Alex J. Cavanaugh's awesome co-hosts for the December 7 posting of the IWSG are Jennifer Hawes, Jen Chandler, Nick Wilford, Juneta Key, JH Moncrieff, Diane Burton, and MJ Fifield!
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The December 7 Question: In terms of your writing career, where do you see yourself five years from now, and what’s your plan to get there?
My insecurities do not lie in my beliefs about my abilities or the appeal of my novels but in an inability to attract the attention of readers who share those beliefs. Just writing the words makes me feel egotistical. Is it any wonder my marketing isn't top notch?
Nothing keeps me from continuing to write my novels, however. For NaNoWriMo2016, I typed all but the final climactic scene of my next Pepper Bibeau mystery. The reason I skipped over the climax was because I had a different solution in mind before I started writing. Near the end of the month, a much better solution presented itself to me. I was so excited about this new ending, I refused to write it. Sometimes, it's good to savor such pleasures for as long as possible.
This novel will also be the last one in the series. In the next five years, I will compile and publish a mystery short story anthology featuring sixteen Honolulu authors, concentrate on a new protagonist in a new mystery series, and edit my genealogical novel which is informed by my 20+ years of genealogy research.
But what about the marketing?
Ay, there's the rub.
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Mele Kalikimaka
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Hau'oli Makahiki Hou
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| Mr & Mrs Claus greeting visitors to Honolulu Hale on O'ahu Island, Hawai'i |
You live in Hawai'i? I am so jealous, Gail! That must be amazing. Did I mention we just had a blizzard over here?
ReplyDeleteMarketing is a struggle for great majority of authors. As someone who's worked in marketing for over a decade, I see the same mistakes being made over and over again--writers who use social media to promote their new books and their blog to write posts for writers (no offence if this is you--it's a lot of people). To find your readers, ask yourself what kind of things the people who would love your books would be interested in--beyond your books.
For instance, I write suspense, so my readers love unsolved mysteries. I blog about them, I Tweet and share interesting cases and great books that also deal with that topic. It takes time, but eventually you build a community that trusts what you have to say--and knows that you're not going to inundate them with ads. It totally works! Don't be shy to have opinions about what you're sharing, either. Let people get to know you.
Good luck, and happy holidays. Aloha!
You've offered me a wonderful holiday gift in your comments and your blogging strategy. Thank you so much for visiting today and for sharing such excellent and useful information. I hope you don't mind that I follow your advice about discussing unsolved mysteries. The research alone will make me blissfully happy! Aloha.
ReplyDeleteHow exciting NaNo must have been for you. I'd savor that moment, too. Your goals are admirable and you sound confident about reaching them. Wonderful.
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas and Happy Holidays to you and your family. Aloha.
December co-host
Thank you, Diane, and thanks again for co-hosting for Dec.
DeleteGreat goals! Mele Kalikimaka to you too. Just got back from 2 1/2 weeks on Kauai where my daughter and her family lives.
ReplyDeleteI've spent so little time on Kauai, Donna. If you are planning a post, I would love to read it.
DeleteLove your five-year plan: practical and doable. Best wishes! As for marketing - well... Best wishes too, to all of us.
ReplyDeleteSeems the lack of marketing is the bane of many a writer! I look toward 2017 as my year of learning the art of social media as a pleasurable experience rather than a specific focus on "selling".
DeleteGreat plan. Wishing you much success and superior marketing skills.
ReplyDeleteJuneta @ Writer's Gambit
Thank you, Juneta. Great hashtag: #SSS (SuccessfulSuperiorSkills) Something for me to work toward!
DeleteGlad you came up with a better ending. That is worth its weight in gold.
ReplyDeleteYes, I agree, Alex. And surprising myself, hopefully, translates into a satisfying climax for the reader.
DeleteThe rub indeed! But it looks like you do pretty well in that department - sure one could always do better - but I'd rather write than publicize so I guess something has to give.
ReplyDeleteI've decided to make 2017 the year I improve my social media skills for the pleasure of the experience rather than as a marketing skill to "sell, sell, sell."
DeleteMarketing is always the rub. I wish you well!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Denise.
DeleteCongrats on the NaNo win! It definitely sounds like you've got exciting plans over the next five years. I'm with you on the marketing - it is a matter of self-belief, but then they say that having a lot of work available is a particularly good way of marketing yourself and you seem to have plenty of options on the table. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Nick. Yes, the on-going wisdom is to have plenty of options on the table. But then to let the world know you exist. That is the part I'll focus on in 2017.
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