My marketing strategy: Writing

by Unknown - July 18, 2012

A week or so ago I was feeling drained and irritable. With the release of my latest book, I think I’d OD’d on marketing (even though I didn’t do all that much it felt like I did). There are so many avenues of promotion and not enough time or will to do it all. I can’t keep up with the deluge of emails from Yahoo groups which flood my inbox. Facebook often baffles me. Twitter is a fast-moving river that leaves me stranded.

I am an introvert. It’s not natural for me to stand on a soap box and trumpet myself or my books. I’ve never sought the limelight (the opposite, in fact), yet since becoming a published author, albeit of modest success, I’ve become something of a narcissist as I obsess over my popularity or lack thereof. And I dislike that. I don't want to become a 'me-me-me' person. So I am now on a strict diet, avoiding all checking of rankings and stats and reviews. I’m also concentrating on what I value most—writing. I’ve started a new story, something a little different, and I’m enjoying it. Writing makes me happy. Like a bowl of warm porridge on a cold winter’s morning, writing fuels me and makes me feel satisfied. My new story reminds me why I’m doing all this in the first place. I have my doubts about the marketability of my latest story but it’s rescued me from my malaise, and that’s the most important thing. They say one of the best ways to market your work is to write another book, so that’s the marketing strategy I’m going with. It’s also good for your sanity.

As I write this I realise the irony of what I'm doing: drawing attention to myself by saying I don't like doing that! Maybe this post should remain in draft mode, but then again maybe not.

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10 comments

Denise Nielsen18 July 2012 at 21:50:00 GMT+10
I'm an introvert too, so feel your pain:) It can be overwhelming. You've got the idea though...keep writing. That's the main thing - especially if it makes you feel like warm porridge!

By the way, I think the cover for Asher's Invention might just be my fave cover of all the books I've worked on. Brooding and melancholic. Can't wait to see what they come up with for the next one.
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Mae Clair18 July 2012 at 22:12:00 GMT+10
My book doesn't release until October but I'm feeling that marketing/promo drain too. And like you, I am an introvert. I admit that some social media I like (blogging and Twitter) but I'm still having a problem wrapping my head around others (Facebook). I think most writers are solitary creatures so it feels unnatural to be screaming "look at me! look what I did!"

Writing soothes the soul. It's always good to be immersed in a new story. I'm 3/4 through my latest WIP and working on it has been a blessing to help offset all the social media I've been doing. I can't imagine how I'll cope come October but, have already decided, like you, not to get hung up on stats. Great post, Coleen!
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Jenny Schwartz19 July 2012 at 11:18:00 GMT+10
It's awful, isn't it? Stealing days to just write starts to feel like a luxury.

Happy writing!
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ManicScribbler22 July 2012 at 20:34:00 GMT+10
I really can empathise with you, Coleen. Marketing is definitely the downside of authorship. But if you plug away a little bit at a time, it will fall into place eventually (by that I mean the enigmas of FB and Twitter). As for all those Yahoo groups - I just put them all on digest. It's the only way to cope with them.

I think you are absolutely right though, getting on with the next story is the perfect panacea. Enjoy your comforting warm porridge!

Good luck with the latest creation.

Lyn
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Veronica Scott23 July 2012 at 00:32:00 GMT+10
The writing IS the best part to me too...happy you worked through the promo angst and started in on a story that sounds pretty satisfying!
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