Comments on: Why writers need to self-promote http://robinbrande.com/writing/why-writers-need-to-self-promote For writers, readers, and independent thinkers--book talk for readers and writers, life chats when we need them, writers' motivational articles, secret behind-the-scenes stories from the publishing trenches, and more. Fri, 09 Jan 2009 13:24:02 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: Lizzie http://robinbrande.com/writing/why-writers-need-to-self-promote#comment-37 Lizzie Fri, 28 Apr 2006 01:52:42 +0000 http://robinbrande.com/writing/why-writers-need-to-self-promote#comment-37 I don't think it's any different than making a movie or putting out an ablum - actors and directors go on all the talk shows, bands go on tour, and writers have to do readings and signings and whatever else writers do. It's the nature of living in a world of 6 billion people; the mountain ain't comin to you. I don’t think it’s any different than making a movie or putting out an ablum - actors and directors go on all the talk shows, bands go on tour, and writers have to do readings and signings and whatever else writers do.
It’s the nature of living in a world of 6 billion people; the mountain ain’t comin to you.

]]> By: Maria V. http://robinbrande.com/writing/why-writers-need-to-self-promote#comment-33 Maria V. Wed, 26 Apr 2006 13:57:46 +0000 http://robinbrande.com/writing/why-writers-need-to-self-promote#comment-33 Hello! I just found out about this cool site and couldn't resist adding a comment :) I agree with Barry (Hi Barry - I'm surprised you don't have a spreadsheet of the exact ratio of writer promotion to publisher promotion ;> ) I love the dropping bombs analogy - my feeling, though is that unfortunately publishers are doing some of that (I don't think they have figured out exactly what works and what doesn't). My publisher sent me on a book tour during Columbus day weekend. Custumers were out enjoying the long weekend and not in book stores (yeah, I know the reason to send authors is to establish a relationship with the bookseller, but the booksellers like it when the author actaully sells some books). And in a perfect world the publisher will promote all their books equally - but they don't (my husband is always amazed by this fact), and a new author has to take on the bulk of the promotion. It's a sad fact of life. If a writer is uncomfortable doing promotions, I would suggest they hire a publicist or find someone willing to make calls and set up signings. Signing stock at bookstores is a great way to meet booksellers without the pressure of a signing and signed books always sell better. There was an excellent article about this topic in RWA's March issue called "The Power of Booksellers" it gives the inside scoop of what goes on in a book store. Okay - I'm done - for now :) Hello! I just found out about this cool site and couldn’t resist adding a comment :)

I agree with Barry (Hi Barry - I’m surprised you don’t have a spreadsheet of the exact ratio of writer promotion to publisher promotion ;> ) I love the dropping bombs analogy - my feeling, though is that unfortunately publishers are doing some of that (I don’t think they have figured out exactly what works and what doesn’t). My publisher sent me on a book tour during Columbus day weekend. Custumers were out enjoying the long weekend and not in book stores (yeah, I know the reason to send authors is to establish a relationship with the bookseller, but the booksellers like it when the author actaully sells some books).

And in a perfect world the publisher will promote all their books equally - but they don’t (my husband is always amazed by this fact), and a new author has to take on the bulk of the promotion. It’s a sad fact of life. If a writer is uncomfortable doing promotions, I would suggest they hire a publicist or find someone willing to make calls and set up signings.

Signing stock at bookstores is a great way to meet booksellers without the pressure of a signing and signed books always sell better.

There was an excellent article about this topic in RWA’s March issue called “The Power of Booksellers” it gives the inside scoop of what goes on in a book store.

Okay - I’m done - for now :)

]]> By: Barry http://robinbrande.com/writing/why-writers-need-to-self-promote#comment-25 Barry Mon, 24 Apr 2006 22:27:32 +0000 http://robinbrande.com/writing/why-writers-need-to-self-promote#comment-25 Oh, my -- here we go again. :) I refuse to believe that this issue is an all-or-nothing proposition. There must be (and IS) a middle-ground between the two philosophies. And what really concerns me is that in proselytizing all-promotion, all-the-time, many people are (unintentionally, I'm sure) promoting a thinking modality that says that all writing is the same and should be/can be promoted the same. I don't believe that. Never have. There's a difference between selling a thriller and a slice-of-life novel. Or science fiction and memoir. Or epic fantasy and chick-lit. What concerns me is new writers who go into the start of their careers with an opinion already locked into place. It's an opinion based on someone else's career, experiences, and stories. We should be entering with our eyes wide open and take the lay of the land before deciding what, how much, and how soon. Anything else is like dropping bombs in the middle of the night with no intel, hoping to hit the enemy anyway. Oh, my — here we go again. :)

I refuse to believe that this issue is an all-or-nothing proposition. There must be (and IS) a middle-ground between the two philosophies. And what really concerns me is that in proselytizing all-promotion, all-the-time, many people are (unintentionally, I’m sure) promoting a thinking modality that says that all writing is the same and should be/can be promoted the same. I don’t believe that. Never have. There’s a difference between selling a thriller and a slice-of-life novel. Or science fiction and memoir. Or epic fantasy and chick-lit.

What concerns me is new writers who go into the start of their careers with an opinion already locked into place. It’s an opinion based on someone else’s career, experiences, and stories. We should be entering with our eyes wide open and take the lay of the land before deciding what, how much, and how soon. Anything else is like dropping bombs in the middle of the night with no intel, hoping to hit the enemy anyway.

]]> By: laila http://robinbrande.com/writing/why-writers-need-to-self-promote#comment-24 laila Mon, 24 Apr 2006 18:13:11 +0000 http://robinbrande.com/writing/why-writers-need-to-self-promote#comment-24 Hi Robin, Just to throw in my 2 cents: I think the act of writing and the act of promoting are so very different that you don't always find both abilities in the same human. The need to write (rather than the desire to be a writer) has nothing to do with what happens to the book. So while I won't say that it is solely the publisher's job to promote it, I don't think it has to be the writer's job to do so. Hi Robin,
Just to throw in my 2 cents: I think the act of writing and the act of promoting are so very different that you don’t always find both abilities in the same human. The need to write (rather than the desire to be a writer) has nothing to do with what happens to the book. So while I won’t say that it is solely the publisher’s job to promote it, I don’t think it has to be the writer’s job to do so.

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