think you have to find what works for you. some people are fantastic at public speaking and being charming and clever. i become a deer caught in the headlights. not that bad, but my brain certainly shuts down. i plan to focus on the internet. my daughter has agreed to make a video for my next book -- and she does great work.
When I first heard about these vids, I was a little hesitant about them, especially when I heard about one that cost 5,000 and I didn't think it was all that great when I saw it. But then someone mentioned another company that does shorter versions with real people for only 500, and have gotten raves. So it's really cool your daughter can do create one for free! =D
free....
hmmm....
it won't be free, since she'll have to turn down other projects while working on mine, but i'm pretty sure she'll cut me a deal. :D
i'm not crazy about the videos with actors, but they're the ones readers seem to like. i've seen some without actors that would have cost around 15,000.
yikes! :O.
As if being a bitch is a bad thing? I mean really, it's worked for me for 30yrs.
jeff, the ones i've seen are viewed on the video company websites, with links on the writer sites. it seems they lean pretty heavily on word of mouth and the viral aspect of the internet. i will just have mine on my website. right now it seems to be a novelty -- and may never be more than that.
2 cents.
Not a thing to say, but I'll be damned if I'll let E-Mom get one up on me, eh?
talcum, nobody can keep up with emom. you should know that by now. :D
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