Writing Ideas - New Novel, part 295, Other Information, Marketing Materials

30 January 2015, Writing Ideas - New Novel, part 295, Other Information, Marketing Materials

Announcement: My new novels should be available from any webseller or can be ordered from any brick and mortar bookstore.  Information can be found at www.ancientlight.com.  Check out my novels--I think you'll really enjoy them.

Introduction: I wrote the novel Aksinya: Enchantment and the Daemon. This was my 21st novel and through this blog, 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 beginning with http://www.pilotlion.blogspot.com/2010/10/new-novel-part-3-girl-and-demon.html.

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, visit my writing website http://www.ldalford.com/ and select "production schedule," you will be sent to http://www.sisteroflight.com/.

The four plus one basic rules I employ when writing:

1. Don't confuse your readers.
2. Entertain your readers.
3. Ground your readers in the writing.
4. Don't show (or tell) everything.
5. Immerse yourself in the world of your writing.

All novels have five discrete parts:
1.  The initial scene (the beginning)
2.  The rising action
3.  The climax
4.  The falling action
5.  The dénouement

The theme statement of my 25th novel, working title, Escape, is this: a girl in a fascist island nation will do anything to escape--a young cargo ferry pilot not following the rules crashes on the island.

I'll make a slight digression because I'm developing advertising and publisher materials for my newest completed novel, Lilly.  Here is the cover proposal for Lilly: Enchantment and the Computer. 

Cover Propsal

Before you can market a novel to the public, you have to market it to publishers or potential publishes.  This means you need to develop materials to market your novel.  These marketing materials can be used when the book is published.  We've already looked at two main pieces used in marketing: the title and the book cover proposal.  These are necessary for a web design, and they are also necessary for a publisher.  You can live without a cover proposal for a while, but you need a title right away.

The next step is to build the marketing information you will use to present your novel to publishers and to the public. Here is an outline:

Title of Work:

Lilly: Enchantment and the Computer

Author(s) Name:

L. D. Alford

Type: Either Screenplay or Book

Book

Length: Either # of words for books, or # of pages for screenplays

105,300 words

Keywords and Market Focus:

Fiction, Washington State, Tacoma, Spanaway, Seattle, Computer, Pacific Lutheran University, Hacker, goddess, sushi, Redemption, kami, Japan, Shinto, torii, Shrine, engineering, math; will fascinate anyone interested in the spiritual, mystery, and suspense—will appeal particularly to those who enjoy historical mystery and suspense novels.

Genre:

Fiction Suspense

 

Author Bio: Approximately 120 words

Synopsis:  Approximately 500 Words
 
Concept of the Work:  Approximately 250 Words

Registration: WGA, ISBN, or Library of Congress, Write the number.

None

Other Information:  If you have more work, a website, anything interesting and professional, especially any awards or recognition.

Valeska: Enchantment and the Vampire www.GoddessofDarkness.com, a British agent accidentally becomes involved with a vampire.  

Khione: Enchantment and the Fox www.GoddessNovel.com, a graduate student discovers a demigoddess in modern Boston.

Aksinya: Enchantment and the Daemon www.AksinyaNovel.com, a Russian princess calls a demon to protect her family.

Dana-ana: Enchantment of the Maiden www.Dana-ana.com, the mystery of Dana-ana Goewyn.

Hestia: Enchantment of the Hearth www.EnchantmentoftheHearth.com, the misadventure of archeologists in modern Greece.

Antebellum www.AntebellumNovel.com the mystery of a house that has been missing since the American Civil War and the girl who is called to it.

The Second Mission www.TheSecondMission.com is a historical fiction novel about ancient Greece published in 2003 by Xulon.

Centurion www.CenturionNovel.com published January 2008 and Aegypt www.AegyptNovel.com also published in January 2008 are historical fiction novels from OakTara Fiction www.OakTara.com

The Chronicles of the Dragon and the Fox is a science fiction series published by OakTara Fiction

            The End of Honor (published, July 2008) www.TheEndofHonor.com

            The Fox’s Honor (published Oct 2008) www.TheFoxsHonor.com

            A Season of Honor (published Nov 2008) www.ASeasonofHonor.com

Ancient Light is a suspense series published by Broadstreet, Eleutheria, September 2014 in a three-in-one www.AncientLight.com.

            Aegypt (second edition published by OakTara Fiction, 2014) www.Aegypt.com

            Sister of Light (published by OakTara Fiction, 2014) www.SisterofLight.com

            Sister of Darkness (published by OakTara Fiction, 2014) www.SisterofDarkness.com

More information is available at www.ldalford.com   

 
L.D. Alford has more than 40 technical papers published in international journals on flight test, military policy, flight safety, space, and cyberwar.  His military aviation writing is featured as Military Aviation Adventures on www.wingsoverkansas.com.  Reviewer’s quotes.

Registration: WGA, ISBN, or Library of Congress, Write the number.

None

The publisher wants this information (if it exists) so they can look up the novel (book) and see it's copyright history.  This isn't necessary for your novel, but if you have it, the publisher wants it.  Enough of that.

Other information is a very important part of the marketing material.  Your author information told the publisher a little about you--what the publisher wants to know is your writing and publishing history.  If you have none, don't be afraid to say so.  If you have written other works and novels, here is the place to tell a publisher.  If you write a blog, that is great information for a publisher.  I didn't include my blogging information--I thought there was enough.  I wanted to excite a potential publisher with the breadth and scope of my writing.  I wanted them to have a taste of my experience.  Other information potentially gives a publisher other places to look at your writing and your experience with writing.  This is why this is the place for all things web related.  Note that every entry has a website attached to it.  A potential publisher can go out on the web to see my other writing.  If they don't see something that interested them in the "other" list, they might see something on the web that excites them.

You should also note that my "other information" includes multiple websites.  If you don't have a website,  you need to get at least one.  You can get a free website from many places.  You can get your own dot com site from Go Daddy or other web hosting companies.  If you don't have a website now, get one right away.  Put your ideas, writing, and information out there.  See my websites for ideas and information.

At this point everything I'm doing with and for this work is about marketing to a publisher and building a website.

More tomorrow.

For more information, you can visit my author site http://www.ldalford.com/, and my individual novel websites:
http://www.aegyptnovel.com/
http://www.centurionnovel.com
http://www.thesecondmission.com/
http://www.theendofhonor.com/
http://www.thefoxshonor.com
http://www.aseasonofhonor.com

Writing Ideas - New Novel, part 273, more Title

8 January 2015, Writing Ideas - New Novel, part 273, more Title

Announcement: My new novels should be available from any webseller or can be ordered from any brick and mortar bookstore.  Information can be found at www.ancientlight.com.  Check out my novels--I think you'll really enjoy them.

Introduction: I wrote the novel Aksinya: Enchantment and the Daemon. This was my 21st novel and through this blog, 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 beginning with http://www.pilotlion.blogspot.com/2010/10/new-novel-part-3-girl-and-demon.html.

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, visit my writing website http://www.ldalford.com/ and select "production schedule," you will be sent to http://www.sisteroflight.com/.

The four plus one basic rules I employ when writing:

1. Don't confuse your readers.
2. Entertain your readers.
3. Ground your readers in the writing.
4. Don't show (or tell) everything.
5. Immerse yourself in the world of your writing.

All novels have five discrete parts:
1.  The initial scene (the beginning)
2.  The rising action
3.  The climax
4.  The falling action
5.  The dénouement

The theme statement of my 25th novel, working title, Escape, is this: a girl in a fascist island nation will do anything to escape--a young cargo ferry pilot not following the rules crashes on the island.

I'll make a slight digression because I'm developing advertising and publisher materials for my newest completed novel, Lilly.  Here is the cover proposal for Lilly: Enchantment and the Computer. 

Cover Propsal

If you are setting a title on a work yourself or your publisher asks you for ideas (assuming you don't have a title already), here are some ideas for developing a title.

1.  It needs to be pithy.  I'm not certain how Lilly: Enchantment and the Computer hits you, but I do intend for it to be pithy and eye-catching.  If someone comes across your novel on the web or sees it in a bookstore, you want them to be intrigued and interested in the work.  I like single names for my books, and in fact, my publisher proposed that I develop single names for all my novels.  I kind of thought about it and did make some, but that went by the wayside.  I'll write more about this--that is, publisher and marketing ideas in titles.  A single name is intriguing especially an intriguing name like: Valeska, Hestia, Khione, Aksinya, and Lilly.  I chose the name Lilly for many reasons--that was a character development concept, but the name itself has simple power.  It is a simple, but interesting name.  You don't necessarily put it with computer, so there is a dichotomy.  There is a further dichotomy with enchantment and computer.  You can kind of imagine a Lilly and an enchantment--hard because the name is so innocent sounding, but Lilly and a computer are outside the norm of consideration.  When you put them all together, you have multiple odd intersections.  These intersections, I hope will interest a reader into picking up the book and thumbing through it.

2.  It needs to be marketable.

3.  It needs to be unique, but not too unique.

There is more and more to being pithy.

At this point everything I'm doing with and for this work is about marketing to a publisher and building a website.

More tomorrow.

For more information, you can visit my author site http://www.ldalford.com/, and my individual novel websites:
http://www.aegyptnovel.com/
http://www.centurionnovel.com
http://www.thesecondmission.com/
http://www.theendofhonor.com/
http://www.thefoxshonor.com
http://www.aseasonofhonor.com

21 December 2011, Publication - Advertising Follow-Through

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.  ...

The point of Internet advertising is to get someone to come to your website--there you can seduce them with your book.  That's the whole reason for the advertising, and this applies to the indie as well as the regular published. 

Therefore, your website needs to seduce them to want your novel.  You need to encourage them to want to read your book.  The first step is getting them to your website, the second is getting them to stay long enough to, third, go to a bookseller where they can buy your book.

You can see what you need to do.  First, your website needs to be clear and clean.  It needs to not be ambiguous.  You need to clearly and specifically tell your visitors about your book in words that will interest and draw them to explore further.  You need to have pictures of the cover and information on the book.  I could go on and on about website development, but I'm not an expert--I just have made a lot.  Look at any of my novel websites for an example of how I make a website for a novel.  Look at www.AegyptNovel.com.

Second, you need to get them to stick around on the site long enough to want to buy your novel.  I think a crisp and clean site with strong content is about the best you can do.  Give them the four buttons (described before) and give them those marketing teasers you developed.

Third, point them to booksellers.  Give them a choice.  I put some links, and I put Amazon widgets on my websites.

There is so much more on advertising, but we need to move on.  We'll look at Literary Awards 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/.

Publication - Advertising Ideas, Websites Secrets and Conclusions

13 December 2011, Publication - Advertising Ideas, Websites Secrets and Conclusions

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.  ...

I already wrote extensively on the information I recommend for your novels' webpages.  I'll give the short version again, and you can look back at the earlier blog entries for more details.

I always include a sample of the first chapter.  I put up the official cover.  I link to the official press release for the novel.  Finally, I put up a link to the novel's secret page(s).  The cover and the press release come from your publisher.  They represent the novel to the press.  The first chapter allows a visitor to sample the novel and decide if they want to go buy it.  The secret pages give more information for your readers.  Secret pages also give you more hits on your novel page.

So remember, the key point for a novel webpage is to market your novel.  Your audience is readers and the press.  You need to have a little for everyone.  Make certain the visitors can find your novel from the information and links on the page.  Link to places that sell your book.  Include information about you.  That's about all (in a nutshell) for webpages.

I'll write about blogging 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/.

Publication - Advertising Ideas, Websites Linking

12 December 2011, Publication - Advertising Ideas, Websites Linking
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.  ...

The other information you want on the novel's website is where to find it and reviews.  In most cases, the where to find and buy it is the same as the reviews.   For example, http://www.amazon.com/ has the where, the purchasing, and the reviews.  You should put in a link directly to your novel page to the Amazon page for your book.  The way to do this is simple.  Just cut and paste the book page address from Amazon to your novel page.  It looks something like this: http://www.amazon.com/Aegypt-L-D-Alford/dp/1602900132/ref=sr_1_9?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1282061441&sr=1-9#_  This is the address for my book Aegypt on Amazon.  You use the linking and link functions or selections in your webpage editor to make the links have a more simple address.

You can link to all the other sellers of your novel.  I used Amazon as an example because it is the most well known and convenient.  You can and should link to all the major sellers such as B&N, etc.  In addition to linking to the websites, you can also increase your income through certain type of links.

I'll discuss more about websites 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/.

Publication - Advertising Ideas, Websites Details

11 December 2011, Publication - Advertising Ideas, Websites Details

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.  ...

The main focus of a novel webpage is the novel itself.  Therefore, you need a picture of the cover.  Along with the cover information, you need to list the basic informaiton about the novel.  You can see this informaiton on any book seller's site.  Just look for the ISBN, extended ISBN, publisher, publishing date, price, etc.  This is the basic type of information you need to put on your book page. 

If you remember the marketing materials I developed for Aksinya, this is the kind of information you need to put on the novel website.  Include the synopsis, teasers, and author information.  Of course, you should also put up a picture of the author.
I'll discuss more about websites 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/.

Publication - Advertising Ideas, Websites Setup

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Marketing Materials - A Marketing Website, Button Four

30 September 2011, Marketing Materials - A Marketing Website, Button Four

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:  When your novel is published, you will want to add two other buttons to your marketing page--three and four.  I wrote about button three, the cover button, yesterday.  Today, I'll write about button four.  Button four is for your official press release.  If you are a savey marketer, you might have many press releases related to your book, but usually, you only have one official press release from your publisher.  That's what goes here.  The reasons for putting the official press release in a button on your novel's website are:  first, you have a professional and public place where you can send the press (and anyone else) to get the official press release.  You can also just email it to them, if they ask, but after they lose your email, the first place they will look is your website.  Second, for reviewers, or other interested professionals, you have the official press release in a spot that they can find it.  Third, you have the official words from your publisher welcoming your novel into the world.  These are the words your publisher sent out to numerous news sites and news organizations.  If it was good enough for that, it should certainly be good enough for your marketing site.

Usually, the press release is a pdf in full color.  It is a single page that shows the cover, your picture, publisher information, teasers, a synopsis of the novel, your bio, and the necessary book reference information.  The file usually larger than a webpage can handle, so you definitely don't want to put it on your webpage directly.  The same information I shared on cover images applies here and to any other images you wish to put on your webpage.  You might borrow information from the press release for your website. 

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/. 

I've covered just about everything on building a website.  There are many more things you can do, and much more you can do to enhance your Internet presence--I've just laid out the basics.  I'll write about publishers tomorrow.

Marketing Materials - A Marketing Website, Button Three

29 September 2011, Marketing Materials - A Marketing Website, Button Three

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:  When your novel is published, you will want to add two other buttons to your marketing page--three and four.  Button three is the cover button.  This may sound overly simplistic, but when you are published, reviewers, newspapers, other websites, people will want a picture of your cover.  Your publisher will usually send you a high quality jpg or other file of your cover.  Just save this cover picture to your website documents and link it to a button.  I label the button "Cover."  This makes it easy for a visitor to find.  Additionally, you will not usually want to use this picture for your websites--it will be too large to load quickly.  You want your websites to load quickly or visitors won't wait for it to come up. 

You need to make about four different sizes of your cover.  Size one is the super large, very detailed picture you scan or your publisher sends you.  Size two is large.  When I say large, I mean about 300K bites and no larger.  The next is medium at about 75K bites, and the last is small at about 35K bites.  You can make these files by using various graphics editors.  I like using the old Microsoft Picture editor that came once with office. 

Large files will load slowly and small files will load quickly.  In general, a 35K bite file will load very quickly and not make your readers wait.  You will want to use the medium size file for the larger images of your cover.  Don't use the large or very large image files directly on your websites--otherwise it will take minutes for your page to load.

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/. 

I'll write about button four link tomorrow.

Marketing Materials - A Marketing Website, Button Two

28 September 2011, Marketing Materials - A Marketing Website, Button Two

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:  For unpublished novels, there are two other buttons you will want to include, and for published novels four other buttons.  Button two is the secrets button.  I've gone through the secrets page information, but I'll repeat some of it and add some information.  You can start a secrets page by populating it with information concerning the writing of the novel.  You can include your notes, pictures (ones you might put in a novel, and ones you definitely wouldn't), cover information, ideas on the writing, ideas on the theme, et al.  The point is to provide your readers and potential readers with more information on your novel and the writing of it.

Having a button to go to the secrets page doesn't make it any less interesting to your visitors and readers, but it makes the secrets easier to find and those Google searches will discover it more easily.
This is all the buttons I provide for my unpublished novels.  You might discover more you can give your readers.  Check out http://www.aksinyanovel.com/ for an example.

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/. 

I'll write about button three link tomorrow.

Marketing Materials - A Marketing Website, Button One

27 September 2011, Marketing Materials - A Marketing Website, Button One

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:  For unpublished novels, there are two other buttons you will want to include, and for published novels four other buttons.  Those buttons are, first, one that brings up an example of your novel.  Usually, this is the first chapter.  Most readers and publishers can tell if they are interested in your novel by reading the first few pages.  If your readers or prospective publishers aren't interested in your novel by reading the first few pages, you have a serious problem.  This is one of the reasons I don't recommend anything that looks like a prologue.  I will admit, I did include prologues in my published science fiction novels, but they are supposed to be humorous and interest the reader in the writing.  Their purpose is to drive the reader into the text.  I haven't heard any negatives about them from any sources, so I think they accomplish their purpose.

You can give an example of your first chapter by formatting it properly (see the post on formatting) and saving it as a pdf.  Most modern versions of word will save the document to a pdf--you just have to tell it.  You usually don't want to put the document out as a word document--they are too easy to change.

Save the document to your folder for documents on your website and make a link button to it.  This is really easy to do in most html editors.

I'll repeat my published novel websites so you can see 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/. 

I'll write about button two link tomorrow.

Marketing Materials - A Marketing Website, more Basic Information

26 September 2011, Marketing Materials - A Marketing Website, more Basic Information

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:  Along with the marketing information I already developed, that is the synopsis, bio, teasers, etc., I also include professional reviews and other professional information on the work.  You could also include reviews from Amazon or other sources.  Generally, since I give the visitors a link to the book on Amazon, B&N, etc., I expect them to get the reviews there.  I don't know if this is a good idea or a bad idea.  I've been planning the websites such that they are a source of information that isn't available anywhere else.  Since there are reviews of my novels on Amazon, et all, I don't repeat them on the novel's website.  I have placed some information from other websites on the main and secret pages of a novel's website.  The reason was because this information is not as readily available.  I also provide other links to information on the novel on the Internet.  I'll repeat my published novel websites so you can see 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/. 

Another piece of information you will find on some of my novel websites are links to teaching materials I used when giving a class about the novel or the topic of the novel.  For example, at Aegypt's website, you will find class slides that describe the history behind the novel.  I only post these if I have taught a class in the subject.
On the Centurion website, you will find a class and a couple of reviews from the web.

I'll write about other connections tomorrow.

Marketing Materials - A Marketing Website, Basic Information

25 September 2011, Marketing Materials - A Marketing Website, Basic Information

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've been dwelling on the information that you add to the website following publication, but I don't want you to lose sight of the basic information that should be on any novel marketing website.  I already told you the basic novel information you should include on the site, but I don't want you to forget that the basic information we already developed for marketing is a critical piece of that information.  For example, the synopsis and the author bio are both pieces that should be on the novel website.  You might also want to use the teasers you wrote to introduce the novel.  Look at my websites to get an idea of what I mean and make yours better.  You can see examples at 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/. 

If you are a well known author, your bio should be first.  If you are a lesser known author, your bio should be last.

I'll write about other connections tomorrow.

Marketing Materials - A Marketing Website, more after Publication

23 September 2011, Marketing Materials - A Marketing Website, more after Publication

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:  When your novel is published, you should never post anything official about your novel without also including the basic information on your novel.  For example for my novel Aegypt www.Aegyptnovel.com:

     ISBN: 1602900132

     ISBN-13: 9781602900134

     Format: Paperback, 232pp

     Publisher: OakTara Publishing Group LLC

     Pub. Date: January 2008

This is the basic information cluster for your novel--that is with the title and author.  Make a place on your website to include this information and include it at some point, usually below the cover picture, on all your websites.

There is much more that should be on your novel's website.  I'll talk about that tomorrow.

Marketing Materials - A Marketing Website, more Secrets

21 September 2011, Marketing Materials - A Marketing Website, more Secrets

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'm writing today about the secrets page(s) on your novel's website.  You don't have to have secrets page(s), but they sure can be a draw.  One of my novel's secret pages gets more hits than the regular page--that's because it is a secrets page.

So, what goes on a secrets page?  I've already given you some ideas.  You can find my novels and their secrets pages through http://www.ldalford.com/ or the individual novels websites.  Every one of my novels has their own website--yours should too. 

If you look at my secrets pages, you can see what I have filled them with.  I've put up the original cover ideas: my proposals, the publisher's proposals, and the final--plus some info on the cover.  I've included some of my notes, pictures, maps, diagrams.  On some secrets pages, I've given details on why I wrote the novel and the theme.  I've also show how I went about putting the novel together.  There is much more information I could include.  In general, a secrets page is a place your readers and future readers can go to find more information on your novel.  By the way, when I give a class on one of my novels or about the history in one of my novels, I also put the slide set on the secrets page.

So put up a secrets page.  Tomorrow, I'll give you more information about what can go on your marketing page after your book is published.

Marketing Materials - A Marketing Website, Secrets

20 September 2011, Marketing Materials - A Marketing Website, Secrets

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:  Let's face facts--everyone likes secrets.  Having secret pages, like Easter eggs, on your website is a great feature for both fans and accidental visitors.  You can't make them too secret.  Just labeling your secret information pages as secret is enough to generate interest and drive searches.  Browsers like "secrets" too.

So put up a secrets page.  You can find mine from each novel website by clicking on the novel title, the novel cover picture, or the button labeled "secrets."  You see the point, right?  You want a secrets page but you don't want it to be too hard to find.  Many visitors won't know to look, but if you give them a button or at least a mouse over, they will find the secrets.

So, what do you put on a secrets page?  I'll tell you tomorrow.

Marketing Materials - A Marketing Website, Contracts

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.

Marketing Materials - more on A Marketing Website

18 September 2011, Marketing Materials - more on A Marketing Website

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 showed you how I put together a website from the marketing material I developed.  However, there is much more to the websites I develop.

First, after it is published, this marketing website (www.AksinyaNovel.com) becomes the primary advertising website for the novel.  You can see completed examples of these websites at www.CenturionNovel.com, www.AegyptNovel.com, www.TheSecondMission.com, www.TheEndofHonor.com, www.TheFoxsHonor.com, and www.ASeasonofHonor.com.  These are my published novels.  You can also see how I've modified the sites when they were contracted.  These are at www.SisterofLight.com and www.SisterofDarkness.com.

Second, the marketing and advertising websites become places that fans of the novel can come to find more information.  I provide information from my notes.  I've used "secret" pages for this.  I'll talk about them later.

Third, I use the marketing/advertising pages for the books as places that potential readers can get the first chapter as a sample.

Forth,...there's more--I'll give it to you tomorrow.

Marketing Materials - A Marketing Website

17 September 2011, Marketing Materials - A Marketing Website

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:  If you've been following along, we have a proposed cover, a long form of marketing information that includes a synopsis and some teasers, a short form of information with some teasers.  With this information, you can put together a simple website about your new novel.  That's just what I did at http://www.aksinyanovel.com/.

I use Microsoft HomePage to manage, design, and publish my websites.  There are more modern programs, but this one is simple to use, and I already have it.  To make a website, you just have to choose a style and cut and paste the elements on the page.  That's what I did to make http://www.aksinyanovel.com/.  It is really easy. 

You can use the cover proposal as a linking graphic from all over your websites, and, of course, you can use it as the main graphic for your novel's website.  That's what I did at http://www.aksinyanovel.com/. 

The information to populate the website comes directly from the marketing information I've already shown you how to develop.  You can see it at the site.

I'll write more about this book marketing website tomorrow.