here's a little exercise that might help us with marketing: Why should I buy your book?

[Idav]

It sounds pretty rude, but let's face it, lots of readers are probably thinking "Why should I buy Bobert DiCheerio's high fantasy novel when J.R.R. Tolkien's books exist?"

But what if Bobert DiCheerio had already come up with an answer?

So what I'm proposing here, is that we all write down reasons that a prospective reader should buy our books, knowing nothing of the content inside beforehand. Like for example, for my books (well, my one and soon more...):

1. I have good cover art.
2. You can talk to me, unlike Tolkien, who is dead. Which brings me to my next point...
3. By talking to me, you will discover that I'm personally very knowledgeable, so my writing is likely to reflect this.
4. I have a great sense of humour, by some metrics. No, you don't need to buy a book to prove this, I have a free webcomic. Yes, you heard me, my webcomic is literally the same as all the other ones on that matter.

[Christina]

Moved to Marketing and Promotion. The Author Help folder is for posting questions to the community.

[Idav]

Christina wrote: "Moved to Marketing and Promotion. The Author Help folder is for posting questions to the community."

woops, sorry. I had assumed that the whole 'questions' part of the folder's title meant I was only allowed post questions, not post random exercises like this

[April]

Idav, this is a great post!!

I have answers to this question for my novel, but I never share them because they involve comparing my novel to well-known bestseller novels, and I don't feel comfortable doing that. But I wish I did, because I think they would draw readers.

So, at the risk of getting lambasted, here goes:

1. If you're curious about "Fifty Shades of Grey" but don't want to read about BDSM, read Vulnerable. My hero, Shane, is a combination of Christian Grey and Jason Taylor rolled into one. He's the powerful CEO and the bodyguard/protector at the same time.

2. If you like the "Crossfire" series by Sylvia Day, read Vulnerable.

3. If you like the billionaire boyfriend theme, read Vulnerable.

4. If you like bodyguard/protector themes, read Vulnerable.

5. If you like young, inexperienced female protagonists paired with older alpha heroes, read Vulnerable.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0115PUJCM

[Dwayne, Head of Lettuce]

Happy Clown Burger Volume 2

Okay, since Happy Clown Burger Volume One is free right now and doing all right and Volume Two has seen a few sales in the past week, I'll focus on those.

You will probably enjoy Happy Clown Burger if:

1. You have ever had a menial job.

2. You know you are smarter, more ethical and saner than your boss.

3. You find cold, heartless corporations that masquerade as family-friendly places a bit troubling.

4. You like really short stories you can read on your coffee break, while waiting at red lights or while you're on the toilet.

5. You like absurd humor.

6. You like political humor that doesn't require a deep knowledge of politics.

7. Former porn stars dressed as clowns excite you.

8. You love fast food.

9. You hate fast food.

10. You want to learn what is in Red Nose Sauce.

http://goo.gl/CCENeA

[Christina]

Idav wrote: "woops, sorry. I had assumed that the whole 'questions' part of the folder's title meant I was only allowed post questions, not post random exercises like this "

No worries! :)

In all honesty, we *don't have a section specifically for workshopping, but since this was related to pitching books, this would be closest. Though Promote Yourself might work since basically, that's what you're inviting folks to do here.

[Charles]

Buy the first one cuz the second one will be better!

And if you wait for the second one you'll be lost!

[Owen]

As usual, I'm going to take a different tack here, because we do. When asked: "Why should I (or anyone) buy our books?" our answer is (and I'm serious): "You probably shouldn't." Our books simply aren't for everyone, or a sizable percentage of everyone. They deal with things many people find uncomfortable, and they do so in ways that seem not to be in fashion. They are not, or so we're told, "easy reads."

Therefore, we filter more than we promote, and we generally avoid recommending our books anyone. People who might be interested in our books, we trust to find them, and finding them, we trust them to make their own decision. We elect to stay out of this process.

[April]

Owen wrote: "As usual, I'm going to take a different tack here, because we do. When asked: "Why should I (or anyone) buy our books?" our answer is (and I'm serious): "You probably shouldn't." Our books simply a..."

I bow to Owen, because I think he's a freaking genius.

But Owen, can you identify the typical characteristics of people who would enjoy your series?

I'm about to start reading the first one, myself. I'm very intrigued. :)

April

[Owen]

April wrote: "But Owen, can you identify the typical characteristics of people who would enjoy your series?"

This has always been a problem for us. We check out the Amazon and GR profiles of everyone who adds or rates our books, and if there are typical characteristics, we can't identify them, and the people who gives us low ratings tend to have similar interests listed as those who give us high ratings. There seems to be considerable crossover between genres.

By this I mean "typical characteristics" that can be deduced from data available on-line. I could say: to enjoy our books a reader should be opened minded, able to handle forthright depictions of a difficult subject, tolerant of verbosity, enjoy a wealth of detail that may seem to serve no immediate purpose, and like complex, flawed characters. A quirky sense of humor probably helps too. But a person can have all those traits and still not find our books to be their cup of tea. And it's hard to determine how well a person fits those criteria.

But people do find our books, one way or another (mostly via the "also bought" lists, I think), and we let it go at that.

[Andrew]

“The Mind Game Company - The Players” Andrew Neff

1) What would life be like if your mind was hijacked by a company of stalkers? They’re equipped with perfect remote telepathic and video surveillance running 24 hours a day. There’s no where to run, no where to hide, there is no off-switch.
2) A person stripped of their finances, is disabled from finding help. Does it matter?
3) Who would believe you? Your family, friends, employer, can also be turned against you or influenced to give you support.
4) Who are they? Is it advanced synthetic telepathy, some phenomenal psychic ability enhanced through technology, or something spiritual in nature?
5) They could lead you to suicide in a day or string you along and milk you for all that your worth. If they can do this to you, who else can they control?
6) What are they after besides having access to all your personal information and what will they do with it?
7) How do you cope with type of intrusion? It’s not the gun that kills, so are they anyone you can reason with or develop a relationship with or will it be slow poison?
8) All you have to work with are their voices in the most pronounced sound wave and whatever you’re able to glean from the perpetual programs and mind games.
9) It doesn’t play out the way you might think, but that would be presumption. People behave differently, whether the instigator or subject.
10) Is this anywhere an aberrant romance could develop?

http://www.amzn.com/B00P873ROQ

[Jay]

A good laugh just brightens your day a bit. Something we can all use.

Try this excerpt.

[Andrew]

Jay

Reading the excerpt - nice opening

[Melissa]

Because I said so that's why! Just kidding :D

This is a tricky one, though. Why to buy The Toymaker.

1. Well, if you like a little magic, a lot of adventure, strange worlds full of strange creatures, and a touch of the whimsical then you'll most definitely enjoy The Toymaker.

2. Giant birds that people ride.

3. Like dystopias but grown tired of the same old, same old dystopian tales? You may dig this particular dystopia.

4. Can't stand dystopias thanks to the plethora of YA dystopias out there? This may still be the book for you.

5. Underdog heroes. Lots of them.

6. I can always be relied on the use my imagination to the fullest extent. And sometimes beyond.

7. There's artwork.

8. Lots of surprises.

9. Toys, but not really toys.

10. You want to know why know one comes back from the mine.

[Ty]

Anyone who has ever been disillusioned with their art, or finding their passions becoming flatter as time goes on should buy my novel "Flowers of Dionysus." As someone in the novel says at some point, "You are never alone when doing something you love." The key is to remember why you love what you do, even when it becomes difficult and frustrating. The key is to look beyond the now, and open yourself to the broad picture of forever, and be willing to see signs that in the long run, you love what you love for a reason, even if you don't like it for a while.

What does it mean to really love what one does, and who one is? In my novel, I've tried to create characters and situations that explore that concept in the everyday world, with a sprinkling of the extraordinary thrown in for good measure. So if you need to believe in the extraordinary as it lives in the normal lives of real people like yourself, you should buy my novel.

[Jay]

Andrew wrote: "Jay

Reading the excerpt - nice opening"

Thanks again, Andrew. Much appreciated.

[Iffix]

Why read the Forgotten Princess series?
A blend of really awesome ideas (and considering those ideas were not mine, I can say so freely): in short, a cross between Star Wars and a Brothers Grimm classic, also containing elements of Lord of the Rings, Stargate, Sonic the Hedgehog, and a bunch of other genuinely geeky lore thrown into a blender and mixed well. Impulse is appropriate for anyone reading-age, and the stories are told in such a way that I believe they will be good to grow up with. Impulse has a small gallery of artist renderings to help readers visualize the world. I also count it a plus that the novellas are relatively short, so you don't need to invest a lot of time to decide whether these books are for you. (For a sample, visit my website: iffixysantaph.com)