R. Lawson Gamble's Blog: R Lawson Gamble Books, page 24

Edit Devils

Editing your own book is nigh unto impossible. It’s all about left brain language translation of right brain creativity. Your idea generates in your right brain as an entire entity, full-blown and in full color, all its dimensions intact. But when the right brain passes this idea on to be interpreted into language, much of it does not translate and is left behind.

For the reader, at least. But not you. The idea is still intact in your right brain. Consequently, when you read your own work your brain fills in any gaps that may have been left. You get it! Even if your reader doesn’t.

And so we enlist other editors to assist us. That is good. It helps a lot. But everyone suffers from the tendency to fill gaps. As a consequence, the last errors to be corrected in your manuscript are omitted words and repeated words.

But why is is this so? It is is because everyone forms images in their right brain of the picture you are drawing. Everyone is familiar with certain word word patterns. Therefore, when you omit word that your reader expects will appear, this omission may well be missed or an additional word not noticed not. Our brains simply fill in gap.

So the last thing you or your editor should do before pushing the publish button is read through your manuscript one one last time looking specifically those omissions and repeats. Or th brn wll fll it in!

Talk About It

While it may sometimes seem that everyone in the world is writing a book that is in direct competition with your own, the fact is that there are even more people who haven’t written anything at all and who see such an accomplishment as amazing.  And there are many who would like to write a book but have no idea how to begin.

And so you should talk about writing your book. Your experience could well be of greater value to others than you might think. And finding venues for your talk may be easier than you think.

Dissuade yourself from the idea that you lack the talent or ability to speak before a group. The fact is, you had the talent and ability to write your book. Talking about it involves less. Just as it is easiest to write what you know, so it is to talk what you know. And you know your book.

Speaking to a group about your publication is one of your best marketing strategies. If each member of your audience talks about your book to just one other person…well, you get the idea. And don’t forget the opportunity to make sales right then, after you’ve developed excitement for your product.

Simply by inviting you to speak, the venue (library, book store, Parents Association) gives the appearance of endorsing your product. There are many groups in your community looking for speakers. Volunteer your time, and you may be surprised at the response.

Patience and Positive thinking

Can there be any doubt that the most difficult aspect of writing for publication is patience? Even in our virtual world where our thoughts, queries, and questions are whisked away to the desktop of the recipient in an instant, waiting is a large part of the process. Although I have had one agent response in an amazing two days requesting to read my manuscript (she was new and left the agency before reading my work!), it is most unusual.  The response wait time is usually more like two months. And for a publishing house, it can be half a year.

Perhaps that is why self-publishing is so gratifying. Generally speaking, a writer can move forward as fast as she/he wishes, restricted only by the her/his own standard of excellence. Once you are satisfied with each step in the process, move forward. But should you?

One recommendation that appears consistent among almost every successful writer is to use the drawer method. That is, after completion of your manuscript and four or five edits, put it away in a drawer for a month and work on something else. Then take it out and read it. Is it still good? Or not so much? Your eye will see differently now when you do the final edits. But this method requires patience and the recognition that you are in it for the long haul.

The quantity of your patience depends upon the quality of your commitment. And the quality of your work will reflect the quantity of your commitment. Demanding perfection of yourself and moving forward only when you are truly satisfied is the only way to insure the quality of your work.

But it is easy to become discouraged. When the mailbox remains empty day after day, it can seem futile. And when you cast your eye over the number of people who submit manuscripts to agents, or to Amazon, or Smashword, it can feel overwhelming.

And so your patience must be born of positive thinking, from the belief that all that waiting will culminate in success, and that your work will eventually be recognized for its true worth. That belief must underline every line you write. So hang in there. Be patient. You won’t regret it.

 

Tagged: Author, commitment, Manuscript, Patience, Publishing, Writer Resources, Writing

Free for a Fee

Yes, from Google and others of the same ilk comes the sales concept of “free”. Give away meaningful things in a forthright manner and people will remember;  you will store up their good will, excite their curiosity, and eventually, there will be a payday. It works.

Everything about the publication and marketing of my novel THE OTHER is imbedded in that concept. When ever possible, I have done the work myself. No cost. But I have made sure that the product is top quality. Only when I could not insure such quality because I lacked the skills or ability have I paid to have it done.

And then I take my blood, sweat, and tears and give it all away. First, my Ebook. I gave it away over Facebook to my friends, colleagues, and acquaintances for a predetermined period of time. After that, back to full price (It’s interesting that free is so much more appealing than $1.99). My free offering opened a lot of channels that led to sales.

Even my paperback edition, which costs me a little over $5 each to order, I give away. I give them to friends and supporters in a calculated and limited manner. I expect that they will talk about it, maybe show off the author’s signature and so spur sales. But the most meaningful give-away is to libraries and other public and private institutions where many readers have access to it. And, hopefully, will spread the word.

Giving my personal time and talent is another productive freebie. I offer to speak at these same libraries and bookstores and retailers. For free. About writing, about my book, about my book’s characters – about anything that refers back to my book. And I seek permission to sell the book at that venue. It’s win – win.

The important goal of all of this free gifting is to promote familiarity not just with my book and its cover, but  with me,  the author. Facial recognition in association with my book is critical. I want to be recognized,  to be remembered in association with my work. So I send my photo around when I send my book; I keep it visible. I put it with the book on a sales poster, or on the back cover of the book. It says that I stand by this product. And in the future, when my photo is associated with another book or product, people will remember. And if what they remember is positive,they will buy.

Related articles

Amazon launches free e-book borrowing for Prime members (reviews.cnet.com)


Tagged: authors, Book, books, E-book, Ebook, ePub authors, FaceBook, give away, Google, marketing, Publishing, sales, Shopping, The Other, writers

Free is for Fee

Yes, from Google and others of the same ilk comes the sales concept of “free”. Give away meaningful things in a forthright manner and people will remember;  you will store up their good will, excite their curiosity, and eventually, there will be a payday. It works.

Everything about the publication and marketing of my novel THE OTHER is imbedded in that concept. When ever possible, I have done the work myself. No cost. But I have made sure that the product is top quality. Only when I could not insure such quality because I lacked the skills or ability have I paid to have it done.

And then I take my blood, sweat, and tears and give it all away. First, my Ebook. I gave it away over Facebook to my friends, colleagues, and acquaintances for a predetermined period of time. After that, back to full price (It’s interesting that free is so much more appealing than $1.99). My free offering opened a lot of channels that led to sales.

Even my paperback edition, which costs me a little over $5 each to order, I give away. I give them to friends and supporters in a calculated and limited manner. I expect that they will talk about it, maybe show off the author’s signature and so spur sales. But the most meaningful give-away is to libraries and other public and private institutions where many readers have access to it. And, hopefully, will spread the word.

Giving my personal time and talent is another productive freebie. I offer to speak at these same libraries and bookstores and retailers. For free. About writing, about my book, about my book’s characters – about anything that refers back to my book. And I seek permission to sell the book at that venue. It’s win – win.

The important goal of all of this free gifting is to promote familiarity not just with my book and its cover, but  with me,  the author. Facial recognition in association with my book is critical. I want to be recognized,  to be remembered in association with my work. So I send my photo around when I send my book; I keep it visible. I put it with the book on a sales poster, or on the back cover of the book. It says that I stand by this product. And in the future, when my photo is associated with another book or product, people will remember. And if what they remember is positive,they will buy.

Related articles

Amazon launches free e-book borrowing for Prime members (reviews.cnet.com)


Tagged: authors, Book, books, E-book, Ebook, ePub authors, FaceBook, give away, Google, marketing, Publishing, sales, Shopping, The Other, writers

Your Launch Party Hit List

An event such as a launch party for your new book is all about details, but you shouldn’t need to become so immersed in them that you can’t enjoy the show. One way to assure that is  to find sufficient help.

Salesperson. It is essential to find someone you trust to handle your book sales so that you are free to mingle and do your sales pitch. You shouldn’t have to be distracted by worry about what might be going on at the cash register. The day is more or less about selling books, but the farther from the money exchange you are and the more relaxed you seem, the easier it is for attendees to interact with you.

Music. Some sort of music will fill in the gaps when you are not reading, presenting, or otherwise engaging the attendees. If you are lucky enough to have a friend who sings and is willing to help out, that is the best of all worlds. Your friend will take attention away from you for large chunks of time and allow you to mingle freely.

A Door Prize or Raffle. I raffled a bottle of wine. Not an expensive one, but a bottle that you win somehow seems more special than one you purchase, regardless of quality. The raffle keeps people at your event until the designated time for picking a winner. The longer people are at the event, the more likely they are to buy a book. There is seldom a lack of volunteers to pick your winners for you.

Food and Drink. I held my book launch at a winery. It goes without saying, then, that wine was available for purchase. We did supply non-alcoholic beverages and finger food (pretzels, chips). Because I launched at a winery, it was an inherent symbiotic relationship and of course the winery was pleased to help supply the food and soda.

Schedule. It is important to have a clear of idea of what happens when, not just for the author but also for your helpers. Even though it is most likely that you will need to ditch your schedule before the first hour is up, due to unforeseen circumstances, that is not always the case. And even when it is, having an idea of the sequence of events makes it much easier to “punt” when necessary.

Enjoy the Party. Finally, the most important ingredient is fun. This is a party! You should enjoy yourself; bask in the honor and the sunshine, rise to the occasion. When your guests see you enjoying yourself, they will as well, and that’s when good things happen.

 

A Pre-Launch Party?

Okay, so what is it? And why do it?

Why not thank your most ardent supporters and fans, friends, neighbors, or anyone who has had a special role in the production of your book? Invite them to your home or similar intimate venue a week or so prior to you book launch, treat them to drinks and finger food, and talk about your book. Why? As a dry run.

You may have a limited number of book launches in your writing career. Your learning curve will be short. So why not present the activities you have in mind for your launch at a pre-launch party, among friends and supporters? Get a preview of how your activities may work out. Did you select the right passage from your book to read? Is your synopsis too long? Are people nodding off as you describe your book? Just as it is critical to use precisely the right words for your book’s back page, so it is to use just the right words at your launch. You will only have the one shot.

And there are other benefits. You can try out your display, you can listen to questions and comments, you can learn what people want to know; what interests them about your book.  And you can stir up interest for the coming book launch.

At my recent pre-launch party I decorated my home to match the locality and theme of my book. I had samples of my book available so that people could look at it, feel it, pass it around. It was an opportunity to try out my display and my presentation. I found that both needed more work. I now feel confident that I will be ready for the launch party.

And…I sold some books.

I plan to add a pre-launch party to every book launch I present. It’s good for everyone…and it’s fun!

Launch Book in your Home Town

Here’s a tip – stay local to get started in your book marketing.

Consider: out there on the worldwide social media you are one among billions of authors. Where’s your edge? On Amazon, and other retail sites, you are one in millions. Even in magazines and newspapers in your country you are one in hundreds of thousands of people who write and want to be noticed. But in your hometown, in your neighborhood, you might be one of few writers – maybe the only game in town.

I was so advised. Try local retailers for a venue, they said. See if local gathering places will post your flyers. Invite friends and neighbors – people get a kick out of  knowing a novelist, an author, a published poet.

They were right. My Book Launch is less than a week away. And no one, not one person, retailer, shop owner, neighbor or friend has said ‘no’. I distributed flyers today – I ran out after three stores. They all want more. They all want part of the action. People are just as excited about the Book launch as I am.

The moral to the story is, as Nike says: ‘Just Do It’. Ask. Assume that people will come aboard. Because…they will.



Tagged: authors, books, marketing, sales, The Other, writers, Writers authors classics technique writing tools writing skills

Launch Party?

Once my paperback was successfully published on CreateSpace, I needed to turn my head back to marketing. I had read advice that in essence was a recommendation to start advertising locally and move outward in successive waves of proliferation, advice that made sense to me. It is important, the advice continued, to have personal contact in some way with prospective buyers. Again, pure logic. The best way to do this, I decided, was a launch party presented right in the middle of my town. My town is small, and has a middle.  But even those large towns without a middle have neighborhoods, within which a launch party could be organized.

I looked about for a venue. There is a winemaking shop in town, Bedford Winery, with a pleasant veranda and chairs and tables. As this is California, an April Launch party out doors is completely feasible. I approached the shop and was welcomed. After all, in such a cooperative venture my success becomes their success. I learned to my surprise that my launch will not be their first; they have apparently done several.

A cooperative venture such as this makes life much easier. Bedford will advertise the event in their usual places, and I will send invitations and notify friends and colleagues in my own sphere of influence. The owner and I arrived at a mutually agreeable albeit rough plan for events at the party and we will touch base as it draws nearer. And I will continue this report as it draws nearer as well.

Publish Trad or POD?

After my novel had become available through Amazon and all the on-line retailers that support Smashword I decided to publish a print version. I resisted this at first, for several reasons. One was vanity. To publish in any way other than the traditional agent/publisher route still smacks of settling for less. But when I considered the odds against ever seeing my work in published form via the traditional route, and the changing marketplace, the digital revolution,  the fact that even top-selling authors are moving to eBooks, I thought again. I subscribed to the theory that quality work will rise to the surface – eventually.

The second objection was cost. I had no desire to take my work to a vanity publisher and pay for a run of 100 books that would sit in my garage. But the self-publishing world has changed. With digital print options, there has been a significant rise in Print on Demand publishers. With POD, there does not need to be a run of books to make economic sense. In fact, not even one book need be printed.  Once the formatting is complete, it is possible to simply wait for a first customer to order before printing at all. And not spend a penny.

My third objection was quality. I was suspicious that POD quality work would be inferior. I was wrong. My new book sits on my shelf between Gallmann and Graham, and not far from Leonard and King and even Hemingway and I defy anyone to pick out my book based upon its quality. In fact, it looks even better than some of the traditionally published works.

My final objection was marketing. With self-publishing, I thought, comes self-marketing. Yes, that is true. But what I didn’t know was that with traditional publishing comes self-marketing. Yes, big publishing houses now expect their authors to sell their own books. If you are not already a famous or infamous person, the publisher looks for a solid sales platform before they will even give you the time of day, quality withstanding. They want to move books. And if they do take you on, unless you are proven market material, their marketing resources are applied elsewhere. And if you are unable to move your own book within a certain period of time, it comes off the shelf. Over and out. But not POD. Because my book never takes up shelf space; it’s not even created until someone wants one.

Summing up, to publish traditionally an author must defeat the long odds of acquiring an agent and a publisher, of then convincing the publisher to aim  resources his way or to find the means to move her own book, and finally  to manage to keep the book moving long enough so that it doesn’t come down from the shelves.

Considering all of this, I decided to give POD a try, and went to CreateSpace. Stay tuned. I will describe my experiences with that company in my next posting.