I have been spending a lot of my summer reading time looking over writing and marketing strategy. What have I learned?
Traditionally published authors still have a leg up on independently published writers. It may be harder than ever to get a publishing contract from a traditional publisher. If a writer works in the western genre, forget it. No publisher, from a big traditional house, is taking on western writers. Some small publishers might, but their resources are limited.
If an independent writer understands aggressive marketing, he or she might have a chance to make a good living writing books. Seems to me there are quite a few writers and bloggers marketing themselves as writing gurus and making a living at it. Maybe that’s easier than writing a good mystery and selling it.
Don’t take this wrong, I do not understand a thing about marketing books or creating and selling my own brand. That’s why I read all of the marketing stuff I can. Is it working? Somewhat. Last month was the first that I made a significant (for me), amount of money. What is that for me? Over a hundred bucks – last month over $200. And I would love to make that much every month. Not a living, but then I never expected it to be. I do like the fact that it gives me a little extra spending money.
I should be much more aggressive with selling books on Facebook and on Twitter. I just can’t do it, don’t want to make friends feel like they have to buy one of my books. So, guess I will be happy with what I make. I love writing, not so much marketing the product of my time. I do enjoy talking to groups and selling a few books at that type of event. I also like leading readers to my author's page on Amazon.
A chance was offered to publish my non-fiction (CCC book) traditionally with a small publisher, but I passed as the time frame would have stretched the release date out another year.
I am deep into another non-fiction historical and once again have a chance to go more traditional, with a smaller but successful publisher. I am too old to wait for the timeline they offered and my per copy money would be less than .50 cents, not nearly as good as going the self-pub route. Guess I will stick to making my pin-money income and enjoying the writing.
What am I going to do next? Head out to the golf course and enjoy the day.
 |
| All blog posts are better with a photo of Bison relaxing in the noon-day sun. |
Think I will go on with the idea of - writing for the story, and hoping for the best.
 |
| Last evening another wonderful sunset |
3 comments:
I can't do aggressive marketing either, Neil. Of course writers need to mention their books, I understand that - but dozens of tweets and posts a week saying 'buy, buy, buy'? I don't like seeing that every time I log on, so I don't want to inflict it on others.
I agree with Patsy. Nice pics!
Thanks, Patsy and Oscar. Maybe we could all sell a few more if we really wanted. I follow or should say have followed authors on twitter that make dozens of posts each day, some of them the same thing over and over. I don't follow them for long, nor do I buy their books.
Post a Comment