FROM SCRIPT TO NOVEL TO TRILOGY (part 3)
The relationships I’ve built via Facebook and Twitter are some of the richest I’ve known. People truly want to help you if they can, but it’s vital to always put yourself out there first. Offer to help. You will not only feel wonderful about assisting others, but you will build true connections with people.
So I marketed myself; took out Facebook ads pointing to the pre-order page, created postcards, flyers, and bookmarks- each with a link and a QR Code that pointed to the page. In the end, I gathered enough pre-orders and the publisher moved forward on publishing the book.
About 6 months prior to the launch date, I began a marketing campaign on social media. I wanted people to become familiar with Mechcraft and its author, so that by the time release day hit, sales would hopefully come easier. Sales and buzz were going to be key in drawing the attention of studios, prodcos, agents, etc. I found a balance between engagement and relationship building, and marketing. Both contributed to building my brand.
Close to the time of the release, I began to outline the rest of the trilogy. My goal all along was a film trilogy. Creating all 3 tales as novels first made the most sense. Only this time around, I had no screenplay to use as a blueprint. I was starting from scratch. I created outlines for books 2 and 3, then set them aside to focus on the launch of Mechcraft.
With the help of my amazing wife and some dear friends, we put together a launch party that exceeded all expectations. We anticipated 60-70, but 126 showed up. We had a catered taco bar, a live band, and a gorgeous room in a local art gallery. It was one of the greatest nights of my life.
The launch party was such a high, and it quickly came crashing down. After a very healthy launch on Amazon with three days of great numbers, the well dried up. The excitement in social media had worn off, and my own marketing no longer worked. My publisher offered no support in this area- nor did I really expect it, given the climate of the publishing world. And I could not afford a professional PR person.
Like most writers I contended with bouts of self-doubt and imposter syndrome. I struggled with giving up several times. I became overwhelmed by disappointment time and again. Hope and perseverance got me through and kept me going. The hope for a better life of doing what I loved. And the gut instinct that told me to persevere.
So I marketed myself; took out Facebook ads pointing to the pre-order page, created postcards, flyers, and bookmarks- each with a link and a QR Code that pointed to the page. In the end, I gathered enough pre-orders and the publisher moved forward on publishing the book.
About 6 months prior to the launch date, I began a marketing campaign on social media. I wanted people to become familiar with Mechcraft and its author, so that by the time release day hit, sales would hopefully come easier. Sales and buzz were going to be key in drawing the attention of studios, prodcos, agents, etc. I found a balance between engagement and relationship building, and marketing. Both contributed to building my brand.
Close to the time of the release, I began to outline the rest of the trilogy. My goal all along was a film trilogy. Creating all 3 tales as novels first made the most sense. Only this time around, I had no screenplay to use as a blueprint. I was starting from scratch. I created outlines for books 2 and 3, then set them aside to focus on the launch of Mechcraft.
With the help of my amazing wife and some dear friends, we put together a launch party that exceeded all expectations. We anticipated 60-70, but 126 showed up. We had a catered taco bar, a live band, and a gorgeous room in a local art gallery. It was one of the greatest nights of my life.
The launch party was such a high, and it quickly came crashing down. After a very healthy launch on Amazon with three days of great numbers, the well dried up. The excitement in social media had worn off, and my own marketing no longer worked. My publisher offered no support in this area- nor did I really expect it, given the climate of the publishing world. And I could not afford a professional PR person.
Like most writers I contended with bouts of self-doubt and imposter syndrome. I struggled with giving up several times. I became overwhelmed by disappointment time and again. Hope and perseverance got me through and kept me going. The hope for a better life of doing what I loved. And the gut instinct that told me to persevere.
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