19 September 2011, Marketing Materials - A Marketing Website, Contracts
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. At this moment, I'm showing you the marketing material I put together for a novel.
Today's Blog: Your novel's website begins life as a marketing website. You want to give prospective publishers a place to go to get information on your book and you'd like to begin building a web presence.
When the novel is placed on contract by a publisher, you can use the marketing website to track the steps through the publication process. I've done just that for my two novels under contract http://www.sisteroflight.com/ and http://www.sisterofdarkness.com/. You can see, I've added information to the top of the marketing page.
I put this information up so I could track the publication of the novel and to give other authors an opportunity to see the details and the time involved in getting a novel published by a publisher. You might find this information useful. Since I've been through the publication of six novels, I've figured out the steps, but I haven't tracked them in this detail before.
I mentioned there are secret pages (they really aren't that secret) on each of my novel's websites. I'll move this information to the secrets pages after the novel is published. I also put some of the notes I used in writing the novel on the secrets pages and some of the blogs.
I'll talk more about secrets pages tomorrow.
Showing posts with label material. Show all posts
Showing posts with label material. Show all posts
Monday, September 19, 2011
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Marketing Materials - Covers
13 September 2011, Marketing Materials - Covers
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. At this moment, I'm showing you the marketing material I put together for a novel.
Today's Blog: I want to write about one more idea before we get to populating a marketing website. That idea is the cover. When I first began writing novels, my impression was that the publisher would read my novel and have someone design a cover for it. My imagination couldn't be farther from the truth. Just as I showed you how to write marketing material to produce teasers, inner, and back cover material, you need to realise that most material for your novel comes from you and not the publisher. And even the information that comes from your publisher can be enhanced by your professional attention early in the process.
For example, when developing the marketing material for my novels, my publisher sent some ideas for the back cover and their press release. I shot back the teasers from the short form and the reviewer's quotes from the long form. My publisher loved them. She smooshed them together a little and wrote her copy from them. I realized then the importance of this kind of material.
When my publisher needed a cover idea, they didn't come up with one by themselves. They asked me for a design idea, and I provided them one. Since then, every time I write a novel, I put together a proposed cover. Your question is likely, how do you go about making a cover proposal.
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. At this moment, I'm showing you the marketing material I put together for a novel.
Today's Blog: I want to write about one more idea before we get to populating a marketing website. That idea is the cover. When I first began writing novels, my impression was that the publisher would read my novel and have someone design a cover for it. My imagination couldn't be farther from the truth. Just as I showed you how to write marketing material to produce teasers, inner, and back cover material, you need to realise that most material for your novel comes from you and not the publisher. And even the information that comes from your publisher can be enhanced by your professional attention early in the process.
For example, when developing the marketing material for my novels, my publisher sent some ideas for the back cover and their press release. I shot back the teasers from the short form and the reviewer's quotes from the long form. My publisher loved them. She smooshed them together a little and wrote her copy from them. I realized then the importance of this kind of material.
When my publisher needed a cover idea, they didn't come up with one by themselves. They asked me for a design idea, and I provided them one. Since then, every time I write a novel, I put together a proposed cover. Your question is likely, how do you go about making a cover proposal.
I'll tell you tomorrow.
Saturday, September 10, 2011
Marketing Materials - Short Form, Uses
10 September 2011, Marketing Materials - Short Form, Uses
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, 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. At this moment, I'm showing you the marketing material I put together for a novel.
This is the final version of the short form. Just like the long form, you should review and edit this information. Before you send it out to anyone, you should lok it over. You can use this information like you would the long form, that is to introduce yourself and your novel, but there are other purposes for the information. I'll talk about those soon. So, here is the final version of the short form:
Short form information:
1. No more than 3 sentences about the content of your manuscript.
3. No more than 2 sentences about yourself. (use 3rd person)
L. D. Alford is a novelist whose writing uniquely explores the connections between present events and history—he combines them with threads of reality that bring the past alive.
4. No more than 2 sentences that include “other,” i.e. any reasons, relationships, or other factors that might make your work more attractive.
Tomorrow I'll talk about my specific publisher's marketing information.
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, 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. At this moment, I'm showing you the marketing material I put together for a novel.
This is the final version of the short form. Just like the long form, you should review and edit this information. Before you send it out to anyone, you should lok it over. You can use this information like you would the long form, that is to introduce yourself and your novel, but there are other purposes for the information. I'll talk about those soon. So, here is the final version of the short form:
Short form information:
1. No more than 3 sentences about the content of your manuscript.
Aksinya contracted the demon, Asmodeus to save her family from the Bolsheviks, unfortunately her family was already dead—now, who can save Aksinya.
The demon, Asmodeus' purpose is to tempt Aksinya to accomplish evil.
Before Aksinya can gain her freedom from the demon, Asmodeus, she might lose her friends, family, and acquaintances, and it will all be her fault.
2. One sentence about successful works similar to yours.
The conceptual theme of Aksinya is similar to Faust, a story about a man who makes a contract with the devil. The difference is the main character in Aksinya did not intend evil through her actions and constantly attempts to find some means to break her contract with the demon.
3. No more than 2 sentences about yourself. (use 3rd person)
L. D. Alford is a novelist whose writing uniquely explores the connections between present events and history—he combines them with threads of reality that bring the past alive.
Dr. Alford is a scientist and widely traveled author who combines intimate scientific and cultural knowledge into fiction worlds that breathe reality.
4. No more than 2 sentences that include “other,” i.e. any reasons, relationships, or other factors that might make your work more attractive.
Aksinya: Enchantment and the Daemon is exciting fiction from the celebrated author of Dana-ana: Enchantment of the Maiden, Hestia: Enchantment of the Hearth, Antebellum, Centurion, Aegypt, The End of Honor, The Fox’s Honor, A Season of Honor, Sister of Light, and Sister of Darkness.
Aksinya: Enchantment and the Daemon is standalone historical suspense fiction that continues the supernatural themes of L.D. Alford’s other Ancient Light and Enchantment novels.
Tomorrow I'll talk about my specific publisher's marketing information.
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Marketing Materials - Short Form, Similar Works
7 September 2011, Marketing Materials - Short Form, Similar Works
I also produce a short form for my novels. The short form is not complete. That is, unlike the long form, it doesn't include all the information you might need to give a publisher or an agent. It does include the kind of information you might need for a reviewer, a newspaper, a book show, a website, and etc. You can additionally use this information for teasers and to help write other marketing material.
The short form gives you quick and terse words to describe yourself and your work.
Short form information:
1. No more than 3 sentences about the content of your manuscript.
This answer to this question is more important than many would imagine. Publishers and agents want to know something they can compare your work to. If you can make a comparison, it becomes easier to sell an idea.
Tomorrow, we'll continue filling out the short form for Aksinya with commentary, of course.
I also produce a short form for my novels. The short form is not complete. That is, unlike the long form, it doesn't include all the information you might need to give a publisher or an agent. It does include the kind of information you might need for a reviewer, a newspaper, a book show, a website, and etc. You can additionally use this information for teasers and to help write other marketing material.
The short form gives you quick and terse words to describe yourself and your work.
Short form information:
1. No more than 3 sentences about the content of your manuscript.
Aksinya contracted the demon, Asmodeus to save her family from the Bolsheviks, unfortunately her family was already dead—now, who can save Aksinya.
The demon, Asmodeus' purpose is to tempt Aksinya to accomplish evil.
Before Aksinya can gain her freedom from the demon, Asmodeus, she might lose her friends, family, and acquaintances, and it will all be her fault.
2. One sentence about successful works similar to yours.
The conceptual theme of Aksinya is similar to Faust, a story about a man who makes a contract with the devil. The difference is the main character in Aksinya did not intend evil through her actions and constantly attempts to find some means to break her contract with the demon.
This answer to this question is more important than many would imagine. Publishers and agents want to know something they can compare your work to. If you can make a comparison, it becomes easier to sell an idea.
In this sentence, you want to find some novel or work that your novel can be compared with. The comparison can be either plot or theme. If you can't find a classical or popular work to compare it to, you aren't looking enough (or you aren't familiar enough with literature) or the possibility really exists that you have hit on an idea that has never been used before. I do have one novel that is that unique.
Dana-ana: Enchantment and the Maiden is an absolutely unique plot. There is literally nothing in classical or popular literature similar to it. Here is what I wrote for it:
The conceptual theme of Dana-ana is unique. It has almost no similarity to other novels. It is in some ways a coming of age novel with a supernatural twist, but the supernatural basis is not similar to anything in popular or classical fiction.
This is not true of most other novels in the world. I can find comparisons for all my other writing. Most popular and classical novels have easy comparisons. For example, the Twilight novels can be compared to any number of young adult novels or to Dracula by Bram Stoker. Any Vampire novel easily can be compared to Dracula. The Harry Potter novels are easily compared to many children's novels, anime, and manga. The theme of a school for magic isn't very unusual especially in manga. You could compare it to the Sword in the Stone--the teaching of Aurthur by Merlin.
This little sentence is like the sentence on the long form about the audience--it has great importance although it seems like a simple question and answer. Audience allows the publisher to know who you focused your writing toward. The comparison allows the publisher to understand what you think your work is similar to.
3. No more than 2 sentences about yourself. (use 3rd person)
4. No more than 2 sentences that include “other,” i.e. any reasons, relationships, or other factors that might make your work more attractive.
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Marketing Materials - Short Form, Content
6 September 2011, Marketing Materials - Short Form, Content
I also produce a short form for my novels. The short form is not complete. That is, unlike the long form, it doesn't include all the information you might need to give a publisher or an agent. It does include the kind of information you might need for a reviewer, a newspaper, a book show, a website, and etc. You can additionally use this information for teasers and to help write other marketing material.
The short form gives you quick and terse words to describe yourself and your work.
Short form information:
1. No more than 3 sentences about the content of your manuscript.
Tomorrow, we'll start filling out the short form for Aksinya with commentary, of course.
I also produce a short form for my novels. The short form is not complete. That is, unlike the long form, it doesn't include all the information you might need to give a publisher or an agent. It does include the kind of information you might need for a reviewer, a newspaper, a book show, a website, and etc. You can additionally use this information for teasers and to help write other marketing material.
The short form gives you quick and terse words to describe yourself and your work.
Short form information:
1. No more than 3 sentences about the content of your manuscript.
Aksinya contracted the demon, Asmodeus to save her family from the Bolsheviks, unfortunately her family was already dead—now, who can save Aksinya.
The demon, Asmodeus' purpose is to tempt Aksinya to accomplish evil.
Before Aksinya can gain her freedom from the demon, Asmodeus, she might lose her friends, family, and acquaintances, and it will all be her fault.
Okay, here are three sentences about the novel Aksinya. You can see, these statements are written as tightly and sucinctly as possible. You want to be terse, yet keep them exciting and flowing. The point is to provide three teasers. You can expand these later or use them just as they are.
Try to get excitement into them. They to encapsulate the feel of the novel or the tension of the novel.
There is no way to fully describe any complex work in a sentence--this is what you as a writer must do. Even if you don't use them for marketing, consider this a great exercise in writing.
2. One sentence about successful works similar to yours.
3. No more than 2 sentences about yourself. (use 3rd person)
4. No more than 2 sentences that include “other,” i.e. any reasons, relationships, or other factors that might make your work more attractive.
Monday, September 5, 2011
Marketing Materials - Short Form
5 September 2011, Marketing Materials - Short Form
I also produce a short form for my novels. This form is not complete. That is, it doesn't include all the information you need to give a publisher or an agent. It does include the kind of information you might need for a reviewer, a newspaper, a book show, a website, and etc. You can additionally use this information for teasers and to help write other marketing material.
The short form gives you quick and terse words to describe yourself and your works.
Short form information:
1. No more than 3 sentences about the content of your manuscript.
Tomorrow, we'll start filling out the short form for Aksinya with commentary, of course.
I also produce a short form for my novels. This form is not complete. That is, it doesn't include all the information you need to give a publisher or an agent. It does include the kind of information you might need for a reviewer, a newspaper, a book show, a website, and etc. You can additionally use this information for teasers and to help write other marketing material.
The short form gives you quick and terse words to describe yourself and your works.
Short form information:
1. No more than 3 sentences about the content of your manuscript.
2. One sentence about successful works similar to yours.
3. No more than 2 sentences about yourself. (use 3rd person)
4. No more than 2 sentences that include “other,” i.e. any reasons, relationships, or other factors that might make your work more attractive.
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Marketing Materials - First Step
31 August 2011, Marketing Materials - First Step
I'm showing you how I prepare marketing material for my novels. Here is a repeat just to introduce the subject. Today, I'm working on the first section of the long form information.
Marketing a novel is more difficult in my mind than writing a novel. I'd like to just spend my time writing, unfortunately, before your novel is published, you have the burden of finding a publisher and after your novel is published, you have the burden of following your publisher's marketing instructions.
Marketing is a very important part of writing a novel. The first thing after writing your novel is get your marketing stuff together. Marketing information is critical to your writing and it forms the basis for the inner and outer cover and other future marketing materials. Here is the outline of what is required. I'll start with the long form information and continue to the short form.
I put all this information together in the same file. I do produce a second file, that I will go over with you specifically for my regular publisher. I put the commentary in italics.
Title of Work:
Remember, I told you you need to set a title on the work. Go back and look at how I've written about this. This may not be the best title, but it is unique and meets the criteria I mentioned for searches and other works with a similar name (there are none). You have to set a title because you need to call the novel something.
This is your nom de plume. I use L.D. Alford as my professional writing name. You put your real name on your cover letter or the top of the marketing materials. By the way, you are producing these materials so you can give a publisher a couple of pages of information that definitively describes your novel. You are also producing these materials for the future use of your publisher in producing other marketing materials and the front and back covers of your published novel. These include the teasers for your novel.
This is an unbelievably important section. The most important part is the end where we see the Market Focus. The keywords themselves allow a publisher or an agency to get a feel of interest for the work. They also provide the ability to categorize the work. These are helpful to you in developing your websites and information. Pick and choose carefully those words that uniquely describe your work. Try to determine words that will excite and intrigue the publishers and possible readers. These will become the words that generally describe your work.
Market focus is your real first chance to get the publisher excited about your work. This will focus their interest and give them the first impression of what audience the work is aimed at. Plus, this allows you to determine the audience of your work. You wouldn't send a book like Aksinya to a cooking book publisher. You wouldn't send this kind of novel to a young adult publisher or to a science fiction publisher.
Tomorrow, we'll look at more information with commentary.
I'm showing you how I prepare marketing material for my novels. Here is a repeat just to introduce the subject. Today, I'm working on the first section of the long form information.
Marketing a novel is more difficult in my mind than writing a novel. I'd like to just spend my time writing, unfortunately, before your novel is published, you have the burden of finding a publisher and after your novel is published, you have the burden of following your publisher's marketing instructions.
Marketing is a very important part of writing a novel. The first thing after writing your novel is get your marketing stuff together. Marketing information is critical to your writing and it forms the basis for the inner and outer cover and other future marketing materials. Here is the outline of what is required. I'll start with the long form information and continue to the short form.
I put all this information together in the same file. I do produce a second file, that I will go over with you specifically for my regular publisher. I put the commentary in italics.
Title of Work:
Aksinya: Enchantment and the Daemon
Remember, I told you you need to set a title on the work. Go back and look at how I've written about this. This may not be the best title, but it is unique and meets the criteria I mentioned for searches and other works with a similar name (there are none). You have to set a title because you need to call the novel something.
Author(s) Name:
L. D. Alford
This is your nom de plume. I use L.D. Alford as my professional writing name. You put your real name on your cover letter or the top of the marketing materials. By the way, you are producing these materials so you can give a publisher a couple of pages of information that definitively describes your novel. You are also producing these materials for the future use of your publisher in producing other marketing materials and the front and back covers of your published novel. These include the teasers for your novel.
Type: Either Screenplay or Book
Book
This matters to some publishers and some agencies (don't ask me why. Ask them.)
This matters to some publishers and some agencies (don't ask me why. Ask them.)
Length: Either # of words for books, or # of pages for screenplays
121,475 words
Novels are measured in the number of words. This is the only measure that means anything.
Novels are measured in the number of words. This is the only measure that means anything.
Keywords and Market Focus:
Fiction, Russia, Austria, 1918, Wien, Vienna, Daemon, Demon, Aksinya, Asmodeus, Catholic Church, Sorcery, Travel, Orthodox Church, Russian Revolution, WWI, temptation, desire, convent, nobility, Countess, aristocracy, languages, Latin, Greek, German, French, contract, evil, Tobit
Will fascinate anyone interested in sorcery, mystery, and suspense—will appeal particularly to those who enjoy historical mystery and suspense novels.
This is an unbelievably important section. The most important part is the end where we see the Market Focus. The keywords themselves allow a publisher or an agency to get a feel of interest for the work. They also provide the ability to categorize the work. These are helpful to you in developing your websites and information. Pick and choose carefully those words that uniquely describe your work. Try to determine words that will excite and intrigue the publishers and possible readers. These will become the words that generally describe your work.
Market focus is your real first chance to get the publisher excited about your work. This will focus their interest and give them the first impression of what audience the work is aimed at. Plus, this allows you to determine the audience of your work. You wouldn't send a book like Aksinya to a cooking book publisher. You wouldn't send this kind of novel to a young adult publisher or to a science fiction publisher.
Genre:
Author Bio: Approximately 120 words
Synopsis: Approximately 500 Words
Registration: WGA, ISBN, or Library of Congress, Write the number.
Other Information: If you have more work, a website, anything interesting and professional, especially any awards or recognition.
Short form information:
Reviewer’s quotes.
1. No more than 3 sentences about the content of your manuscript.
2. One sentence about successful works similar to yours.
3. No more than 2 sentences about yourself. (use 3rd person)
4. No more than 2 sentences that include “other,” i.e. any reasons, relationships, or other factors that might make your work more attractive.
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