To Those Who Have Novels Published

I think many Big Authors have fan sites and some sort of internet presence. B-list authors often have their own sites too. I remember a while back before there was much internet, Lawrence Block took the time to write and mail his own little "newsletter" to his fans. He actually had people sign up at his little "events." He taught a summer session creative writing workshop (mysteries) at my college and had his little pad for addresses. I met him at a picnic where there were also quite a few authors who have since become more famous, and others who have vanished. So he was always working, always chatting up his books. You could tell he loved to write, and he was so interesting that you wanted to read his books whether you liked Mysteries or not.


I mean "fans" here as people who like your work, want to buy your next novel, and are interested in your career and writing. Your "buyers." I have also seen this exact phenomenon among smaller recording artists. How you treat your fans (people who like your writing) starts from day one. Personally, I would get the name and address of anyone enthusiastic about my work and send them Christmas cards.

I would certainly not recommend total access to anyone. You are there to talk about your writing, not your family life, or past experiences, so I think you can be a private person.

I do think that it is to an author's benefit to blog, sign books at large chain bookstores, talk to fans, be seen, give lectures about writing to high school classes, and so on when and if possible.

I don't think that Publishers "order" it. Many writers have "Facebook/MySpace" accounts well before they make it big. What you put on them is your business. Since they are popular, I think more people would go there. I don't check either to find out if any famous authors are hanging out there. (I tend to class them with "Teenager" things-- although I know adults have accounts there). You could use those accounts as a way to direct people to your "real" website. Like: Hi my name is Jane Doe, I'm an author. These are a few of my books. (photos of book jackets) I will be at Borders in Lancing Mich. on July 22nd. Click on this link to go to my official "fan site," or whatever you want to tell them. I personally think a real "website" is the way to go-- but it, of course, costs money. (As a business expense it would be tax deductible).

I have a publisher, but my first book isn't out yet.

When we first talked about a publishing deal, we had a conversation about marketing, and a number of things were brought up. When we're nearer to release time, they will help me put together an author website. But they also considered it a plus that I was a part of other internet communities.

I've heard of authors being told to open Myspace accounts. The publisher knew I already had one. I told them that I had some public speaking experience, which they considered a plus. They asked what things I'd be willing to do.

You don't have to reveal all with a web presence. A site with some of your work is fine. A blog can focus on writing extracts and articles, rather than your deep secrets. You can make them about your work, rather than you.

You don't have to put pictures of yourself online. I use my blue mushroom on social sites instead of a photo. Few sites have rules that say it has to be of you. The only time that's come up was the Elfwood art gallery, where I put up a picture of my hand painted purple. There are creative ways around the issue of profile pictures.

With rare exception publishers expect authors to promote their books on their own. Whatever the publisher may ask you to do on their dime is an entirely separate matter. Simply put, this is how the industry works these days and it's incumbent upon you go get as deeply involved as possible in the promotion of your book. If you have an agent representing you s/he will probably ask you to put together a promotion and marketing plan -- things which you can do to bring attention to your book and increase sales. The agent uses this to help sell your work to a publisher. The agent knows that publishers expect this from an author. So, whether you like it or not, getting involved and putting together a plan is something you most likely have to do. How well you do it can greatly influence the sale of your work to a publisher. All the same holds true even if you don't have an agent. Just substitute editor for agent. You can certainly keep your private life to yourself, but a promotional presence is pretty much a guarantee.

CBumpkin said:

I would like to clear up a few myths and rumors and straighten out a few realities for myself and others about publishing. (NOT self-publishing or POD. I'm talking about industry-known publishers, the old-fashioned way.) Answers to the following questions have ranged from one extreme to the other and it would be nice to hear some personal experiences on the matter.

When your manuscript is accepted for publication, do publishers ask you how YOU intend to publicize and market your book? For example, doing your own leg work to some local book stores to get book-signings on your own. How about not so local areas? Also, do they want you to have a blog and a MySpace or Facebook account for the purposes of advertising and "putting yourself out there" so people can learn more about you? Do publishers ask/require you to have your own publicity plan in place?

I've heard answers that are all over the map on this. Personally, I'm willing to do most anything a publisher would ask, like being sent on book-signings and the usual publicity checklist, but I don't have any intention of blogging or becoming a part of atrocities like Facebook or MySpace. (My opinion of them.) Or even a YouTube account for vlogs. I'm private and a writer, not a marketing specialist or someone with any inclinations of being famous or "known," except for my work. Heck, I don't even want my picture on the book.

I can see small, relatively unknown publishers needing these extra boosts, but how about the bigger publishing houses? Do they want, or require, their authors to participate in these things? To blog or not to blog, that is the question.

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I'm published with HarperTeen.

I was not asked about my own promotional efforts or intent, save that they wanted me to let them know about anything I did on my own. I was told that having a website was a good idea and a MySpace a must. (They'd like it if I had a Facebook too, but there is only so much I can keep up with right now.) I built the site and the MySpace, and have found both to be EXTREMELY useful in terms of reaching out to readers. (It might be different in other genres, but in YA, you are trying to reach out to teen readers -- and to reach them where they live, MySpace is where you need to be.)

I have been asked to do a couple of bookstore readings, which I sort of dread but am determined to make the most of. I've done my first convention and enjoyed it immensely, to my surprise. In late June, I'll film a video interview for the HarperTeen website. I'm not a person who likes to put herself forward either, but let's face it: If I wanted to write books nobody read, I could just keep them locked up at home. If I want them to be read, then I have to help make that happen. That doesn't mean coming up with my own marketing plan, thank goodness, but it does mean working with my publisher.

Maintaining a public presence doesn't mean splattering your id all over the internet; there are ways to handle it that will allow you to reach out to readers but maintain your own personal space.

I think a lot depends on the type of novel you've written.

I'm published with Ace, urban fantasy. I have one book out, another due this Fall, and two more under contract.

No one at Ace has ever asked me about what my marketing plans might be. Their in house marketing department has done some stuff, such as handing out samplers at cons which include excepts, but the rest is up to me.

If I want to organize my own cross country bookstore tour, fine with them. If I want to be a recluse and never appear publicly, fine with them.

If for whatever reason they decide to aggressively promote your book, there are things they expect you to do, but it's things they set up, not things you have to come up with on your own

I have a website, I blog infrequently, I network with other authors in my genre via the internet, I make sure SF/F review sites such as SFNET or Green Man Review get an ARC of the book, and that's about it.

So far, I'm certainly not a breakout author for them, but my first book has had better than respectable sales as measured by industry averages for a debut author in my genre.

I firmly believe that if you enjoy marketing, esp with an internet presence, and you're good at it, it's a big help. But if not, it won't ruin your career -- the bottom line is still that if people like your book they will tell others and it will sell. If they don't, it won't.

The advantage to a major publisher is that they get your book into the stores, so that you personally don't have to work your butt off to achieve wide distribution and exposure, the way you might with a small publisher.

I'm published with two very small presses. The first is a traditional small press, and they're just happy if you do anything to promote your book. The second is an epublisher that also produces books in trade paper, and author self-promotion is pretty much required. They don't put a gun to your head or anything, but there's a marketing department that sets up myriad events online for you to participate in. Ugh. It was exhausting while I was doing it, and I'm not sure if it did a whole lot of good. Sales were pretty static. Yet in the small press market, energetic internet marketing the only way to get the word out about your book. Books aren't sitting on store shelves unless you jump through hoops to get them there. Some stores refuse epublisher books even if they're printed because the publisher won't take returns (it's too expensive for a small press with limited operating capital).

I've promised myself to never be epublished again. I tried it. I didn't like it. It's too much work and I made about $1000 and worked my tail off self-promoting just to get that. My attitude now is if the manuscript doesn't sell to a big New York publisher, it goes in the trunk and I write a new one. I have an agent now, so hopefully I'll reach my goal. If not, the manuscript gets trunked, then on to the next project.

I'd say most epublished authors I've met seem to really like doing what they have to do, and my hat's off to them. Personally, I'd rather write than peddle my wares.

I think it depends on publisher and the book. Publicity budget needs to be allocated, and the bigger you are, the more you get. Still, you can't depend on the publisher to do all the work. I don't know any novelists who haven't gone out there to promote their own books -- whether it's book tour, book signings, seminars, or a website, MySpace, etc. I think many writers actually make a mistake by thinking their publishers would do all the work, so they sit home and wait for the check to come, and are surprised when they're dropped because their sales are horrible.

My publisher didn't really have a plan for me, or ask for one, but they did make it clear how important it is for the writers to promote themselves. If people don't know you exist, they won't know your book exists. I've done everything from book signings to workshops to conventions to TV and radio appearances. I go on radio every few months just to talk about myself, my books, my future plans, etc. Basically, you need to keep reminding people who you are and what is that you do.

Karen Duvall said:

Personally, I'd rather write than peddle my wares.

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Myself, I'm excited about my writing (even though I never think it's good enough...go figure), so have no issues with telling people about it (peddle my wares? )

I haven't been published yet (must stay positive!) but I already have a firm plan for promotion. I've got a pretty popular website, and I've got MySpace, Facebook, and Deviant Art accounts. I think it's very important to have a "fanbase" before the book hits the shelves.

Of course, it's always sweet to have a publicist who gets you on Oprah or Ellen!

*edit* and a blog. I have officially taken over the internets. lol

There's some interesting info here. To be honest, I've never thought about the marketing side of it or publicising myself. Which probably shows how much I know about this business.

I am more like CBumpkin, I just got a contract for one of my books but I am very uncomfortable about tooting my own horn. I've heard that authors have blog sites and I've even seen author's blog sites but wouldn't have a clue as to how to set one up for myself.

I was first published by HarperCollins London in 1999, after that two more books.
Theyor expected never asked me to do anything on my own, not even a website. In those days there was no MySpace or facebook. They did all the publicity themselves, and when they needed me they flew me in from Germany and arranged everything themselves, TV and radio appearances, press interviews, readings, a book tour. It was the same with two of my foreign publishers, France and Germany. I never had the feeling I had to blow my own trumpet, which is fine with me because I hate doing so, which is probably the reason I remain a C List author! (Or more likely the books are just bad.)

I've found my web site to be the most useful thing I've done in terms of promoting my book. You wouldn't believe the number of people who send e mail to that site, most of whom have just finished reading my book, and it's wonderful. I get to hear from the very people I want to hear from. It took a very long time to figure out the content, but it was worth it. My publisher reviewed my site, and gave me suggestions for improving it, but no one told me I had to do anything. I do have a facebook account because everyone assured me I was not too old to have one, but I feel ridiculous and never go there. Still, I did manage to find two people who I went to college with.

Susan Breen said:

I've found my web site to be the most useful thing I've done in terms of promoting my book. You wouldn't believe the number of people who send e mail to that site, most of whom have just finished reading my book, and it's wonderful.

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Yes, I get a lot of mail from readers as well through my website. But I was never asked by my publisher to create it, and I don't even know if they ever looked at it.

Aruna,

That's the way it was in 1999 and before. With some exceptions that's just not how it is today. Publishers still won't tell you or demand that you do this or that, but they expect you to be active and do all you can to help to bring attention to your book and increase sales.

The last 10 or so years in the publishing business has brought about many changes. Of course I'm speaking about US publishers. It may be different with foreign publishers.

Seriously, worry about the paparazzi later. Much, much later.

CBumpkin, I don't think the paparazzi are interested that much in writers - we're not glamorous enough, not YOUNG enough, and not rich enough, by and large. Do most writers hang out in Hollywood? No. So why would paparazzi be interested? It's never the SCREENWRITERS who get hounded by paparazzi, it's the people appearing in the movie, the director. Singers and others "in the public eye." Writers aren't like that.

I don't think there's even that much about JK Rowlings paparazzi-wise. When she goes to some gala, yes, but on a daily basis - who cares what JK Rowlings looks like drinking coffee at a shop at 9 AM? Seriously, readers don't care. So there's no market for that kind of stuff for writers generally.

There's no reason that your blog/website/Myspace have to be personal. If you feel comfortable talking about writing, you can always blog about that. Use your pen name on your Myspace and make everything about your book. These types of sites are just tools, and there is no reason to take them farther than you feel comfortable.

I have two books with a smaller publisher and a multi-book contract with a large publisher. These are my personal observations. Your mileage may vary . . .

Unless you're a celebrity in disguise or your publisher dropped some mad coin on your book, they won't be sending you on a book tour. Book tours only work if there's a name attached that'll get people out of the house. Names like Neil Gaiman, Stephen King, JK Rowling. Or celebrities from other media. As a first-timer, if you want a book tour you'll have to arrange it all yourself. Your publisher will likely help you with some aspects of marketing, but the legwork will come from you. The thing that struck me is: they're not necessarily the best use of your time. Crime author JA Konrath is a huge proponent of the bookstore tour; he works it and he works it well. Historical author Steven Pressfield rarely does book signings, but it doesn't seem to have hurt his popularity among his readers. Who's right? Neither . . . and both. You do what you're comfortable with. Just don't expect your publisher to do anything unless they've invested a pile of cash in you already.

The draw of blogging, and indeed of internet marketing, is the ability to reach a much larger readership than you could through tours and signings. Blogs, message boards, fan sites . . . these are avenues where, through simple participation and the maintenance of a signature, you can reach people who have never heard of you. Does it have to be personal? No, absolutely not. It can be as breezy and casual as you want it to be. Just don't go in to these things shilling or hawking your wares; be comfortable, be chatty, and be yourself.

Hope this helps!

Scott, who likes a very understated and subtle signature . . . see?