Marketing Mania

  This writing gig has a part which I found to be bigger than the writing.  What’s this you say?  If I am a writer wouldn’t the writing be by far the biggest?  You would think, but a writer writing and no one listening is similar to a body builder in the gym everyday and not wanting any results.  Now I am not saying write just for profitable results, no not at all.  The first result should be in the happiness of writing because if you are not happy when writing, why write.  What I am speaking about is in the art of marketing and making this part of the result.  I say part because really good writing or maybe even great writing should be the end result.  We strive to ensure our words tell the tale (but not too much), be the voice and carry your reader into another place -- IF you have someone reading! 

  How does a writer get people to listen?  MARKETING!  And a lot of it……

  Well duh, you say?  You would be surprised how many people do not consider this faction in the writing gig.  After all, isn’t it enough just to write?  Ok enough rambling about how important and what it means to market your work.  It is important, so how or where do we go?  Here are some many places I visit on a weekly basis (some daily) and push to make contacts, connections, friends and a name.  These are just some of the places and often not known by writers.  I will not name the usual Twitter, Facebook and MySpace since these are in society’s mainstream.  I will showcase the possible unknown or little known which will and can help your marketing…… (Disclaimer:  I have no affiliation with any of these groups and have gathered them over time.)

Holding an event?  Here is a great online organizer -  http://www.eventbrite.com/

 

Talk about your stuff and create a show (podcast) - http://www.blogtalkradio.com/

 

Create a teleconference allowing readers to talk with you - http://www.talkshoe.com/

Setup a book tour - http://booktour.com/

Get some PR Buzz going and use the leader in this area (this has a cost) - http://www.prbuzz.com/

Build a profile and learn a lot - http://www.authors.com/

Find reading groups to read your work! - http://www.readinggroupguides.com/content/index.asp#

Oh and if you need to find it… - http://carolkluz.homestead.com/index1.html

Find the next workshop or author events - http://www.everywritersresource.com/literarymagazines/

  Again these are just a few I have come across through these years and have used them in some sort of fashion.  It is up to you to sell your work.  No one else will because no one else cares about it as much as you do!  Now do some marketing and help your writing to be heard.

  Oh yeah, do not forget to break up your week and do some writing already!

Happy Writing!