Monday's Helpful Hints - Marketing

Okay, today is about hints about what I've learned.

First, I learned, years ago, when my books where being published by NY, that unless you were one of the BIG authors, your publishing company was not going to spend any bucks on you, to tell the world you have a book available. You had to do it yourself. Of course, I didn't know that. At the time, I was teaching in a conservative, rural high school, and didn't feel comfortable advertising the fact that I was writing steamy (well at the time it was considered steamy) romances. I could just hear some of the parents having fits. So, I selected a pen name and kept my mouth shut. Only my family knew.

Mistake! My sister and the wife of our principal were good friends. So, right after my first book was published, when we are at a teachers' meeting after school, my principal announces to the assembled teachers - he wanted me to autograph my first book. The 'cat' was out of the bag.  So, here I was with a book, not knowing a thing about how to sell, market, advertise, or even defend myself if there was a need - nothing.

So hint # one, if you don't want anyone to know you are writing a book - don't tell anyone. However, know that no one, except maybe your aunt Tellie, or uncle Joe (depending on what you write) will only ever read your book, because that's what they read. If you want others to read your book, you are going to have to market it - yourself!!! You need a plan. I had no idea where to start, and I've learned, it's different for every author, depending on time, money, genre, commitments,  a hundred and one things. 

My next hint is probably the hardest one to achieve. Learn to control you time. Life has a habit of getting in the way, so you have to be committed. Okay, you've written a book, but are you going to be a one book wonder? You need writing time and time to learn, as well as life in general. Most people who write also work - somewhere, at a go-to job, at home, whatever, so you must make time to write, and promote. There's that word again. So you need to start with a written plan and try to stay with it. As I said, that's the hardest part.

My next hint is be realist. Little goals, once achieved, can multiply into larger goals. You decide what you can reasonably do and if you've planned too much, pare down your goals a bit. And, remember, don't break the bank. If you can't afford to pay for advertising, don't sweat it. Lot's of us don't pay for much. I can't afford a big promo budget. Most mid list authors can't.

So with all of that in mind, take a peak at the Internet, and start reading about marketing plans. I'm not giving you a detailed plan, because what works for me will not necessarily work for you.  Go to google or Bing and look for marketing plans for authors. Check them out, read a bunch, then decide what you can do. And pick those things you are comfortable with. If you don't like speaking in front of people, don't plan to do readings or talk to groups about writing. You'll make yourself sick and won't achieve a thing, other than making yourself sick.

Last hint for today. First and foremost - You must decide who you are writing for and why.  I think the why is probably the most important. I write because I must. I have always written - something. Now, I write love stories. I do want others to read my books, so I have two goals. One for me - write, and one - to get others to read my books. How I'm going about that is my marketing plan.

Next Monday - There are some of things you really should do and I'll details those. Then I'll name some things that didn't work - for me! Remember, they just might for you. In the meantime, spend some time searching for marketing plans for authors!

Allison
www.AllisonKnight.com
Heart-warming Romance with a Sensual Touch
"Betrayed Bride" available now from Champagne Books
"Lynbrook's Lady" coming in August from Champagne Books

Monday's Helpful Hints (The Synopsis)

This is the one I suffer through, have suffered through, will continue to suffer through. But I've found a couple of things that have helped me to write the "Dreaded Synopsis"!

First, if you are a panster, you need to finish the book. You have to know what's going to happen at the end. Most pansters I know, have no idea until they get to the middle or sometimes close to the end.

I outline so writing a synopsis should be easier, right?  To that I reply, HA!

But let us assume you have the book nearly finished and you know what's going to happen at the end. You do need to know that, for the editor is going to want to know. This "And the end is a surprise", won't cut it and won't help you sell a book. In fact, it may result in the editor refusing to even read your first three chapters. A sure fire rejection.

I've found if I break my synopsis down into sections, I can do a better job. Maybe this will help you as well.

The first paragraph of a synopsis needs to be a short description of where the story takes place. You aren't writing a novel here, you are going to give a summary so we need to know where this is happening, and maybe a hint as to what is happening, especially if you are writing a mystery, scfi, space romance, historical, be it fiction or romance. Not much description, that needs to be in the novel.

So a short paragraph telling (a synopsis is a lot more telling than showing) where, when, etc. at the beginning of your book. I think that's why they don't advise dialogue in a synopsis. Dialogue is a great way to show instead of tell.

Next comes motivation. I need to tell what is driving my characters, what they think they want and how they think they can get it, their goal. Cover the main characters, that is the hero, heroine, and the villain/s. I'll include only the secondary characters if they are central to the plot, that is if their goals will directly impact the central characters.

Next a summary of the story. I break this down into the first turning point, the result, the mid point, the second turning point, again, the result, the black moment and the conclusion. That's why I say you must know the ending.

In all, I try to keep the synopsis of a 75,000 to 80,000 word novel to around four or five pages, shorter for shorter novels, and longer if the novel is lengthy. Although I'm told that today, most publishers like a novel of around 100,000 words or less. People today say they don't have time for too big a book. (I'm only repeating what I've read! It's really up to you and your story)

Good luck and let me know if this is helpful. It works for me.

Allison
www.AllisonKnight.com
Heart-warming Romance with a Sensual Touch
Watch for "Betray Bride" coming in May from
www.ChampagneBooks.com

Doing Better

I'm doing much better. The exercises are killing me,
but I'm slowly recovering. I can now write which I've
been dying to do for over a month.

I'm working through my current work in progress, a
contemporary romance with a twist. I'll say no more.
Only that my DH (Darling Husband) offered a critique
of my ideas and pointed out why the original theme
wouldn't work. So, I've spent the last week, going
back over the first three chapters and changing
things.

It's great to have a partner who is willing to offer
suggestions and discuss my plans for the book. I've
come to rely on his opinions a great deal, because
he's so right.

I'm aiming to have this one finished by the end of
April, edited within an inch of its life and then
off to the publisher.

Arvel, the healing brother in the 'song' books, is
yelling his head off to get on with his story. Poor
guy thinks I've forgotten him, but I haven't. Just
wait until he meets the heroine. She's gonna drive
him crazy. Got to hurry up, finish "Betrayed Bride"
the contemp so I can get to "Lovesong". That one is
Arvel's story. Oh, do I have things planned for him.
(I'm grinning from ear to ear. He's such a charmer,
but this time it doesn't work. Ha! just wait.)

Allison
www.AllisonKnight.com
Heart-warming Romance with a Sensual Touch
"A Matter of Passion" available from Champagne Books,
or wherever digital books are sold.