Save the Date

Now I know what people who write books are talking about. That moment when it feels as if the weight of the world is lifted off of your back…the moment your book is finally finished, edited and off to the publisher, only to be seen again when the proofs come out!
I did it, despite my procrastination demons, the summer from hell: which included a tornado hitting our Arkansas property, caring for a dying dog and loosing her and a never-ending workload (note to editors I am NOT complaining) – I finished my book!
Now I know why that fictional writer in the book “Misery” had to have a glass of wine upon completion of his final draft. I feel like having a whole bottle! With that weight off of me now comes the really tough part for introverted writers: the marketing. Never mind that I have a business degree, like most writers, I don’t like marketing myself. However, marketing is a very big part of any writing business.
No matter if it is getting queries out to editors to sell ideas, building relationships during networking or marketing a book, it all has to be done if we are to succeed in this business.
I actually started my marketing campaign upon completing a draft of the book. I located people who I thought might help in my marketing efforts by providing back cover testimonials and a forward. I contacted veteran’s organizations and started positioning myself to go to talk to them. In the process, I got myself invited to talk to 10,000 Vietnam veterans next summer at a Kansas rally. I also started telling everyone I know about the book, hoping to build interest and generate traffic to my website when the book is released.
However, all of that is not enough. The people behind the Guerrilla Marketing for Writers book gives a lot more suggestions and I would recommend that book to anyone who is marketing a manuscript, no matter if you are self publishing or not.
Tomorrow will be about the marketing. Today, however, is about the celebration, or maybe just some sleep (yawn).
But November 5 will definitely be for celebrating. If you’re reading this, you’re invited to my book launch party, where we can all party like its well, 2005!