Think big: promotion and connection

by Claire Belberg

I love writing – poetry, short stories, devotionals, essays, articles. What I don’t enjoy is having to market my own work and myself as an author.

My first novel was published in 2017. I had read a lot of advice about getting my work known but I could not see myself spending that much time doing promotional work (and learning how to use all the platforms). The very thought sickened me. ‘Why can’t I just do what I’m good at and have someone who’s good at marketing do that for me?’ I moaned. God heard my groans and we came to an agreement – He would open the doors and I would walk through.

With each book, I find that the overwhelming has become a little easier, a bit less gut-twisting for me. With my latest book, Unravelling: loving my parents through dementia, marketing has been more natural because the focus of this nonfiction book is something relevant to a lot of people. It’s easier to talk about a story based on my own life because there’s a natural flow from experience to book.

Part of my stress has been using the number of book sales as a marker of success. Try as I might, I can’t seem to get much attention for my work. Several times over the years I have considered aiming lower – an article here or there, just publishing for the family, etc. Each time, God made it clear that His plans were bigger than I was seeing. Recently I have recognised that my measure of success is faulty. ‘Bigger’ doesn’t have to mean more outlets, more sales, more speaking opportunities. With my current book, it means meeting people where they’re at, one person at a time. Most of my book sales are because I spoke personally to someone, sharing our common experience. 

God and I still work by our original arrangement – that He will provide opportunities and I will take up each one. I get to do some cool things, and I’m becoming more confident to try new approaches. My most recent example was being invited to run a poetry workshop at a dementia retreat, encouraging carers to express their strong feelings without hurting anyone. I love the fact that when I tell my story to a group, there is always someone who wants to share theirs too, having identified with mine. That person-to-person connection makes the book richer for them, and does a deeper work of ‘companionship for the journey’ (the book’s goal) than merely buying it online. Don’t get me wrong – all those other sales methods are great when they get someone’s attention – but the personal touch feels truer to who I am, and brings a sense of connection to me and the buyer.

I’m still hopeful of more sales because my little book is able to touch hurting people who often feel alone in their dementia care role. But if person-to-person remains the primary promotional method, that’s okay by me.

(Image credit: AI generated by Imagineers Studio via Canva)

Claire Bell writes poetry, short stories, creative nonfiction and novels for mainstream audiences under the pen name of Claire Belberg. She is based in the Adelaide hills where she lives with her husband. She loves birds and is grateful to have access to large green spaces which refresh her sense of wonder. Her latest book is Unravelling: loving my parents through dementia, a memoir in poetry of recent challenging years, written as a companion for others on a similar journey. You can contact her on bellwriting@gmail.com, visit her Facebook author page (Claire Belberg author) and her unintentionally sporadic blog, The Character Forge (clairebelberg.wordpress.com).

Know Your Reader by Jeanette Grant-Thomson

 

So you’ve written a good novel. It has likeable characters, an interesting story line, even some gripping suspense. But now … who will read it? And how will you keep their interest after your initial year or so of online spiels, pics, blurbs, emails, and other promotion?

One key I believe is often overlooked. In getting started, we writers are lucky these days. We’re swamped with books, articles and teaching on how to write well. Many of these focus on plot and structure, characters, writing style and various other aspects of the craft. Even the necessary thing, marketing. But one of the keys I found most important at first is Knowing your Readers.

The birthing of Jodie’s Story

When I wrote Jodie’s Story (my first novel after having many shorter pieces and Sunday School books published), I broke all the rules. I squished my writing into any bits of spare time, even writing a chapter in squiggly lurching handwriting on the train going to Brisbane. I didn’t do any re-working at all. None. I didn’t have it edited before submitting it to the then largest Christian publisher in Australia. (NOT recommending any of this!) I knew nothing at all about current popular writing techniques as it was about twenty-five years since I’d been to an in-person writing course. I attended a writers group in Nambour and found them helpful but they didn’t touch on many issues that had arisen in recent years. And I was shocked to hear a visiting speaker tell us, ‘If Peter Carey submits a handwritten novel written on butcher’s paper, we’ll probably publish it. Ouch! After all my trouble and having had my sister type it up beautifully for me. (I didn’t even type then!). As an unknown, what hope did I have?

I’d gone from writing the Teen Challenge newsletter about rehabilitating drug addicts and other troubled young people, to teaching Speech and Drama to all ages but especially teens. Perhaps you’d think there’d be no overlap there. 

But I soon learnt that some of my pupils were struggling at home or school. There were drugs in some schools. Some pupils wondered what life was all about. Several made Christian commitments (not with any pushing or input from me. Some attended Christian schools.)  

I came to know some of my pupils well and cared deeply about their futures. So … out of that, I wrote Jodie’s Story for them, praying it would abort their following in Jodie’s footsteps.

    My publisher was dubious at first, as Chris Kline (the ex-girlfriend of one of Mick Jagger’s managers) had just published A Brilliant Deception, which targeted similar readers. But I believe God wanted Jodie’s testimony published and it ‘just so happened’ that Teen Challenge decided to celebrate their first twenty years in ministry. They offered to buy the first 1000 books, so … Anzea Publishers said ‘yes’, in 1991 Jodie’s Story was launched at the Teen Challenge celebratory dinner … and it was popular!

Why? 

After all, it’s not an appealing topic. But I knew those teenagers and what they cared about. I wrote it for them.

This little book has continued to be popular with teenagers in particular and has sold many copies. It is in its third edition and has been sold in many countries.

After Jodie’s Story was published, I was asked by a small magazine to write an article sharing some keys to successful writing. So I wracked my brains and came up with Know Your Readers. Know what they like, what they fear, and what issues they care about. It had been a real key for me.

My WIP

My current work in progress – Riverview – is also a novel. I’ll call it women’s fiction but … who am I really writing for? Theoretically, some of my friends again – baby boomers or middle aged women. A few men. I know my immediate friends will almost certainly read it. If they like it, they’ll recommend it to their friends or families. 

Needless to say, I now rewrite – and again and again. I also pay to have my work professionally edited. The ball is really in my court now to give it my best shot so my friends and associates, when they read it, will like it so well they talk about it to their own friends. I keep an ear open to hear what my friends enjoy reading about. What they care about. Good reviews are a great help but over a long period of years, I think word of mouth (or online ‘mouth’) is the most significant factor in promoting our books. 

Another type of writing

It’s worth remembering though: there is another type of novel-writing. Writing for oneself or for God. I think it’s so important we don’t lose the joy of writing in our quest to get results. Writing simply because we love it is so fulfilling. We writers enjoy creating and words are our medium. 

Jeanette Grant-Thomson is a S.E.Queensland based author. She has been writing and having work published since she was a child and has enjoyed writing in most genres.

Her first novel Jodie’s Story, now in its third edition, is a true story which opened the door for her to write several other works.

Apart from writing, Jeanette enjoys the mountains, the beach, swimming and having coffee with friends. She is a sincere Christian and attends church regularly.

She can be contacted on Facebook, LinkedIn or Goodreads and her books can be seen and ordered on her Author Page - www.facebook.com/jeanette.grantthomson   Her blogs are  

godwhispersjgt.blogspot.com and Jeanette’s Journalling.blogspot.com

Highlighting Social Media for Authors

 by Jeanette O'Hagan

"If a tree falls in the forest and no one listening, does it still make a sound?" 

The answer to this question depends on your world view, the intricacies of which I leave for another time and another place. But maybe it raises another question.

"If an author writes a book and no one reads it, does have purpose?"

This one is is easier to answer.  Yes, because after all, the writer is the very first reader of a work. Besides, writing in and of itself has benefits. Writing, maybe especially writing stories, helps us process thoughts and feelings, can give release, help us move past blockages or provide escape from grim reality. Writing, in and of itself, can be therapeutic. 

But, on another simpler level, if and when we seek to publish our stories, it's because we want someone to read them.  (Even if we are pursuing fame and/or fortune, we will need readers.) 

And, from my experience, while writing a novel or short story or memoir has it's challenges, getting the book published has perhaps greater challenges, but the biggest challenge of all is connecting with readers. 

So how do we find readers, or probably more to the point, how do readers discover our books?

While I don't claim to have solved this conundrum, we can explore the possibilities. 

Already Established Platform

Being already famous or well-known in another sphere, gives a leg-up on the visibility of your books. People buy books by household names because they know them and are curious. This is of particular advantage to those writing non-fiction but can also be useful for fiction. 

In addition, someone who is in demand as a speaker is already connecting with people who may be interested in their books. 

But that's not most of us. 

Friends and Family

Our friends and family often want to see us succeed and may read our books because, well, they love us.  Not that is is always the case. I can probably number on one hand my friends and family who are enthusiastic fans of my books. Most aren't that interested and certainly haven't read anything I written. In fact, apart from a few wonderful exceptions like my sister, it's my more distant relatives that have shown enthusiasm. 

Another reason for not relying too heavily on close circles - your early fans can determine how your book is ranked on sites like Amazon. As a result, it's better to aim at the readers  of your genre and audience. Plus, at some point, you probably want to reach beyond the people you know and launch your book out into the wide, wild world of readers. 

Launches, Book Signings and Conventions

Face to face encounters provide another way to connect with readers. As part of Rendered Realms, Lynne Stringer, Adele Jones and I have attended Sci-Fiction and Fantasy conventions like OzComicCon and Supanova as a way of connection with people who love the genre we write and, a good proportion of them, who love to read. 

Arranging book-signings or having a stall at the markets or book fair or organising school visits etc are all ways of connecting face-to-face with potential readers.  This has a great impact, but is also limited by space and time. 

Social Media

Social Media also provides a way for connecting with readers. It can be targeted a specific audience and has, at least in theory, the potential to go viral. 

The sites

Social Media includes a huge number of options to pursue.

Facebook - the biggest at 2.89 billion monthly active users and it's also versatile - it's great for interest groups of people (like Christian Writers Downunder) and showcasing your creativity and work on an author's page. Facebook can also be a platform for advertising books.

Instagram - popular with young people and visual artists, if focuses on cool images and is  a popular among many readers, book bloggers and authors. Hashtags work well here. 

Twitter - with posts (or tweets) limited to 280 characters, it's a great way to learn to say more with few words and also has both an active author and active reader communities. 

Goodreads - primarily a review site, it also has listopia (lists of books on a particular subject or genre), reading challenge and a multitude of book and writing groups. Even if you don't plan to frequent it, it's probably a good idea to claim your profile to make sure your books are linked as you would like them.

Bookbub - similar to Goodreads, Bookbub has book profiles and author profiles and sends out newsletters to members of books specials and free books. It can be a great paid promotional site for authors. Once again, maybe claim your author profile on this site. 

You-tube - for presenting audio-visual content - such as presentations, book reviews or author readings. 

TikTok - all about short snappy videos and is popular with young people (until the next big thing or the site gets too crowded with their parents). It has a very active book community - BookTok 

Tumblr - is a blogsite, an alternative to blogger, cum-social media with following pages part of the culture, though it can be wild and hairy. 

Pinterest - another visual site, in this case you can collect or pin cool images on virtual boards. Boards can be public, private or shared.  For authors, it can be part of the creative process - pinning images that give inspiration or help with planning your stories.  It's also possible to link blog posts (attached to an image) or book covers etc. 

Wattpad - a writing site where fan fiction, short stories and other content is posted freely for users to read and give feedback. Some authors post stories in the hopes of developing fans who will crossover to their (not free) books. 

Patreon - an author or creative provides different level on content for their subscribers on a regular (monthly) basis - it can be short stories unavailable elsewhere, snippets from books, behind the scene stuff, artwork or even the books themselves.

Discord -  a way for groups to get together and discuss things.

Redditt - a discussion group or maybe discussion groups within discussion group?  

Blogger - a blogger site 

World Anvil - a worldbuilding site tailored for gamers and authors - a place to document the world of your book, but also to interact with others by providing interesting content. 

And there's more. Too many to mention.

Pros and Cons

All these platforms attract audiences/followers, and often many are avid book readers of both popular and niche genres. Building up an active following on these platforms, can result in a growing following of people interested in your books. They can also be used as a basis for paid advertising. If a post goes viral, it can really take off.

On the other hand, it's takes time and effort, rarely results in instant success and can be a confusing and a timewaster. And sometimes, social media becomes an echo chamber  - writers connect with other writers (and can support and encourage each other, which is good) but don't connect with readers. 

The huge variety can be daunting /off putting. It's probably impossible to be involved in each and every platform there is. 

Start small, build and stay with it.

This is a marathon, not a sprint. Better to start small, build on your gains. And be strategic and genuine.  Remain involved. 

When starting out, choose one or perhaps two to get a handle of. Choose a media that resonates and you feel most comfortable with and which is more also popular to your readers. For instance, young people have deserted Facebook for Snapchat, Instagram and TikTok.  If you have a lot of visual content, Instagram and Pinterest work well while Twitter is more word based (though even here visuals help attract attention). 

Take time to understand the platform and the expectations of their users. Twitter users look more askance at Direct Messaging than Facebook users. Hash tags may be used differently at different sites. 

Ask for help and do some research (including some excellent blogs on this site) and don't be afraid to experiment.

Add value for your readers/followers

Do you enjoy the shop owners who feel compelled to yell specials and 'buy, buy, buy' messages at you through a loud hailer as you walk past their shop? If you are anything like me, such loud and pushy tactics will make you want to run for the hills. So too with social media.  Think about what content you can offer related to your books, engage with people, be helpful and pleasant. And make any promotions relevant, interesting and attractive. 

 Remember, it's as much as making connections and building relationships. 

Be versatile

And remember, platforms change. Elon Musk has just bought out Twitter. Some earlier social media platforms no longer exist - anyone remember Yahoo groups or Myspace?

So the other point, is, don't be too dependent on any one social media. Have your own website (with or without a blog) and email list are other ways to connect with readers that is independent on the changes in policy and fortune of the big providers. 

Beware of Time Munchers

Social media can swallow whole hours once you start swiping or scrolling.  It's good to post regularly, put regular content up but don't let it swallow up all the available hours.  Ask yourself would I be better off writing (or editing).  Perhaps automate if possible or set aside time to work on certain tasks.

So which social media platform works best?  It depends - on you, on your book, on your audience, and on the phase of the moon. 

Okay, maybe not the phase of the moon, but there is a degree of unpredictability about all this. And all of these opportunities , these portals to readers - existing networks, face-to-face opportunities, social media, website and email newsletter, can and should work together.  

And remember to have fun :)  

It's a lot to learn and, often, a uphill struggle.  Yet a thousand mile journey starts with the first step.

Some questions for the reader. 

So, what social media and other means have you tried to connect with readers? What worked? What didn't work?  Do you have some tips to share or questions you would love answered?

Jeanette O'Hagan has spun tales in the world of Nardva from the age of eight. She enjoys writing fantasy, sci-fi, poetry, and editing. Her Nardvan stories span continents, millennia and cultures. Some involve shapeshifters and magic. Others include space stations and cyborgs.

She has published over forty stories and poems, including the Under the Mountain Series (5 books), Ruhanna's Flight and Other Stories, Akrad's Children and Rasel's Song, the first two books in the Akrad's Legacy series - and new short story accepted for an upcoming Fantasy anthology.

Jeanette has practised medicine, studied communication, history, theology and a Master of Arts (Writing). She loves reading, painting, travel, catching up for coffee with friends, pondering the meaning of life.

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Author and Perfecter

Marc Jeffrey

Paul the apostle, described Jesus as the author and perfecter of faith (Hebrews 12:2, NASB). When I first read that, I got the impression that Jesus had ‘written’ the perfect draft in heaven, which he published as perfect faith into people when they believed. But, of course, life is not like that, and writing is rarely perfect on first draft.

Faith builds and strengthens as we make attempts and learn from our mistakes, talk to others and read how others dealt with situations. Sometimes we learn by putting a difficult situation aside for a while, then re-engage with new perspective. I use that one a lot, usually after I say that I have no intention of ever going back to it.

Most of my writing up until about ten years ago, was in the context of work or University studies. Like most students, I started a writing task an insufficient length of time before the deadline. My record for a term paper at Uni, was submitting with four seconds to spare. I don’t recommend that!

Photo by Anton Malanin on Unsplash

Much of my longer form creative writing has stayed in the form of first draft. It is only as I have sought to beat some of my stories into something a little more reader-friendly, that I’ve realised the benefit of a time gap between the first draft and final product. That, and good advice. The gap allows me the distance to recognise where the imperfections are in my stories, so I can address them. That distance allows me to see my draft more as a target reader would.

However, the gap is only useful to me if I use it wisely, otherwise I may end up with an over-edited, disassociated mess. Usually, I need a complete break from that work. I could take on the overgrown garden, reinvigorate my secret bird-watching hobby (oh-oh – the secret’s out), or learn more about word-craft. The choices extend these, of course! When the time comes, I am better equipped to recognise and address the deficiencies in my writing.

Photo by Brett Jordan on Unsplash

Let’s digress to music. I’ve been in a few bands. Of the hundreds of songs I started writing, only three or four were ever finished to the place where I could perform them without cringing. Songs need words that grow an idea or tell a story, but they also must fit seamlessly within the beat and timbre of the music, so it ‘gets you’. The listener no longer hears the components—the huskily breathed words, the synchronised strings, the gentle counterpoint of the piano keys—but is taken on an emotional journey as they respond to the whole song.

I am aiming to engage my readers with longer form writing as well. It is not just words, but how I craft them. It’s also understanding what my target readers expect. For me, that means researching what people expect to see in the thriller genre. Whether I write to a market, or for specific readers, I do not want to lose them looking around for the next literary bus when they are halfway through my story. 

For instance, I do not want to create an expectation that all stories in that genre have, then fail to deliver on it. I want my readers to travel with me through the bends of the story and see the signposts they expect and love the ride. And to do that well, I need space from my created work before I re-engage with a critical mind. A few beta readers will help me to see what I’ve missed.

Photo by Maarten van den Heuvel on Unsplash

So, the authoring has happened. The ‘perfecting’ may involve reforming the structure and story beats to meet the target readers’ expectation. The learning, I think, is to not shirk the gap between authoring and the version you unleash. Space between first and final drafts is good for your writing. Your thoughts?

                                                     

Marc Z Jeffrey works for the Australian public service, but loves to write

suspense and thrillers and the occasional whimsical dragon story. He loves

editing fiction and can an spot an errant apostrophe at a thousand paces.

Never too Soon to Connect

 by Jeanette O'Hagan

Can't it Wait?

 

'I'm just starting out as a writer, why should I worry about promotion and marketing now?'

'If God has called me to write, then surely that's all I need to do? Once I've written the book, people will read it."

"I'm an introvert. I hate the thought of promoting myself. Isn't there some way of skipping that part? Can't the publisher do it for me?"

The Panel

It's hard to believe it's almost a month since the Fifth Omega Writers Book Fair. Two years in a row, the Book Fair has managed by God's grace to slip in just before a lockdown.  The committee's aim for the Book Fair is to connect new and established authors with readers through author tables and readings, but it also provides networking opportunities between authors as well as workshops and panels of interest both to writers and readers. This is not something the committee can do no matter how hard they work behind the scenes without the support of the writing community. 

This year, I was on the Panel on Marketing and Promotion for authors - along with the vibrant Sally Eberhardt and the talented Lynne Stringer. Our moderator, Nola Passmore, added her expertise and gentle guidance. We interacted with interested and enthusiastic participants who were happy to ply us with questions. Both Sally and Lynne gave some brilliant answers drawn from their experience and skills.  I added my ten cents worth as well. I thought I'd share my thoughts with you on marketing and promotion. 

Are Marketing and Promotion the Same Thing?

Yes, I mean, no. I get confused about this too. 

One answers seems to be that Promotion is about keeping the brand in the minds of readers and building a positive reputation - building 'a platform' as it were - to make you and your books visible and attractive to the audience.  While Marketing focuses on a single product (the book). 

However, other definitions see marketing in a much broader way - as the whole process starting with market research, creating the product, determining price and placement as well as promotion (launches, adverting, publicity, etc.) The idea of 'writing for market' fits under this umbrella - that is, researching a genre or sub-genre that sells well and writing specifically for that market.  

However, for many of us, our aim is not (at least primarily) to make money (to sell a product), but to communicate, to reach readers with a story, to inspire or transform, to follow a calling. 

Marketing - and promotion - can seem almost grubby, even sleazy.

However, it doesn't have to be like that.  Rather it is about connecting with potential readers and making our books visible to those who want to read them. 

Jesus urges his disciples to be a city on top a hill, like a beacon, or a lamp lighting up the house rather than hidden under a basket or bin  (Matthew 5:14-16). He also told his disciples the parable of the talents, making it clear that He asks us to invest, take risks, to work with Him in the calling He gives us. 

Promotion is about making connections with people who will enjoy and/or will benefit from reading our writing. At the heart of promotion, is discovering our future readers.

The questions

Why do authors need to promote their books? Isn’t it enough to write them? Isn’t that something that the publisher does for you?

Long gone are the days when a publisher did all the promotion for an author, if those days ever existed.  Yes, traditional publishers plan for promotion around the launch of the book, but if the book doesn't make a splash they can be quick to move on. Small presses have less resources. Whether you Indie publish or go the traditional route, promotion will still be largely up to you as the author. 

Also, publishers may be more interested in someone with an established 'platform', in other words, someone who has already built up a name or following.

 

What have you done to market and/or promote your books? What have you found to be the most successful promotion strategy?

I've tried a range of strategies - networking, being part of groups interested in my genre or reading, engaging with social media - such as Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, Instagram, Bookbub, Pinterest, Linkedin etc. I have a website (jeanetteohagan.com), have established an email list, used reader magnets (a freebie to encourage people to sign up to my email newsletter - in this case a story), had regular price reductions and promotions and giveaways, and dabbled in advertising. 

Online launches and connecting with people through groups and social media have been useful ways to connect with new readers.  The most successful by far, has been face-to-face events like Supanova and OzComic Con (attended by avid readers who love the genre I write) and the Book Fair. 

To me this underlines the importance of 'finding your tribe' - the people who will love what you write - and also of patience, as it takes time and perseverance to build up a presence. 

Out of the various strategies, what hasn’t worked for you? Would you do something different?

 So far, I haven't had much success in advertising. I've done two courses in this area (Mark Dawson and Bryan Cohen) which have been immensely helpful in understanding the mechanics and strategies of both Facebook and Amazon ads, but so far I haven't seen significant results. 

However, I have learnt a lot and my 'failed' experiments with advertising has given me pointers about a couple of areas I need to improve on. 

So I think, really,  what doesn't work is becoming discouraged and giving up when results don't come quickly.  At times, I put so much pressure on myself to do everything that I'm in danger of burning out.  Staying on task is important, and learning from mistakes is important. So too, is being kind to myself. 

One advantage of being an Indie author (I am my own publisher), is the power of the long tail. In a brick-and-mortar bookstore, books often have a six week shelf life before being replaced. But with publish-on-demand and e-stores (like Amazon), one's books can be evergreen. Persistence and perseverance become key - and so does pacing oneself. 

When is the best time to start promotion? 

The best time to start, is now - but certainly six months or more before publication.  Start connecting now with your tribe whether through social media, groups or a blog or website. Build anticipation. Make connections. Share interesting and intriguing content. 

What tips would you give to someone just starting out?

Start small.  There are so many different things to do that if you try to do it all at once, you will be overwhelmed. It's better to start with one or two things (say a Facebook page, or Instagram or a blog) and take time to learn how to make it work for you before moving on to another part of the picture. There are books and courses and you can ask questions in CWD or other writers groups to help. 

Experiment but don't try to do it all.  Not everything is going to work for everyone. Find out what works for you. 

Don't make it all about you.  If all you focus on is selling your book, you become like the bore in the party who only ever talks about themselves. Support others, provide interesting but related material, ask questions, make people laugh. 

And have fun. Promotion is not about forcing someone to read or buy your book. It's about making your book or writing visible to those who are looking for it (even if they didn't know they were). So, relax, be yourself, have some fun. After ploughing and tilling the fields, trust God to bring the harvest - in His time. 

You know, I may never make it 'big' or even earn a modest living from my writing, but I still have so much to be grateful for - a line of my books on the top shelf of the book case, having readers come back at a convention eager to read the next book, having numerous people comment about one or other of my stories have made them think or has given them hope - knowing that my stories have radiated a little of His light where it can be seen.

 

Jeanette O’Hagan has published ten books through her own imprint, By the Light Books —seven fantasy novels set in the world of Nardva, a collection of short stories and two anthologies. Many of her short stories and poems have been published in a range of anthologies. As an Indie author, Jeanette can vouch that marketing and promotion requires persistence, flexibility and a willingness to experiment.

Jeanette lives in Brisbane with her husband and children.



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Turning Heads and Tables

by Jeanette O'Hagan

Writing isn't for wimps, especially if your aim is to send it out into the world for others to read.

There is nothing wrong, of course, in writing for therapy or writing for your own amusement or for the benefit of a select group of friends and family or indeed an audience for One. Such aims are noble and worthwhile.  Yet we can also be called or constrained to take our work further afield, and that too is a worthy aim.

As I mentioned in an earlier post (here), writing for a wider public could be considered a triathlon:  writing the book (or other work), getting the book published (traditional or Indie), and then helping readers aware of your book (marketing and promotion). Each stage has it's joys and struggles. Not one of them is easy.

Today, I'll like to focus on connecting with readers. No, not another post on social media, but on some face-to-face ways of bringing your opus to the attention of readers who would enjoy and appreciate it.

It seems to me that there might be four ways of bringing a reader's attention to a book
1) Through a distribution network, which includes having the book in catalogues and/or on the shelves of bookstores or libraries or airports.
2) Online availability and promotions (listing the book with online retailers like Amazon, Kobo, I-Books etc), and promoting social media, and advertising.
3) Word of Mouth - through reviews and the recommendation by enthusiastic readers to other readers.
4) Author-Reader events - such as book launches, author signings at bookshops, conventions, book fairs or having a stall at a fete, author visits and talks.

Traditional publishers often favour the first option, Indie publishers the second, but the truth is, that barring miracles (which surely can happen), whether your book is published by a traditional publisher or Indie published, you as the author will need to be proactive in promoting your books if you want them to be seen. And as most authors (though by no means all) are introverts, that can be a daunting prospect.

Unlike my husband, I have to make an effort to put myself out to strangers. On social media, at least I get to think about what I'm going to say, to edit and retype messages. It doesn't feel as confronting as talking to people in the flesh. Yet, I have to say, that eye to eye contact can be a lot of fun. If you haven't done it, maybe it's worth considering.

As yet, I haven't arranged a print book launch, author visits to libraries and schools or book signings at a bricks and mortar bookshops, though I know a number of our members have been quite proactive in this area.  What I have done is fetes, a book fair, and conventions.

Conventions

Over the last two years, two other authors - Lynne Stringer and Adele Jones - and I have teamed up to go to both OzComicCon and Supernova.  Not only has it been a lot of fun, we've connected with our crowd (fantasy and science-fiction geeks), spoken to lots of potential readers, meet some interesting authors, sold books and even had enthusiastic fans seeking us out at the next event.

By combining as a team, we've been able to share expenses and support each other over the long days of the convention.  We have also each signed up to Square (there are other systems as well) which is a seamless way of accepting credit cards as well as cash for sales. Also, posters, banners and - in our case - cosplay (dressing up as characters in our books) helps with presentation. Having a bit of bling or swag often attracts attention (though there may be restrictions on what you can give away.)

Overall, it has been a great experience and has been incredibly encouraging to find people who are interested in what we have to offer them.

Fetes

For a couple years now, I've had a table at our church's Christmas Twilight Markets. This too has been a great experience. Expenses were minimal and I have made some sales and connections. On the whole though, despite a few enthusiastic book readers, the attenders have not been as interested in buying books or in my particular genre (fantasy and science fiction).

Fetes (school fetes, street markets, car boot sales, handmade markets etc) would have potential to connection with readers, though it would depend a lot on the market (people going to a Farmer's Market may be far more interested in fresh vegetable than buying books).

Book Fair

Over the last three years, I've been part of organising the Omega Writers Book Fair in Brisbane.  We've run the Book Fair in September 2016, March 2018 and the third one is coming up on 16 March 2019. (We changed from September to March as there were so many writers' events occurring between August to October, it was hard to choose a date that didn't clash with something else).

The Book Fair runs from 10am to 2:30pm.  Authors, editors, illustrators and others pay a smallish fee for a table to help cover venue costs, advertising, lunches etc. We have display bags, a scavenger hunt (for signatures from each table), door prizes, author readings and workshops. Actual attendance for readers is free (or gold coin donation), and workshops have a nominal price.

Each year we have had an enthusiastic response from  local Christian authors - with most returning for a second or third year. Despite efforts of spreading the word about the Fair, it has been harder to entice readers, but we did see a upturn at the second Fair and hope to see even more attend this year. A radio interview with Anne Hamilton will be aired on Vision Radio in the first week or so of March this year. And libraries, schools, local papers etc have been contacted. Hopefully too, each author will promote to their network, encouraging them to attend.  We also have a Facebook Page (check here) and Event Page (here) where we can promote our authors and keep people up to date with developments.

Our current venue works well with respect to undercover spaces and a separate room for workshops. It is relatively central (though on the northside of Brisbane). It's main drawback is a lack of visibility from the main street. This year we have a banner and signs to draw people in.

Certainly many authors have had good or at least some sales and contacts with interested readers. Last year, a home-schooling dad was enthusiastic about seeing so many authors with quality children's books suitable for his son.

It is a lot of hard work on the part of the organisers and it takes time to establish an event like this, so that it gets known and appreciated. Despite this, I think it's been a worthwhile endeavour, not just because of sales and connections, but hopefully also because it raises the profile of our writing community.  I get the feeling that many readers are unaware of Australian Christian writers and having an annual Book Fair is one way of alerting potential readers that there are many quality books that might not grace the shelves of a bookstore and are worth their time and interest.

A local Book Fair is something that could be done in other cities, if someone was willing to initiate it. and thought it worth doing.

No doubt there are other legitimate ways of connecting with readers in person.  What have your tried? What would you be willing to try? Let us know in the comments below.


And, if you are in South-East Queensland on Saturday, 16th March - or at the Gold Coast on 22-24th April, we'd love for you to drop in to see us either at the Omega Writers Book Fair - or at Supernova Gold Coast.

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Jeanette spun tales in the world of Nardva from the age of eight or nine. She enjoys writing secondary world fiction, poetry, blogging and editing. Her Nardvan stories span continents, time and cultures. Many involve courtly intrigue, adventure, romance and/or shapeshifters and magic. Others, are set in Nardva’s future and include space stations, plasma rifles, bio-tech, and/or cyborgs.

She has published numerous short stories, poems, four novellas in the Under the Mountain series, her debut novel, Akrad's Children and Ruhanna's Flight and other stories.

Her latest release is Shadow Crystals, the penultimate novella in the Under the Mountain series with Caverns of the Deep due in April/May.

Jeanette has practised medicine, studied communication, history, theology and a Master of Arts (Writing). She loves reading, painting, travel, catching up for coffee with friends, pondering the meaning of life. She lives in Brisbane with her husband and children.


Find her on:

  

Facebook |Jeanette O'Hagan Writes | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest

The People Read It

by Jeanette O'Hagan

The people read it and were glad for its encouraging message. Acts 15:31 (NIV)

 'Why do you write?'

I love words. Writing allows time to choose and shape my words without interruption. I love telling stories - anecdotes, family legends, funny happenings.  I love making up stirring tales about heroes and heroines, strange lands and epic adventures. I love to teach, to impart shared wisdom, acquired knowledge. I love the way poetry encapsulates emotion and beauty and wonder. Writing helps me process my thoughts, to discover meaning -  to understand myself, to commune with God and to communicate with others. Writing is a calling though it can never take the place of a living relationship my Lord.

There are a multitude of reasons to write.  I think most writers write because they love writing, because they have something to say, stories to tell. Those that write for fame or fortune are surely soon disillusioned.

Why do you write?

And who do you write for?

Do you write for yourself? For an audience of One? For your family or friends? Or for strangers? Perhaps, for those who haven't yet been born?

Or, to ask it another way. Why is it important to you to be published?

The reasons for writing and the reasons for (wanting/seeking/being) published are perhaps different. Maybe, we write because we must, it's a passion or a necessity. But, we seek publication so that our words and stories will be read  - not just by us, or a select group of friends and family - but by those we don't know and may never meet.

Words Unread

Words are powerful. Yet, unread words wait in silence, wait to uncoil and be unleashed in the mind of the reader.

Of course, as many have reminded us - we can't choose the impact of our words or the size of our audience. God is the God of the harvest and He directs the workers. Paul say (1 Cor), one sows, another waters. We write - as well as live - by faith and by God's grace. This is true whether we write Christian fiction or for the general market, if we write  to shine a light or to entertain, to challenge (or all of the above).

At no time is our worth or our standing with God predicated on the state of our manuscript or our publication status or the size of our social following.

There is a balance - between resting in and on God and doing the good He has planned for us. Grace is not an excuse to be idle when we could be working, though there are fallow seasons, there are times when God calls us into the wilderness, times when He passes the mantle onto others - and then there are times of planting and harvest.

For me, and probably for you, writing is also about finding and connecting with readers - not only my friends and family, and not only other writers (though I love you all and I appreciate everyone who buys and reads (and reviews ;) ) my books and the books of other writers). I think its wonderful and necessary that we support each other  - but just as the Church needs to extend into the workday week and connect with the community beyond her doors to be effective, we also need connect with general readers.

In some ways, I think that is actually the hardest part of being a writer. And, it does require some effort and lateral thinking.





Here are some of ideas how we do this - not in any particular order or importance:

• Readers in our existing networks - family, friends, work colleagues etc.
• Being an expert or at least interesting in a related subject
• Social media - being interactive not pushy
• Blogging 
• Readers groups and book clubs
• Reviews, reviews, reviews
• Cross-promotions with other authors
• Blog tours, interviews, character cameos
• Anthologies and book bundles 
• Newsletters and events
• Launches
• Book signings & bookshop events
• Author talks, School & Library visits
• Study notes
• Different formats
• Donating books
• Promotions and ads
• Quirky promotions
• Leaving books in mystery locations
• Markets
• Conventions and Book Fairs
• Begging (joking, don't beg, pray instead)

Not that we can necessarily do it all and certainly not all of the time.  We do what we can - and rest in the Lord of the Harvest.

What ideas or experiences of connecting with readers have you had?


New International Version (NIV)

Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

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Jeanette started spinning tales in the world of Nardva at the age of eight or nine. She enjoys writing secondary world fiction, poetry, blogging and editing. Her Nardvan stories span continents, time and cultures. They involve a mixture of courtly intrigue, adventure, romance and/or shapeshifters and magic users.

She has published stories and poems in over a dozen anthologies, including Glimpses of Light, Futurevision, Tales From the Underground, and Quantum Soul. She recently released her debut novel Akrad's Children - the first in the Akrad's Legacy series.

Find her at her Facebook Page or at Goodreads or on Amazon or on her websites JennysThread.com or Jeanette O'Hagan Writes . if you want to stay up-to-date with latest publications and developments, sign up to Jeanette O'Hagan Writes e-mail newsletter.