Blogger: Rachel Kent
Location: Books & Such main office, Santa Rosa, Calif.
Assumption of the day: “Once I sell my first book to a publishing house, it’s going to be easy to sell the rest of my manuscripts.”
We see this assumption expressed in the many emails we receive from writers who believe that the book they have written is going to be the next breakout novel or nonfiction project.
Unfortunately, even if your book does get picked up for publication, there’s no guarantee that it’s going to “sell like gangbusters” (as my dad would say). If it does sell well, then you will have an easier time selling your other projects, but if it’s a mid-list book, it will take a lot of effort to sell that next project. Yes, you might look a little better than an unpublished writer, but then again, your name and your market has been tested. A publisher is going to look at the sales figures your first book produced to determine if you are “worth the risk.” An unpublished author hasn’t yet been tested in this way; so the sales forecast is more of a mystery.
Most books fall into the mid-list after publication, so don’t assume it’s going to be smooth sailing after you sign your first contract. What can you do? Work, work, work to constantly market your project to increase sales to, in turn, increase your chances of selling more book ideas.
What is your favorite way to communicate with your audience or potential audience? How can you take this communication strategy to the next level?
For me, Twitter, Facebook, and my blog, because people leave comments & or “likes.” I don’t have a book available, so I know they enjoy my content, but I don’t know if that will result in sales yet.
But, knowing I’m communicating w/ an audience of any size is rewarding. 🙂
Thanks for the light shedding this week, Rachel.
Thanks for some good insights this week, Rachel. I’m actively building my Twitter followers and being thoughtful about my tweets. People tell me they love my tweets and my Facebook posts. I’m debating setting up a Facebook “fan” page. Some experts say do it now, but it just seems presumptuous …
Great post, Rachel. I’ve known authors who quit their daytime jobs after publishing their books. Yikes! I don’t have that much faith.
I use my blog as my main way to communicate with readers, and supplement that with social media. I’m a bit biased because I love blogging.
I didn’t feel like I was a “real” writer until I got my second three-book contract. At that point I thought “maybe …” and so I began to think of myself as a “real” writer. That was many books ago and the Lord has blessed me with continuing work, but I’m ever aware that there are no guarantees in this business. I’ve also learned not to wait by the phone for Johnny Depp’s call to discuss how he should portray my hero in the movie version. And Oprah never did call, either. Sigh.
I’m always looking for new ways to market. If you know of any good classes, please let me know:) Social media and word of mouth is a big goal of mine but it’s fun to try new ways on how to share your work.
Gee, if that’s what it takes, Stephanie, I wonder if Harper Lee thinks she’s a writer yet? 🙂
I think being active on big email lists that have nothing to do with writing, is a good way to connect with people who have similar interests to you. I write for young adults and I am not on email lists with young adults, but I have been on a couple of big theological email loops for over a decade. I’ve gotten to know a lot of pastors and elders who have plenty of young adults and parents of young adults in their congregations.
Taking that to the next level…if I ever get published I plan to pitch articles about fantasy for Christian children to denominational magazines. Whether they hate Harry Potter or love him, Christians love to talk about him. Fantasy is impacting Christian parents and I hope denominational magazines will want to run some articles about it.
Sally: Not IF. WHEN. Positive mindset, positive results! Keep on keepin’ on. 🙂
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Rachel, like others, I’m using social media to maintain a presence and connect until I have a book available. Though I must confess…I still feel like one dizzy bird in the great land of twitterdom.
I blog and use Twitter to connect with potential readers. I *love* the community I’ve found (and am hopefully helping to foster) on Twitter.
Taking it to the next level from my point now might include monthly e-newsletters to blog subscribers and more helpful, directed-to-readers tweets. I also have a couple of ideas for hosting blog link-ups.
Thanks for helping us think proactively, Rachel.