Jessica Russell's Blog - Posts Tagged "groups"
Don't Forget the Readers
Many newly published writers often focus on networking with other authors once they are selling books. This is definitely a worthwhile endeavor, but it's essential to remember that you have to also connect with READERS, or all this networking will not do much to boost sales and get you reviews.
I am connected with a lot of other writers, and I would NEVER want to lose those associations, because we understand each other in a way that other people cannot. Nevertheless, if we lose sight of attracting READERS to our sites and pages, we're missing out on potential new fans.
Make sure to strike a balance. Never stop networking with other authors and novelists, but also join groups and pages of bookworms, book club fans, and other people who you know are interested in reading. This will yield a bigger return than you think!
I am connected with a lot of other writers, and I would NEVER want to lose those associations, because we understand each other in a way that other people cannot. Nevertheless, if we lose sight of attracting READERS to our sites and pages, we're missing out on potential new fans.
Make sure to strike a balance. Never stop networking with other authors and novelists, but also join groups and pages of bookworms, book club fans, and other people who you know are interested in reading. This will yield a bigger return than you think!
Writers Lifts and Shameless Self Promos: Huh?
I know that I’m going to get a lot of flak for this post. Therefore, if you’re the type of person who cannot read something you disagree with without getting enraged, then I humbly request that you stop reading now.
I see so many people on Twitter and other social media sites declaring that they are doing a “writers lift” or a “shameless self promo” and they call for authors to drop the links to their books, which they do by the score. I appreciate what these people are trying to do, but mentally I am screaming “what’s the point?”
That’s because, unfortunately, the primary people who are going to see those links are other unknown authors. Well, I’m not including myself, because I buy, read and review a lot of work by unknown writers, but most of us don’t. In fact, unknown authors are the absolute worst when it comes to turning up their noses at works by other unknown writers.
Most do the very thing they don’t want done to them. They say to themselves “how good could it be? it’s an unknown author.”
With regard to promotions, it’s just as important to find out what DOESN’T work as it is to figure out what DOES. Advertising your book to other writers who are struggling to become known is probably, in my humble opinion, a major waste of time. You need to get your book in front of readers who are willing to take a chance on a new author.
It’s far better to join groups and network with book lovers in general, or groups of readers who enjoy your specific genre. Those are great places to drop your link for a bit of exposure.
Of course, to get serious traction, you do have to spend money on advertising. Where you do the advertising depends on various factors, such as your personal budget, and the demographic you hope to reach. However, advertising your book to other writers who are focused on advertising THEIR books is not really the best place for your time and effort. It’s not about how many people you reach, it’s about reaching the ones who will actually buy, read and hopefully review your book. Write on!
I see so many people on Twitter and other social media sites declaring that they are doing a “writers lift” or a “shameless self promo” and they call for authors to drop the links to their books, which they do by the score. I appreciate what these people are trying to do, but mentally I am screaming “what’s the point?”
That’s because, unfortunately, the primary people who are going to see those links are other unknown authors. Well, I’m not including myself, because I buy, read and review a lot of work by unknown writers, but most of us don’t. In fact, unknown authors are the absolute worst when it comes to turning up their noses at works by other unknown writers.
Most do the very thing they don’t want done to them. They say to themselves “how good could it be? it’s an unknown author.”
With regard to promotions, it’s just as important to find out what DOESN’T work as it is to figure out what DOES. Advertising your book to other writers who are struggling to become known is probably, in my humble opinion, a major waste of time. You need to get your book in front of readers who are willing to take a chance on a new author.
It’s far better to join groups and network with book lovers in general, or groups of readers who enjoy your specific genre. Those are great places to drop your link for a bit of exposure.
Of course, to get serious traction, you do have to spend money on advertising. Where you do the advertising depends on various factors, such as your personal budget, and the demographic you hope to reach. However, advertising your book to other writers who are focused on advertising THEIR books is not really the best place for your time and effort. It’s not about how many people you reach, it’s about reaching the ones who will actually buy, read and hopefully review your book. Write on!
Choose Wisely
Connecting with like-minded people is one of the best ways to find solace in this crazy industry. However, don’t make the mistake that so many writers make and join every “writing community” that you can find. If you do so, you will probably quickly discover that many are nothing more than a source of aggravation. Not because the groups themselves have something wrong with them, but because you don’t belong in all of them, pure and simple. There are many stages in careers. I’ve been a professional web content writer for about 16 years, so this whole writing for a living thing is old hat to me. While it’s true that last year was the first time I published a novel length work of fiction, I’m not new to the industry. Therefore, when I look to join writing communities or follow Facebook pages geared toward writers, I admit, I search for ones with members who make their living as writers and have been kicking around in this line of work for a long time.
The reason is because I have things in common with those people. Sometimes I’ve ended up in groups where a young person would come on and post “I’d like to write a novel, what should it be about?” And I’ve got my head bitten off for saying “If you don’t know, WE don’t know, LOL,” until I realized that the entire group was young, aspiring writers, most of whom were not even out of college yet. Well, there was nothing wrong with that person’s post, I just didn’t get it because “Writers Group” to me meant other people like me, who earn their living this way and can’t get RID of all the ideas for novels in our heads if we tried.
Bottom line, that just wasn’t the group for me. When joining communities and following pages, sometimes less is more. Hone in on the ones that offer you the most rather than making the mistake of joining everything and anything. If you’ve been at it for a long time and know the ropes, the best groups you can join are ones made up of other people just like you. They’ve been in the trenches for decades, they know how the novel publishing game is played, and they have the experience to understand what you’re talking about without you having to leave continuous explanations.
It works the same way with newbies. They are best off in groups where they can express the common frustrations that occur when someone is first breaking into the business. It’s not that any writing organization or forum is “wrong,” it’s just that a group might be wrong for YOU. Be selective! Discover where your peers are and join those groups. You’ll be glad you did! You’ll find yourself in interesting conversations, sharing good advice, and offering and getting support from people who “know what you mean.” Write on!
The reason is because I have things in common with those people. Sometimes I’ve ended up in groups where a young person would come on and post “I’d like to write a novel, what should it be about?” And I’ve got my head bitten off for saying “If you don’t know, WE don’t know, LOL,” until I realized that the entire group was young, aspiring writers, most of whom were not even out of college yet. Well, there was nothing wrong with that person’s post, I just didn’t get it because “Writers Group” to me meant other people like me, who earn their living this way and can’t get RID of all the ideas for novels in our heads if we tried.
Bottom line, that just wasn’t the group for me. When joining communities and following pages, sometimes less is more. Hone in on the ones that offer you the most rather than making the mistake of joining everything and anything. If you’ve been at it for a long time and know the ropes, the best groups you can join are ones made up of other people just like you. They’ve been in the trenches for decades, they know how the novel publishing game is played, and they have the experience to understand what you’re talking about without you having to leave continuous explanations.
It works the same way with newbies. They are best off in groups where they can express the common frustrations that occur when someone is first breaking into the business. It’s not that any writing organization or forum is “wrong,” it’s just that a group might be wrong for YOU. Be selective! Discover where your peers are and join those groups. You’ll be glad you did! You’ll find yourself in interesting conversations, sharing good advice, and offering and getting support from people who “know what you mean.” Write on!
