"Bring out your dead" scene from Monty Python's "Holy Grail"
Okay, I admit it. Self-promotion makes my skin crawl. I just want to write a great book and have millions of people give it a chance. Not saying I want everyone to love my writing (although I won’t be anywhere near the Complaint Department if that ever happens). I am ready and willing to take the good and the bad.
The challenge for many writers—not just indies—is reaching an audience. Is it better or worse to write in a genre? Can writers predict the market like a bond trader predicts interest rates? The YA market is hot…no, wait, it’s the Paranormal YA market. Hold on, though, what does “Paranormal” really mean, and oh by the way, it’s NOT Paranormal YA any longer, it’s Chick Lit with a Twist.
A twist of what?
I think the answer is fairly simply, and most people beat this point like a war drum:
Write what you write. You can write what you know, or learn it, but write what you are best at writing.
I’m not sure I buy into that. But for sake of argument (and space), let’s say I do. The biggest challenge still lies ahead.
Marketing. Tooting your own horn. Pimping your own goods.
Look how great my book is. Buy it. This baby is way better than King or Grisham or even Locke.
When I self-published my first book six months ago, I thought getting good reviews would be the challenge (i.e. I thought the quality of the writing was first and foremost in the minds of readers). I’m not saying it’s not (although my faith has been shaken a bit). Truth is, I am not sure the reader knows any longer what hype to believe or disbelieve–yet what real alternative is there?
Before, in the Big Publisher-dominated market, the pendulum was stuck on the opposite side. Hundreds (if not thousands) of great writers were getting rejection after rejection. The “elite” of the industry—those agents, editors, and publishers living high in the plush upper penthouses of the hallowed halls of literature—had a comfortable (if not objective) stranglehold that would have made Ted Nugent proud.
Now the proverbial pendulum has swung back to mass publication of every word written on the planet, and along the way I think it has sliced through the arteries of a lot of those same thousands who were, before, being screwed by the dearth of books getting published rather than drowned in the veritable white noise of the millions that were.
So our only hope, it seems, if we have a product worth sharing, is to spend so much time networking and marketing and shelling and promoting and begging that we’ve got no more time to write anything new.
A fellow author commented the other day “Tweeting is like a second job.” To which she then corrected, “Actually, more like a fourth or fifth job.”
Amen. I feel the same way. And I really do detest shouting out my own book. But I have to. Almost every person who has read it has really loved it. Yes, yes, some of those were friends, but a lot weren’t. Yet I can’t seem to stay ahead of the deceased book cart and the undertaker from droning:
“Bring out your dead!”
Seriously. No matter what I do, the sales just flat-line. I yell a bit louder:
“But my book’s not dead yet!”
And maybe a few more copies sell. Then the cart catches up and the mortician wants my novel back. I tell him I think my book is feeling much better, and may even be healed, and he raises his club.
Why does it have to be so hard to promote one’s own work?
Vince van Gogh failed at almost everything he did, including painting (his works sold almost nothing in the 37 years he lived). Now he is considered one of the most eminent artists in world history. Every work he ever dabbled on sells for millions.
And the poor schmuck has long since passed on. He never even knew.
Or perhaps he did. But no one else did.
So if you’ve read this far, and although I despise having to do it, I will throw this in at the end:
My book.
Buy my book. Read it. If you like it, share the good word with another writer or reader. It’s my first, so it is not my best, but I think you will enjoy it. The book has something for everyone. Love. Philosophy. Cops. Multiple murders. Guns. The occult. Special forces. Priests. Exorcism. The breathtaking scenery of Denver, Colorado.
It’s an old, entertaining premise: Good versus Evil.
It costs less than a large latte, and it will keep entertaining you long after the latte has been drained or gone cold.
And it’s mine. I wrote it. And I have put it forth for you. The reader. I spent a lot of hours writing it, and I don’t exactly feel comfortable touting its worth. But I think it’s a decent first outing. I think you will, too.
If you just give it a chance.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The blank page is dead…long live the blank page.
I think there are a lot of amazing author’s that have come forward thanks to the ease of self publishing. But along with the good, there is also the bad. Unfortunately for those of us who are in this because we love what we do, bringing characters to life and creating this incredible story where all the little plot pieces fit so perfectly, and then a whole lot of nothing is frustrating. But I have heard from many blogs this is a marathon, not a sprint, and there is a little part of luck that goes into it as well.
Keep writing, keep producing, keep doing what you love, and maybe one day you’ll get lucky.
I actually joined a site that sends me my daily ranking on kindle, and at first I thought it would be a good thing, but day by day I watch my first book (my baby) plummet further and further down the rankings. But I take a deep breath (and pout a little, ok, a lot.) And then start plugging away at my next book, or ideas for future work.
Don’t give up, and yes, promote yourself! You worked really hard on that book, and you deserve to toot your own horn! But don’t give up, just push through this and one day, (you must tell yourself this,) you’ll get lucky.
Focus on the little victories you have achieved, and use that momentum to push you forward, and keep writing, never stop writing.
You are so right. I tweet a lot about keeping a stiff upper lip on the ego, keep forging ahead, dreams alive, and (as you say) write, write, and write some more. It’s hard sometimes to put into practice, though! Thanks for the GREAT comment and the outstanding food for thought that all writers should consume. ツ
It’s a strange time for literature. As you said, writers are stuck between the past where publishers/editors/agents had the final say, and the now, when anything can be published. As writers, we have the ability and the means to define a new form of the industry, and we have the internet to help us. The trick is, finding that balance of writing something of quality and being able to get the word out to others without taking on the ‘fourth’ and ‘fifth’ job of twittering all day. It’s work, but it’s also very exciting, don’t you think?
You make an EXCELLENT point: we, the writers, can (and likely will) define a new form of the industry. Just need to forge ahead, and write great things! Thanks much for the great comment. ツ
Rob, I always enjoy your thoughtful posts. 🙂
Thanks, Kellianne. I feel the same way about you! ツ
Self promotion is a necessary evil. There are nearly a million new books to hit the market each year. An unknown author has to find an audience especially if the world does not know if he or she exists. No one will help you. It’s tough branding your name to find those that have an interest in your work, but that is what you have to do.
Good luck. Every author faces the same problem. After the book is published it is all about exposure.
Yes, it is. And the sheer numbers can be overwhelming all by themselves! You bring up a great point about branding. Another very necessary element. Good fortune to you, James, and thanks for reading and commenting! ツ
Sunshine, if your books is anywhere near as articulate as your blog, I’m in. And as somebody in the same leaky boat, I feel your pain. I’ll look forward to reading Black Beast.
Kate, sweetie, you are too kind. But I’ll take it! Love your comparison to a leaky boat. But, as Kelly speculates, perhaps we writers hold the patch kit and can rebuild our own craft! Thanks so much for the kind comment. Row (and write) on! ツ
Hi Rob,
Well done and well put!!
The publishing world has certainly changed in the past decade and in a way this change, in my opinion, is for the best. Unfortunately, what hasn’t changed is the need to promote finished work.
I know it is hard work promoting and it isn’t easy screaming the virtues of your work from the roof tops or tweeting every half hour to get the word out but I’m sure it will be worth it. I’m also certain that over time you will need to spend less and less time doing this.
In the meantime, keep your head held high, your pen poised and ready to record your words, make good friends, enjoy a few laughs and have fun 🙂
Hey, Becky! Speaking of well done and well put! Thanks for the great comment. Yes, we have to keep plugging. Dang it. 🙂
I read your post with great interest and agree it is hard when it comes to promoting be it as a self published author, even through a small publishing house.
Finding the right niche to promote yourself or others can be just as hard as writing the book itself.
But to all out there, who feel like they are being left on the virtual shelf, withering away like an unloved tree during a drought, never despair as there will always be that one person who comes along and lovingly pick up your book, intrigued by the cover or blurb or even the review and sprinkle life giving water on it, resurrecting your book for even a few precious moments.
I write this comment not only as a writer but also as the Director of Marketing and Research for Naughty Nights Press, a small publishing house.
Good luck to everyone and thank you again Rob for putting your post up.
Thank you for the thoughtful (and inspiring) post, Penny! You are right…sometimes we have to revel in that next great review, knowing for a few hours we were able to infuse a reader’s day with a journey born from our own imagination! Cheers! ツ
Sorry it’s taken me a few days to get around to reading your blog post, but I’m glad I did!
I HATE/DESPISE and all those other synonyms for dislike self-promotion. I hate begging, “Please buy my book.” But, it’s necessary. Not the begging part of course, but the promotion. 😉
How will people know about us otherwise? Luckily, I’ve met some amazing authors who aren’t afraid to help out! 😉
Great post, Rob!
Thanks, Em. I know…a necessary evil. And you are right…you meet some GREAT people in the Indie trenches. 🙂
What a great, great, great post! I thoroughly enjoyed it, so interesting…things I actually never knew. Thanks for sharing, I really appreciate it.
REG! Great to see you here, my friend. And thanks for the comment! 🙂