promoting before publishing?!

www.fundanovelist.blogspot.com

i have an agent, i don't have a book deal--yet. before i get one (think positive!), i'm trying to build a support system, interact with readers/writers and see how far a little wishful thinking will go.

stop by, check it out. let me know if you think this is crazy.

thanks and good luck to all of you!

A good way to make the most out of the contacts you develop before your book is released is to stay in touch with them via a monthly e-newsletter (if you have a web site). Such a newsletter is mutually beneficial, because it allows you to capture email addresses from people that you meet (that may be interested in buying the book), while also allowing them to benefit from receiving entertaining and informative content in your newsletter. The goal is to stay in touch with these potential book-buyers (instead of hoping that you run into them) so that you have a captive audience that you can go to for initial sales once the book is out.

Another thing that you can do before you book releases is begin preparing for any publicity that may occur. Although you don't want to begin any major media promotion before the book is available, a good way to prepare for promotion is to start familiarizing yourself with the topics that media outlets are covering. For example, if you have a self-help/fitness book, find out how the issue is covered locally (most media-markets cover staple media topics in similar ways). Ideas might include identifying which local reporter covers that beat, whether local radio stations have a health-minute or if the local television affiliates offer a weekly health-related segment on the local morning show. Becoming a news junkie before you begin promoting your own book allows you to become familiar with different media formats and should give you a leg up once your book is out.

Anyway--for what it's worth--just a couple thoughts on ways you can prepare for the release of your book. Often if you wait until the book is out to think about promoting it, it's too late...