I am excited to introduce my great friend and fellow author, LM Stull, the Queen of Marketing! Stull has made quite a reputation for herself online as a connector of people, promoter of others and, occasionally, drinker of wine.
This past summer I decided it was time. Time for what? To, you know, write my first novel and all. That’s all you need to do right? Write that puppy and sell millions of copies and then you get asked to go on the Today Show. Simple. Well, not so fast there, did you market yourself first? What? Market myself, oops, I forgot about that.
Start Now. Don’t wait until your book is out to start selling your writing. Whether your book is still a WIP or you are in the final stages of editing, start marketing now. But, how can I start marketing my book when it’s not even available? Well, keep on reading and I’ll tell you how!
Share, Share, Share. Show your followers and everyone else what your style is all about. Your novel doesn’t have to be complete to share, post catchy snippets. By doing this, you draw people into your style, get them interested. That is the key. You’d be amazed what sharing just a line here and there will do; it makes them feel like a part of your project. Make sure to post short stories, poems or even excerpts from your novel on your blog, it’s another great way to debut your writing. You can’t have fans unless you have something for people to be a fan of, so don’t hide your writing, share it!
Cross Promote. Sharing your mad writing skills isn’t everything when it comes to marketing either. Make sure you help promote your other writer friends. Believe me, they won’t forget and will return the favor. So, the next time you see your friend Joe’s blog, share it with your followers and help him get his message out there too.
Become a Specialist. Every writer is going to have a different specialty. For me it is connecting with people. I am a pretty social person, so I like helping others get together and network. I started a fellow writer’s group on my Facebook page and got an overwhelming response. A lot of folks would think that marketing for a writer is all about selling your own writing, but it’s also about all the different talents you bring to the table. Maybe you have great plotting or editing tips to share or maybe you want to host a contest on your blog. Be creative, start something that you are passionate about and will draw people in. It’s just another way for your name to be recognized.
Be EVERYWERE. One of my coworkers really summed it up when I showed her all the places where you could connect with me: “Oh my, you are everywhere!” That, my friends, is the key. Pepsi doesn’t just sell their products at 7-11, they are what? EVERYWHERE! Us writers need to do the same thing. Exposure really is important. You want people to know your name and what you are all about. They should see you as someone who is a great writer, but also someone who has knowledge to share. Don’t just stop at Twitter, get on Facebook, start your own website and blog, join LinkedIn, Goodreads and others. The more people see your name the more they are going to want to get to know you and your writing.
Be Consistent. Marketing is work. There, I said it. Not everything in life is easy and marketing, although fun, isn’t easy. When people start getting to know you, they are going to want to keep seeing you around; they might even wait anxiously for your next blog or tweet. The worst thing you can do is just vanish or be unpredictable. Remember to keep connected and be consistent. You plan out your writing, so why not do the same with marketing. Sit down and make a schedule for yourself.
Above all, remember to have fun and know that there are a lot of other writers out there to help you along the way.
Now, get yourself out there and start marketing!
L.M. Stull
Originally a Washington, DC native, L.M. Stull now resides in Southern Virginia. She has always been a creative person and studied classical piano and dance from a young age.
During the day you will find her chained to a desk at a law firm. Yes, she works for lawyers. Now you understand why she writes about creatures . . . Boom! At night she channels her inner creative monster and writes (sorry, she doesn’t turn into a werewolf or anything).
Her debut paranormal romance novel, Memoirs of a Monkey, is scheduled to be released Spring 2011:
When she’s not writing or feverishly taking orders from attorneys, she laces up and runs (and sometimes drinks wine…yeah, okay maybe more than sometimes).
There are several ways you can go about stalking her on the web if your little heart so desires: Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads (Hint: she’ll totally think you’re awesome if you add her upcoming books to your to-read pile) and of course her really cool Website. She also runs the Fellow Writer’s group on Facebook.
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Hi Kimberly and LM!
This is great info for all the writers out there. My most difficult aspect of all this for me is the consistency aspect. I finally got my blog posting down to a scheduled time each week – thanks to LMStull and RachelintheOC! <-(had to add the ! because I know how Rachel loves them
) What I love is the writing community and how helpful everyone is. And, why not, we're all in this together, right? I appreciate the advice – great interview.
M.
I hear you on the consistency part. I loved RachelintheOC ‘s blog posts on blogging. What stuck with me was twice a week, 500 words. No more, no less. I think if I keep that in mind, it won’t feel so overwhelming.
Lisa truly is brilliant at the marketing and I am so grateful she wrote for this blog!
Great post again LM. This is very much your forte and something we should all strive for. It isn’t hard to follow a blog and read it, but it really isn’t much harder to post about. LM is right on many accounts. I’ve known her for a bit, she goes out of her way for people. It can take a lot of time though, so be mindful of how much you promise to take on. Writers can quickly get bogged down and have to be able to pull the whistle sometimes. So remember, you also need to know when to stop and take the time for yourself. We will all understand if you do.
Do it, but don’t over do it.
Draven Ames
Great advice! I think I may have overdone it with marketing to friends and family, though. They got kind of sick of hearing about the novel all the time… Learning to rein in my enthusiasm a bit…
Amy
What a great article. Everything you said resonated with me as what I am trying to do.
I’m going to save this as a reminder of my ultimate goal, to become a better writer and marketer.
Thank you so much for sharing.
Thanks for everyone who stopped by and commented, and of course, a thank you to Kimberly for having me.
@Amy I think we all probably over do it with the ones who are closest to us. Yes, I think, as with everything in life, moderation is always key. Believe me, I tend to do the same thing. I am sure that when my family talks to me this is what they here: blah blah blah writing blah blah blah books
right, that should have said what they “hear”….LOL…really, guys, I am a writer
My ears (and fingertips) are ringing! (yes, I do use exclamation marks where appropriate
Thanks for the lovely props, folks. I’ve learned so much about blogging myself this past year, and have had such amazing interactions (thanks in many ways to MY mentor, Carolyn McCray –@craftycmc on Twitter) that when we started the Indie Book Collective this past fall, she and I agreed to have me focus on blogging for the collective. I’m thrilled to be a resource for you all.
My new book (A WALK IN THE SNARK) evolved out of my blog posts. For any writer who doesn’t feel they need a blog, I say pish posh. Look around and get with the program….or create your own program! Social media includes your blog. Ask ANY editor.
Besides, it’s a great place to interact with wonderful peeps like you all.
I too have been on a blogging journey this year, and my book (BITS OF YOU & PIECES OF ME) was inspired by some early blog posts that no one ever read! LOL
Good advice, I believe it might help some people when they hit writers block although I don’t write myself but it is very informative and resourceful
OK, why did the share buttons reset? I swear, Lisa, you got shared more than 3 times. It was like at 33 this morning.
Excellent blog. Thank you Kimberly; thank you, Lisa.
This is great advice. If we want to promote our work, we do have to be consistent and visible and we must cross promote. I love promoting other authors, especially those who are both talented and caring about their fellow author.
Lisa, you’re so right about setting a schedule. Marketing/promoting can be overwhelming and proper time management is essential. (I’m still working on it.
Promotion isn’t easy. The great number of us did not set out to promote, especially our own work. But the world is such that it has become an absolute necessity. So rather than fight it, we need to learn how to do it well.
I believe strongly in sharing my knowledge with other writers. I find that no two people have the exact same skills/knowledge/information and we can all be extraordinarily helpful to one another.
It’s a pleasure to know you both.
Thank you BOTH for all you do for all writers.
L.M. is a great example of a regular blogger. I’m getting there but it isn’t easy. I decided that even though I’m a writer I don’t want to post writer-y things because that doesn’t hold my interest unless someone else is talking about it. I recently started posting about pop culture and things I’m passionate about and now I have a lot more fun with my site.
Kimberly – I really like your site redesign. I don’t think I said that when you first got it done.
Thanks Kimberly for having LM guest post. I to think blogging regularly is key to developing a following. So is regularly showing up on Twitter and FB. I’ve been blogging daily since the start of the year and have seen my site visitors jump 5 fold!
I also think that we need to blog about topics that will interest our readers. Since I write YA fantasy [releasing my book at the end of this month!] I blog weekly about favorite books in the genre, and I highlight as many authors as I can!
Lastly, I agree with Draven re: being careful with your time. We need to remember that our writing comes first!
Lovely blog, Kimberly! Good luck with your agent hunt.
I LOVE this woman! LM has been a constant source of inspiration, support, and a tireless advocate for other authors. She has amazing energy and she is EVERYWHERE! I had the pleasure of interviewing her last month, and learned more about her quirky personality. The more I know about her, the more I like! http://wp.me/p1cWaE-bd
If her book, Memoirs of a Monkey has even half the personality she has, then it will be a smash hit – I have no doubt! Great post LM, and thanks Kimberly for hosting her on your site.
Thank you Jennifer for the kind comments and for stopping by!
Eden – haha you are amazing yourself – LOVE YOU TOO!