Why did I write?

[Thorina]

re: Making money. It is true that marketing the book takes about as much effort as writing it-- maybe more! They say that if a book doesn't gain any traction after about 3-6 months, consider it DOA! My book has been out for six months and I will give a push with blogging and the internet, because I really believe in it, but it's probably hopeless. ;-/Heartbreak DietThorina Rose

[Adrianne]

Thorina wrote: "re: Making money. It is true that marketing the book takes about as much effort as writing it-- maybe more! They say that if a book doesn't gain any traction after about 3-6 months, consider it DOA..."

The key is knowing how to market it online, plus you gotta do offline marketing as well.

I've found that social networking sites are the best avenue for promotion, but you have to be willing to spend the time on them.

[Minnie]

Jj, I think you woke up eveyone in this group with your post about writing to make money. Whoa! Perhaps you should get a job and forget about writing, huh.
When I wrote my first book (I'm on book 3 today), I never expected to make millions (hundreds?) selling my story. I won't go into what I've already said in this group again except to say, once again, I write because I love to write.

Jj, you sound like my nephew (age 44). He said help me Aunt Minnie I need to sell this eBook because I lost my job and need money, fast. It really pained me to tell him the truth. I think I've lost his friendship for a few years. (;-(

[Adrianne]

Minnie wrote: "Jj, I think you woke up eveyone in this group with your post about writing to make money. Whoa! Perhaps you should get a job and forget about writing, huh.

Yup, my sentiments exactly. You gotta do it because you love to do it.

Me, it'll be years before I break even with my expenses.

[Thorina]

hi Adrianne, I agree about the blogging and other online marketing efforts. Though I have to say that I was annoyed when my publisher (Chronicle Books here in SF) suggested I do so. It felt like they were passing the buck! I think we should share constructive ideas with each other. Frankly, the topic of "Why I wrote my book" has been a bit of a snooze with the earnestness of all the posts. (sorry guys, just my humble opinion!) OF COURSE we all wrote our books because we love to create and wanted to get our idea out in the world. That goes without saying. So how can we use this network more productively?Thorina Rose

[Adrianne]

Thorina wrote: "hi Adrianne, I agree about the blogging and other online marketing efforts. Though I have to say that I was annoyed when my publisher (Chronicle Books here in SF) suggested I do so. It felt like th..."

It doesn't matter how big the publisher is; you ALWAYS do your own promotion. Especially when you're just starting out and no one's ever heard of you. It's invaluable. Pubs will do some of their own, but in the end, you gotta do your own legwork. This is very common and not a select thing.

Some suggestions:

1) Friend people, not just authors but readers
2) Do review exchanges with authors and have them comment on your books
3) Apply to become a librarian and an author on here, if you haven't already
4) Start spreading the URLs to your books and profile EVERYWHERE. If no one knows about it, they won't visit.

[Minnie]

Thorina, what Adrianne wrote is true: You always have to do your own promotion.

It's even more true today in this horrible economy. It fact, I'm fairly sure it's in your contract (read the fine print).

These suggestions are important:

1) Friend (sec) people, not just authors but readers
2) Do review exchanges with authors and have them comment on your books
3) Apply to become a librarian and an author on here, if you haven't already (Not sure about this.)
4) Start spreading the URLs to your books and profile EVERYWHERE. If no one knows about it, they won't visit. (Extremely important.)

I always try to do reviews of other's work because I want the same.

Forgive the snoozing!

[Shane]

Every professional writer should be writing to make money. "A novice writes for themselves. A pro writes for their audience."

3-6 months is not true in regards to understanding a novel's success. Real publishers do not start getting in the black on a novel until the second year. Less than 20% of all novels actually turn a profit for the publisher.


Your publisher should send out ARC copies for reviews. Even the smallest houses do this. Fake publishers (vanity presses) do NOT do this. They will never get your book in a bookstore. Over 80% of books sold are sold this way.

Do NOT SPAM your book in writing groups or try to shove it down anyone's throat. The bad taste you leave in people's mouth will result in them finding flaws in your work and posting them.

Writing your work is the EASIEST part! Yes, you will spend tens of thousands more the first few years than you will make. You will not stat seeing money until after you have established a fan base and your next work is a certain number of "expected sales."

There are a lot of uninformed people here. Do your homework on the industry that you are part of. This is your greatest chance of success. Learn to think like a publisher and you will have the best chance to go far.

~Shane

[Adrianne]

Author Sir Shane wrote: " Every professional writer should be writing to make money. "A novice writes for themselves. A pro writes for their audience."

3-6 months is not true in regards to understanding a novel's succe..."

Everything you wrote here is spot on. TALK to readers. Socialize. Don't go there for promo. They'll want to read your books eventually because you were there and actually listened to them versus giving them a sales pitch.

I know that this is tremendously hard for the introverts: getting out there and talking to the public. Thankfully I'm a social butterfly, love chatting with people and so this method of non-promo promo works for me. Plus I get to meet and chat with some great people, which is one of the things I love most about being a writer.

And yes, encourage reviews. Do exchanges with other authors. Don't be afraid to ask people to review your book if they've read it. Encourage feedback. My publisher sends ARCs to a number of review places and it definitely gets the word out there.

Also, be yourself and be real.

[Shane]

Adrianne said "...be yourself and be real."

GREAT ADVICE!!!

Michael Stackpole is a friend of mine. Some of the best advice he gave me was that when you are selling fiction, 50% of it is selling yourself. If the readers that meet you like you, can relate with you, or feel that have some fellowship with you, they will have a positive reflection when reading your work.

~Shane

[Thorina]

Hi Sir Shane and Adrianne. I feel like my book is practically DOA, even though it got a couple nice reviews (Entertainment Weekly) and great reader reviews in some blogs and Amazon. Whatever happens from now on has to be viral because my publisher is already working on titles for 2010. They are sending out advance copies for Spring 09. No one in sales or PR has the time to work on an "old" Spring '08 title. I also think it's hard sell because I wrote a graphic novel for a non-graphic novel audience: women. The topic is about moving on after a heartbreak, but told in a light, witty, and sometimes poignant way.... It really should be in self-help for "divorce" but my editor told me that they can't tell booksellers where to place books, nor are they (Chronicle Books) able to do anything in continuing promotions. All up to me-- I found a recent college grad who is helping me with the viral marketing, research, et al.

[Adrianne]

A graphic novel? You need to promote it to the right audience. I'm a woman and I read graphic novels all of the time. I'm a huge manga fan and also love Neil Gaiman's Sandman series, Alan Moore's Promethea....

You need to get into the graphic novel/scifi/spec fiction/manga circuits and find the right audience. Trust me, we ARE out there!

[Shane]

Adrianne wrote: "A graphic novel? You need to promote it to the right audience. I'm a woman and I read graphic novels all of the time. I'm a huge manga fan and also love Neil Gaiman's Sandman series, Alan Moore's P..."

She is right. I am contracted to write four Graphic novel spin offs from my Abyss Walker series and it was a chore. I spent some time with Sean Taylor and learned the ropes. (Sean does Gene Simmons's "Dominatrix.")

The one thing I learned was how to sacrifice plot an detail for action.

What is your tour schedule like and do you go to cons?

~Shane

[Adrianne]

Yes, may I HIGHLY recommend cons. Arisia in Boston is being held in January and THAT is very much your audience.

[Ari]

i wrote cause i was bored

[Shane]

Ari, Are you published? And if so, by what house?

[Ari]

no

[Ari]

no one would publish me

[Carolyn]

Ari,
How long have you tried to get published? I finally got contracts on my first two books after a few years of trying with various novels. Of course, I got them at the same time! Dark Paradise will be out Feb. 1, in ebook format, and Trinity James will be out later this year, paperback and ebook. There were many times I became discouraged over a nasty rejection, or even a polite one, but I kept plodding on, and I found publishers who actually praised my work! I can only say, keep trying. If you submit and get rejected, try some more. Join an on-line reading group (like FanStory) and get input from other writers; listen to their suggestions and evaluate their benefit to your writing. Don't give up. Don't ever give up. I'm living proof . . .