I'm on vacation this week (and working on my upcoming book)! So I have a lined up a special Guest Post for you from Author and Geologist, Chris Vonada.
Chris enjoys reading, running, anything outdoors, travel, family, friends, music and life! He writes about his passions at I’m Just Thinkin’ (http://chrisvonada.com). You can also follow him on Twitter (https://twitter.com/
You can purchase his new book, The Wellspring of Life: Tapping Into An Abundance of Love, Joy and Happiness here.
The Wellspring Of Life: 2 Big To-Do's After The Book Is Published
If you've ever been to Mardi Gras in New Orleans you may know at
midnight on Fat Tuesday the police come through on horses, commanding
"Mardi Gras is over, clear the streets!" On my two visits to NOLA for
the event many years ago my casual observation was that everybody
listened. The police seemed pretty serious about this; even the
businesses shut down. And so rang in Lent with Ash Wednesday, a time to
repent and turn our focus intently toward God.
Writing
a book seems more like going to the Oscars... once the book is
published my first inclination is to head to the after party. However,
for many writers to whom crafting their work comes naturally, selling
books is where the real sweat equity resides.
Marketing
a book must seem like a prideful thing to do to non-writers. We talk it
up all about ourselves and our book. It must seem like Vanity Fair has
engaged us to throw out tidbits of self-promotion at every turn like the
boozy evening of celebrities that revel through Vanity's Oscar party.
Whether you have a seasoned PR firm, are an old hat at marketing, or just
winging it, here's the truth:
You are the single most valuable asset to market your work, and the real work of being a successful author has just begun.
This
seems to be true whether you're published by a major house or doing it
on your own; for many, the fun is done; now it's time to bust a move.
Lent is sort of like the after party for newly published writers, a
turning point for so many as we focus on Jesus and His journey to the
cross.
I'm going to share with you just 2 Big To-Do's for this after party (i.e., some helpful stuff on selling books):
- Implement well.
The adage goes something like 80% of our results are accomplished with
just 20% of our effort. Identify the 20% and stick with that stuff. So I
had a publishing guru send me this book with a bajillion good ideas on
marketing a book. It remains the single best resource that I've found.
"Guerrilla Marketing For Writers." Here's one essential morsel about "implement" - write a bad to the bone
press release. Include it in a media kit package on your website. The
ultimate compliment here is to have the press copy your release
verbatim. Jubilation filled with 3-second handstands will be the
reaction.
- Engage.
Your best customers are the ones who will tell their friends or social
network about what you've written, or recommend your book. You want to
identify with the people who think of you as one of their favorite
authors. So the Vanity Fair party is a one-night event. Go to it. Have
fun. Then, get to work getting to know and networking with the people
who are going to help you promote your work. Do this the rest of your
days. In many ways this is a natural fit for the expressive and
nurturing "NF's" - the visionary and magnetic personality type that fits
most authors.
For me personally, I am excited about transitioning to marketing "The Wellspring Of Life."
I love being around people and interacting, it's a natural part of my
personality. Also, I am excited about writing my next book, a vade mecum
of my spiritual journey. Yep, one of them, but with a different twist
as you will see...
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