Writerly Ways

[cornerofmadness]

I am faced with something I’ve really not had to deal with before: creating a promotional buzz. I’ve spoken before about getting an author’s platform which is supposed to help with this. I’m not entirely sure it does. At the end of the day, most of the foot traffic arre from long time friends and the few people who I’m in anthologes with.

You can start a buzz on twitter but after a while, the same people don’t want to keep hearing about it. One of the most common twitter complaints I see is about the people who do nothing but push their own work and do not do anything for their follwers. I do retweet and promo others, not because of this but because I think it’s right. It’s what I would want them to do for me.

You could put up a fan page on facebook. I’m not sure how much foot traffic that would generate but I DO want to put up an author’s page sooner trather than later for Jana. She has done more than I ever expected to just two years ago. I have several book covers I could link to. I’m not sure how to get foot traffic there though.

There is only so many online social media sites you can use. I’ve picked my three. I do not have time for more. I’m not sure google + is all that yet as far as authors are concerned. I’ve not seen too many people listing that one over twitter. Tumblr maybe but again, there is only so much any one person can keep up with.

I could try to get hosted on another person’s blog. I’m part of the campaign platform challenge and I’m looking at that right now. But I don’t yet have a publication date. That hampers me. The timing was bad for this as far as the campaign was concerned. I would like to volunteer time on MY blog for others to look more open, less selfish. I’ve done it already but I doubt it really mattered. Even though I advertised it so there would be more than you guys (Not that I am unappreciative of you in the least but I wanted you plus more because I am greedy I suppose or at least earnst in my desire to help promote her book for her.

I was curious as to other people’s experiences. ozma914 and hierath especially since I know both of you have guest blogged. Was it worth it? My few times doing it there were a little nibble here and there but I wouldn’t call it a rousing success.

Even the launch parties seem to be lacking. I did one yesterday and I have to say it was the worst attended I’ve done. I believe it’s my fifth, the second time at this hosting site. Less than a half dozen authors showed up (compared to last time when I think almost all of us did) and it’s been my experience that the only people talking to each other are the authors in the anthology. Frankly I doubt the publishing house could even do the giveaway since I saw no one who wasn’t one of us. In the end, what good is that?

The launch parties on Goodreads seem better attended, but still I see the same faces, other authors from the same publishing house. That doesn’t mean they won’t buy your book but it doesn’t feel like you’re reaching that many people.

I know book trailers are the big thing but last time I asked, no one admitted to even watching them. I know I don’t. I DO know that people bitch if you use stock footage and in many cases what are you going to use? I do not have the tech savvy to put one together (or at least I don’t think I do. Maybe it’s easier than I think). I surely wouldn’t have the money to hire someone or the actors if need be. I could make some based off my own photography sans people but is it worth it? I don’t know.

Any thoughts from any of you? What makes you want to buy a book? Since the novella isn’t going to be print, I don’t think it’s eligible for a Goodreads giveaway or I’d do that in a heart beat. If nothing else, you see hundreds of people trying to win. You have to think a small protion of them will put it on the to-read pile and buy it if they don’t win.

I don’t like this part at all. Sigh.

And totally random, I’m trying to think of where Aaron and Sebastian (two steampunk fans and presumably geek boys) would go on a first date.

Yearly word count

10300 / 75000 words. 14% done!

Geek love

3983 / 10000 words. 40% done!

Scarred

3695 / 10000 words. 37% done!

Comments

[evil-little-dog.livejournal.com]

I wish I could be of assistance with this. D:

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

i'm wondering if anyone really can. Even the launch party the publisher went thru no small effort for, was a flop and that was for a multi-author anthology. then again it was a private chat and not everyone was going to want to sign up for that.

I'm going to see how to run a chat on goodreads. I could at least get you guys and maybe your interested friends there

[evil-little-dog.livejournal.com]

This is true. also, you might want to include a note in any stories you post this week (particularly slash) in fandom, that "This is being published, go here for more info" type deal.

And I'd use all three places - LJ, FFN and AO3 for that sort of thing, too.

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

I am less concerned with the anthology (though I could promo it too) than I am the novella. When it has a set pub date I will

[evil-little-dog.livejournal.com]

*nods*

[hierath.livejournal.com]

I liked guest blogging but I'm not sure how benificial it was in terms of promo. Having siad that, if you ever want to be a guest on my blog, you are more than welcome! (and I have found when I host guest blogs I get an increase in traffic that lasts a few days, so you never know... ;))

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the offer (and it goes both ways, if you want to promo something on mine). It'll be m/m erotica with a paranormal twist if that matters

[hierath.livejournal.com]

That's fine, sounds good! And thank you for the offer (there's some m/m action in Art of Forgetting, if that helps at all....)

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

not a problem. It wouldn't matter on this journal. Who knows with Jana's. I have noticed the same thing I see with slash writers. 'ewww het sex is icky' among some of the authors on my list. (usually the married ones)