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 don't have to wait for your publisher to make a press release for you. This is very important for indi writers and for other advertising. There are a host of websites where you can put out free press releases. I used to have them all in my computer, but I had a reinstall and lost them. In any case, a little searching around the Internet will find these places to put out your press releases.
How good of advertising does a press release give you? Not that much. As I've mentioned over and over, most news and interest is topical and not on novels. Unless you are a best seller, and even then you have to be a million book seller, you won't get much, if any, attention for your novels. Local press will usually give you some play; however, if you have a large newspaper in your city, they'll usually ignore you. For some reason I can't fathom, the press is usually not willing to support other writers. They'll give copy to one of their own who self produces and vanity publishes, but they will totally ignore a successful writer in their midst. In fact, most large press newspapers will take the NY Times book page and reproduce it and never give a single letter to local authors (unless they are in the NYT book page). They ignored a great author here until she won the Caldecott.
I'll write about what to put in a press release 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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