Preparing for Market

I'm sure you've all been thinking about what you are going to do when you get "the call." You can picture yourself jumping up and down and screaming.  You know who you're going to call on the phone, email around the globe and pound on with excitement when they walk in the door.  But eventually you come off of cloud nine and reality hits.  Just ask Glynna who just received "the call".  Congrats fellow Seeker.  (I have to admit when I opened up my emails and saw she'd received "the call" I screamed so loud I scared my hubby and the dogs. But when he found out why, he started jumping up and down too.)  

Anyway, back to the point.  After the call, you receive forms to fill out wanting ideas for cover art, blurbs, pages of revisions and a proposal for the next book. After looking at the work ahead, you realize you are going to have to get set for the publicity angle of this writing/publishing business.  Oh my, you think. When am I going to have the time?   

That's a good point. Your time may be limited because of your day job, family to take care of, animals to feed and exercise, volunteer commitments, classes you're taking, any number of things called "life".  So why not be prepared for that aspect ahead of time.  Even if you're not published YET, you can get started on a foundation for publicity and marketing. 

1. Start collecting addresses of fellow writers you meet, readers you know, friends who have friends, etc.  When you attend those writer meetings, workshops, conferences, network.  Pass out business cards.  Collect business cards.  Ask if you can put their names on your mailing list. Then when you get "the call" you will be able to tell all of those people.

2. Print out business cards.  

There are many websites that offer free business cards.   Some of my friends print the blurbs of their wips on the back of their cards.  Or you can include a photo of yourself to help that editor or agent remember meeting you when you send in the proposal they requested.  I use Vista Print.

3. Apply for a domain name. 

Most authors want their name as their domain name.  For example  www.julielessman.com is the domain name for our Seeker author,  Julie Lessman. Seeker Missy Tippens has the domain name:  www.missytippens.com.  Domain names are inexpensive and you can have one even if you don't have a website developed for it. You will need to have one to develop a website.

4. Develop a website.   

Seeker Myra Johnson really impressed me with her readiness for "the call".  She developed her own website, blog, newsletter and has a following.  Not only that, she has all of her proposals listed on her website.  http://www.myrajohnson.com. Myra reported that she sent Barbara Scott at Abingdon her proposal.  Ms. Scott liked her writing, but not the proposal. She clicked onto Myra's website, saw all of the publicity Myra had set up and also saw her other proposals. She asked for An Imperfect Christmas and later made "the call".

Websites are also great places to publicize your books when they are published.  To attract people to your website, it helps to have a lot of interesting information and action.  Check out Camy Tang's site.  http://www.camytang.com.  She has what's called a "sticky site".  You start with one thing and then your attention gets caught with some other item and you stick with it-you don't want to leave.  

When you develop your website you will want to form links to your friends. This helps them with publicity and when you are linked, it helps yours also.  Check out the links and contacts on Cheryl Wyatt's website and see what I mean.  www.cherylwyatt.com.

Other links you can connect to are links to blogs.  You want to be sure and link to your blog and to any blog that you belong to.  Check out Mary Connealy's website.  www.maryconnealy.com 

Mary is part of Pistols and Petticoats,  Edit Cafe and our own Seekerville.  

When you go to develop a website the advice is to check out websites to get ideas.  Besides those listed above check out these Seekers:  

  www.debbyguisti.com

www.audraharders.com

www.tinarusso.com

www.pamhillman.com

www.janetdean.net

5.  Develop a blog.  If you checked out the above websites, you will see that all of these authors are on blogs.  Since you are reading this blog, you know what they are.  One thing that we have found helpful is that we developed a blog as a group.  We were all contest winners and started our site by posting information about contests.  It has since evolved to include writing tips and interviews with editors and agents.  This would be a huge task to do alone.  It is tough to come up with new information every day.  Sharing it with others helps.  We started out unpublished, but as each one has received "the call", they have a blog all set to talk about their new releases.  So you can see the advantage of blogging before you receive "the call".  We have several past posts on blogs that you may find helpful.

A beginner's guide to freelance blogging

Blogging for promotion

Blogging with Harry Part 1

Blogging with Harry Part 2

Now that you know what you can do ahead of time, how do you do it? I developed two websites previously and paid to have them done.  I don't really like doing that because for one, you have to do everything anyway.  I had to write the text to put in it. I had to provide all of the links, I had to provide the graphics.  Every time I wanted to make a change I had to pay them to do it and it wasn't always done in a timely manner.   So why not save money and do it myself?  

Good question, but the answer is simple. I don't know how.  And maybe you don't either.  

Mobile Me with Apple has great templates that are easy to use.  I'm in the process of developing this site for my children's books. I use my maiden name as the author of my children's books, so my domain name is my maiden name.  www.sandywardman.com.  You can see that there are some pages I want to update every week and month.    

This format is very basic and I need to know more information.  I am starting a class this week at Mesa Community College.  It is going to take me the whole semester to learn how to build a website, so now you see why it is best to have all of this knowledge before "the call".  I will let you know in future posts what I learn.   Hopefully you'll see improvements to my site as I learn.  

So after reading all of this I bet you need some comfort food.  And prayer.   I certainly do because the thought of going back to school has me a little nervous.  And excited.  So let's see, how about some maple bars, the kind dripping with maple glaze.  Some Kona coffee, roasted dark would go good with that.  And I'll throw in more oranges off my tree for those of you who know all this and don't need the comfort or the calories.  Oh that's right. Cyber bars equal no calories.  Yum.  

And anyone who wants to chime in with more hints to prepare for "the call" or to just say hi will be entered into a contest to win one of my children's books.  God's Spirit Within Me

Be sure and include your email address if you want to be entered so that I can contact you for your mailing address. 



Before I go I just want to remind you that Valentine's day is coming up and autographed books make terrific gifts. Think about it. You spend $4-$5 for a card. Why not spend a couple more bucks and give a book to enjoy instead?  That way you are supporting the industry you are trying to break into.  

Happy writing.