Presented by Heather B. Moore (blog)
Study the market
Look at what publishers are buying today, not just what’s on the shelves now—Publishers Marketplace announces deals, see what your friends are selling.
On the other hand, don’t write to a trend unless it’s your natural interest. [Plus you have to take into account the timeline here—by the time you finish a book, the market may well have moved on!]
Write, write, write
Hooks & Story Arc—there are four types of hooks:
- 1st sentence/paragraph/page—why you start the book
- Chapter hook—why you read the next chapter
- Story arc—why you are reading to the end of the book
- Can also lead into series hook!
- Pitch—in query letter, why the agent will start reading your sample chapters
Keeping a writer’s schedule
As a writer, you’re always writing or revising something. Heather posted her publication timelines, past, present and future, on Writing on the Wall. Her first book was 27 months from “Chapter One” to holding it in her hands.
You have to keep working on your next project! Establish a writing schedule with daily goals: time, word count, etc. When making your goals, look at when you want to submit the book, the time it takes you to generate ideas and write, etc.
Once you’re done with the book
Do your homework when researching agents and publishers. See PublishersMarketplace (look at recent deals), AgentQuery, Preditors & Editors and Writer Beware.
With her first offer, she was about to sign the contract, but took time to email a few other authors to see how they liked them—the next day, she received 3 negative emails!
Check out authors/client list (if they don’t have one on their site and they’ve asked you for a full, ask for a client list). Follow submission guidelines!!
Steer clear of reading fees.
Platform, platform, platform
Christina Katz, Writer’s Digest May/June 2009 article
The well-known writer has influence. In order for you to build influence, you need to create and launch a platform that communicates your expertise, credibility and integrity to others quickly and concisely.
Ideas:
- Give public speaking on your research, offer to bring treats, approach book groups, libraries, etc.
- What are you the expert in?
- How are you different?
- Establish a relationship with your readers
- Join professional groups
- Volunteer
- Speak for free
- Platform: You are a writer
- Learn to teach (ex: Scott Savage teaching creative writing class through community)
- Be sociable
- Create a one-sentence pitch
- Maybe a 3 sent pitch for people who are more interested
Marketing timeline
6 months before the book comes out: get endorsements—blurbs on book and your website (even before book comes out)
3 months before: line up reviewers—newspapers and blogs (for the national market: 4-6 months out)
1-2 months before: schedule events and book signings
Have marketing materials prepared in advance: bookmarks, fliers, etc.
The big day: Book release: get books to remaining reviewers (some don’t want ARCs), book launch at bookstore, create a press release/news item—can be included in writer friends’ newsletters, book signings—talk to store owners.
About the conference: LDStorymakers is a writing contest geared to LDS writers. The conference covers both the niche, regional publishers that cater to the LDS market as well as national publishers.
