Free Writer's Tips! Happy Holidays! 2nd Week Give-Away

Well, I hope you enjoyed last week's tips and if you did or didn't, I'd love to hear from you.
Here's your next two tips:

Tip Category: Publicity
Tip 1: How Much Money Should You Plan To Spend In Support of Your Book?
Consider the projected publication quantity of your title (the number of books the publisher is printing) before you think about putting your own money into promoting your book. Does your publisher believe they will sell 5,000 or 50,000 copies? While your overall budget support should not be based on the number of books the publisher is printing, it can be a clue as to how the publisher will support your book with their internal and/or external resources. Being realistic will help you decide if it’s worthwhile for you to anti-up your own money to support your book. So, before you do anything, discuss with the publisher how they intend to publicize your book.

There isn't anyone who has more to gain than the author from the book's success. Investing a reasonable amount of money into the publicity, promotion and sale of your book will affect the overall book campaign and will be money well spent.

Tip 2: How To Allocate Your Budget: Publicity
Generating publicity is by far the best thing you can do to promote awareness and the sale of your book. Your budget’s first allocation and largest percentage (50%-75%) of the funds should go to a PR firm or freelance publicist who specializes in your book’s topic/genre.

A PR firm or publicist will cost $1,000 to $50,000 or more depending on the specific length of time (weeks, months or year) and the publicity plans. You may find it more cost-effective to contract a public relations firm on a retainer’s fee if your title is one that will need constant and consistent publicity. If your book is what is referred to as an “ever-green” title, one that will not lose, but gain momentum the longer it’s on the bookstores’ shelves and won’t go out of date quickly, then the best bet is to hire someone on retainer.

The advantages of hiring these experts in the book-publishing world are well worth their costs. Selecting the right publicist/PR firm for your book is critical and guidance can be found below.

Please feel free to visit my site for my information:  http://www.pjcampbellwriter.com/

Free Writers' Tips! Happy Holidays!

As Christmas approaches, I've been thinking about a gift that I could give to new authors. Starting today, I will give away on this blog two tips per week.

# 59 Drive-By Book Signings
Discuss with your publisher prior to organizing a series of bookstore drive-by signings where you literally “drive to and stop in” to sign the bookstore’s stock of your book. Many stores may not have a copy of your book or multiple copies to make it worth your while. Some publishers will take the lead by arranging these drive-by signings for you. The publisher may also, give you approval to handle this interaction with the bookstores on your own. If you’re managing these signings, start calling the bookstores within a 30-50 mile radius of your home or wherever you’ll be traveling during the publication window of three months time.


In order to create a targeted list of potential stores look into the following:
http://www.newpages.com/bookstores/default.htm#index , http://storelocator.barnesandnoble.com/  , or http://www.borders.com/online/store/LocatorView

When you contact the store ask to speak with the bookstore’s event organizer, manager or manager on duty. Tell them in 10 seconds or less who you are and why you are calling. Let them know you’re going to be in the area and ask if you can stop by to sign their store stock. If they say yes, arrange a time and contact person. Be gracious and commit to the appointment. Sign whatever book stock (3-10 copiees) they offer. The bookstore will place “autographed” stickers on your book’s jacket, drawing attention and added value to would-be book buyers.

If they say no, to you dropping by to sign store stock, respect them and move on. The absolute worst behavior is to be “pushy” and intolerant to their refusal. If you persist, they will contact your publisher and it could adversely affect the sale and placement of your book in their store.

Pass along the list of bookstores you are signing stock in to your publisher so they can ensure the bookstores will have your book on hand for your arrival. As with all of your appearances, virtual or otherwise, timing is essential. Signed copies sell best early on in your book’s release (first six-eight weeks).

Tip #63 Book Clubs

“There are approximately four to five million book clubs in the United States and the number is growing,” according to Ann Kent, founder of Book Group Expo, an annual gathering of readers and authors. (The New York Times/December 7, 2008)

How are books selected for book clubs? Bookstores, libraries and individuals arrange book club meetings. The books are chosen by a submission process from the potential readers/members and the book club leader. Publishers also make recommendations to bookstores and libraries, but the final choice is up to the book club members and leaders.

I know authors who have appeared, virtually at book clubs via the phone and in person to chat about the topic of their book. An author’s “live” voice can add to a dynamic discussion and keep the readers interested in finishing the book and possibly considering another book by the same author. As an author trying to have your book selected for a book club, visit your local bookstores and libraries, offering to enhance their book club’s meetings by appearing or calling-in.

All book club members buy, borrow or check-out the book from their library for their own copy, so it’s almost a guaranteed sale. The size of the clubs may vary from a handful to 20-30 people.

Book clubs, at the very least, serve as additional promotion for your book.


http://www.pjcampbellwriter.com/

Writers Need Help

Everyone needs help from time to time, no matter who you are or what you do, but authors are a group of professionals who need more help than most. Why? Because they spend their lives producing a product that they, themselves must sell. What do I mean? The old days of publishing are gone for good. Publishers no longer have the resources, staff and budget, to support the number of books that are produced, annually.560,000 new books hit the bookstores yearly and every single one of these books is fighting to get noticed. And who is going to give them the attention they need in order to maximize sales? ?Authors must take the lead. Yes, some publishers will offer some support, but for the majority of authors, the publisher's support will be minimal at best.

Authors need the tools and resources. A very good place to start, if you're a new author who is lacking  experience at self-promotion is 101 Author Tips:  Creating A Successful Book Campaign. Check it out on http:www.amazon.com http://www.pjcampbellwriter.com/

Book Proposals

I've pitched a few books over the years and have received my share of rejections.  Today, I submitted a book proposal for a book that will enable every single author to take the lead in their book campaign for the 21st century.

Times have changed and authors are not supported by their publishers like they were a few years ago. As a publishing insider, this is the single biggest change I've seen. Authors not only have to write the best possible book they can, but they also need to become experts at publicity, marketing and events.

My first book, 101 AUTHOR TIPS: Creating A Successful Book Campaign is the first book that introduces authors to this new way of operating in today's publishing world. My next book is a follow-up to this book, but goes way beyond the usual suspects for publicity, promotion, and events.

Stay tuned...much, much more to come.

Back At IT!

Yes, I'm still here, writing and writing, some more.  You know what I've discovered? No matter what happens in my life, no matter the good, the bad and the ugly, I always can write. That is such a gift that I can give to myself and hopefully, by doing so, help others. I think that's all anyone of us really wants-is to be a help to someone, to be able to impact someone's life and to help them experience joy.

Today, I'm finalizing my newest book proposal. No, I'm not going to tell you what it is, but I will tell you that it's a follow-up to 101 AUTHOR TIPS:  Creating A Successful Book Campagin, but the main difference is that this new book will surpass this book because it moves the new and seasoned authors into the future. Do you know what I'm talking about? It's where we spend most of our time these days. Got you guessing? I hope so. I'll be sure to let you know as soon as I know the book is being published.

In the meantime, keep writing and making your dreams come true!

http://www.pjcampbellwriter.com/

Little Things Can Make A Difference

I promised myself that I would write, in some form, everyday and I'm happy to report that's happening. I started just by posting to social media sites, frequently and journaling, but now, I've grown to creating another book proposal. So, as the saying goes, "It's all good."  Who would have thought that by just doing a few minutes a day, it could lead to another book proposal? Of course, I realize this is no new revelation. All the great writers talk about carving out time everyday to write and by golly, it works!

So, don't just sit there reading my blog post, create one of your own!

Good luck.
Write On, Write Now,
PJ

Book Publicity...More Is Better

Publicity is the one thing that will continue to sustain your book, add to its value and beget more publicity. The real question is how does an author continue to secure publicity for their book?  The answer...ask for it AND produce a reason for the press to be interested.

I recently won a placement for my book, 101 Author Tips, as finalist in the Business category of writing/publishing from the National Best Book Awards 2009. I immediately sent out an e-mail blast to friends, family, colleagues, writers, bookstores, venues and last, but definitely not least, the media.  As a result, The Long-Islander News interiew me and ran a fabulous article along with a new photo of me pictured with my award certificate! Now that this has run, I will again, reach out to the media letting them know about it and suggest they might want to do the same. In fact, they could rerun this interview in their own publication, making fast and easy for them and me.

As authors, we are responsible for keeping our book/s alive. So, ask yourself the question: "What is it about my book, that the press would be interested in covering?" You may just be surprised at the answer your recieve.
Write On, Write Now!

pjcampbellwriter.com

Social Media Book Marketing

There are over 39 social media outlets at the moment, but don't look back because there are more coming. In fact, did you know that you can create your own social network with ning? That's right! Just think about it. If 10% of the authors who have been published this year alone decided to create their own social network site that would be about 56,000 sites! E-gads, that's staggering. Thank goodness that hasn't happened yet, but it could. The whole buzz about social media and how important it is for selling books has become a leading marketing tool and a big plus for any author's bookselling campaign.  The only question I have is-how do we manage all of it? I mean there are only so many hours in the day. If an author is busy posting on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Flick, My Space and the rest of the 34 sites, when is there time to write?
I for one, am overwhelmed most of the time with all that I feel I must achieve in a day, beyond my day-job responsibilities.

I've noticed that since my book published in June, that my personal relationships have taken a backseat. How could they not? All of my free time is spent marketing, publicizing and speaking. Oh, you ask when am I writing? Well, to be honest, I've written very little outside of marketing, advertising, social media updates and a few blog entries (which I'm trying to become more regular).

So, what's next? I plan on hiring an assistant. It's really the only way I can see that I will be able to maintain my sanity and write, beyond the promotional writing I must do.

Book Awards Can Make A Difference

Yes, I'm still languishing in the announcement that came out last week for 101 Author Tips and it definitely has a made a difference in perception for would-be book buyers. After sending out Tweets, updating Facebook, announcing it on LinkedIn and sending out a majore e-mail blasts, the accolades have poured in AND responders are telling me they are buying the book, right away.  Amazing!

Contest do have a way of putting people, places and things on someone's radar. They also act as social proof, somewhat like publicity. Contest winners are among the privledged few and are seen as standing out among their peers.

Whatever the reason people are taking notice of 101 Author Tips, I'm very grateful. The sales continue to mount.

Award Winning Book: 101 Author Tips

101 Author Tips: Creating A Successful Book Campaign received the distinguished honor of "Award-Winning Finalist" in the Business: Writing/Publishing category of the National Best Book Awards 2009!