The "M" Word
A lot of people have this funny notion that when your book gets published the author gets to sit around and watch the money roll in. That's a good one! In fact, nothing could be further from the truth!
Let me give you the real scenario: A publisher decides your novel is good enough to publish. You sign contracts and end up on their publishing schedule (typically two years after the date of the contract). During those two years, you have plenty of time to come up with another great novel or two (more on that some other time) and prepare for your book's publication. Once the time comes, your publisher will probably have your book put into a catalog if possible and on their website. If you're really marketable, they'll spend the extra dollars to have your book put on the end of the bookshelves at the bookstores (the display near the aisle). After that, the ball's in your court.
Remember, a publisher will have dozens of books coming out each year. They'll spend a certain amount for the cover art and packaging, but the biggest marketing push will have to come from the authors themselves. And if you do it right, you don't even have to be that great of an author to be a best-seller! I know one author who uses a marketing company that also works with rock stars and bands. He spent thousands of dollars setting himself up with a big marketing push from them (including a great website...more on that later too) and now is one of the top sellers in the industry. The problem? He's written maybe two good books out of all the ones published. If he hadn't invested the time and money in the marketing push he has, he'd have faded into obscurity long ago. That just goes to show how important it is for you to prepare ahead of time for marketing your book!
You have to have something that will stand out from the crowd. Your book will be among hundreds of others just like it on the shelves. What can you do to make it stand out? Well, you don't have any control over the title or cover after you sell it to the publisher (yes, that clever title you spent weeks on is kaput when you sell the book), but you can control the marketing. Usual routes are book-signings, newspaper articles in local papers (remember, the average Christian fiction novel is expected to sell about 5000 copies in its lifetime, so a push from your local area can help put you over that number), and library visits. Remember those author tours you dreamed of with the all-expense paid trips to New York and L.A. to sign your book as hundreds of people waited anxiously in line for a glimpse of you? Keep dreaming. Unless you are a major moneymaker for the publisher, you'll be footing the bill and doing all the scheduling for any book tour you do. But don't get me wrong: the publisher loves this and they'll respect you if you go the extra mile and do one. Anything to help you stand out from among the rest at the publisher.
A few unconventional routes come to mind too though: a movie trailer for your book (mine's at: http://home.hiwaay.net/~mannaent/brian/Avenger1.html ). If you have the time and creativity--and if you've written a novel you've shown you can be creative--you can go a long way with this. It helps spur your readers to consider the book as more than just words on a page. Also, t-shirts or any kind of giveaway with your book cover on it is a big plus and worth the money spent. A person wearing your book cover on their shirt is a walking billboard for you!
Just keep these thoughts in mind as you sell your book. You'll have to make it memorable for your readers, and marketing is the key. Use the time wisely to prepare, and the day your book comes out you'll be ready to really show them what you can do!
Let me give you the real scenario: A publisher decides your novel is good enough to publish. You sign contracts and end up on their publishing schedule (typically two years after the date of the contract). During those two years, you have plenty of time to come up with another great novel or two (more on that some other time) and prepare for your book's publication. Once the time comes, your publisher will probably have your book put into a catalog if possible and on their website. If you're really marketable, they'll spend the extra dollars to have your book put on the end of the bookshelves at the bookstores (the display near the aisle). After that, the ball's in your court.
Remember, a publisher will have dozens of books coming out each year. They'll spend a certain amount for the cover art and packaging, but the biggest marketing push will have to come from the authors themselves. And if you do it right, you don't even have to be that great of an author to be a best-seller! I know one author who uses a marketing company that also works with rock stars and bands. He spent thousands of dollars setting himself up with a big marketing push from them (including a great website...more on that later too) and now is one of the top sellers in the industry. The problem? He's written maybe two good books out of all the ones published. If he hadn't invested the time and money in the marketing push he has, he'd have faded into obscurity long ago. That just goes to show how important it is for you to prepare ahead of time for marketing your book!
You have to have something that will stand out from the crowd. Your book will be among hundreds of others just like it on the shelves. What can you do to make it stand out? Well, you don't have any control over the title or cover after you sell it to the publisher (yes, that clever title you spent weeks on is kaput when you sell the book), but you can control the marketing. Usual routes are book-signings, newspaper articles in local papers (remember, the average Christian fiction novel is expected to sell about 5000 copies in its lifetime, so a push from your local area can help put you over that number), and library visits. Remember those author tours you dreamed of with the all-expense paid trips to New York and L.A. to sign your book as hundreds of people waited anxiously in line for a glimpse of you? Keep dreaming. Unless you are a major moneymaker for the publisher, you'll be footing the bill and doing all the scheduling for any book tour you do. But don't get me wrong: the publisher loves this and they'll respect you if you go the extra mile and do one. Anything to help you stand out from among the rest at the publisher.
A few unconventional routes come to mind too though: a movie trailer for your book (mine's at: http://home.hiwaay.net/~mannaent/brian/Avenger1.html ). If you have the time and creativity--and if you've written a novel you've shown you can be creative--you can go a long way with this. It helps spur your readers to consider the book as more than just words on a page. Also, t-shirts or any kind of giveaway with your book cover on it is a big plus and worth the money spent. A person wearing your book cover on their shirt is a walking billboard for you!
Just keep these thoughts in mind as you sell your book. You'll have to make it memorable for your readers, and marketing is the key. Use the time wisely to prepare, and the day your book comes out you'll be ready to really show them what you can do!
posted by Brian Reaves at 10:27 AM
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