Today is the first Wednesday of the month, meaning it's Insecure Writer's Support Group day!
Now, I'm getting sort of insecure about my book. For a long time I've thought about going the traditional publishing route. Sending off queries and searching for publishers... it always sounded kind of fun. Well, maybe not, but still. It was just something I expected myself to do.
But now, with some convincing from my dad and a little thought on my own, I've decided that I might want to try to self publish.
And I'm insecure about self publishing because I don't have a clue about marketing. (That's where my dad comes in, but still.) I mean, if it's something I'm going to do, I should probably know something about it. My dad says it's a good way to learn... from experience. But that doesn't mean it's not scary.
Okay, I guess 'scary' isn't quite the word for it. Still, I think you guys get the picture.
So yeah. I'm insecure about my knowledge of marketing.
What about you guys? What are you insecure about?
--Jess
Now, I'm getting sort of insecure about my book. For a long time I've thought about going the traditional publishing route. Sending off queries and searching for publishers... it always sounded kind of fun. Well, maybe not, but still. It was just something I expected myself to do.
But now, with some convincing from my dad and a little thought on my own, I've decided that I might want to try to self publish.
And I'm insecure about self publishing because I don't have a clue about marketing. (That's where my dad comes in, but still.) I mean, if it's something I'm going to do, I should probably know something about it. My dad says it's a good way to learn... from experience. But that doesn't mean it's not scary.
Okay, I guess 'scary' isn't quite the word for it. Still, I think you guys get the picture.
So yeah. I'm insecure about my knowledge of marketing.
What about you guys? What are you insecure about?
--Jess
18 comments:
Marketing is an interesting subject and do necessary to an author nowadays. It scares me too.
I don't know anything about marketing, either. The good thing is that a lot of smart people who do know about, blog about it! There's a ton of great info out there from published authors and agents, you just need to go looking for it. :)
Good luck!
Even by marketing, I still feel insecure that I don't know enough. It's not a bad way to learn marketing by self-publishing. It gives you a chance to learn without the pressure of a big publisher breathing down your neck. There's a lot of great marketing advice out in the blogosphere and elsewhere. The key is to take one step at a time. :)
I'm very insecure about marketing. My debut novel Concilium (releasing July 2012 <--- shameless plug) is an e-book. It's releasing through a publisher (MuseItUp) so it's been edited and has cover art and they help (a little) with marketing, but the e-book world is growing quickly and I'm not sure how to get noticed in the pile of other authors.
If your dad knows something about marketing you're one step ahead. Research your options, but be open to them all.
Michelle :)
www.michelle-pickett.com/blog
It's understandable that you're feeling insecure about marketing, becuase self-promotion is the only way self-published authors can gather readers. As long as you have realistic goals, however, I think you shouldn't be too anxious. :)
Also, people have started writing all about this stuff. Off the top of my head, I can tell you you need to check out Holly Lisle's webiste:
http://hollylisle.com/
She switched to self-publishing and has a lot to say about it.
If your dad knows something about marketing then maybe self publishing isn't such a bad idea! I mean it gets your work out there and it is definitely a learning experience.
I think it is am amazing idea. I have done a lot of research on marketing, and have some experience with it in my day job. Email me and we can talk more about it, if you'd like!
that's something all first time (and even some experienced) authors struggle with. But I'm sure your agent, or whomever, would help guide, especially if you asked for it.
Getting your story to the reader is always the end goal. Whether via the traditional publishing route or self-publishing, someone somewhere is waiting for your story.
Self-publishing does require the ability to market. And Susan Kaye Quinn has blogged about this before. She self-pubbed Open Minds and from what I understand, it did great, helped especially with some of the marketing techniques she used. I think Elana Johnson also blogged about this. So I say, read up, educate yourself and most of all, have fun if you decide to self-publish
Oh, I hear ya! As I attempt to stumble my way through marketing my first book, I feel like it's all one big learning curve. But, there are tons of people out there to help, and so much fun stuff that can be done, that it's slowly (and I do mean slowly) becoming easier.
I'm curious as to why you don't want to try the traditional publishing route...but good for you for wanting to try it on your own. I have no idea how I would go about marketing. haha :)
Marketing frightens me, but it seems that it's something every author needs to know something about these days - whatever route they travel.
Yeah, marketing is hard. I know a lot of bloggers confuse marketing with spam, so don't go that route. I see a lot of people who put a book out there and then that's all they can talk about. They turn themselves into a walking advertisement.
So be careful. Also try to be careful about the advice you follow in any venue. I love my dad, but he also wants me to go the self pub route.
Of course, it would be great to take one of my shelved novels, spruce it up and stick it out there, but then that's it. It's done. Once self pubbed, the book will not ever get picked up. And you now have a record that any future publisher can look at and say things like "Well, her self pub numbers aren't so great."
On the other hand, with self pub, you get to (have to?) control everything about your book and you keep the rights to it. The self pub/traditional pub is a quagmire of an arguement, so be sure you're going into it for the right reasons, and not because you get to keep more of the profits (which is my father's argument, FYI).
Sorry, but I have to dispel the myth that a self-pubbed book will never get picked up. Consider Amanda Hocking. She e-published on Amazon, self-marketed, made good money, AND THEN got a nice book contract. The publisher is republishing the e-books that she previously sold on her own.
That being said, there are pros and cons to every method of publication. I, personally, am going with e-pub because I want to have more control over the content, the material, and the timing of the publication.
Just my 2 cents, though.
Also, as I understand it, traditionally published books only generate profit while they are in publication. With e-pub books, as long as you have it available for purchase (on Amazon, B&N, website, etc.) is has the potential to generate income.
Just sayin'...
Also, just to clarify, I certainly don't think that everyone who goes the e-book route will end up a millionaire like Amanda Hocking.
However, you can't make ANY money off a book until you get it into the hands of readers. Therefore, if someone is willing to devote time to (1) developing a good book, (2) developing a relationship with potential readers (read: NOT shove your book down their throats), and (3) continue steps (1) and (2) repeatedly, then they might well be a good candidate for e-pub.
Good point! Even authors who are traditionally published need to expect to have to do marketing. A wonderful example of an author who knows how to market their book without sounding like a walking commercial is Neil Gaiman. He makes sure his followers KNOW when there is a good deal on his book on Amazon, when an e-book is on sale, when something is out in paperback, etc.
Jess, sorry--I didn't mean to hijack your comments section when you were on your cruise. I guess this is one of those topics that just struck a chord with me! :)
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