Paul Colt's Blog, page 57

Building a Brand

The writer’s journey continues. You write and promote. In the process you build a brand. Your brand builds reader expectation. When a reader picks up one of your books they come to know what to expect. You don’t think in those terms with your first book. It’s the second one that starts building a brand. It continues to define who you are as an author. When you pick up a Dusty Richards book you know you’re getting a solid traditional western. Pick up a Jeff Shaara title, you know you’re in for a first class historical dramatization. Building a brand is how you build a following. That’s what makes successful writers successful. There are some authors like Loren Estleman and Robert B. Parker who manage two genre. Both write westerns and mysteries. I love their westerns. I’ve never read one of their mysteries. Nothing is more risky than a small sample; but I suspect they have a brand in both audiences.

Building a brand is a bit of a dilemma for me. I love big historical dramatizations I call ‘Unexpected history’. It’s a story that involves some little known or over looked aspect of an otherwise familiar character or event. Boots and Saddles: A Call to Glory is unexpected history. Most people don’t know that chapter in George Patton’s career. The trouble with ‘I-had-no-idea’ stories like Grasshoppers in Summer; or A Question of Bounty is that they don’t come along every day. So what do I write when I don’t have my teeth into one of those? We’re about to find out.

A couple of years ago I thought about creating a short novel series for digital publication. I stumbled on an unexpected history premise for the series. Did you know the Pinkerton Detective Agency had a competitor? Most people don’t. I came across a compilation of case reports for something called the Rocky Mountain Detective Association. The group operated across the west in the latter decades of the nineteenth century. I chatted up the idea with my publisher who showed interest in doing them in print. The first release in the Great Western Detective League series will be out in January 2015. It’s a western with crossovers in crime/detective and a sprinkle of romance. The series introduces a colorful cast of Great Western Detective League and Pinkerton characters who pursue criminal cases while battling each other for the rewards and bounties that go with getting the bad guys. The idea is to create a light fun read. Will it muddy my brand? It could. We’ll try to give the series a brand of its own.
That brings us to the end of this guided tour of the writer’s journey. It’s not the end of the journey mind you, it’s only as far as I’ve come. The writing, publishing, promotion and brand building continue. It’s a long way to a best seller; but who knows? Maybe someday. Enjoy the journey wherever you are.

Next week: Saber Master

https://www.amazon.com/author/paulcolt

Ride easy,
Paul

Out of Your Comfort Zone

So you’ve got a great book, eye-catching cover and sizzling hooks to an :08 second ride. How do you get your target audience to notice? It takes promotion; and that can take you out of your comfort zone. Most of us can safely dismiss the possibility of a whirlwind book tour, featuring media appearances and book signings. You might have some luck with local media coverage or a signing at a local book store; but here’s a dirty little secret: both are tough to get and marginally productive if you do.

If marketing takes you out of your comfort zone, you may want to consider a publicist. If marketing is a wilderness for you, a professional can help. Listen to what they can do for you and evaluate what it might mean to you. Get references and check them. Watch the hourly billing rate and budget. Used properly a good publicist can give you valuable assistance. I came to writing with a marketing background. I talked to a couple of publicists, got some help from one; but in the end decided to go a different direction.

I’ve done some radio. I enjoy it. I had the benefit of a lot of media experience in my business career. Does it translate into book sales? I don’t know. It can’t hurt, but I wouldn’t hang my promotion strategy on it. I haven’t had a lot of experience with book signings. Anecdotally I’m told a good book signing may sell eight books. I’ve had one of those. The most productive appearances I’ve done are book clubs. They’re great fun. I donate books to charity auctions with the offer of an author appearance if the book is purchased as a book club selection.

Fortunately we live in a digital world. That’s where I’ve had the most success. I started out with a website because: ‘you need one to be taken seriously’. Or so I was told. The challenge with a website is getting people to go there. It’s tough. I’m an abject failure at it. Sure it can be done. A publicist would be happy to help you with that. I’d rather spend the money selling books. I keep the website to protect my URL, but my promotion strategy has moved on.

If you are reading this, you found it on Facebook or Good Reads. I use both because that’s where my target audience can find me. Facebook has been very productive. I do posts like this one in addition to running ads. If you follow these posts, you know they always include a link to my Amazon author page. From there a prospective buyer is one click away from an :80 second ride. I take advantage of Amazon features like key words and Search Inside The Book. I’m learning about Good Reads’ Give Away program. I’ve done one and will do another with advance reader copies of my next book.

Next week: Building a Brand

https://www.amazon.com/author/paulcolt

Ride easy,
Paul

Sales and Marketing- No Really!

Congratulations! You made it through the publishing gate. I remember how excited I got with my first publishing contract. I’d arrived . . . at the starting line. Now the hard part begins. If you’re like me you get so focused on writing that book and getting it published you don’t give much thought to selling it. That’s what publishers do, right? Sort of. Unless you self-published. If you did, you are the publisher and you’re on your own. The reality today is that publishers expect authors to actively engage in sales and marketing. Your first clue should be submission guidelines that require a marketing plan. Gone are the days when you sign your contract and wait for the royalty checks to roll in. Good publishers like mine have distribution channels, but that only takes you so far. If you are a celebrity with a book to hawk, you may get a book tour with media buzz. For most of us, all that falls into the do-it-yourself category. Sales and marketing can be a bigger challenge for a new author than writing the book.

Where do you begin? Start with admitting that your book is a product. It will appeal to a particular audience. Who are those folks? Where do you find them? What are the things about your book that will appeal to them? You actually need answers to those questions before your book is published. Here’s why. The first hook for a book sale is the cover or dust jacket. That’s the thing that causes a prospective buyer to pick it up. Unless you are a selfie, the publisher comes up with that design. You may be asked for input, but that decision is out of your hands. The second thing that a buyer does is flip the book over and read the back cover. That’s where you have to set the hook with provocative messages that appeal to your target audience. The last step is your start. That first line in the book that reels the prospective buyer in. Here’s the kicker. I’m going mix the metaphor to make the point. You’ve got :08 seconds to get that done. You’ve got to stay on that buyer :08 seconds for a qualified ride. That’s your hook. It better be good.

So what are those back-cover messages? You buy books. You’ve read them. They tease you with the story. What sets your story apart and makes it compelling? They identify your book with the work of an established author whose readers might enjoy your work. My two are Jeff Shaara and Robert B. Parker. If a prospective reader likes one of your best-selling stars they may give you a shot. If you deliver, chances are they’ll be back for more. If you can get them, a blurb or two from an established author or respected reviewer helps. I’ve been fortunate to get to know some recognized authors through Western Writers of America. That has gotten me some great blurbs. My publisher has done a good job, getting my books reviewed. We’ve been fortunate enough to get good reviews from Publisher’s Weekly and Book List. All of it helps that :08 second ride.

Next week: Promotion

https://www.amazon.com/author/paulcolt

Ride easy,
Paul

Agents, Publishers and You

Before you tackle questions about agents and publishers; you need to decide what you want to accomplish with your writing. Is your book a one-time tick on a bucket-list or is it something more? Do you plan on becoming a professional writer; or is writing an enjoyable hobby? Answers to those questions should influence the choices you make. If your book is a one-time thing, a self-publishing strategy might make the most sense. If you plan to pursue writing professionally, you will probably find value in an agency relationship at some point. If you are a serious hobbyist you may want to focus on a publisher relationship. There is no right answer to these questions. The only a right answer is the one that’s right for you. In my case, I said: If I can’t sell it, it’s not worth putting my pseudonym on it. You get experience, picking that gate.

Do you need an agent? You don’t need one; but if you have the opportunity to get a good one, they can open doors for you that help you sell your work. I don’t have an agent. I’d be open to considering it; but I’m not out soliciting one. I have a great relationship with a wonderful editor and publisher. It took a lot of at bats to get to first base; but it can be done.

Let’s talk about publishers. They come in all shapes and sizes- print, digital, audio and self-publishing services. Set the selfies aside for a moment. Publishers are businesses that sell products called books. They usually limit their consideration to specific types of work: fiction, non-fiction, a specific list of genre. Your work needs to match the publisher’s consideration. They produce books in print, digital or audio. My first three books came out in audio. Audio is a niche market so sales were modest. I pitched some digital publishers without much success. Digital is growing; but it is still a niche market. Royalty rates are higher. Price points are lower. Volume can be good if you are a good marketer. Print is still the big game. When I finished Boots and Saddles: A Call to Glory I knew I had a good one. One that would open the print gate for me. It did. It took three years.

Now a bit about selfies. The big advantage to self-publishing is that you skip a really nasty gate. Actually you run the risk of skipping two gates. Without having to get through that tough gate-keeper, you may not fully learn the lessons of craft. Like commercial publishers, self-publishing services come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Vanity press print and do-it-yourself digital are the two most common. Based on the horror stories I’ve seen and heard, I don’t recommend vanity print. It can be expensive, quality in some cases is poor and in the end, you wind up with boxes of books in the basement it is up to you to sell. If I was going to self-publish, I’d go do-it-yourself digital. That puts you into digital sales, marketing and distribution that is way better than humping boxes out of the basement. In general, it is also far less expensive.

Next week: Sales and Marketing- Really

https://www.amazon.com/author/paulcolt

Ride easy,
Paul

Publish or Perish at the Gate

You’ve completed your first book. Congratulations! You knew you could do it and you did. You’re proud of yourself and you’re proud of the book. You should be. Now comes the next gate: Publishing. As I reflect on everything it took to get through this gate, it occurs to me that you can’t do it justice in one post. Let’s start with the basics.

A good place to start is a current copy of Guide to Literary Agents, published by Writer’s Digest Books, Cincinnati Ohio. My 2005 edition (ouch!) profiles 600 literary agencies. It tells you what genre they consider, what their submission guidelines are and what you might expect in terms schedule etc. It also gives you good advice about properly preparing your query. These are all important guides to the process you need to follow whether you choose to query an agency or a publisher.

Which brings us to the next set of questions. Who are you going to query? Are you going focus on agencies or publishers, print, digital or audio? Do you plan to skip all that and self-publish? Answers to those questions have big implications for this gate and a couple more down the road. Let’s focus on the query process for the moment. It is similar whether you are soliciting an agent or a publisher.

Rule 1: Follow the submission guidelines! You can find them in the literary agents guide or a publisher’s website. They are all different. If you don’t follow them, your query is dead on arrival. They require things like a query letter, including author bio, target audience and marketing plan. That’s right, a marketing plan- more on that later. Remember the letter is a sales pitch. You are selling yourself and your book. Most require a synopsis of specified length and one or more sample chapters. Some want digital submission, others want snail mail paper with a SASE (self-addressed stamped envelope). The envelope is so they can easily return your submission with their rejection. That’s right, rejection. Get comfortable with the concept. Your work will be rejected. It can take six to nine months or more to get the bad news and they don’t often give you a reason for rejection. That part of the process is what makes self-publishing so seductive. We’ll get to that one next week.

Next week: Agents and publishers.

https://www.amazon.com/author/paulcolt

Ride easy,
Paul

Riding a Donkey Sidesaddle

So you think you can write. I did. I’d written for over thirty years in my business career so I knew I could write. I was good at it too. Right? Wrong. Riding a donkey sidesaddle and riding a good horse are two different things. They take a different level of skill. I had a great idea for my first book. Do the research and off you go. I finished a draft of the book and knew enough to rewrite it. In fact I rewrote it a couple of times until I was sure I was ready for an agent or publisher. While researching agents and publishers, I stumbled on a website for the Western Writers of America. I found contacts for a number of WWA members on the site. I reached out to a half dozen of them to see if any of them had any words of wisdom for me. Four of them asked me to send them sample chapters. I was thrilled. All four came back with politely worded versions of ‘Not ready for prime-time.’ That’s when I began to discover that writing is a craft I didn’t understand. I was riding sidesaddle.

One of those authors told me to rewrite the chapter he’d read. He gave me some pointers on what to change. His name is Dusty Richards. Today he’s a great friend and mentor to me. Back then we didn’t know each other from Adam. Dusty critiqued my stuff back and forth for most of a year. At some point he must have thought I was impossibly slow, but he stuck with me. Finally I had an Ah Ha moment. I rewrote the whole book and sent him the revised first chapter. I still have the email he sent me: “Done with authority. I bought it as history. I wouldn’t change a thing; and I never say that.” Dusty taught me a lot. He got me up on the horse and made a writer out of a story teller. Thanks to him I learned enough of the craft to get published and win a couple of awards. You may think you can write; but if you’re like me, you probably don’t know the craft.

In recent years I’ve tried to return Dusty’s favor to a couple of aspiring writers. I see myself in their work. You can’t teach the craft in a blog; but I will give you lesson one. Simple sentence, present tense, active voice. If you don’t remember those concepts, run don’t walk to the nearest grammar text and read up. Then practice. If you don’t, chances are you will turn out compound complex sentences that are hard to read. Your characters and stories get lost in past tense convolutions and passive voices that make readers struggle. That’s lesson one. There’s more of course and you have to learn it. You need somebody to critique your work. I mean really critique your work. Take the criticism and use it to get better. Do that, and you might get through the next gate.

Next week: Publish or Perish at the Gate.

https://www.amazon.com/author/paulcolt

Ride easy,
Paul

Write What?

So you want to be a writer. You’re undertaking a journey that takes you through a series of gates. I call them gates because unlike a milestone you reach and pass-by, you have to get through a gate and in most cases you don’t control getting through. Each gate presents its own particular challenges. Fortunately the first one is the easiest and you do control it. It is also critical to your potential success. It is answers the question: what are you going to write?

The old saw goes: “Write what you know.” There is certainly truth to that. You have to be passionate about what you write. It’s also handy if what you know happens to be what sells. I love action adventure thrillers full of international intrigue, clandestine cabals, military black ops and covert intelligence operations. The trouble is, I don’t know enough about the inner-workings of those realities to be the next Vince Flynn or Brad Thor. I write historical fiction set in the west because I grew up on westerns. I’ve been an avid horseman since I was nine years old. I love history and I love the west. That may not make me the next Zane Grey, but I am passionate about the nineteenth century west.

The commercial reality hit me long after I made my decision to write historical western fiction. Westerns are a niche market. Tour your local Barnes & Nobel and see how much shelf-space they devote to westerns. Why couldn’t I have been passionate about young adult stories or romance novels? Fortunately you can cross genre today. I stumbled into that realization in time to cross-over in both. Commercial considerations shouldn’t dominate your decision on what to write, but don’t ignore them either if you plan to sell your work.

Hope that helps. Next week: So you think you can write.

https://www.amazon.com/author/paulcolt

Ride easy,
Paul

Writers Advice

Recently I was asked what advice I would give aspiring writers. That question covers a lot of ground. I refer to my writing experience as a journey. The journey started in 2003 when I first toyed with the idea of writing a novel. I didn’t get a taste of success until 2009 and things didn’t really get rolling until 2014. That’s six years to get started and eleven years to gain some success. ‘Some success’ does not make you a best seller. That journey continues. The first thing an aspiring author needs to understand is that the journey is a marathon not a sprint. Along the way you pass through a series of gates- milestones that don’t come easy. Each one presents its own special challenges. To complete the journey you need determination and perseverance. You need thick skin to handle rejection and the ability to take criticism and use it to get better. If that doesn’t sound like you, rent a movie. If it does, or you think you might have that stuff, check out my Goodreads blog or facebook posts the next several weeks. They will discuss those gates you pass through on the journey and what to expect from each.

https://www.amazon.com/author/paulcolt

Ride easy,
Paul

Landscaping

Readers often say my writing is “Visual.” Some say, “It’s like watching a movie.” I love hearing that, because that is exactly how I see it. A scene opens, the camera captures time, place, setting, surroundings, all the information we need for the action to begin. Getting that right starts with something I call ‘landscaping.’ One of my favorite parts of researching a book is visiting the locale to get a feel for topography, vegetation, wildlife and seasons. It’s exploring the Paha Sapa (Black Hills) on horseback. It’s riding rugged New Mexico hills, picking up colors in rock formations, cloudscapes and mountain sunsets. Recently a reader commented that she’d lived in an area featured in one of my stories. She said she felt like she was home. That got it right. Visual is good, but like all good things it can go too far. Michner might get away with twenty pages on the flora and fauna of Chesapeake Bay; but for the rest of us it shouldn’t take more than a few lines. That said, in the right story, land can rise to the stature of a character. There is a place in the J.R. Chance series I call Willow Creek. The protagonists go there when they need to work out a problem. Eventually they make it their home. Right now I’m heads-down in a story where the land is taking on that character quality. It might even be the title character when all is said and done. We’ll see. When we do, I’m pretty sure it will be visual.

https://www.amazon.com/author/paulcolt

Ride easy,
Paul

Lingo

We speak and write a living language. It evolves. We add words, accepted meanings change and yes some words fall into disuse. This evolution in language comes into sharp focus for the intrepid author who presumes to write in another era, say the nineteenth- century. A couple of years ago I stumbled on a book based on the reminiscences of General David J. Cook, Superintendent of an organization that called itself the Rocky Mountain Detective Association. The book, first published in 1882, is a compilation of case reports on criminal investigations conducted by the association. Needless to say the language in the reports is pure nineteenth century. I found the terminology so amusing I started building a little glossary. I thought I might use a term here and there to give my stories a ring of authenticity. There is a risk of frustrating the modern reader if that goes too far, so sparing should be the watchword. Still who can resist something as tempting as: a character wending his way thitherward? Can you picture a romantic heroine who inspires cupidity? Used sparingly, I see opportunities to capture a little rascality and jollification!

https://www.amazon.com/author/paulcolt

Ride easy,
Paul