Posted by Joy in Joy DeKok, Vanity Publishing, getting it write Wednesday, 27 January o 16:36 No Comments
Did you ever take the blame for something you didn’t do? That happens to authors who chose to self-publish by either starting their own publishing company or by publishing with a POD press.
I will be the first to admit: there are a lot of awful self-published books on the market!
You’ve seen them: bad covers, no editing, poor printing and binding, and an overall sense of cheap. They’re just plain awful.
Many times book stores and other authors write us off because it’s easier to diminish us than it is to give us a chance. Those of us who chose excellence get missed in the mess that is prejudice. I don’t use the word “prejudice” easily – in fact it is such a serious word, I tried to find a toned down word that meant the same thing. I did mention in my first entry on this subject that I do prefer acceptance. I realize the use of this word will anger a few of you. You will think I’m abusing it –this is publishing – for crying out – self publishing at that.
And, you’re right. There are very few things in this world worse than racial prejudice. However, not all prejudice is racial and using the word here is accurate.
Webster online says prejudice is: “an adverse opinion or leaning formed without just grounds or before sufficient knowledge: an irrational attitude of hostility directed against an individual, a group, a race, or their supposed characteristics.”
Let’s take this apart. . .
When anyone criticizes a book without reading it they are offering an adverse opinion formed without sufficient knowledge. In fact, when asked if they’d ever read a self-published book, many of the critics have said, “No. I’ve heard they’re all bad and won’t waste my time.”
This response is offered without sufficient knowledge.
When I was told that my books were illegitimate and didn’t qualify as published, this was irrational hostility. These people were not kidding, and in their opinion, my book didn’t count. It wasn’t real. It was beneath their books and they wanted me to know it. It was inferior.
I’ve been told the main characteristic of all self published authors is the vain need to see their name in print. May I ask you this: how do they know what motivated me? They didn’t ask – they assumed.
As with other forms of prejudice I was different, and that was just plain wrong.
I was riding in the back of the publishing bus.
How do you spell prejudice? I-G-N-O-R-A-N-C-E.
And, all prejudice is learned behavior. Watch a group of children who care nothing about the color of each other’s skin – they enjoy each other and it was based on personality, not race.
We have to stop teaching and participating in prejudice of all kinds!
I will confess – I don’t like being automatically written off because there are badly done self published books on the market.
Every year I spend a lot of money on books. I read over 100 fiction titles and nearly as many non-fiction titles. I have purchased and read some badly done traditionally published books too. I choose not to blame all traditionally published authors for the few that are terrible.
Wouldn’t it be nice if those who are so quick to despise all self published books decided to give a few quality books outside their chosen publishing path a chance?
Here’s an even greater truth: It would be grand if all authors who chose self-publishing also decided to do exceptional work and were willing to pay for the highest standard in printing. If we all did this,
we’d gain credibility and the negative comments would be cancelled before they could be spoken.
This is repetitive, but really, it’s vital that we take this in and pass it on to any other writers considering self publishing in any form: Please tell them Joy said, “If we all committed to excellence, we’d cancel out the current bad rap.”
Changing some of the current prejudice out there is up to us. We can quietly and with peaceful dignity push it back. We can encourage each other, strive to do not just a good job, but instead a top of the line job, and we can sell books – it’s no one else’s business how many. You get to define what number equals success for you.
While it’s true that some will never accept our work, it’s also true that our readers don’t care. If we hold that truth silently in our hearts, no matter what is said, we win.
My next entry on this topic is coming up next: Readers Don’t Care
Posted by Joy in Joy DeKok, getting it write, publishing Tuesday, 26 January o 11:23 No Comments
If you think of any form of publishing any other way, you will sell fewer books or in self-publishing, no books at all. You can’t just put it out there and assume readers will come.
Consider this: when a publishing house releases a book by John Grisham or John C. Maxwell they spend thousands of dollars to let you know about it. Both of these authors have written best sellers for years and yet their publishers make sure the money is spent on covers, ads in magazines their target market read and where book sellers and librarians will be looking as well. Then, they make sure they purchase time on book store end caps, walls behind counters, and center aisle displays. (These prime locations cost them literally thousands!)
They treat each release like it’s their business. While we don’t have their huge budgets, we must do the same thing on a scale that is reasonable for us. So what does that look like?
We all need a MARKETING PLAN. I know – that’s not what you wanted to read. We’re writers – we prefer our writing corner to almost any other place in the world. (Well, not all of us – but some of us.) To a creative mind not used the world of selling, the word marketing is foreign. It’s not familiar turf for many of us. Without venturing into marketing, your book is not going to sell. Okay – you may have read about the success of the book The Shack – the author did very little marketing and sold millions of copies. I know, he is the exception to the rule.
What does a marketing plan look like? Mine are pretty simple. I start a notebook for each book or project. In that notebook, I write down my plans in the order I hope to be able to accomplish them. I include the projected cost of each project, always add in a little more to avoid surprises, and leave room to note when that part is completed. I look at each notebook weekly. I may or may not have any marketing to do on all of my projects that week, but seeing what I’ve done or what’s coming up is good for business. I also schedule marketing time in my datebook, because if I don’t schedule it then I don’t do it. What kinds of marketing do I do?
-postcard mailings (Vista Print has good prices and gives you the ability to create great looking postcards. Check them out at www.vistaprint.com)
-press releases- I do more than one per project. I start with an announcement that I’m working on a new project and am available for interviews. Then, I send a second one when the project is complete. I no longer include the whole manuscript although a free chapter is part of my media kit. I will include more on this in another post.
-I have more than one website and several blogs – these allow for “relational” marketing with readers. This is vital in today’s market.
-business cards – I also purchase these from Vista Prints. Use both the front and back – color and glossy get the most attention.
-I joined my local Chamber of Commerce – each month I give away something as I attend networking meetings. Here’s a list of my giveaways:
*my regular business card (usually only a few times a year)
*if I have a new project releasing soon, I have a business card or book mark designed around it and use that as my business card. I do this several times a year.
*I am in the process of having a promo DVD done for my coaching business – it will be offered at no cost on my website and I’m having several hundred made into small DVDs – business card sized – I’ll use these as business cards as well
*I also take my business cards to a local guy who does advertising materials – sweatshirts, mugs, pens, and stuff. I have him make my business cards into little notebooks which I also give away at these events as well to anyone who asks what I do. It’s harder to throw away a notebook – it’s useable and because my picture is on it they think of me every time they use it.
-I also speak several times a year. I sell lots of books this way.
I’ll be posting more marketing information over time out here for you. Someone asked me why I want to help other authors market their books, aren’t you all my competitors? Sure, in a way. However, most people read more than one author. I want your success almost as much as I want my own. So, when I get a great tip or idea and it works, I’m going to let you know about it. Competition can be healthy and it’s part of what makes America great. There’s room for all of us in the market. I believe we can all produce competitive products, and at the same time celebrate each other’s successes.
Besides this blog, there are a lot of interesting and fun marketing books out there. If you can’t afford to buy them then visit your local library. Take the time to browse through them before you check them out – not every book out there will appeal to you or apply to you. If you can purchase a couple for yourself , you might really enjoy Seth Godin’s books, Free Prize Inside and Purple Cow.
Every book you read on this topic must be read with this key thought in mind: What does this look like on me? If you try to write like someone else, you cheat the world of your writing. If you attempt to market exactly like everyone else, you take the creative fun out of the process and you plod along. It will show and it will most likely fail. Market with genuine enthusiasm and you will win readers and respect.
If you take this part of the process seriously, you will be treating your writing as valuable, and you will be respected as a professional. If you choose not to market, you will miss out on some great opportunities.
It’s also true if we choose to go cheap – we will earn a rotten reputation, and others who chose self-publishing will also get a bad rap.
Which is the next topic in this blog series.