A proud moment for every author: to discover their book in a bookstore or library. However distribution of your book to stores is one of the toughest nuts to crack when it comes to publishing, compared to how easy it is to get your print book into Amazon, Barnes&Noble or Apple. And then there are discounts, returns and commissions...
.
.
Our blog has had now more than 197,000 visitors, over 800 subscribers, on Twitter we have more than 40.000 followers, in our Google+ circles are 5,000 people. On our Chime.in‘s Writing & Publishing Groups are 2,900 followers, on Goodreads 1,800 friends, not to mention Pinterest, Facebook with two accounts, StumpleUpon, 111Publishing.com website… and some more …
.
.
The reason I started http://savvybookwriters.wordpress.com initially, was to warn authors of traps they can fall in, after a friend of mine has been deceived by a so-called vanity publisher. Well, she was very naive and did not seek the help of a lawyer, specialized in contract law, nor the advice of her well-meaning author friends or her writer's group.
It is no secret that we use Social Media a lot - and all this social media usage can be hard to curtail. Resisting Twitter, Facebook and other Social Media sites is harder than other urges, such as smoking, drinking, spending money, sleeping and even sex.
Posting about yourself on Social Media sites rewards the brain the same way food and sex do.
Going through my list of tweets for the day, I paused at this one:
1. Why engage in yet another social media when I am already on Twitter, Pinterest & Facebook ?
.
It reminded me of other statements from new writers, I hear on a daily basis:
2. None of my friends is on Google+ ...
3. I have a website, why should I additionally have a blog?
Something new I’ve noticed some independent publishers are asking on their query letter requirements is “What is your marketing plan?” So be prepared to have a good one or it may be one more reason to be rejected. In the beginning I had no idea what the term meant much less could I tell someone how I planned to market my novel.
.
Joining Goodreads, Twitter, Google+, Facebook or Pinterest is only the first step in creating a community platform. To make these sites working for you is only possible if you have lots of followers, friends or people in your Google+ circles.
Don't be a Tweep with a pathetic following of less than 100 people. And don't sign up with only one or two Social Media sites.
These days, when I want to do something and I don’t know how, I generally just wade on in and have a go anyway. This leads to mistakes and quite often, breakages. Having wandered through life totally focused on one thing or another, I miss quite a lot of other things going on around me, and often come across so dim that I probably should be embarrassed.
.
.
When Thinking of Social Media, Think of a Big Party!
Imagine you are invited to a big party. You are entering the room, you say hello to everyone, you small-talk a bit, you participate in a discussion, you listen what others say, you make some compliments or praise someone, you have fun and you show yourself from your best side – or at least that's what it is supposed to be.
Startup and Technology News
Where The Angels Meet To Post Messages
an indie author writing to stay sane
Romance Author. Lover of coffee, dark chocolate, and great books.
Striving for excellence in the written word. Member of the Editors' Association of Canada.
Life is a field trip...
through my eyes
Portman's Ponderings, Procrastinations, Preambles, Prognoses & Parodies.
International health and medicine outside your comfort zone
Epic Revolutions by speculative fiction author Morgen Rich
A scholarly authoring and publishing platform based on WordPress
Specializing in anything experimental
'high adventure of the best kind'
Some say I was born high. Others say i'm just simple :)
Low-fat, plant-based, whole foods, yummy recipes & healthy living tips
Imagining worlds/re-Imagining life
Power tips for Success, Inspiration, Love, Motivation & Personal Development. Everyday!
Startup and Technology News
Where The Angels Meet To Post Messages
an indie author writing to stay sane
Romance Author. Lover of coffee, dark chocolate, and great books.
Striving for excellence in the written word. Member of the Editors' Association of Canada.
Life is a field trip...
through my eyes
Portman's Ponderings, Procrastinations, Preambles, Prognoses & Parodies.
International health and medicine outside your comfort zone
Epic Revolutions by speculative fiction author Morgen Rich
A scholarly authoring and publishing platform based on WordPress
Specializing in anything experimental
'high adventure of the best kind'
Some say I was born high. Others say i'm just simple :)
Low-fat, plant-based, whole foods, yummy recipes & healthy living tips
Imagining worlds/re-Imagining life
Power tips for Success, Inspiration, Love, Motivation & Personal Development. Everyday!
