To Market, To Market - I Need a Great Plan!

Funny that sometimes one has to slide down the rabbit hole in order to see the light. Or in my case, jump off a cliff and grow wings on the way down. So much more hair-raising that way. I love that quote! It's so 'me'. And so far, I've still got all nine of my lives left.

The plan I need? Of course - a marketing plan. Though it's been mentioned in articles I've read and in webinars I've attended, the truth of it didn't sink in until I wanted to publish badly enough. Yep, I had to stand up in AA (Authors Anonymous) and admit the truth "I am an author and I want people to read - and love - my book." Deep breath. Then I realized what I had just said. I want people to buy my book. In this maddeningly tight economy. I want lots of people to part with their money, every dollar of which is dear, to buy Sparks.

Then I went to the flip-side and asked myself, "What would I do if my choices were to sell Sparks or starve?" Imagination kicked in. I became the heroine in my own tale and the answer was clear. If the risk is all mine and the funding is all mine, then I need a detailed starve-or-deliver-the-goods marketing plan - like the ones I do all the time for software projects on which I consult. Duh...

And get this - it matters not a whit whether I will be traditionally-, independently- or self-published. I still need a marketing plan. Yes, the big publishing houses and independent presses have established distribution and marketing channels. So what's the deal? If I want access to those channels, I have to be able to tell prospective agents and/or publishers what Sparks is about and who will want to read it. No, I don't mean genre and what groups of readers on the reading sites - though that is a good start. I've got to know exactly what my story is (contemporary fiction with a side of suspense) and exactly who is going to read it (the woman in 12B who's eating cold takeout while studying for her LSAT - well, lots of women like her and men who love women like her).

The ability to identify and connect with the right readers is crucial if one is self-publishing because there is nobody else to share the preparation and marketing costs. Even for the traditional or indie route it's best to have a detailed marketing plan - especially for debut authors. Keep the day job, peeps. Reserve the advance for marketing.

Spring Cleaning

I've let myself go - neglected my platform. Yes, I've been busy, but that's not an excuse. It needs sprucing, pruning, polishing, and I'm taking time out right now get it all bright and shiny again.

First up - my authors lists. I apologize in advance to those of you who follow them, but 'authors-books, stories' and 'authors books stories too' are a hodge-podge and it's time to bring order. I've already begun TradPubbedAuthors, IndiePubbedAuthors, SelfPubbedAuthors and SoonToBePubbedAuthors. I'll be moving authors into those so please follow them instead. Also please let me know if you think I've put you in the wrong list. WritingBiz and ReadingBiz will stay as they are because they feed my papers. I've also built a paper around my new authors lists - take a look!

I've already updated my social widget to include Pinterest and my papers. Soon, I'll add forums that I frequent. Speaking of the forums, I haven't yet set up my profile and visited some of them. Now that I'm moving solidly on to book #2, I'll have time for a while to hang out with other authors. Joy!

Peace Out to the Spirit Lifter

Photo Credit: Cathryn Louis (me!)

Last week I learned that my car has a transfer case. I don't know exactly what it is or what it does, but I do know that it can crack. Mine did. Perfect. Just lovely. The perfect end to the winter season in which I've struggled to get my novel published - and failed. Many false starts and mis-steps - or as I prefer to spin it 'learning opportunities'. No longer sunny, I was heading down the road toward blue. So what did I do with the lemons (and multiple cliches) suddenly raining down on my head? It's spring - time for lemonade!

It's all a matter of perception, and I decided that I wanted to look on the bright side. So what do I have to be happy about?

1. A recent, chance meeting with someone whose critique I highly value, and who I hope to someday meet IRL (in real life), if only to express my profuse thanks.   After questions and comments about the inciting incident paragraphs gave me the courage to make the change that had to be made, Sparks is significantly better. I had believed in my story before, but now I have confidence. Sparks is **wink, wink** a competitive story. We'll see how it turns out.
2. It's been since November that I've been working toward getting Sparks published. Looking back, I know that my knowledge of the business has grown phenomenally since then. Could I have learned differently? Maybe, but this quote shared by @BeautyOfWisdom says it all. It's the only way I can learn, and have it 'stick' for the long haul.
3. April was a learning month. I am still a working professional in a far different industry and my daughter's dreams must come before my own. Still, I've found a way to learn directly from publishing professionals even though, for me, writer's conferences are still a pipe dream. Duh... Webinars! Those that I've attended are Writer's Digest webinars and I'm sure there are others as well.

So what's up with my new little friend, Mello Yello? It was a loaner during the time that my car was being repaired, courtesy of the extended warranty. We had BIG FUN. I thought about getting a peace sign necklace to hang on the rear view mirror, but a Harry Potter Deathly Hallows necklace works just as well. It has truly lifted my spirits. Peace Out Peeples!