Faiqa Mansab's Blog: What I'm Thinking Today - Posts Tagged "publishing"

If you're like me, and have recently been published, especially if you've self-published, this is your biggest peeve right now. Marketing. I'm very happy and proud that I am the author of a published book. It's traditionally published by the biggest publishing house in the world: Penguin Random House.
BUT
Does that mean that I am not stressed about marketing my book? No. A thousand times no, because I know how important word of mouth is in making a book successful and that marketing is essential in encouraging that trend.
I like engaging with my readers, reading a good review makes me happy and I show it. Ooops!
I also know that marketing is important. Online marketing, I'm told is key to selling a book.
Don't 'hard-sell' the book is one of the commandments and it means, don't say 'buy my book' or any of its equivalents on your social media platforms. Don't post your book cover, and reviews.
The knowledge came a little late. I have already posted my book cover and everything related several times over everywhere. Sigh.
Making mistakes is okay, as long as you continually learn from them.
I read everything about marketing, so that I can do better next time and be better at it. It can be quite frustrating at times, not knowing how your book is doing. You have spent years writing it, editing and preparing it for the world and when it comes out in the market you are almost helpless.
Being an author is a hard job. Writing is hard enough (that's another post) but in today's world you have to know a great deal about contracts, publishing, social media, and all kinds of marketing to even have a chance.
All of this is part of being an author. I understand that and it isn't like anyone is forcing me to do it. I love writing, and it makes me happy. I can even enjoy marketing at times but the pressure to 'do it all' and I don't mean it in the 'Lean In' way, not as a woman but I mean that as an author. You must be so many things at once, outstanding as a writer, gracious in the face of bad reviews (I learn from well written ones and ignore the haters) look like a writer (whatever that means) be informative, interesting, have a sense of humour, and know how to sell well (it's not a formula!)
It has just been a month since my book came out and I am still learning the ropes of marketing and 'being an author' and I just wanted to talk to my tribe about what I am going through. Thanks for reading and do tell what you feel about this topic. Happy writing!