Writing Vs. Marketing: Which is More Important for Success?
This may sound like a silly question but ever since I’ve self-published two books, I’m beginning to wonder. Many writers set aside a time of day, or a set number of hours, words, pages per day to write. If you’re organized and determined, this may work for you. It did for me, for a while. Interestingly, it worked better for me when I actually worked for a living as a museum professional. Now that I’m retired, it seems to be a less than effective strategy. Perhaps because I have two books completed and am spending time marketing them.
Sounds crazy, I know, but when I decided to self-publish, my days became filled with first, the logistics of self-publishing (see earlier blogs on this!) and now I’m trying to get the books out there so they’re even noticed in the swirling maelstrom of the Indie book market.
Seriously, has anyone recently tried searching for a new mystery on Amazon or B&N? Let’s say you go onto B&N Nook Books and search for mysteries under $5. After three clicks you’ll land on a page with five rows of six books in each row (30 books per page.) Look down at the bottom and you’ll see this is page 1 of 793. Discouraging.
So how do you get noticed? I don’t have the answer, but I hope someone out there does and tells me. Here’s what I’m doing so far. I’ve set up a web site where the chapters of the books can be read before purchase. I’m contacting all my friends, relatives and appropriate acquaintances to let them know my books are out. I’m mentioning the books on Facebook, Twitter and Linked-In and their groups. Here you have to be really careful, however, because people are becoming increasingly annoyed at any attempts at self-promotion. After all, these are “social” media venues.
Yes, you can send out an occasional announcement on a new book or product. You can send out a new review you might have received. And you can send out an invitation to read your blog (and here’s mine!) But that’s about where it ends.
I’m way too new at this to know about paid advertising or paid reviews and, frankly, am not sure I’m interested. There are lots of discussions out there now on “fake” reviews, by the way and how damaging they can be. Check the Crimes Group on Linked-In for one.
A friend of mine suggested she host a book-signing party and discussion group. This means, however, that the attendees must purchase and read book in advance (paperback versions if they want to get a signed copy.) Does this work? Will people prepare in advance? Maybe.
So marketing self-published books is, indeed, a challenge. I’m open to any and all advice. One thing I do know. If you don’t have a good product — a well-written, well-proofed, compelling story to sell, aggressive marketing and promotion will only make it fail that much sooner.
Sigh.
I completely agree with everything you wrote in your blog. I can assure you that you are not alone in this arena…The only small piece of advice I can offer up is to keep writing quality material and continue to build your author platform as you are doing and the readers will start spreading the word about your writing…I have observed that many of the more successful authors novels out there seem to have one underlying theme…they have come up with an unforgettable character(s) that readers somehow connect with and can’t seem to get enough of, which of course, keeps them coming back for more sequels… more sequels equates to more readers and more success for the author, both financially and more importantly, the well deserved recognition for you as a writer. We are like artists who start out with a blank canvas (or pages) and create a whole imaginary world full of interesting characters and full of twists and turns, plots and subplots. And that is a very magically feat that many people wish they could accomplish. Keep plotting away and the readers will come to you…
Frank,
Thanks for your thoughtful comments and support. Yes, we’re all in this together and encouragement from other writers is very important. Writing is a magical feat, and we all need to remember how special we are to be able to create a whole world from a single word.
Best,
Lynne
These days, it’s never either or. A lot of the successful authors I know have developed a rhythm to ensure solid writing time until after they submit a manuscript. But even then, at least a piece of every day is spent on social media and assembling new marketing information, such as which mystery bookstore has closed this month (sound of weeping).
Thanks for your comments, Susan. I think it’s a learning curve for me. The last fifteen years has been spent writing and marketing to agents. Now I’m getting used to the self-publishing world. And, I’m still writing!
Lynne, you took the words right out of my mouth. Er…keyboard.
Publicizing my self-pubbed songbook has been a slow slog. I bought a domain last Thursday and got my site started. Needless to say, that will take up most of my “writing” time until I complete the infrastructure.
I can only imagine (but hope to experience first hand if I live long enough to finish my mystery novel) how much more difficult it is to market fiction than Christian music. Yes, the fiction buying pool is much larger, but it’s also flooded to overflowing with competing products.
Networking is big. I know you post on Writers of Any Genre FB group. Do you belong to mystery-specific groups?
I recommend the Suspense/Thriller Writers group on FB. We discuss craft and the writing life on the regular group page. Then every Saturday the group hosts a Self-Promotion Extravaganza where everyone is invited to shamelessly hawk their stuff. Also the admin, Pat Bertram, offers to interview authors (and their characters) or publish excerpts on her own website.
Good luck!
Linda
Thanks for the encouraging words, Linda. And I will look into those groups! Best of luck to you too. Lynne
Hi Lynne
Hi Lynne
One plus in writing narrative non-fiction is that I can promote my book in all the places connected with the story. In the case of The Water Doctor’s Daughters this includes many towns and cities along the south coast of England. Have already been interviewed on radio BBC sussex in the lead up to the book’s launch next year. I don’t see why you couldn’t do the same with fiction if the novels are historically based, as yours are.
I find participating in social media very time-consuming…I feel I hardly have time to
write these days, what with posting fresh stories on my website etc. Am not sure how useful it all is either, guess time will tell. I attended Sydney Wrtiers’ Weeks a few monhts ago and at the big publishng seminar all the agents and publishers reps,
said it was crucial!
Oh dear! Good luck my friend!
Sure there cannot be a more challenging time to be a wrtier!
Pauline,
You are so right about social media taking up writing time. And energy. The problem is when you self-publish you don’t seem to have a choice. Or do you? Thanks again for reading my blog. There will be more every week.
Lynne