Nath Jones's Blog - Posts Tagged "okay-fine"
Marketing
Have you discussed marketing with anyone? Recently?
I've had several such discussions. They are not the most fun.
But, yes, I've spoken with a gentleman who may or may not have tweeted for the White House. (Would have cost $4,000 to move forward with him.) I've spoken with publicists who are very good and can prove it, though they want no part of being paid with a percentage of sales.
What to do?
Two weeks ago I spoke with another woman in marketing. She is quite good at her job and was generous with both her time and her attention to the project.
I showed her an article that explained how readers mainly buy books because the book was recommended or because it's by a known author.
She said, "Get known."
I stared at her.
Suffice it to say the interaction did not end well. I said, "Thank you for your time but I don't feel helped." She may or may not have left abruptly.
That's not the point. The point is that the only motto I have as a writer is, "I don't want to be here."
Now, yes, I've had that motto embroidered onto ball caps with the nathjones.com url on the back. But I can't even really wear that thing very many places myself, let alone ask anyone else to wear one.
When I'm feeling terribly anti-social that hat is the best defense against the world. However. Antisocial marketing postures really are not going to serve this cause of getting known. I highly doubt I'm to be embraced by a wide public if I show up at author events wearing an "I don't want to be here"/nathjones.com ball cap. You're supposed to be all touchy-feely, warm, approachable.
The worst part is that I actually am those things. Just, not as a writer. And, sorry, not with people I don't know. And, sorry again, I really don't want to know enough people to sell books only to people I do know and still make a living at it.
Plus I thought writers were supposed to remain at aloof distances and observe from above (or beyond) and all that. I was not prepared for, nor have I yet to fully accept, this new overly-familiar culture of readers who all know you personally and chat you up. Recently I've had more phone calls from fans than from family members. Call me old fashioned but I really don't think you need to be telephoning people you've never seen in the flesh.
Am I right?
(I hope so.)
Anyway. So. Regardless of what I think about how everything should be, it's time to: Get known.
Toward that end I spoke with my friend Alan this afternoon. He wants to help me do some barnstorming in the West. Could be fun. Then this evening I sat down with my friend Rose (also in marketing), who said, "Yes. Go. Do it." Or. Something. I wasn't really listening.
I've had several such discussions. They are not the most fun.
But, yes, I've spoken with a gentleman who may or may not have tweeted for the White House. (Would have cost $4,000 to move forward with him.) I've spoken with publicists who are very good and can prove it, though they want no part of being paid with a percentage of sales.
What to do?
Two weeks ago I spoke with another woman in marketing. She is quite good at her job and was generous with both her time and her attention to the project.
I showed her an article that explained how readers mainly buy books because the book was recommended or because it's by a known author.
She said, "Get known."
I stared at her.
Suffice it to say the interaction did not end well. I said, "Thank you for your time but I don't feel helped." She may or may not have left abruptly.
That's not the point. The point is that the only motto I have as a writer is, "I don't want to be here."
Now, yes, I've had that motto embroidered onto ball caps with the nathjones.com url on the back. But I can't even really wear that thing very many places myself, let alone ask anyone else to wear one.
When I'm feeling terribly anti-social that hat is the best defense against the world. However. Antisocial marketing postures really are not going to serve this cause of getting known. I highly doubt I'm to be embraced by a wide public if I show up at author events wearing an "I don't want to be here"/nathjones.com ball cap. You're supposed to be all touchy-feely, warm, approachable.
The worst part is that I actually am those things. Just, not as a writer. And, sorry, not with people I don't know. And, sorry again, I really don't want to know enough people to sell books only to people I do know and still make a living at it.
Plus I thought writers were supposed to remain at aloof distances and observe from above (or beyond) and all that. I was not prepared for, nor have I yet to fully accept, this new overly-familiar culture of readers who all know you personally and chat you up. Recently I've had more phone calls from fans than from family members. Call me old fashioned but I really don't think you need to be telephoning people you've never seen in the flesh.
Am I right?
(I hope so.)
Anyway. So. Regardless of what I think about how everything should be, it's time to: Get known.
Toward that end I spoke with my friend Alan this afternoon. He wants to help me do some barnstorming in the West. Could be fun. Then this evening I sat down with my friend Rose (also in marketing), who said, "Yes. Go. Do it." Or. Something. I wasn't really listening.
