Promoting Yourself (or Whoring for Grins and Giggles)

So, you’ve gone through the process of writing your book and getting it published. Time to focus on your next book, right?

Wrong.

Obviously, you still need to work on your next book, but if you don’t go through the process of promoting your book already published, it won’t sell enough to even get anyone interested in taking that second one you’re working on. If there’s one thing that causes a writer’s heart to stop in panic and fear, though, it’s the idea that they have to actually sell readers on the idea of buying their book.

The trouble is, if you’ve already gotten to the point of publication (and didn’t pay someone to do so), then you’ve already sold someone. Your publisher, agent and/or editor were all out there with no knowledge of your book before they took it on. So, in essence, what you need to do is carry that same focus into the reader realm. So, along that line, here are some tips and tricks for promoting yourself to readers (I won’t be going into specific promotion techniques, since those have been hashed ad nauseum elsewhere on the internet):

• Remember that the book is what’s being sold and not you (regardless of the whoring comment in the title). You are ultimately the expert on the book you’ve written, and so have intimate knowledge of the specifics that would appeal to readers (after all, they appealed to those who already accepted your book).
• On a related note, remember that rejection of your book is not rejection of its author (in most cases). People are as varied as anything in this world, and there will always be some people who have no interest in your work, no matter how hard you try.
• Never turn down an opportunity to promote your book (just as you wouldn’t have turned down a partial request because you didn’t think it would lead anywhere). You never know when an avenue will pan out for you. Take for example an event I did a few years ago. The event wasn’t all too successful, but the contacts I made through that event may end up panning out even bigger than I hoped (details as soon as it comes to fruition, and I can share).
• Interact and become friends with as many authors as you can. Authors are rabid readers, for one, and most are friendly enough to pass along additional promotional opportunities to their friends (don’t forget to do the same for them as well). Writing is a lonely, depressing business as it is without adding to the misery by alienating yourself.
• People love authors who are generous. Giveaways are a great way to gain fans, some of whom will be rabid in promoting you to others they know. It doesn’t always have to be books (though that always helps), but it needs to be something of value. Contests are also great fun, since competition always gets people excited. Be stingy at your own risk.
• Finally, don’t forget to have fun. As I mentioned, writing is a lonely, depressing business, but attitude is everything when promoting. Just as people like those who are generous, they also gravitate toward happy, energetic authors. So, put on a happy face and bring some joy to your potential readers.

So there you have it. Hopefully these have helped you generate some confidence, enough to get out there and promote yourself to the fullest.

***

T. M. Hunter has always had a fascination with interstellar travel, spacecraft (and aircraft) and beings from other worlds. Twice a top ten finisher in the P&E Readers Poll for his short stories (2007, 2009), his book HEROES DIE YOUNG earned Champagne Books’ Best-Selling Book of 2008 award. FRIENDS IN DEED is his latest novel. For more information, including links to his published short stories and novels, please visit AstonWest.com. You can also find T. M. Hunter on Twitter, Facebook, and MySpace as well.

Weekly Goals - July 27, 2010

Still in the flow...and besides the weekly goals here, I've also been over 11 days straight in getting my daily word count requirement written. And if you're interested in winning a free copy of Friends in Deed, head on over and comment on my latest interview.

Results for this week:

1. 3000 / 3000 words on Death Brings the Victory
2. Complete

And now the goals for this coming week:

1. 3000 words on Death Brings the Victory

Submission status for the week:

Short stories:
"Collateral" (since April 1)
"Deadly Decisions" (need to re-submit)

Aston West
novels
short stories
writing goals

Interview with Robert Collins

Greetings everyone! My guest today is fellow sci-fi writer (and writer of non-fiction too) Robert Collins. So, I'm never one to beat around the bush, so let's get things started:

TM Hunter: Tell us a little bit about yourself. What makes you tick?

Robert Collins: Well, I like to write, and I like my writing to tell a story. It’s why I do what I do even though I’m not rich or famous (yet).

TMH: I notice that you write both fiction and non-fiction. Which do you prefer to write, and why?

RC: I don’t have a preference. I started out wanting to be a science fiction & fantasy author. To some degree nonfiction came about through a few gaming pieces I wrote for Steve Jackson Games. Later I started a series of travel books, which led to writing railroad books, which has now led me to write about Kansas history. I would say that fiction is my passion, but I like ‘em both!

TMH: So tell us about Lisa’s Way. What’s it about? Did anything inspire it?

RC: Lisa’s Way is my second novel. It started back in high school with my friends at the time. We thought it would be cool to be characters in a novel we wrote. Since I was the only one who really wanted to be a writer, I ended up writing most of it. It turned into fiction quite soon.

Here’s the blurb:

Teenager Lisa Herbert lives in the small town of Mountain View on the planet Fairfield. The “Savage Rain” decades earlier shut down the hyperspace gate and isolated her world. A casual remark from her sister gets Lisa to ask a simple question: “If life was better before the ‘Savage Rain,’ why couldn’t it be better again?” That question starts Lisa on a journey.

TMH: How long did it take you to write Lisa’s Way?

RC: It took about twenty years of off-and-on work to get the novel into its present form. At first it was post-apocalypse and the adventures fit together too loosely. In researching the Santa Fe Trail for my travel books, I decided Lisa would restore order through trade. Later I chose to set it in space on colony worlds connected by “hyperspace gates.” And that’s where we are now.

TMH: Is Lisa’s Way your favorite book you’ve ever written? If not, what is (and why)?

RC: I don’t play favorites with my books. It feels like playing favorites with your kids. But as characters go, Lisa is the one I feel proudest to have created. I like her. I want to tell her story. It will end one day, but until then I intend to keep working on her, no matter what.

TMH: If you could, describe your writing in a word or short phrase. Why should a reader want to desperately read your work?

RC: Story-telling. I will tell you the best story I can. I will try to make you laugh, cry, to inspire you, or to make you think, all while telling you whatever the story is.

TMH: When reading, sometimes secondary characters end up being as interesting or more so than the main characters. Were there any characters in Lisa’s Way which begged to have more attention than they were originally planned for?

RC: Yes. I start one chapter with Lisa meeting some young bandits along a road. She talks them into joining her. The scene was just supposed to show how clever she was, and how she tried to avoid fighting.

I realized at some point that these guys had to prove their worth, otherwise the scene was unnecessary. I found a way for them to do so, and their leader started to come forward. He came out of nowhere, and now he’s much more important to Lisa’s effort.

TMH: If Lisa’s Way was made into a movie, who’d star in the cast?

RC: I’ve never thought of a movie, except to ponder who might play Lisa. Felicia Day would have been great about a decade ago. I don’t see any young red-haired actresses right now that make me think, “I would love to see her as Lisa.” Maybe someday...

TMH: What’s next for Robert Collins? Do you have any more novels or non-fiction books in the works? Publications coming up on the horizon?

RC: My third novel, Monitor, has just come out as an e-book. It might be the end of the year before it comes into print. When it does, I’m sure we can chat about it then. I haven’t sold many short stories lately, though I have written some. Last year I put out a collection of short fantasy stories called The Sagas of Surgard. I’m thinking that I might put out another late this year or early next.

As to nonfiction, the project that has dominated my life these past few years is a book on Kansas county-seat conflicts. The manuscript is creeping towards completion. I have high hopes for it, if I can get it published.

TMH: How can a reader find you on the web?

RC: This is my site; I also have a FaceBook page, and I’m part of Book Town.

Saturday Special?

Well, technically, I won't be having a special today...but check back on Monday, when I'll be conducting an interview of fellow sci-fi writer (and writer of non-fiction) Robert Collins.

Weekly Goals - July 20, 2010

Getting back in the swing of things, but not on what I'd originally intended...

Results for this week:

1. Not started
2. Ditto
3. [added] Over 3000 words on Death Brings the Victory

And now the goals for this coming week:

1. 3000 words on Death Brings the Victory
2. Develop a new short story plot

Submission status for the week:

Short stories:
"Collateral" (since April 1)
"Deadly Decisions" (need to re-submit)

Aston West
novels
short stories
writing goals

Motivation

Being as how I've been overwhelmed with a complete lack of motivation since finishing edits on my most recent novella, I'll pose a question out to the rest of you for my Saturday Special blog: How do you overcome a lack of motivation?

Weekly Goals - July 13, 2010

Even more accomplished this week, plus another new story "Lifeline" out in the latest issue of Ray Gun Revival.

Results for this week:

1. Over 14,000 words edited on "Seeker" and completed this round of edits

And now the goals for this coming week:

1. 2000 words on a new short story
2. Develop a new short story plot

Submission status for the week:

Short stories:
"Collateral" (since April 1)
"Deadly Decisions" (need to re-submit)

Aston West
novels
short stories
writing goals

Grabbing the Reader's Attention

What causes a reader to pick up a book and not want to put it down?

The best way for a writer to know the answer to any writing question is to ask it of themselves, as a reader. This situation is no different. So, what makes a book so riveting that you don’t want to stop reading?

Personally, I’m a fan of any book which keeps the action moving, and I’d venture to guess this is the case for most readers. As soon as things begin slowing down, I start losing interest. If things drag on very long, I put the book down, and in some cases will put it aside for weeks or months at a time. So, if we assume most readers want action to keep moving, how do we (now back to being writers) do so and keep the reader’s attention on turning those pages.

1. Start off on the right foot (or maybe the left) – In every footrace, there’s a starting gun. In your writing, you have to capture your reader’s attention immediately if you expect to keep it for the rest of the piece. There are multiple ways to do this, but some things NOT to do would be to describe every unnecessary detail of the scene, give every piece of back story you developed the story with, or have your main character wax nostalgic about their personal struggles. Action helps, but if you toss the reader right into an action scene without some setup, they’re likely going to be confused or worse, unwilling to buy your book (many readers will check out the first few paragraphs of a book before buying).
   
   
2. Keep things moving (downhill doesn’t count) – The death bell for any novel is when the story stalls out. Interesting characters and situations have to stay interesting. Conflict helps. Anytime your characters look like they’ll reach their goals, put an obstacle in the way. Continue this pattern, making the stakes higher and the obstacles harder to overcome throughout the story, and you’ll have your reader’s attention. Life (and fiction) is more exciting when there’s more at risk and everything to gain.
   
   
3. Don’t distract the reader (ooooh, shiny!) – Side plots can be interesting, but if they distract the reader, your pages might as well be a flashing neon sign, hard to look at and something to pass by completely. Readers read to relax, to get away from their every day lives. As such, keep things simple and uncomplicated (note: do not “dumb down” your writing). Plots should NOT have ever-overlapping threads which a reader has to stop and diagram out on a white board to comprehend. The same holds true for the number of characters a writer puts in a story. If the reader has to constantly stop and look back through material they’ve already read to remember a character (out of the twenty in the story), they’ll get frustrated and will most likely set your book down. If they do happen to pick it back up later, they’ll need to refresh their memory on your characters and will probably put the book away again during the attempt.
   
   
4. Start funneling the reader toward the end (clean out the motor oil first) – Readers like to relax, as mentioned. They also like to believe they’re going to reach the end of a book eventually (they have their own lives after all). An author needs to be able to give readers the sense that closure is coming if they just read a little farther. Granted, some books (usually based on genre) can pull this off easier than others. A mystery can’t make it obvious who the killer is too soon, for example. But overall, the closer the reader gets to the end, the more the action should pick up in anticipation of the climax of the story.
   
   
5. A satisfying ending (try not to read too much into this following “the climax”) – Notice I didn’t say “a happy ending.” Not all stories need to have a happy ending (a few of mine don’t), because life isn’t predictable. There will obviously be those who disagree with this, based on the fact that readers want to escape their own lives (real life doesn’t always have happy endings either). But regardless of whether your have a happy ending or not, the reader must feel like the main character achieved their main goal. Otherwise, the reader is going to feel cheated. Although they’ve made it all the way through the book (which was our main goal through all of this), they’re likely not going to bother reading your next one. People like closure, and a satisfying ending is the best way in which to give one to your reader.
   

So, as you can see, it takes a lot of work to keep a reader’s attention throughout the entire novel. But through time and practice, it will become second nature to you as a writer. Hopefully these suggestions for grabbing a reader’s attention are helpful to you.

***

T. M. Hunter has always had a fascination with interstellar travel, spacecraft (and aircraft) and beings from other worlds. Twice a top ten finisher in the P&E Readers Poll for his short stories (2007, 2009), his book HEROES DIE YOUNG earned Champagne Books’ Best-Selling Book of 2008 award. FRIENDS IN DEED is his latest novel. For more information, including links to his published short stories and novels, please visit AstonWest.com. You can also find T. M. Hunter on Twitter, Facebook, and MySpace as well.

Weekly Goals - July 6, 2010

Some great work this past week, plus if you haven't seen it, head on over and read my latest story "Conventional Wisdom" which came out in the latest issue of Residential Aliens.

Results for this week:

1. Finished The Cure edits and submitted to beta readers
2. Around 7900 words edited on "Seeker"

And now the goals for this coming week:

1. 10000 words edited on "Seeker"

Submission status for the week:

Short stories:
"Collateral" (since April 1)
"Deadly Decisions" (need to re-submit)

Aston West
novels
short stories
writing goals

Absenteeism

Well, folks, no new post today, as I was rushing to get another guest blog written for this coming week and trying to get The Cure out to my beta readers. So, until next week, check out this most excellent blog post. If you aren't an absolute die-hard cat fan, and you aren't laughing hysterically by the end, then you might want to check that pulse.