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. Book signings.
14. Book trailers
15. ...
You can be interviewed for print media, for radio, for TV, on blogs, Internet general, character interviews, trailers just to name a few.
I also put trailers under their own category, so I'll keep my comments limited today to interview trailers. This is a great idea and a great way to get information out on your book. The only reason I haven't done an interview trailer for each of my books is I'm spending all my time writing these blogs. Okay, that isn't the only reason. I have this job and stuff...
Interview trailers are a fantastic way to promote your writing. First you need to tape an interview. Set up any modern camera (they almost all record digitally), and get your friend to ask you typical interview questions:
1. Introduce yourself.
2. Introduce your book.
3. What made you write your book?
4. What do you want people to get out of your book?
5. What makes your book better than all the other choices people have?
6. What are you writing now?
7. What can we expect in the future from you?
These are just examples. If you have to make a script and use a computer to feed the script to you. Use your acting skills. Act excited. Give your novel a great promotion. When you have recorded to your satisfaction, either edit it or distribute it.
Editing it is easier than you might think. There are programs out there that allow you to edit taped files. About five minutes is long enough. Longer and you'll bore people. Shorter..is just shorter. Once you've edited it, distribute it.
The distribution process is easy. U-tube is the most well known and the best, but you can put these short trailers everywhere--including in blogs. You publisher might put them on their site.
There is much more to this subject. I'll give more details on interview trailers tomorrow.
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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