OBSCURITY: NOT AN OPTION

by

Cindy MacDonald

So you’ve written a manuscript. You had it professionally edited. You’ve got a great cover design. You’ve had it published in paperback and eBook forms, and it’s been uploaded to Amazon. Great! Now what? Sit back, relax, perhaps twiddle your thumbs a bit, and wait for those royalties to come pouring in, right?

Mmmm, I’m afraid not.

No good deed shall go unpunished!
Amazon.com
Amazon.UK

The fact is that no one is going to come looking for your book, no matter how well written, how engaging, or how action-packed it is unless you, the author, makes it happen!

Hey let’s face it, obscurity is not an option when you’ve published a book. The competition is fierce—and the competition is using all the resources that perhaps you are not. There is no doubt that marketing is an indie’s biggest hurdle, but you can’t afford to be shy or stuck in the nineteenth century. I’m not saying that marketing one’s book is insurmountable, but it can be hard to get started. Book stores are not usually very willing to arrange a signing for indie writers because they are relatively unknown—they’d rather have James Patterson, go figure. However, some local libraries may be willing to host an event for you. That’s nice, but that doesn’t tend to spread the word to a large mass of people. And that’s exactly what your need.

So what’s an author to do?

Brace yourself, because I’m about to say the S word: Social Networking. Yikes! You may consider it a dirty word, but I’m afraid it's truly the reality of our time. Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, Pininterest, it’s enough to make an author’s head spin! After all, it has been widely rumored that authors are quite a recluse lot. The trick is to not allow it to overwhelm or intimidate you—no matter what your age.  The bottom line is it's your responsibility as an author to get the word out about your book—not your publisher—you.

Actually, I’ve seen quite a few traditionally published and even best selling authors on the networks pushing their books as well. So it’s my guess that their publishers feel the same way—get the word out, baby!

So stiff upper lip, pull yourself up by your bootstraps, and do what you need to do to make that book of yours a success. Because you can.

If you don’t have a website—get one. You need it! There are plenty of website options out there and some are free. List your books—with covers, a synopsis, provide an excerpt, and yes do a book trailer, to boot! You can make one right there on your computer—it’s easy and it’s actually a lot of fun.

Don’t forget to provide links to your book’s Amazon sales site on your website.

Okay, now that you have a website, you need a…wait for it…Facebook page! I have two FB pages: one in my name where I talk about my life—nothing too personal—and one for my books. On both pages I will announce reviews and provide links to those reviews or my books, and sometimes I will post pictures of my horses just for fun. There are also FB pages that are provided for authors to promote their books. On all these FB pages I will also list blogs that I am featured at—like today—another excellent way to get the word out about your book—I also plug the blog site to draw in readers.

And then there are VirtualBook Tours—virtual book tours help you to promote not only your book but you—the author— without having to leave the comfort of your sofa. You have control as to how long the tour is: two weeks, one month, or the max—three months. 

How they work is that for approximately three times a week you will visit a blog for an author spotlight, a review, interview, or a guest post on a variety of subjects. The guest post will spotlight how well you write beyond the pages of your book. That’s important. It also provides potential readers an insight as to who you are and what you think or believe. While this service is not free, you can decide how much you want to spend by the length of the tour.

LinkedIn is a great place to post a blurb about your book on a daily basis. I usually write something like: Whoa! Those online romances can be real murder!  And then I list the link to where my potential audience can purchase DEADLY.COM I went from selling hardly any of this particular book to making it my best selling novel at this time—especially in the UK.

Then there’s Twitter *wince*. I thought I would never get the hang of that nightmare social networking demon. I thought it was stupid. Then I thought: but there are sooo many authors using it. Hey, there’s got to be something to it.  So I started following people—mainly authors—they would retweet my book blurbs—I would retweet back---this would result in book sales. Hmmm. I followed more—retweeted more—additional book sales. Who knew? I am now tweeting approximately three to four times per day. It only takes about ten minutes, and the payoff has been well worth it. 

Pssst…I’ve even got my publishing manger tweeting more than she ever did before. To tell you the truth, she probably hates me for it, but she has realized how invaluable it is for her and her cozy mysteries. She too has experienced a sharp rise in sales. Go baby go!

It’s true, I spend a lot of time per day promoting my books on the social networks—it’s a commitment. But hey, didn’t you make a commitment to the book when you wrote it? You love your characters. You love your stories, so help send them get to the masses.

There’s the light at the end of the very long indie tunnel—it can and will work!

Since I’ve been using Twitter on a daily basis, following as many people with an interest in books, tweeting and retweeting other authors, using hashtags, and writing something about my books on my FB pages and LinkedIn, my book sales have truly improved!

C’mon, don’t be shy. Get out of that “I am NOT going anywhere near social networking sites” demeanor. You CAN do this. Only you have the power. You’ve worked hard. So step up to the plate and take a swing at making your book into everything you wanted it to be—a success!

Cindy McDonald's website | Facebook | Goodreads | Twitter

See more of Cindy's posts on WWBB: 

When writing romantic scenes where does one stop. 

When reviews count for nothing.

Never judge a book by its cover.

Memories of Presque Isle

Censored books - you betcha!

Getting an agent - Mortal Kombat style

by 

Emlyn Chand

Do you like to play video games? Have you ever played Mortal Kombat, Street Fighter, Soul Calibur, or Super Smash Brothers?

If you’re a writer who has attempted to land a literary agent, then you have to some degree. Securing a literary agent is one part fight and one part game, and there are many rounds to this battle.

I’ve made it through the first match alive but slightly worse for the wear. Rather than explain my literary agent submission experience in lengthy, dramatic prose, I thought it would be more fun to turn it into a video game script.

Welcome to Book Basher Super Fiiiight Time—Hiyaah!

Deep in the snowy wasteland of the mid-January Midwest, our hero boldly prepares for battle. With nothing more than a six-time-revised manuscript and a dash of hope, she sets forth on her journey toward publication.

Meanwhile in the magical urban forest called “New York,” an army of battle-weary agents also prepare for their day’s journeys. They have emerged victorious many times before and think nothing of today’s show-down.

Within the space of the cyber realm, at last they shall meet.

Our hero goes forth, query in hand, with minimal armor to protect her feelings. Although she has honed her skills for more than one year, nothing could have prepared her for this first battle.

Emlyn vs. The Literary Agents—Battle 1—Fiiiight!

OUR HERO: “I’m calling on my strength.” She circles her arms and performs a sun salute.

AGENT #1:  "He, he. I will make you cry!" She looks at our hero from over her shoulder, sticks out her tongue, and winks.

OUR HERO inches forward, hesitantly, toward her opponent

AGENT #1 performs a swift maneuver, pulling a red rejection stamp out of her pocket and bringing it to rest on our hero’s manuscript—KO—“You die too easily, hmmpf!”

Out in MAY!

Heavy promoting is BLOODY annoying!

Learnt a new word the other day – shilling

It means ceaselessly promoting your book. Put it another way, do you get lots of spam from anonymous people trying to sell you Viagra? Escorts? Shilling is no different. In the end this “promotion” isn’t read, it’s just deleted or ignored.

I joined Amazon forums for one reason and that is to promote, promote and promote some more. I thought it was an excellent tool for authors to promote their books. I mean, where else are you going to meet so many readers? But do book lovers really read these threads? I don’t, so why would I expect others to? 


I soon learnt that it was against Amazon’s regulations, and that actually it was BLOODY annoying! 

So what makes me buy a book from an unknown author? What makes you? Of course an excellent blurb and an interesting cover helps, but how do you find books by unknown writers? And what are they supposed to do to help you find them?

I’ve learnt that social media isn’t there for you to promote your book. It’s to meet, and join in discussions with other people.

So in short if you claim that social media isn’t working then it’s probably because you’re doing it wrong.

Are you sending Facebook messages or updates pleading to Like My Page – when these land in my inbox or media stream I, like many I imagine, delete or ignore them.  When I’m bombarded with messages from Twitter to “check out my website” I, again like many others, completely ignore them. Tweeters who continually push their book or yell Follow Me! at every opportunity are also ignored.

But, if by chance one of these en masse promotions provokes a visit to a blog what are we likely to find? Pictures of a stranger's latest trip up the Eiffel Tower? Photos of someone's pet cat or dog? Very likely! Similarly, if the blog focuses ONLY on self-promotion people aren’t going to be enchanted.

Promotion on Amazon, bombarding people with emails, tweeting primarily to promote yourself on Twitter and begging people to buy your book on Facebook and Linkedin aren’t going to work. You may get a trickle of sales, and if a trickle is all you want then carry on.

But if you want to sell SHIT LOADS *read on: 

*Don't expect a magic jangle. Building an author platform takes time and work. Like writing a book really.

You will need (at least) a blog, Twitter account and Facebook and join Amazon forums and Goodreads. There are others but these are my favourite, and all will work together and reinforce one another. You can’t stick to one source. You WILL need several. And you will HAVE to be consistent and professional at all times. NEVER stray from this. Most importantly it has to be more than selling books - it has to be about YOU (not to be confused with you and your boring life - believe me your life IS boring to others) as a HUMAN not a spammer.

Your author platform begins with many social sites. They aren’t something you can dip in and out at will, they are something you MUST become part of and WORK AT. This requires time, and if you’re working as well as writing it’s hard, but it CAN be done.

And do it NOW. Don’t wait until your book is published. It’s NEVER too early to begin a platform. The days of marketing your novel after it is published is long gone.

On your blog write something that others will be interested in reading. No one wants to read something unless it means something to them. Think about what makes YOU open a link or read a begging email. Can’t think of anything to write on your blog? Offer authors free space to write something.


Link share, write an article, entertain and write flash fiction, ask to interview someone, the list is endless really.

On Amazon forums be a human, not a spammer. Talk about books. Join the MOA  (Meet Our Authors) forum. DON’T PROMOTE. Write interesting discussions and you’ll find yourself looked up.

Twitter is a place to share links and information, and make sure you use hashtags well. If you don’t know the important of hashtags then find out now rather than later. Again don’t over promote yourself because people will notice and you’ll end up unfollowed. Join in on chats, write something funny or meaningful and above all TALK to people. Some people believe it’s impossible to chat on Twitter with only 140 characters but you’ll be wrong. It’s amazing what CAN be said in a sentence or two.

Facebook is more relaxed than Twitter. I use my FB account to connect with family and friends so I’m more "me" there. But here you also have the opportunity to join groups. Search for literary groups/writing groups etc

Goodreads is another tool where you can connect to groups, again treat this as an opportunity to meet and connect with people.

With all social media take time to write your profile and add your links to create a chain between you and your media sites. And ALWAYS stick with ONE name – preferably your author name. The web is a small world and you WILL be recognised. It takes time and patience, but it DOES pay off.


Only don't expect it within a month - or even six months. Sorry if that's NOT what you want to hear. There is no magic formula. If there was I'd be selling it at fifty quid a bottle!


Patience and perseverance is the golden key.


But think of it this way: you'll meet loads of writers in the same position as yourself and you'll make lots of friends.