This Christmas will mark my three-year anniversary in the e-publishing arena. I put out my first novel, The Emperor’s Edge, in December of 2010. I did book blog tours, submitted to review sites, started this blog, started a newsletter, built a Facebook author page, and became more active on Twitter. I tried all sorts of advertising, I guest blogged on other people’s sites, and I participated in forums. I tinkered with blurbs and keywords and book covers, relentlessly trying everything other authors were talking about in order to get my book into the hands of readers who might enjoy it.
And it worked. Nothing worked spectacularly (with the possible exception of making some of my work free to stir up interest in the rest), but it all added up and little by little contributed to book sales. A year later, with four novels out and some shorter works as well, I was able to quit the day job and write full time.
Now, two years and nine months later, I have nine novels out along with additional short stories and novellas. I launched the last book in my Emperor’s Edge series in July and am working on the first book in a new contemporary fantasy series now. I’m still excited about writing — in fact I’m spending much more time on writing and editing this year than I did in the first year or two — but my blog posts on self-publishing have become sparse because putting out Books 5, 6, 7, etc. was exactly like putting out all the rest, and I’m not doing much with the marketing and promotions side of things right now.
Part of this is because I have a readership now (though we’ll see how many follow me from secondary world high fantasy to a contemporary fantasy set in Arizona!), and I can sell books by sending out a notice to my newsletter subscribers and by posting on Facebook and Twitter. That’s all I did for the release of my last book. On the one hand, it’s great to have reached this point, but on the other hand, I’m aware of how competitive things are out there and how many hungry authors are coming up, working extremely hard to promote their books. I’ve certainly seen that if I don’t do any advertising at all for a while, the downloads of the free book drop off, as well as sales of the others. Any time sales take a dip, I mull over what I could be doing besides simply writing.
So this is less of a “how to stay motivated” post and a question for you all out there. How do you stay motivated? Or do you believe that writing and publishing new work should always be the focus? (I admit that’s been my experience thus far and it’s why I’m not sure I’m doing anything wrong here, though it admittedly doesn’t give me as much new fodder for my blog!).
For me, I think the launch of a new series will be a good chance to get back into things and experiment a little to see what’s working now, in 2013. For those of you that are writers, what are you doing to stay excited about the marketing side of being an author?
Hunger. 🙂
But I try new things. If it doesn’t work, I move on. If it does work, I double down.
Hunger is good motivation. Now that the chocolate and lattes are covered, maybe I just need to set loftier goals. 😉
Over at Faerie Dark, I’m trying to mix my marketing with physical art-making activities so that I’m always challenging myself to learn new skills. I did an art installation to help me promote my work earlier this year and I’m currently doing a public art project (where art is left in public) to market the second novella before it’s released. 🙂 For the third novella, I’m working some of my favourite technology into it so I’ve been marketing and engaging with folks around the interwebz that are interested in that technology. So far, each approach has been really different and I think that’s been really good for keeping me engaged with marketing and how to do something different and exciting. We’ll see where I am 3 years in though. 😉
That sounds like a fun and unique way to promote your work. I hope it goes well!
I write mostly non-fiction and have been working full time at it since 1998 (with a three-year hiatus because of an offer I couldn’t refuse) You go in cycles. Some periods it’s not easy and some periods it’s like a duck in water – seemingly effortless but going like stink below the water. Staying interested is not possible for me without constantly changing, experimenting and finding new things and new ideas to help avoid the always-lurking speedbump and burnout.
Maybe that’s why the writing remains fun–you can always come up with new worlds, stories, characters, etc. It’s a little rinse-and-repeat with the online marketing world!
It’s only my 1st historical fantasy book out there, Wolgast Castle. I’m trying things that other authors do: book blog, platform, FB & twitter, trailer.
But I’m trying things that other authors aren’t trying. I had my artist draw my other main characters for the trailer, then I uploaded them to Zazzle.com & put them on all their products.
My platform is myth, magic, monsters so I’m doing blogs on those (15 min on each 3 times a week). On my Series site (Sidonia the Sorceress), I have (will be having when crazy book blog tour ends) blogs from each of the other characters. That my be more helpful to my 1st person book than a multi 3rd person.
I keep asking: what Different can I try?
I’m keeping a marketing Excel to see what will work. It’s too new for an answer.
One day, I will be where you are!
It sounds like you’re plugging away and doing what you should, Linda! You never know what will end up helping the most in the end, but it’s often a lot of little things that are kept up over time. 🙂
I’m enjoying hooking up with other authors by participating in various e-book bundles. I’ve got a Faery-themed bundle with 5 other authors going, and I’m part of the current YA SF/F bundle on offer for the next few weeks at StoryBundle.com. I really like meeting other authors in my genre and cross-pollinating.
I’m also a Celtic fiddler and singer, and music features heavily in a lot of my books. At some point I’d like to do a CD of the traditional Irish songs and tunes I reference in my stories. 🙂
One of the joys of being indie is being able to experiment and think outside the box. As others have said above, trying new things keeps it fresh~
Good luck on StoryBundle, Anthea. Joseph Lallo did a guest post on his experience there earlier this summer:
https://www.lindsayburoker.com/guest-posts/book-promotion-advice-from-popular-indie-fantasy-author-joseph-lallo/
I think I’m going to appear on there soon too. 🙂 Yes, it always helps to keep trying new things and keep an eye on what’s working for others. Things are changing so quickly right now!
I still write MG because it’s still my favorite genre. But it does have some formidable challenges. To help overcome them, I’ve teamed up with 19 other MG authors. (We’re Emblazon.com–“Writing Stories on the Hearts of Children”) Together we’re holding special events and working on ways to get our books into the hands of teachers and librarians. Getting our books Lexiled (grade leveled), for example, putting out a catalog, experimenting with NetGalley, figuring out how to get MARC files prepared in advance to make acquisitions easier for librarians, etc. And we have plans for some some bundling as well. We just formed this summer, and building our site and email list is a work in progress, but so far so good!
Sounds good, Michelle. I see a lot of authors working together to do these sorts of promotions. It’s definitely a good idea to think of those who write in your genre as potential allies rather than as the competition that you don’t want to have anything to do with! 😀
In a way, you are in a new situation again – you’re switching subgenres. So maybe you could write (and maybe do guest blogs as a way of promotion) about that? That can help cross that line and bring people from both sides to your other stories.
I love reading about other people’s writing process, ups and downs and everyday little things, so if you would be willing to write about that, I’d be so happy to read it!
Thank you for the idea, Julee. I might blog about just that!
Then come over to From The Bootheel Cotton Patch http://fromthebootheelcottonpatch.blogspot.com/.
I’m talking about Plotting with Tarot cards.
Good to see you back and posting again; it was nice to see new content after a while!
I still get enjoyment from posting to my blog about writing and my books. I’ve tried Wattpad after reading about it here, but it’s still too early to tell. I don’t post as much on GoodReads anymore. And I continue to do absolutely nothing with social media (still something I’m used to from living in China so long, where it’s not allowed).
Overall, my marketing efforts are pretty minimal. Still, with a new book out last month and another two on the way, I think I’m kind of in self-propelling mode. People that’ve read a book in one genre have told me that they’ve bought another in a separate genre.
Pretty much still trying to find the audience that likes me the most I guess. Hopefully being price-matched to zero on the first volume of my fantasy trilogy will help with exposure.
Good luck with the price-matching, Greg! I’ve been on Wattpad for about nine months now, and I found that I got a lot more readers after I finished the first book (a lot of people seem to wait until they can read straight through) and started a second one. I’m still not one of the huge authors over there though. 😛
So Exciting! I too am eagerly awaiting following you on the next part of your journey, please do keep us posted!
I have a question about your comment on advertising. You said ‘when i haven’t advertised in a while.’ So what does that mean? How regularly do you advertise, and is it generally just book1? (so that peeps get hooked there and follow through?) Is it through Bookbub? or anywhere else? do your sales drop even when you’re releasing new books constantly?
I love Bookbub, Kit! They give you the most bang for your buck right now, and I like that you can target only a certain audience (i.e. those who’ve specifically said they enjoy thrillers or science fiction or fantasy). There aren’t a lot of sites out there like that, and there’s a limit to how often you can run an ad there (I do usually just do a first book — I’ve done EE1, the EE1-3 omnibus, and Encrypted with good results but have had less good results advertising later books in a series).
I’ve also done Kindle Nation Daily (I never make my money back there though), and a few other sites. There’s a pretty good list here: http://www.kboards.com/index.php/topic,150285.0.html
I’ll try anything once, but usually only go back to the ones that actually move books!
I’ve sold enough books now that they continue to sell on Amazon even when I’m not promoting (I’m sure the new releases do help with that), but I have monthly sales numbers I like to try and hit, and it’s when they fall below them that I’ll want to try an advertising campaign. This helps keep the income fairly regular and dependable from month to month.
I found that posting on this blog, although it didn’t raise my numbers that high, got me some extremely engaged readers (thanks everyone).
I wish I knew other blogs that allowed guest posts (and had some inspiration to write about…hmmm….writing about mythology in a modern era? Being cyber stalked by angry people?)
I think spending time on other writers blogs is a way to stay motivated and advertise at the same time–it’s great to connect.
I’m pretty sure your fans will follow you across a genre switch, Lindsay, with no problems. I started reading Jim Butcher with his Codex Alera series (which I loved), and went on to his Dresden Files books afterwards (still working my way through those, and I like them too).
I’ve tried a few different things re: self promotion, but haven’t yet found a way to get the ball rolling. I’m wondering if it’s partly because I don’t have a series with more than one title. I wish I was as prolific as you are! Sometimes I labor over a single paragraph for hours!
Thanks, MF. I think the speed just starts to come after a while. I still wish I could convince my butt to stay in my chair for more hours in a day. I have this tendency to wander off… 😛
Yes, it does get easier when you do a series and have more out. For the same amount of effort, you have the potential of making a lot more sales (one person buying five books instead of having to sell Book 1 to five different people).
Great story of hard work brings great rewards. The kids these days should be inundated with success stories like yours. Too many are just waiting with their hands out expecting rewards with no great effort.
Let me know if you’re in need of a beta reader. I’m voracious when it comes to reading. 🙂
I love the serious and would order another book but please have them be lovers and keep the father and son together in a relationship.
Would love a free book