Marketing

[ellenjames]

I have questions for you all.
This morning I read an article in "Childrens' Book Insider" about marketing. To me (and maybe some of you?) that is the hardest part of writing -- there are so many legal implications, especially when writing a book.

Questions: Have any of you done your own marketing?
Do any of you use an agent or a lawyer?

This part of writing is uncharted territory for me! I'd appreciate your comments.
Thanks,

Ellenjames

[kriswrite]

I have always done a lot of my own marketing. Even if you have the best publisher in the world, you really need to do this. It doesn't have to be elaborate or expensive, though. For example, having a professional-looking website up and running for readers is important; keep them coming back by sending out an email newsletter quarterly or so. Hold contests through your website/newsletter. Do book signings. Make speeches. Ask local papers to interview you. Write articles for magazines, and be sure your bio includes information about your website and latest book(s). Etc.

Does this help at all?

Kristina

www.kristinaseleshanko.com

[ellenjames]

Thanks Kriswrite,

That is extremely helpful. I also would like to learn something about book contracts.
Thanks again for your help. :)

Ellenjames

[BrotherDave]

Best tool for marketing your writing is the annual Writers Market. You can buy a copy in a book store for $30 to $40, or use the online service at www.writermarket.com for a few bucks a month.

Not only does this resource give you names of publishers it also gives great writing advice.

brotherdave

[Joy]

I bought my husband "The Writer" magainze. He finds it very helpful. May's has "Agents weigh in: The #1 mistake fiction writers make and how to avoid it" and "Money for writers where to look for grants." I have not read them, but I plan to. I see that they have a website at writermag.com. They also sell a book intitled The Writer's Handbook, which lists many magz, how to contact them, and what kind of material they are looking for. My husband found on and asked if they would like an article and they said yes. He will be published by them in the next few months. So there are couple of more resourses for you to look at.

[ellenjames]

Thanks Bro. Dave and Joy for your helpful suggestions. I used to take the Writer magazine. I'll look up the website. I probably could see "Writers' Market" at the
library. I hang out there often.

Ellenjames

[kriswrite]

Ah, it didn't occur to me that by "marketing" you meant selling your stuff, too. This depends greatly on what you are writing. Non-fiction for magazines? Non-fiction books? Short fiction? Children's fiction? Novels?

Contracts are complicated, but I can recommend an excellent book: "A Writer's Guide to Contract Negotiations" by Richard Balkin.

Kristina
www.kristinaseleshanko.com

[ellenjames]

Thanks, Kriswrite.

I'll look that book up at the library. Is it better to get an agent OR read and study up on book contract laws and regulations?

You all have such good suggestions.

Thanks again,
Ellenjames

[Diannecp]

Kriswrite: I checked out your website. Very nice! I don't recall reading the article in TCW - is that up and coming? I plan to send that to a good friend! :)

Dianne

[kriswrite]

I think that even when you have an agent, you should understand contracts and be able to discuss them intelligently. Personally, I've never found an agent who was able to sell my work as well as I can myself. (Not because I'm a whiz, but because very few agents are interested in the sort of books I write, for some reason.) An agent is nice, but many writers find that they actually sell more when they work one-on-one with a publisher.

Just my opinion, here :)

Kristina
www.kristinaseleshanko.com

P.S. Dianne, that article appeared in 2003. If you click on the pic of the magazine cover, you can read the article and see the published date :)