How do you write a press release?

[Andrew]

I'm planning to e-publish a book with a narrative around it that might be newsworthy and I want to inform some of my local news outlets. I've read about how to write a press release but I'm not sure if the rules are different for books, so I've got a few questions:

1) How do you write a press release about a book?
2) How do you find news outlets that might want to print the story?
3) Who do you send it to (editor, correspondent etc.) if you have a news organization in mind?

I guess I just generally want to know about best practice as well. I've never done this before so I want to avoid any pitfalls. Does anyone have experience with this kind of thing?

[Alesha]

If it helps, you can take a look at mine as an example. It was picked up by an online news source for the "book news" section.

http://www.thecreativealchemy.com/press/

[Rita]

Hi Andrew. Most news outlets seem to prefer e-mailed press released these days. I would send it to the editor. Try your local newspapers and radio stations first. Often if you offer a free book for one of their readers/listeners they become more interested. If the locals run it you may get picked up by a national.

I usually start with something about local author releasing first book, a brief bio and then the book's blurb.

Good luck!

[Andrew]

Thanks for the example Alesha, and for the advice, Rita. I've been trying to get the interest of my local newspapers for some time and they don't seem much interested. I'm not as familiar with the radio stations, but I'll get in touch with them next.

[Fraser]

Speaking as a former reporter, if there's anyone at the paper who covers arts, send it to them. Or check the website and see if it has instructions. Local papers or magazines are definitely a good market. Email is better--if the paper just wants to run your piece as a short blurb, it can cut and paste. Check the spelling, grammar etc.--the paper should fix any errors it spots, but they may be laughing at you in the newsroom.
If there's something that's actually newsworthy, highlight the news hook in the opening. Get into stuff about yourself later.
If you really think it's newsworthy, you can just call and talk to a reporter or editor. We get calls like that all the time, the worst you'll get is now.

[S.]

Just keep trying. Sometimes there are days when the media will pick up your press statement if its a very dry day i.e not much going on elsewhere. But make sure that you update anything new with the book. I.e post launch you could add further information like how many copies have been sold. Did it get any new reviews, what marketing have you done, your plan for the future etc etc.

[Rachel]

Commenting to bump this post--i'm in a position to need to write a press release and would like recommendations of online resources about format, content, etc.

Thank you!

[Lori]

Here's a free guide from PRWeb:

http://lp.prweb.com/Global/FileLib/Gu...

Or try this blog post from Freelance Editor Jeri Walker:

http://jeriwb.com/how-to-write-a-book...

[Rachel]

Thank you!

[JoAnn]

How do I write a press release on Goodreads.
Answer:I have no idea. JoAnn Hill

[Rachel]

To clarify, i don't mean to write a press release on Goodreads, this is to send out announcing an upcoming event, to local and topically-related media outlets. Sorry for the confusion!