Introduction: I realized that I need to introduce this blog a little. I wrote the novel Aksinya: Enchantment and the Daemon. The working title was Daemon, and this was my 21st novel. Over the last year, I gave you the entire novel in installments that included commentary on the writing. In the commentary, in addition to other general information on writing, I explained, how the novel was constructed, the metaphors and symbols in it, the writing techniques and tricks I used, and the way I built the scenes. You can look back through this blog and read the entire novel.
I'm using this novel as an example of how I produce, market, and eventually (we hope) get a novel published. I'll keep you informed along the way.
Today's Blog: To see the steps in the publication process, go to my writing website http://www.ldalford.com/ and select "production schedule," you will be sent to http://www.sisteroflight.com/.
Here is the list of ideas for advertising--there are more and I'll add to the list as we go along. I'm certainly not an expert in all these, but I've dabbled in all of them. I'll try to relate my experience and the degree of that experience to you.
1. Have a website for your novel.
2. Write a blog.
3. Advertise.
4. Literary awards.
5. Book cards.
6. Contests.
7. Interviews.
8. Blog tours.
9. Press releases.
10. Speaking and teaching.
11. e-mailing.
12. Gifts.
13. ...
You can be interviewed for print media, for radio, for TV, on blogs, Internet general, character interviews, trailers just to name a few.
You never want to prepare, suggest, or try to answer questions like this:
1. Ones that take more than a short paragraph to answer.
2. Ones that have really complex answers.
3. Ones that take a special level of education or training to answer.
4. Ones that are purely opinion based.
5. Ones that are controversial.
Here are examples of these types of questions:
1. Complex and long: What is the theme of your novel? (This is not a bad question if you can answer it in a couple of sentences. Most people can't and many authors haven't thought about it).
2. Controversial: Is your main character homosexual? (Unless your main character is homosexual, this is a trick question).
3. Special level of understanding: How does the end of the age of enlightenment fit with the theme of your novel? (Unless this is a major topic of your novel).
Do you get the idea? If you can intelligently answer these questions with just a couple of sentences, you may answer them. On the other hand, if you can't the best thing to do it turn a difficult question back to the novel. In terms of these questions, you don't really want to answer theme questions--unless you've really thought about it. You should think about it. Turn this type of question back to the plot. For controversial questions, turn them back to the novel. For example, with a controversial question about the main character, either say straight out--the character isn't a homosexual, or leave it ambivalent with, you'll just have to read the novel and figure that out for yourself. For a very complex question, try to use the context to point back to your novel. There is always more, but we need to move on.
Tomorrow, television interviews.
I'll repeat my published novel websites so you can see more examples: http://www.ldalford.com/, and the individual novel websites: http://www.aegyptnovel.com/, http://www.centurionnovel.com/, http://www.thesecondmission.com/, http://www.theendofhonor.com/, http://www.thefoxshonor.com/, and http://www.aseasonofhonor.com/.
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