November Third Thursday Wrap-Up: 5 Keys to a Successful Book Launch

By Lexie Smith

We wrapped up the Build Your Book series with the final Third Thursday of 2011. The topic “The Book Launch and Beyond” focused on presenting your book to the public through a book launch event.  Our panelists were author John Pipkin,the Book People children’s’ events coordinator and marketing director Mandy Brooks and literary publicist Stephanie Barko.

The evening’s conversation has been distilled into five keys to a successful book launch.

Planning

What can you do now, even if you have a book that is nowhere near finished?  Start working on the infrastructure of your social network, especially online.  Due to the publishing industry’slong lead times (up to two years for a book), you have the opportunity, before your book comes out, to build potential readership through a variety of online resources.  Facebook, Twitter, your blog, Goodreads, LinkedIn, Library Thing andAmazon.com are some options.

You don’t have to do them all. Pick a few and work on them. Start growing your presence on these sites before you publish your book, the idea being similar to compound interest on your savings account – the longer your assets are in there, the more interest is earned.

Once you are close to a publication date for your project, start planning for your book launch at least three to six months before your launch date, especially if you are a local or new author.

Publicity

You are responsible for publicizing your book. At some pointyou may hire someone to help you.  In the meantime, start planning how you will get the word out about your book.Utilize your social network, online and off. Contact different groups that are related to your book.  Look for magazines, newspapers, or blogs to publish articles about your topic. The author’s efforts to advertise the book event is the most effective way to make the event successful.

Persistence

Mandy compared the book launch to a race. Training and preparation are important before you compete, but you keep doing what you do after the big day, whether it’s running or marketing.  The book event is the seed from which other interests grow. She also mentioned being persistent when trying to schedule an event.  Don’t keep doing the same thing, though. Vary your pitch when you approach an event coordinator or group leader.

Pliability

Book launches take different forms.  Some are soft launches,where the book’s Amazon button simply goes from pre-order toorder. Others are more party-like, either in a book store or another location. Think about different options, tailored to your book and readers, for your book launch.

You also need to be flexible when it comes to what you do before the event.  Do more than tend your contact list. For example, eight months before his book was released, John published a related feature article in the Boston Globe. Use your creativity when thinking of ways to promote your book and its launch.

People

Standing next to a plate of cookies, waiting for someone – anyone – to show up at your book launch is not fun. Stephanie stated and restated the importance of creating and maintaining your contact list with email addresses and snail mail addresses (if possible), sortable by zip code.  Local matters when it comes to event attendance.

The people on your list are actual people, not just names. Leverage social media to interact with them. Make your publicity personal.

Since the act of writing is individual but the business of writing is a team sport, be aware of others who can help you with your book launch: readers, event coordinators, literary agents andpublicists may have something to do with your book launch in one way or another.

Put It All Together

As you may have noticed, these five aspects of book marketing are quite enmeshed with each other.  Be patient with yourself as you learn to work with them at different times, considering the ebb and flow of your professional and personal life. And don’t forget to let us know about your book launch!

Lexie is a WLT member who enjoys connecting people with information through LexicalLight.com, BloggingForWriters.com and 64mascots.com. A University of Texas graduate, she taught middle school English and, until recently, homeschooled her children. She lives in Round Rock with her husband, five kids and two rescued Boxers.

4 Ways to End Your Writing Year Right

By Matthew Schulz

So 2011 wasn’t the year you finished your beloved manuscript. Me neither.

But you can use December to lay the groundwork to make sure 2012 ends up differently.

Frankly, I’d hoped to be further along in my manuscript than I am right now. But life happens, as we all know. We get distracted. We decide to change directions with a story. Maybe we even scrap it and start over again. Then, we get flustered and step away for a while, just not wanting to face the mess that we’ve left behind.

But the fact is that you have to dive back in. Why? Because you’re a writer, and you love writing – even with all the heartache and frustration it can bring.

With that in mind, here are a few steps that you can take this month to help you hit the ground running in 2012 and finish that manuscript once and for all.

Re-read. Maybe you haven’t read what you’d previously written in quite some time. Change that. Give it a close, critical read. Should some of it be thrown out? (Hopefully not all of it.) Does some of it need more fleshing out? Does the point of view still make sense? Is there enough action? Before you dive back into writing, stop and revisit what you’ve already done. It’ll inspire you to get back to work.

Map it out. Not sure where your story’s going or if it makes sense? Plot it out using a story map. They’re easy to find on the Web – I use this one from Writer’s Digest – and they help you organize your story in a sensible way and include all of the various elements of fiction. It’ll help you make sure that your plot is full enough and complex enough to keep the reader turning the page from the hook to the tag. As with a cross country road trip, you don’t have to have a map to get where you’re going, but it’ll likely help you get there faster and in a more sensible way.

Interview your characters: Get to know your characters in a deeper way before you write about them. Write out a list of 20 to 25 questions and do an “interview” with each of your significant characters. (Examples abound the web. Here’s one of my favorites: http://www.writingclasses.com/InformationPages/index.php/PageID/106.) And have them answer honestly. Maybe that linebacker has a soft spot for Lady Gaga. Perhaps that housewife had once played bass in a punk band. Maybe that teenager can speak Arabic because she had lived overseas for years with her military father. Adding this extra depth of knowledge about your characters will help them feel more real to you. And when they feel more real to you, you’ll portray them in a more real way in your story.

Dive into setting: A richly drawn setting can be a character in and of itself. Take the time to visit some of the places that inspired settings in your book. For example, check out that small market where your two main characters first meet. Pay attention to the smells, sounds and sights of the places. That extra time spent will reveal itself in the richer, more detailed and nuanced descriptions you include in your work.

Any of these ideas can help you make the most of the rest of 2011 and tee you up to hit the ground running in 2012. But whatever you do, do something. Don’t be discouraged that you’re yet to finish your work; be energized by the work that you’ve already done and the thought that 2012 will be the year that all of your hard work  finally pays off in the form of a finished manuscript.

Matthew Schulz has written for the Dallas Morning News, Houston Chronicle, Associated Press and American Banker. He is currently writing his second novel and aspiring toward his lifelong dream of becoming a published author of fiction. His day job has him working as a Managing Editor at CreditCards.com, where he helps lead an award-winning news team and has even helped coordinate a video town hall with the White House. You can follow him on Twitter @matthewschulz and learn more about him at MattSchulz.com.

Agents Conference Success Story: Elizabeth Black

The 2012 WLT Agents Conference is now open for registration! Click here to learn more. And in the meantime, check out this conference success story!

By Elizabeth Black

On June 2, my agent called with the news every first-time author longs to hear.  Mollie had sold my novel, The Drowning House, to Nan A. Talese/Doubleday.  For excitement, the experience was right up there with the birth of my two daughters.  My life as a writer has had its twists and turns.  But the road to publication led straight from the 2009 Agents and Editors Conference.

I arrived in Austin knowing nothing about the process of selling a novel.  I’d never even queried an agent.  Fortunately, I’d signed up for the Friday pitch session.  Agent Scott Hoffman provided the information we all needed.  The question was, could I do it?  Could I describe The Drowning House in a way that would interest an agent in less than two minutes?

That night, I struggled to write my pitch.  Midnight found me in the shower trying to memorize what I’d written so I could deliver it naturally the next day during my 15-minute interview with Mollie Glick of Foundry Literary+ Media.  Scott had advised us to prepare the pitch in two parts, so that if an agent expressed interest, we could add to what we’d already said.  But when Mollie listened, then nodded and told me to go on, my mind went blank.  I had to pull out my notes and read.

Mollie asked me to email her my first 50 pages together with a note reminding her where we’d met.  During the conference, three other agents eventually asked to see pages.  Over the next few months, one never responded, another (graciously) declined to read further.  Two asked for the whole manuscript.  Shortly after that Mollie said she’d like to represent me.

Mollie is herself a former editor, and when she says she’s hands-on, she means it.  We spent almost two years making revisions to The Drowning House, beginning with some  larger changes (like eliminating a plot line to allow other key elements to emerge) and proceeding through two line edits.  I’m a single mother with a full-time job, and my older daughter was married last fall, so it was a busy time for me.  And of course, Mollie had many other projects in the works.  Still, she always responded to my emails, and I always knew where I stood with her.

This spring, she told me she thought we were ready to go.  The bidding happened very quickly.  Several editors expressed interest, but when Nan made her offer, we agreed that she was our ideal editor for the book.  Here’s what appeared in Publishers Weekly:

Debut

Elizabeth Black’s THE DROWNING HOUSE, the story of a young woman born and reared on the island of Galveston, Texas who returns to the island for the first time after a personal tragedy and discovers the true story behind the charismatic family who owns the grand mansion across the street from where she was raised, and the legend of Stella Canaday, a young girl said to have drowned during the Great Hurricane, hung by her long hair from the chandelier in the drawing room, to Nan Talese and Ronit Feldman at Nan A. Talese, in a pre-empt, by Mollie Glick at Foundry Literary + Media (NA).

I hadn’t thought any further ahead than that moment.  But of course, it was only another beginning.

(The Drowning House now has its own Facebook page where you can see photos of Galveston that reflect aspects of the novel).

October’s Third Thursday Wrap Up: “An Author’s Guide to PR & Marketing”

By Lexie Smith

“Hey! Did you hear about my book? “

“I’m writing a book. It’s gonna be awesome.”

“Please buy my book. “

Pestering your friends, family, and foes is one kind of marketing, but the “I’ll buy your book so you’ll shut up” sale is not public relations gold.

Thankfully, there are ways that are more effective and, dare I say, enjoyable.  But you don’t have to take my word for it.

Marika Flatt, Jennifer Hill, and Dominic Smith, were the experienced panel of authors and communication professionals who inspired us during  October ‘s Third Thursday program at Recycled Reads, Austin Public Library’s invigorating used bookstore. Here’s a quick recap.

Helping Dr. Author and Mr. Marketer Coexist

You may be intimidated or simply not like the idea of being a business, but a split personality is not required to promote your writing career.  Writer you and PR you are both you. (And neither is as nasty as Mr. Hyde.) These tips can help the one you do both things needed to sell your work.

Guard your active writing time. Whatever time of day works for you, protect it. Marketing and PR must be additional time in your schedule, but don’t let it cut it into time spent on your primary writing projects.

Manage your marketing time.  Jennifer suggested you divide your marketing time between writing marketing content, and interacting on the social network(s) you’re a part of.

Improve your writing while marketing.  Always Capra helped Jennifer strengthen her character development and social media muscles at the same time. Blogs give you more space to do that, while Twitter’s 140 character limit requires conciseness. (Especially if U R going 2 limit textspeak, by choice or need.  LOL.)

Realize the value of industry professionals. Do-it-yourself technology (blogs, Twitter and Facebook) makes it easier and cheaper than ever for authors to connect with readers. However, at some point, you can benefit from the experience and industry relationships of public relations professionals. To get an idea of what they offer, from a consult to a full marketing plan, visit Marika’s at PR by the Book and Jennifer ‘s services at Robin Hill Media.

This is How They Do It

Take a look at a few authors who do marketing and PR well. When you see something you like, try to incorporate it into your plan.

Marika mentioned how well author Bryan Davis uses Facebook to connect.  He responds to all comments and even alters his book tour according to suggestions from his fans.  He has several books and over 3,000 Facebook “Likes” for his page.

Jennifer started her Always Capra blog out of boredom. Her character Capra was also active on Facebook and Twitter.  An agent noticed and Jennifer was signed to write a novel.

Billy Coffey has one book under his belt with another coming out November 2011. Marika noted the strength of his online presence. He uses WordPress for his site, which includes a blog and links to his Twitter and Facebook accounts. You can also see a list of interviews he has done.

What’s Next?

All the PR skills you develop will help with the next step of building your book, the book launch, which happens to be November’s Third Thursday topic, “Blast off: The Book Launch & Beyond.” Join us on November 17 for for the conclusion of our “Building Your Book” series.

(My apologies to Dominic Smith for not mentioning him more often. Due to traffic, I missed the first half of the meeting, so I didn’t hear him speak as much.  If any of you were there and would like to leave a comment to fill in the gaps, please do. Thanks.)

Lexie Smith is a WLT member who enjoys connecting people with information through LexicalLight.com, BloggingForWriters.com and 64mascots.com. A University of Texas graduate, she taught middle school English and, until recently, homeschooled her children. She lives in Round Rock with her husband, five kids and two rescued Boxers.

Q&A with Author Suzy Spencer

Check out this fun Q&A with NYT bestselling author Suzy Spencer. And while you’re at it, sign up for her upcoming WLT workshop, “Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Writing & Publishing but Were Afraid to Ask” on Saturday, November 12 at St. Edwards University in Austin. NEW: For those who live out of town, the class will be live-streamed. If you’re interested in attending the class virtually, email sara@writersleague.org for details.

What are you reading right now?

Holy Ghost Girl by Donna Johnson. I love this book. I yearn for it to make the New York Times best-seller list.

When you’re not reading or writing, what do you like to do with your time?

I’m boring. I like to eat, watch TV, and then go to the gym to try to repent for my “sins.”

What’s your favorite opening line of a book? 

I don’t have a “best of times … worst of times” favorite quote. But I do love the opening line of Megan K. Stack’s Every Man in this Village is a Liar. “This memory from childhood is still there: the voices of the adults bounce fretfully, eternally, in rooms that have since been sold or abandoned.”

What life lesson did your last book or project teach you?

Oh, gosh. (And I sink my face into my hands.) That I’m not the person I thought I was.

That book will be published October 2012, and after reading it, you’ll understand why I say that.

What word do you love? What word do you detest?

I love the word hamburger. (I told you I like to eat!) Okay, okay, I know that’s not what you meant. You want something deeper, but I’m just not that deep. How about beach? I love the noun beach, but I don’t like the verb beach. I also love the word friend, in its truest, deepest form. I hate the word guilt/y.

What is a little known fact about yourself?

I dreamed of becoming a professional water skier … or at least a water ski instructor at Club Med.

How do you deal with ups and downs of the publishing business?

I climb in bed with cookies, nonfat milk, and fall asleep watching bad TV. After three days of feeling sorry for myself, I call my friend and novelist Carol Dawson, who talks me out of the depths.

How do you balance writing with work and family?

I don’t. With the exception of going to my 12-year-old cousin’s flag football games, I go into hibernation when I’m writing. It’s the only way I can live in the world of my “characters.” “Characters” is in quotation marks because I write nonfiction, meaning I write about real people, not characters.

What is your writing routine and where do you write?

I usually begin my writing day with my first meal of the day – sitting in a restaurant reading and editing the previous day’s work. That lets me know where to start when I get home. Then I go into my office and write. Too often I can only stay at one writing spot for an hour before I lose my writing mojo. So, I might work at my desk for an hour, then move to my dining table for an hour, then to another restaurant for an hour, and so on.

Do you outline or just start writing?

I wish I could outline. I know that doing so would make me a better and faster writer. But I can’t seem to do that. I have to just write, then cut, cut, cut, cut, and cut … often 200 pages or more just to find the story within the words. That’s why I say outlining would make me a better and faster writer.

With the last book, I tried to make myself write toward plot points or turning points in the story, which one could say is a loose form of outlining.  Still, I had to cut 200-300 pages.

Do you have trusted readers you turn to as you write, and if so, who and what stage?

I let a few people read a few pages when I’m feeling rotten about my work and need encouragement. Other times I let a few people read a 100 or more pages when I know my work is rotten and I need help figuring out what the problem is. The problem with either is finding people who will give you honest feedback in words that aren’t overly positive or emotionally damaging in their negativity and people who are knowledgeable enough about the business of writing to understand what you need.

When did you first know you wanted to be a writer?

When I realized there’s nothing else I can do.  It is what I am.

The Fast Five

1. What are three things in your office/writing space that would surprise someone who popped in

I’m not sure there’s anything in my office that would surprise someone. The utter mess and chaos? The five legal boxes and 24 notebooks of sex research? The Baylor University visits Trinity Baptist Church, Alor, Setar, Kedah, Malaysia banner? Can we say guilt/y?

2. What book first influenced you as a child?

I’m not sure I can name one. But I loved The Cat in the Hat – the rhythms, the rhymes, the surprises.  And it’s not a book, but the Dennis the Menace comics where he went to Hollywood and Hawaii impacted me profoundly.

3. What time of day do you write?

Whenever I need to, but I don’t hit my stride until very late afternoon.

4. If you could have a beer or coffee with a writer living or dead, who would it be and why?

At this point in time, Jeannette Walls, because I think The Glass Castle is the penultimate memoir and I know she struggled with it. Thanks to novelist Amanda Eyre Ward, I did get a few minutes to chat with Jeannette, but I’d like an hour or two.

Come to think of it, Jeannette’s opening to The Glass Castle is my favorite opening line. “I was sitting in a taxi, wondering if I had overdressed for the evening, when I looked out the window and saw Mom rooting through a Dumpster.” WOW! Characterization and conflict in 27 words! And I’m hooked.

I’m also eagerly awaiting the day that I get to sit down with Donna Johnson and talk to her about Holy Ghost Girl.

5. Beer or coffee?

Diet Coke.

FREE Upcoming Event for Writers!

The Flor de Nopal Literary Festival’s mission is to promote the literary work of emerging and established Latin@ poets and writers, to create and nourish ties between Latin@ writers and writers of other races and ethnicities, and to offer writing workshops not only of interest to other writers but to diverse communities.

The 2011 Flor de Nopal Literary Festival will be focusing on poetry this year. We will present two nights of poetry readings with emerging poets from different parts of Texas (Houston, the Rio Grande Valley, El Paso, Denton, Dallas/Fort Worth, San Antonio and Austin) as well as two featured established poets. The festival will also offer a full complement of writing workshops with an emphasis on interacting with youth. Thursday night workshops will focus on writing and creativity and are open to the general public. For the Friday and Saturday day-time workshops, we will contact and coordinate with local groups and schools to recruit participants. Organizations that we are planning to contact include: Red Salmon Arts—Save Our Youth program; PODER Youth program; OutYouth; Latinitas; Safeplace; and LifeWorks

7 Ways to Crush Writer’s Block

By Matthew Schulz

When the words don’t flow – for whatever the reason – you don’t have to just accept it.

Drive straight through that writer’s block, and it’ll crumble like a road sign under an 18-wheeler.

Every writer struggles to put words on the page from time to time. Life gets busy, or your mind becomes preoccupied, or your eyes won’t stay open. Or perhaps it’s just one of those nights were things just never get rolling. By shaking things up – even just a little bit – you can get yourself back on track.

Here are some ideas:

Read, read, read: No explanation necessary. Reading inspires writing, especially reading good stuff.

Seek other inspiration: Fire up the iPod and let the music flow. Go to a museum and see art. Great songs, great paintings, great sculptures can inspire as much creativity and spark as many ideas as reading a great book can.

Look for writing prompts: Writing websites, magazines and books are loaded with short snippets designed to get ideas flowing when they haven’t been. Search online or just go down to the bookstore and flip through the latest Writer’s Digest – there’s always a new prompt in every month’s issue – or one of the many books that are nothing but page after page of prompts. Some are no more complicated than this: “Describe your kitchen table.” Others may go a little deeper. They can all help.

Get active: Sometimes some old-fashioned physical exertion can get your creativity flowing, too. Punch a speed bag. Shoot baskets. Personally, I’ve begun to enjoy running around my neighborhood with my iPod blaring, just to clear my head. Perhaps a lyric that you hear may strike you. Perhaps a busted window you see on your run with start your mind racing. It could be anything.

Have some family fun time: As a dad, I know that my family inspires my writing endlessly. The smallest things that will be said or done will trigger an idea: the fact that your son hates broccoli, the fact that your wife’s boss made an inappropriate comment to a coworker or even the fact that your daughter can’t pronounce the word hamburger without it sounding like something that comes out of your nose. 

Go some place that you’ve never been: It doesn’t have to be a trip around the world – although it’d be awesome if it was. Sit under your dining room table. Climb up on your roof. Walk through a part of town that you’ve never seen. Eat someplace that you’d never go. New experiences spark new ideas. Just open yourself up to them.

Just keep writing and writing and writing and writing and writing: I’ve done this frequently. Just tell yourself, “I’m not getting up until I get something done.” Refuse to remove your fingers from the keyboard. Type gibberish. Type curses. Type the same word 52 times in a row. Put down exactly how angry you are that you can’t come up with any ideas. More often than not, the sheer act of forcing yourself to keep writing will spur some sort of emotion which will trigger some sort of idea which will be written about passionately – if not brilliantly. Then that idea may trigger your next great idea. You won’t know until you try.

That’s true with any of this. Everyone reacts differently to stressful situations – and we know that writer’s block is stressful – and thus everyone has different ways of handling them.

Just know this: You can handle it. You will beat writer’s block. You will have that next great idea. And by taking action, you’ll soon feel like that giant truck barreling down the highway.

How have you dealt with writer’s block? Share your success stories and your best tips in our comments section below.

Matthew Schulz has written for the Dallas Morning News, Houston Chronicle, Associated Press and American Banker. He is currently writing his second novel and aspiring toward his lifelong dream of becoming a published author of fiction. His day job has him working as a Managing Editor at CreditCards.com, where he helps lead an award-winning news team and has even helped coordinate a video town hall with the White House. You can follow him on Twitter @matthewschulz and learn more about him at MattSchulz.com.

WLT’s Fall Festival & Fundraiser

Our fall festival & fundraiser was a huge success. Thanks to all those who attended, donated, and helped us raise the roof in style! We will recognize all of our supporters by name in a forthcoming list of sponsors, donors, performers, authors, organizers & volunteers. In the meantime, check out these great photos from the event!

(Also, check out what the Austin American Statesman had to say about the fundraiser!)

 

 

 

Silver Voices in Ink Workshop!

Silver Voices in Ink
Creative Writing Workshop for Seniors

• Work with a professional writer.
• Write fi ction, poetry, nonfi ction—you name it!
• Participate in a public reading and a book signing.
• Tell your story. Get published, and be heard!

YMCA Town Lake
(The Great Room)
Thursdays, 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
October 20 through December 15

Cost: $120 for YMCA members, $180 for nonmembers
Reserve your spot by contacting Laurie McDaniel, (512) 799-3426
or Laurie.McDaniel@austinymca.org.

Friday Filler: Women in Communications

Get Smart 2010, AWC Austin’s professional development conference is scheduled for October 21 in Austin, Texas. A diverse group of marketers, journalists, publishers, PR specialists, writers, radio/television/film professionals and others will gather to network with old friends and meet new ones, to advance their career skills and knowledge, and to be inspired by the personal and professional journeys of keynote speakers Matthew Dowd and Stephanie Klein, as well as learn from four fabulous breakout sessions!

This event is happening Thursday October 21, 2010 at 08:00AM

Visit the website to learn more information!

“Destination Get Smart – Your Journey Begins Here!” Let’s Go!