Being an Influencer Isn't Just About Getting a Free Book

What exactly is an Influencer? We hear that word tossed around in writing circles, especially from authors who put out requests for Influencers around the time of a book release. If you’re like me, you may have wondered what an Influencer does and if you'd ever qualify to be one.

What is an Influencer?

In the last post about ARCs, I gave a brief definition of an Influencer. Here it is again: Someone who starts some buzz and spreads the word about the new book.

I like the way author Kim Vogel Sawyer recently described the difference between Influencers and Reviewers. She said this: “An INFLUENCER is meant to ENCOURAGE OTHERS TO READ the book. . . A REVIEWER shares his/her OPINION of a book.”

An Influencer is someone who wants to help in the promotion of a book. They’re a fan of the author and desire to assist them in getting the word out to others. We all know how powerful word-of-mouth can be in marketing a book. So, Influencers are strategic in getting the “talk” going and can help the beginning marketing efforts.

A reviewer, on the other hand, can also help in the promotion—if they like the book, write a stellar review, and recommend the book to others. But a reviewer also has the option of sharing what they didn’t like. Generally, if an influencer doesn’t like a book after reading it, they should opt not to say anything at all rather than hurt the author’s marketing efforts.

Usually, Influencers receive a free book from the author or publishing house for the express purpose of promoting the author and book. In my case, Bethany House has asked me to put together a spreadsheet of 50 influencers with names and addresses. In a month or two, I’ll send them my list. Then they’ll mail copies of The Preacher’s Bride to all those who expressed interest in helping promote the book.

How does an Influencer encourage others to read the book?

I’m learning there are numerous ways to carry out the role of Influencer. For a detailed look at the various things an Influencer can do to help promote a book, check out author Deb Raney’s article: How Can You Help Promote a New Book? It has many excellent, practical ideas.

Here’s a small summary of what Influencers can do:

• Write a review for an online site: a bookstore (like Amazon), a reader hang-out (like Goodreads).
• Write a review for a print newspaper, magazine, or newsletter.
• Talk to your local bookstores or public libraries. If they don’t carry the book, give them your copy to review and encourage them to order it.
• Offer to host an interview or review on your blog; use your influencer copy as a book giveaway.
• Post tweets or facebook comments about the book.
• Donate a copy of the book to your church or school library.
• Offer to distribute bookmarks, postcards, or other promotional items.
• Start discussions about the book in groups/organizations you’re apart of (either online or in real life).

The possibilities are limitless. You could even "drop leaflets while parachuting from an airplane" (as Deb Raney jokes in her article). The key is finding ways to spread the news and get others excited about the book.

The role of Influencer is important. No one should offer to be one without first giving weight to the author, if the book is a genre they like, and whether they have the time to read and promote the book. Sure, Influencers get a free book, but there is a cost involved in making a concerted effort to do the promotional work we signed up for.

I’m filling up my 50 slots fairly quickly. But if you’re interested in being an Influencer for The Preacher’s Bride please let me know in the comments. Leave your email address, along with how you’d be willing to promote the book. At the end of the week, I’ll pick from those expressing the most interest.

If you’re not interested in being an official Influencer, you won’t offend me in the least! As I said, the Influencer job is not one to take lightly and we shouldn’t do it if we honestly can’t make the time or effort to promote the book.

**Additional Note: Some have pointed out in their comments that we can be Influencers for one another informally, without signing up for the free Influencer book. Roxane mentioned: "That's what friends are for." And I agree--we support and help one another anyway! Thanks to everyone who's cheered me on in one form or another! I appreciate your friendships!

Have you ever been an Influencer before? What kinds of things did you do or have you seen done to help promote another author’s book? Do you think Influencers can really make a dent in the marketing effort? Tell me your thoughts! I’m curious!

An Inside Look at Advance Reading Copies

I recently received a box of ARCs of The Preacher’s Bride. (Yes, that’s a picture of one.) I have to admit, I was pretty clueless about my ARCs and what I needed to do with them. I had to do some scrambling to figure it all out.

I had questions like: What exactly is an ARC? What’s their purpose? Who should I give them to? What’s the difference between an ARC reader and an Influencer?

What exactly is an ARC?

ARC is the acronym for Advance Reading Copy. It’s an early published version of a book but is NOT the final edited form. As you can see from the picture, it doesn’t even have its lovely full cover.

When I received my box of ARCs, The Preacher’s Bride was still in the last stage of editing—the copyediting. In fact, UPS delivered the Galleys at the end of last week, and I’m now under deadline to read through the manuscript one last time to make any changes before the book goes to print.

All that to say, the ARC is not a polished copy of the book. The title page for the ARC has this note: “UNEDITED MANUSCRIPT Confidential. Unrevised and unpublished proofs. Please do not quote until verified with finished book. This copy is not for distribution to the public.”

The back of the book is designed to sell me as a debut author. It has the blurb that tells what the book is about, but it also showcases me by saying: “Introducing a Compelling New Voice in Historical Romance. This fall debut author Jody Hedlund delivers an emotionally powerful story that will tug at readers’ hearts . . . “ Along with other really flattering stuff designed to promote my book.

What’s the purpose of the ARCs? Who should I give my ARCs to?

My Bethany House Publicist answered my questions this way: “ARCs are helpful for people who need longer lead times—they either need time to read and write a review, or to process an order in their system, or plan an event around the book’s release, etc. “

“Focus on giving them to key influencers in your community, like local librarians who would order the actual book later on. Someone in women’s ministry leadership, or a leader of a book club. Ideally a person who wouldn’t be on our radar, but has a fair amount of influence or sway over other small groups of people; even local media you might have a connection with.”

In other words, advanced reading copies are for those who can help in the promotion of a book (book critics and bookstore owners), but who benefit from having time to read the book well-ahead of the release date.

Interestingly, a copy of The Preacher’s Bride ARC showed up on e-bay the week it came out, and the bidding started at $3.99. So, someone who was given a free book was obviously turning around and trying to make a profit on it, even though it's not intended for distribution to the public.

What’s the difference between an ARC reader and an Influencer?

An Influencer is publishing lingo for someone who starts some buzz and spreads the word about the new book. Usually an Influencer will receive a book in its final and hopefully perfect form from the publishing house in exchange for their promotional efforts—writing positive reviews on book sites, hosting blog interviews, etc. (More about Influencers in the next post.)

The ARC is sent several months ahead and is in its unfinished form for more significant, key promoters. Influencer books are sent a few weeks ahead in the final form and are for more general but strategic promoters.

If after reading this post, you feel qualified to review an ARC of The Preacher’s Bride, please let me know your position and sphere of influence. I have several ARC’s available to giveaway.

So, tell me—did you know the differences between ARC readers and Influencers? Was it as new to you as it was to me? And for those who are already experts on this stuff, if I missed anything, please chime in with your knowledge! And if you don’t have anything else to say, tell me what you thought about The Preacher’s Bride ARC being sold on e-bay—right, wrong, makes no difference?

Toughening Up

Writers are a sensitive group. Why do we get our feelings hurt so easily? Is it because through our writing we’re baring it all and being so vulnerable? (See last post.)

When we let others see our inner workings, dreams, and fantasies, we want so badly for them to fall in love with our stories the same way we have. We hold our breath, waiting, hoping, for their smile of delight and words of praise.

Often we get something like, “Thanks for submitting, but this just doesn’t work for me” or “You show potential, but you still need to work on developing your [characters, plot, writing skill, etc.].” Perhaps even more hurtful is when we don’t hear back at all.

Those tough responses knock the breath out of us and bring us to tears. And we find ourselves in despair, questioning whether we’re really cut out for writing and publication. After those kinds of letdowns, I’ve heard plenty of writers say, “This is just too hard and I’m not sure it’s worth all the pain.”

As you know from my posts this week, I’ve been getting feedback on the manuscript I recently finished writing. I’m doing whatever it takes to push myself harder. I’ve opened myself and my story up to scrutiny . . . and sometimes the feedback is hard to take.

This is the third book my freelance editor has critiqued for me, and she said this in an email in regards to her critique: A few times I thought I was being TOO harsh, but since you’re now a seasoned author, I knew you could take it.

Her statement made me realize toughening up is part of the growing process.

Many of us may start down the road to publication slightly naïve, not grasping the difficult climb that awaits. And when things start to get tough, we question our calling, we doubt our ability, we may even lose our fervor.

Instead of falling under the weight of hard feedback or rejections, we have to learn to shrug it off and not take it so personally. That’s easier said than done. When our writing is so intensely personal, it’s hard not to take the feedback personally.

But we all need to develop our writer calluses. The best way to let those extra layers of thick skin form is through continual exposure to hardship. If we walk away when it stings, we won’t give the calluses time to develop.

If we allow the hardships to hit us, we’ll eventually toughen our skin. It also helps to have a shift in the way we view the journey to publication:

• Keep a humble opinion of ourselves and our abilities. Realize we’re usually not as good as we think we are. No one is God’s gift to the publishing industry. Okay, maybe there are a select few Rowlings, but most of us are NOT them.

• Don’t blame agents and publishers for our difficulties. If we think they’re too picky, prejudiced, harsh, or controlling, we may miss out on the possibility that we need to change, not them. Maybe we still need to improve our writing abilities or find our break-in story. Remember, a well-written, saleable story will get noticed—eventually.

• Understand the realities of the publishing industry. Know that it’s especially tough to get into traditional houses. Take courage from those who’ve gone ahead. I’m not a Rowling. If I can make it in, then with hard work and determination, you can too.

• Realize we’re not the only ones going through hardships. It’s ego-centrical to think only bad stuff happens to us, that we’re the only ones facing rejections and harsh feedback. If we remember that MOST writers seeking publication are going through the same process, then we can take courage in persevering.

Any author serious about publication has to learn to take the harsh realities of the business. So, let’s get to work developing our calluses.

How thick is your skin? Do you still need to toughen up or have you already started developing calluses? What are some ways you've learned not to take the hard feedback so personally?

Baring It All

I don’t know a single person who likes to get undressed at the doctor’s office. I sure don’t. But since I know a yearly exam is important for my health, I don the flimsy hospital gown and force myself to endure the poking and prodding. Since my grandpa died of melanoma, I also have my doctor do a skin check, which means baring every freckle to her critical eye.

I have to admit, I’m always embarrassed to reveal myself in such a personal way. After all, when I’m on the examining table, I’m exposed, vulnerable, unable to hide anything. Every blemish is out in open.

I had a similar sensation when I recently sent my book to my freelance editor and my critique partner—the feeling that I was completely out in the open with everything and under examination for every problem.

I felt naked. I was baring the most intimate parts of the inner workings of my mind. Now they would see all my mistakes and know I’m not a perfect writer, that I have faults beneath the polished veneer. What would they say? What would they think of me now?

I'm having similar trepidation thinking ahead to the release of The Preacher's Bride in a few months. Soon, everyone will get to view my most personal thoughts, my writing, both the good and the bad. What will friends think of me then? Will they like what they see?

Have you ever felt that kind of vulnerability? When we send out our stories for others to read or critique, we’re opening ourselves up and exposing all our imperfections. Embarrassment creeps in, and we cringe at the thought that they’ve seen our naked books. Will they like what they see inspite of the obvious blemishes they’re sure to find?

The reality is that we have to get intense exams on our stories for their well-being. As hard as the scrutiny may be, we need to open up our work to the poking and prodding of those who can evaluate the “health” of our stories.

We have to tell ourselves the discomfort is all worth it, that we’d much rather find the problems early while we can still fix them, instead of waiting until it’s too late and an agent or editor sees those same blemishes.

And we need to brace ourselves for the fact that our stories will have imperfections—quite possibly lots of them. Mine did. Here’s just a sampling of the comments my freelance editor and critique partner found in the manuscript I recently finished:

• “I don’t feel the sense of impending doom (if I’m supposed to feel that). What is it you want me to feel here?”

• “You seem to go in to these info dumps. While well written, after a few lines I find myself skimming.” (OUCH!)

• “So, other than some neat imagery, what was the point of this scene? How did it advance the plot? I kinda hit the end and thought…okay…what happened?” (OUCH!)

• “Your [hero] is coming across as a bully here. . . How could he do this? Is he so selfish that he'd hurt her to save his own pride? I was starting to hope he might be coming around.”

• “I’m no longer marking repetitions of this word, so I’d suggest running a find for it since it is one I see used quite frequently.” (OUCH!)

I have to say, both of these women did an outstanding job sharing positives too. In fact, I’ve teased Keli that every day I wait for her critiqued chapter, that I’m addicted to her smiley face comments and hearing all her impressions of each scene.  (As a side note: Keli is doing a series on critiquing this week. So far she's covered: How to Find Critique Partners and Six Steps for Approaching a Potential Critique Partner. She has some very wise and professional tips.)

Here are my parting thoughts:

*Baring our stories to a few people is embarrassing, but if publication is our goal, then someday we’ll bare it all to the world. Everyone will see everything. We have to get used to the scrutiny, because it’ll only grow more intense.

*If we’re not uncomfortable, if we’re not feeling growing pains, if we’re not getting constructive criticism that prods us, then maybe we need to re-evaluate why. Do we need a new critique partner who can challenge us more? A freelance edit? Is it time to read another writing craft book?

*We can’t get better unless we get vulnerable.

Are you putting your manuscripts under the right amount of scrutiny—the kind that can truly diagnosis what’s wrong? Is it  hard for you to be vulnerable with your writing, or are you getting used to baring it all?

Do Whatever It Takes

Lately, I’ve gotten a few raised eyebrows when I tell people that I’m having my book edited before I turn it in to my publisher. “Why in the world are you getting outside edits, when you have such talented in-house editors who will read your book and give you their excellent feedback?”

Eyebrows inch higher when I inform people I’ve paid my freelance editor to critique my book.

You might wonder, “Why bother? Why go to all the trouble and expense? After all, your book is contracted. It’s a sure thing. It’s not like they’re going to reject it if they think it needs work.”

True. My Bethany House editors won’t reject it. In fact, they’ve already approved my story, read the synopsis for it, and given some initial input. They said they’re looking forward to reading the completed book. So, if they already like it and trust my writing ability, why didn’t I turn it in after I finished my self-editing?

Here’s what it boils down to for me: I’m not satisfied with the status quo. I want to do whatever it takes to make my next book better. I’m not writing it to please my publisher (although I hope it will). I’m not just trying to get by. And I’m not resting secure in my 3-book contract.

Instead, I hope I can create a book that satisfies my readers to the very core of their beings. I want to reach for new heights in my writing and story. And I want to stay on the cutting edge—because I know nothing in this market or industry is stable.

In order to push myself, I need critical feedback from a variety of qualified sources. I can’t read my own book objectively enough to find the issues that need fixing. (I talked about that in this post: Why Every Writer Needs Feedback.) What’s more, if I really hope to improve with each book, then I need to surround myself with team members who each offer a unique perspective but balance one another.

My freelance editor, Tiffany Colter, has been part of my team for a while. She hones in on the bigger scene and story issues that need work. My newest team member, Keli Gwyn, was a former assistant editor, and her strength is in finding the smaller problems.

Tiffany and Keli bring distinct aspects to the critique process. They’re both talented editors, but each looked at my manuscript with very different eyes. And each of their critiques challenged me to take my writing skill and story to the next level.

When I send my book to my Bethany House editors in a couple weeks, they’ll read it and challenge me even more, in different ways. They’ll give their expertise advice on the market, on what readers will like, and what I’ll need to change to make my story as saleable as possible.

In other words, I’ve got a balanced editing team, each bringing critical but differing perspectives to the editing process. In putting my book through a rigorous and intense workout, it's costing me time, money, and effort. But I'm willing to do everything possible to improve.

We all need to do whatever it takes to push ourselves to new heights in our writing and stories. Even if we have what we think is a “sure thing” or “a done deal,” why wouldn’t we want to keep challenging ourselves to be better?

Here are my parting thoughts:

*We’ll never be good enough to stop getting feedback.

*We need to seek out qualified, constructive criticism from those at our level or better.

*We should never be content with status quo, but should be constantly stretching ourselves to reach higher.

How have you challenged yourself lately to do more or to work harder at improving? Are you doing whatever it takes to push yourself higher? Or have you been settling for the status quo?

3 Tips For Making Online Friendships Work

My posts earlier in the week touched on Failure and Fear. Since I couldn’t end the week on a low note, I decided today’s post needed to be positive. And what could be more positive than talking about Friendships? (Besides the word fits the “F” theme I’ve got going: Failure, Fear, and Friendships. Isn’t that neato?)

I’ve said this before, but it bears repeating: social media sites are for socializing—for building friendships. Many authors jump into facebook, twitter, and blogging and use them as billboards for promoting their books. That just doesn’t work.

In order for social media sites to truly benefit a writer’s career, we need to have a seismic shift in the way we view them. The friendship factor is the key to maximizing the potential of social media. Kristen Lamb had another great post recently: The Most Effective Marketing Tool: Kindness. She said this, "Be genuinely interested in other people and the promotion will come."

Without genuine solid connections, our efforts within social media sites may even work against us. People might see us as cold, unapproachable, only concerned about marketing. And if we’re trying to make friends just to promote our books, people will sense it, and that will work against us too.

Social media is all about forming caring, encouraging friendships. That takes time and effort, just like any relationship. But once we begin developing those connections, the side benefits are invaluable.

Recently my online friendships have brought about several big blessings. A couple weeks ago my web designer was setting up my Author Page on Facebook. In order to reserve my new URL, we needed to get 25 people to "like" my page. I sent out a request to some friends, asking if they’d be willing to help. To my delight, my wonderful friends not only “liked” me, but they spread the word that I needed help!

Another huge blessing is the critique partnership I’ve formed with writer, Keli Gwyn, one of the dear online friends I’ve made. For the past year, I’ve used a freelance editor, primarily because I haven’t had the time for a reciprocal critique relationship.

But when Keli approached me with a plan for a critique partnership, one that was mutually beneficial but workable for our busy schedules, I knew I needed to give it a try. We both write inspirational, historical romances, and we’re both at the same spots in our writing careers and represented by Rachelle Gardner.

Little did I know just what a blessing her offer would be! Keli is in the process of editing the book I recently finished. She’s incredibly talented and detail-oriented. Now with my freelance editor’s critique as well as Keli’s, I’m confident I’ll be able to turn in the best book possible to my Bethany House editors.

The help I received from facebook friends and my new partnership with Keli—these are the results of online connections. And there are so many more benefits—too numerous to list!

The point is that social media is about SO much more than selling books. If I don’t sell a single extra book as a result of my online presence, I will still feel like I reaped so much from all of the connections.

Here are three quick tips for making online friendships work:

1. Start early. Don’t wait until you get a contract or your book is releasing because people might think you’re schmoozing for the sake of promoting your book. But if you’ve been genuine all along, your friends will likely rise up to help you when you need it most.

2. Be friendly to everyone. Meet new people. Step out of your comfort zone. Offer to help others. Be real. Show courtesy. Go out of your way to be kind and encouraging. What goes around, comes around.

3. Take care of your most loyal friends. When push comes to shove, know who your most faithful followers are and make sure they don’t get lost in the crowd. Staying in touch with friends gets hard in the nitty-gritty of life and as our followings increase. But we can’t neglect those we value the most.

Maybe the online friendships won’t directly lead to more sales. But they will enrich our writing careers in ways we never believed possible.

Are you using social media correctly—to make real connections? What other tips do you have for making genuine relationships? And please share how you’ve been blessed as a result of your online friendships! I’d love to hear!

Facing Our Fears

Have you ever driven in a rain storm? During a recent nine hour van ride to West Virginia to visit my mom, we had to drive about half of it in heavy rain.

At one point, we were speeding along at 55 mph with the rain pounding against the windshield, and even though we had our wipers on full blast, they couldn’t clear away the rivulets of water fast enough. The spray from the semi in front of us added to the blinding mist that enveloped our van.

I dug my fingers into my seat, leaned forward, every muscle in my body tense. “This is crazy,” I muttered. We couldn’t see two feet in front of us, and yet there we were flying full speed down the highway.

I couldn’t help thinking we should pull off until the storm was over, that we were fools to keep driving when we didn’t know what was coming.

Fear drenched me . . . fear as hard, cold, and sharp as the rain.

I realized that during my journey toward publication, I’ve often had a very similar sensation—that I’m racing forward but don’t know what’s ahead of me. Will all my efforts be worth it? Am I really good enough to have a book published? What if I don’t earn back my advance? How will I manage to find time for everything I need to do?

I’m driving through storms and fear hits me.

There are so many unknowns on the road to publication. No matter where we’re at, we all have those muscle-tensing moments when we just don’t know what’s coming next. Can we finish an entire manuscript? Will the agent like our story? What if the publication committee doesn’t accept our book? What if we’re going to all this work and it doesn’t pay off?

We’re flying ahead at full speed, but we can’t see what’s coming.

What should we do? How do we deal with our fears? I don’t like platitudes, and so I’m not going to give any to you. There are no easy answers to help us face our writerly fears. But here are a few ideas:

1. Surround ourselves with people who believe in us. We need traveling companions who share our vision. These are the kind of people who can see beyond the driving rain to where we’re headed. I have several people in my life like this.

One is my web designer, Kelli Standish of PulsePoint Design. As I’ve worked with Kelli over the past months, every time I talk with her, she has the vision for where God is taking me. She sees it, hones in on it, encourages me. We all need people like that who can see beyond the storms and give us their wisdom.

2. Persevere through the storms. And yes, the storms will come. I haven’t met a writer yet who hasn’t had to face difficulty. Some run into thunderstorms and others tornadoes. Expect them. But don’t let them detour us from writing.

Those who write because they’re passionate about writing won’t stop when the goal of publication isn’t within sight anymore. The journey toward publication might take a long time, but they keep going anyway, not because of the destination, but because they love the journey.

3. Know when to pull off or slow down. I’ve had periods (sometimes very long ones) when I’ve pulled to the side of the writing highway. I took some time off when my children were young, during the baby years. The time away enriched my life, so that when I started writing again, I could approach it with a wisdom and maturity I’d previously lacked.

We’ll all face times of personal heartache and hardship. And sometimes we just have to slow down before we end up crashing and burning. During those times we should give ourselves permission to soak in the emotions, live in the moment, and burn them into our memories and hearts. Later, when we hit the road again, those are the kinds of experiences we can draw from to add depth to our writing.

What do you fear? What storms are you heading through right now? What are some things you do that help you face your fears?

Struggling With Feelings of Failure

Why do so many of us struggle with the feeling that we’re failing? In our writing life, parenting, jobs, friendships, or whatever it is, so often we don’t feel like we’re measuring up, either to our own expectations or those of others.

I’ve had many such moments of inadequacy, especially over the past year of juggling a growing writing career and family responsibilities.

My four year old daughter has a pink Barbie laptop, and she follows me around doing her “writing.” In her short life, she’s only known me as a writer-mama. But my oldest son has had the experience of a non-writing mom. For a long stretch of time during his early years, I didn’t actively write. In fact, after my twins were born, I didn’t type a word for a number of years.

My son has an established picture of what the mom-role looks like based on the years when I was busy having babies, changing diapers, and learning the ropes of homeschooling. Now that I’ve switched gears and am spending part of my time pursuing a writing career, he’s struggled with that change.

There have even been a couple of times when he’s come right out and said, “I don’t like that you write.” He’s expressing himself, which is good. But it’s at those moments I can’t help but feel like a failure as a mom.

I know I’m not a failure. But it’s easy to let feelings of inadequacy creep in. Based on the comments in response to the Super Mom Syndrome post, I’m guessing I’m not alone in my struggle. Many of you had a hard time seeing your unique gifts and roles in a positive light.

The fact is most of us can’t quit our day jobs, so we resort to squeezing writing around other responsibilities. We can’t do everything and do it all well. So, sometimes we have to let certain things fall by the wayside.

As I’ve pondered this failure-trap we fall into at times, I’ve wondered how we can learn to pull ourselves out. I’d love to hear your thoughts, because I certainly don’t have all the answers. But here are just a few things I try to remember:

*Organize and use time wisely. Sometimes I have to stop and remind myself of what’s truly important and make sure I’m living that way. It’s easy to talk about priorities, but a lot harder in reality to make the time for the things that matter most.

*Re-evaluate from time to time. When I’m feeling overwhelmed or wondering if I’m on track with what I’m doing, I use my husband or my mom as a sounding board. Sometimes an objective opinion helps us gain fresh perspective on where we really need to focus our time and energy.

*Turn failures into feats. My new demands have forced me to let go of some duties and hand them over to my children. For example, my 10 year old daughter loves cooking. If I hadn’t been attempting to reach my word count goals every afternoon, I may not have given her the opportunity to take over the kitchen and grow more proficient in making dinner.

*Keep perspective. Even when we’re doing our best to set priorities, there will be times when urgent issues demand more of our time and attention. When a deadline looms or when I’m finishing a book, I get especially focused on the task. I remind my family the end will come and I won’t always be so busy.

*Know not everyone will understand. Maybe my son won’t “get” my writing. But I can’t let his opinion define me. I have to rest secure in the knowledge that writing is part of what I need to be doing at this point in my life.

*Don’t forget to celebrate. I try to involve my family in the successes of my writing career—no matter how small. Finishing a first draft, accomplishing tough rewrites, getting an agent, finaling in a contest—I look for ways that we can all celebrate, laugh, and enjoy being together.

Yes, we will fail at times. But that doesn’t mean we’re a failure. When we stumble or fall, we have to pull ourselves back up and press onward, remembering we’re each unique and gifted in our own special ways.

Have you ever experienced feelings of failure? What are some of the ways you’ve pulled yourself out of the failure trap? Or are you still in it?

3 Tips for Cultivating an Online Brand

Why are you using social media sites?

Obviously, some writers use blogging, twitter, and facebook for fun and nothing more. But a large majority are joining sites as a way to begin developing a web presence.

No matter where we're at in our writing journeys, we can start to broaden our web presences by using social media more strategically (see Monday's post). Part of the strategy involves cultivating our online brand.

Real life brands, like Godiva and Starbucks, make us think of heaven, whereas Hershey's and Folgers make us think earth—as in dirt. (Sorry, couldn’t resist!)

An "author brand"  refers to the type of book and the reading experience people will expect from us when they pick up one of our books. Our name becomes our brand—either favorably or unfavorably.

Justine Lee Musk in her post The Online Art of Developing Your Author Brand takes branding a step further. She says this: "For better or worse, an ‘author brand’ – that shared mental imprint people think of when thinking of a certain author – is no longer defined by the books she releases every now and then and the interviews she gives . . . but also by the writer’s online presence. And that presence is constant, and constantly accessible, because whatever you do on the Web tends to stay on the Web."

In developing a web presence, writers should begin to think about their brand—how others are perceiving them. What impressions are we forming? When people see my avatar and name throughout cyberland, what do they think? How am I establishing myself? How are you establishing your name?

Those early formations are the ones we’ll want to continue to build upon, so we need to make sure we’re laying a solid foundation with branding right from the start. Here are just a few ideas for helping us with social media branding:

1. Use Our Author Name

Kristin Lamb had an outstanding article last month titled “The Single Best Way For Writers to Become a Brand.” She emphasized the importance of writers using their names versus cutesy titles like “chocoholic” or “caffeine junkie” both of which I considered using by the way. Okay, so not really.

But, Kristen Lamb says this and I agree with her: “There is only one acceptable handle for a writer who seeks to use social media to build a platform, and that is the name that will be printed on the front of your books. Period.”

Why? Because if we’re building a web presence under the name “chocoholic” and an avatar of a double layer fudge cake, it’s not going to help us when we get that book contract and want to promote our name and book. We’ll have to scramble to form new impressions and may confuse our followers with the change. Why not start off with the real thing from the start?

2. Use a Professional Picture

Any author photo is better than the double layer fudge cake picture. Well, maybe that’s debatable. But the point is if at all possible we should use a real picture of ourselves in our avatars.

If we’re trying to establish a web presence as a future author, then we want to put ourselves forward in the best possible way. This is a business where we’re communicating with industry professionals, and if we want them to take us seriously, then we have to take the business seriously first.

I suggest getting a professionally taken picture if feasible. I had a friend who runs a photography business do my first photo shoot last year—which I did before I had an agent or book contract. I had another photo shoot done this year by a high school senior who’s very talented in photography. Neither were very expensive.

The point is, we should try to use a favorable photo of ourselves. If you’re not, why aren’t you?

3. Build a Compelling Image

I’m all for honesty on social media sites. We shouldn’t set ourselves up to be somebody we’re not. But because people are forming impressions of us every time we post or comment, we need to work at establishing positive and distinctive images.

First and foremost we need a level of professionalism, especially since we’ll be rubbing avatar shoulders with industry experts. But second, we need to keep in mind people will form opinions about us that might be hard to break. I have branded certain authors as witty, snarky, smutty, helpful, giving, complaining, inconsistent, shy, boastful, etc. Maybe those are the impressions they wanted to give, maybe not. But they're the ones that stick.

As readers connect with us online, they too, will develop their impressions of us. They'll be able to stay connected to us between books, and get an inside view of what we're working on along with the myriad of activities that make us personable and likable. We won't just be selling our books. We'll be selling ourselves.

How are you doing with your cyberland brand? Are you doing all you can to get off to a good start? Are you mindful of what people are already beginning to associate with your name, picture, and image?

Is There Such a Thing as Blogging Snobbery?

How do you feel when you leave a comment on someone else’s blog, but never hear back from that person (either through a responding comment on their blog or a reciprocal visit to your blog)? What about when you sign up to follow someone’s blog, but they don’t follow yours?

Do you feel slighted? After all, you took the time to interact with them. It’s almost like saying “Hi, nice to meet you” but getting a nose turned up at you in return.

I have to admit, once upon a time, I might have felt snubbed. . . but now that I’ve been blogging for a while, my perspective has changed (and is still evolving). Blogging snobbery might exist in some blogging circles, but I think most of us are down-to-earth, friendly people.

So, if it’s not snobbery, what is it? What happens to prevent bloggers from responding to comments, repaying blog visits, or reciprocating a following?

I think there are quite a few factors that inhibit bloggers. Here are just a few of my thoughts:

1. We should NOT expect responses on agent/editor blogs. My agent, Rachelle Gardner, recently had someone criticize her (in this post) for not taking more time to respond to the comments people leave on her blog. This person obviously felt snubbed because of the absence of interaction.

What we all need to remember, however, is that agents and editors are providing a service to the writing community. They give us advice, insights into the industry, inspiration, etc. And they do it all for FREE. They may or may not be any busier than the rest of us in regards to having the time to interact. But because of the nature of their work, it’s probably best for them to keep some distance from the many people who want to ingratiate themselves into the favor of an agent.

2. Let’s face it, we’re all overwhelmingly busy. When we’re trying to fit concentrated writing time into a jam-packed life, it’s hard to figure out where blogging plays into that. Writing has to take top priority over blogging. If it doesn’t, blogging may become self-defeating.

Life happens, deadlines loom, we get tired and sick. We’ve all been there. So when we find bloggers who aren’t able to respond, we need to give them the benefit of the doubt. Show them some grace. Realize blogging isn’t life and that they probably would have responded if they could have.

3. As we gain more followers and more comments, it becomes even harder to keep up. We’ll have to prioritize at some point. Obviously, I can’t visit all 500 plus of my followers every week, or I’d have a new full time job. I keep a list of my most loyal blogging friends/commentors and I make an attempt to visit them on a somewhat regular basis. I try to repay visits or connect with first-time commentors (via Twitter or an email). If I’m having a particularly busy week, new visitors fall through the cracks. (Sorry if that’s happened to you. It wasn’t intentional!)

I also can’t give thoughtful responses to all your wonderful comments. I read them, try to answer questions, and chime in on the discussion from time to time. But when we start to get more than a couple handfuls of comments on each post, we may have to sacrifice responding individually.

4. Occasionally there are technical difficulties in connecting with others. I usually make an attempt to reciprocate blog followings. However, sometimes the follower doesn’t leave a link or they have too many blogs for me to figure out which one to follow back.

My suggestion for all of us is to make sure our main blog links are easily accessible in the follower gadgets, profile pages, and comments. None of us have time to fiddle around with tracking down fellow bloggers. Let’s make it easy for each other.

What about you? Have you experienced blogging snobbery—a time when you felt slighted? Do you think it was intentional? Or do you think there are times when bloggers may have valid reasons for not being able to respond?

Learning How to Use Social Media Effectively

Does marketing via social media outlets really help sell more books? Writers are spending time on Blogs, Facebook, Twitter, and other internet sites with the hope of marketing their books. The question we all keep asking is this: Is the time cost-effective?

Recently Agent, Chip MacGregor had a guest post by Rob Eager, President of Wildfire Marketing. Eager had some interesting thoughts about whether social media really helps sell more books. He gave the impression that social media won’t help us more than traditional marketing efforts, and he had an example of an author who hadn’t sold significantly more books as a result of his blog.

In fact Eager even went as far as to say: “If online activity doesn’t create a lot of book sales or some form of significant revenue, then it’s time to re-focus on other marketing priorities . . . I am not against social networks. Rather, don’t make them a prime area of marketing concentration. Social networks may help raise awareness, but if that awareness doesn’t create direct book sales then it shouldn’t be a top priority.”

In light of statistics that show greater percentages of the population are using social media (read this previous post for fascinating statistics), I found Eager’s views puzzling. The more I pondered his words, however, I came to the conclusion that any medium of marketing whether traditional or online needs to be done with savvy and intentionality or it won’t be effective.

The fact is that writers can have dismal sales as a result of traditional marketing too. We’ve all heard the horror stories of book signings where no one shows up, or radio interviews that make an author look like a bumbling amateur.

Traditional or online—the key is learning to be a smart marketer.

I disagree with Eager when he says we shouldn’t make online media our prime area of marketing concentration. I don’t claim to be a marketing expert—far from it. But if the large majority of the population is hanging out online, I’m guessing online marketing will become the primary way we reach our audiences. If so, rather than giving up or downplaying social media, we need to learn how to use our sites better, so they will create more book sales.

How can we use social media more effectively? Here are just a few things I’ve learned. Be ready to chime in with your ideas.

1. Don’t forget the “social” in social media. I’ve said this before, but it bears repeating: It’s not about US. Cyberland is not the place to continuously brag about our awesome accomplishments and our five-star book reviews. Rather, it’s a place to build relationships, chat with people, give to others, and connect in real ways. And as we all know, building relationships takes work . . .

2. Give it time. Don’t expect to make it work overnight. I’ve spent the last year and a half building strong followings. Those friendships often lead to more. But the reality is that it won’t happen all at once or without effort, which leads to the next point . . .

3. Be aggressive. Don’t be passive. We have to make the effort. We can’t sit back and wait for people to “talk” to us. We have to step out of our comfort zone, visit new blogs, and chat with new people on Twitter or Facebook. If we’re generous with our followings, we’ll find more people following us back. And that leads to the next point . . .

4. Reach out. Don’t be cliquish. I see authors, especially on Twitter who never socialize outside a certain circle of friends. They only chat with their best friends and they never move beyond the same 350 followers they’ve had for two years. It’s no wonder social media isn’t helping them sell more books. Sure, we’ll have those we’re closer to. But if we want to be effective, we have to broaden our base, have an ever-widening circle, and be open to new friendships.

5. Don’t make it all about sales. The cost-effectiveness of social media can’t be measured only in terms of book sales. As I’ve worked hard to broaden my web presence, I’ve reaped many other benefits: growth as a professional, knowledge of the industry, interview requests, connections that will help in promotion, etc. The direct sales benefits might not be easily calculated, especially in the short term. But down the road, hopefully the effort will pay off.

If you have time, and you haven't seen this funny video (thanks Rebecca!), it just goes to show that traditional methods of marketing can be utterly ineffective too. It's not necessarily what we do, but how.



What about you? Have you seen authors who aren’t making the most of social media? What should they be doing differently? What other ideas do you have for how any of us can use social media more effectively?

5 Tips for Playing a Smart Publishing Game

I’m in the process of learning how to play the Wii.

After recently finishing the writing of my book, I bought a Wii for my kids as a celebration gift and as a way to pay them for all of their “babysitting.” Every afternoon for the past five months during writing time, my older children took turns supervising and playing with my younger ones. Their efforts helped minimize the distractions. The Wii was my thank you to them.

With the new Wii, I had beginners luck in bowling and whipped everyone in our family tournament. But I was terrible at the other games. I still have to learn how everything works—like how to swing the tennis racket and actually hit a ball.

At some point writers seeking publication must make an effort to join in the publishing game. Of course it goes without saying that first, we must have a well-crafted, excellently-told story. It won’t do much good to jump in and play hard without having something to sell.

On the other hand, I’ve met writers who have books ready, but aren’t in the game yet. They’re hoping for publication, perhaps sent out queries, but essentially they’re sitting on the couch doing nothing or very little to learn how things work in today’s market. They get frustrated at the process, but what they really need to do is stand up, grab the remote, and start playing the game.

Very few of us have beginners luck. Most of us have to put forth the time and energy to learn the basics. Then after we’ve been at it for a while, we can start thinking more strategically. Here are just a few ways I’ve played the publishing game:

1. Know the industry. Most of us reading blogs are already immersed in the online world of the writing industry. But there are still those who think all a writer needs to do is type up a good book and send it out. The rest of us know that is definitely not the way things work. The first step is to learn as much as we can—read agent/author blogs, look at publisher guidelines, and learn from other writers through blogging and twitter.

2. Don’t be shy with professionals. The great thing about social media is that many authors, agents, and editors are easily accessible. I suggest leaving thoughtful comments on agent blogs as a way for them to become familiar with our names. Follow them on Twitter. Retweet things they say, reply to their comments. It’s an easy way for us to introduce ourselves and get to know them. But remember—we should always be professional, not pushy.

3. Be ready to take advantage of unexpected opportunities. If we get a request for a partial or a full we should send it right away. If we final in a contest, we should query agents and let them know, or follow up if they already have our manuscript. In other words, if the door opens a crack, we need to stick our foot in. Don’t let a single advantage pass by.

4. Connect with other writers. When we enter the writing industry realm and seek genuine friendships with other writers, over time those connections can lead to further opportunities—blog interviews, agent referrals, someone putting in a good word, critique partnerships, and further connections and help. It takes time, but networking can put us further in the game.

5. Don’t stop writing. Never put all our hope into one book, series, or set of queries. The first book, or even the second, may not sell. But the third story may be just what a publisher is looking for at the time we finish writing it. In the meantime, we should improve in the craft of writing, know the ins and outs of our genre, get critical feedback, look for a niche, find a unique twist, and work at defining our writer’s voice.

It’s a tough game. In fact, sometimes it’s downright brutal. But if we learn how to play smart, we’ll be more prepared for the losses and the difficulties—for they’re sure to come.

Through all the game playing we should always keep the love of writing top priority. When we lose the joy and passion, it will show. And our game will suffer.

Are you in the publishing game? Are you playing it smart? What are some ways you can brush up on your strategy?

Will My Grandma Like My Book?

My dear grandma is 92. She lives in an assisted living facility in Iowa and she has the spunk of a teenager. Like most grandmas, she’s always been proud of my accomplishments, no matter how big or small. Now with the release of my debut book only months away, she’s bursting her buttons.

She might boast about me to her friends, but once she starts reading my book, will she actually like it? Maybe she’ll think the romance is too sensual. Perhaps she won’t like the realistic way I’ve tried to portray the violence of the 1600’s. She might even think I’m sacrilegious to take the life of a real person and twist it into a fictitious tale.

I won’t be disappointed if she doesn’t like it. In fact, I have a feeling there will probably be a number of other family and friends who will buy The Preacher’s Bride to support me but won’t particularly enjoy the book (yes, including some of you, my loyal blogging friends).

The fact is, I have to keep my expectations realistic. It’s easy to start thinking all my blogging followers, twitter pals, and long-lost friends on facebook will buy my book, read it, and actually like it. Some might not like historicals, others may not want a romance, still others won’t consider picking up anything unless it’s Amish.

Bottom line: Our books won’t appeal to everyone.

Not everyone is going to want to “buy” our books. That goes for agents, publishers, as well as family and friends.

*Agents: Agents are attracted to different projects for various reasons. Of course they’re always looking for a well-crafted, saleable story. But agents have differing tastes in what they’re drawn to and we would be wise to try to get a grasp on what they’re looking for.

Many agents have client lists on their blogs—I suggest looking at the types of books they represent, perhaps reading a few to get a feel for what appeals to them. Take the time to get to know them through Twitter and blogging. This may help narrow the search for agents who will be most likely to “buy” our books.

*Publishers: Publishers often gain a reputation for certain types of books. For example, my publisher, Bethany House, is known for putting out terrific historical romances. Sure, they represent other genres. But they’ve built a name for strong historical romances.

I personally think it’s best to have the expertise insider advice of an agent in finding the publishers who will be most likely to “buy” our books. But we can also do our homework. Make a list of the top houses that represent work similar to ours. Look at their websites, browse through their books at a bookstore, get a feel for their tastes.

*Family & Friends: Forgive me for stating the obvious again: Not everyone is going to want to buy our books. It’s something I’m telling myself, especially the closer I get to the release of my book. And I won’t be offended if YOU don’t (although if you refuse, you may force me to TP your front yard with The Preacher’s Bride bookmarks).

It’s best to remember the bulk of our fans are Readers of our genre. I’m learning that there are a few places I can begin to connect with readers. I’ve recently signed up for accounts on GoodReads, Shelfari, WeRead, BookArmy, & LibraryThing. I want to be in the places where readers congregate so that I can begin to connect with the people who will enjoy my book the most. Many of these sites have pages for authors, as well as ways to chat with readers, do book giveaways, and draw in new fans.

Will my Grandma like my book? Will my nephew serving in Iraq like my book? (Last week he was very sweet and told me he was going to order it!) Will faithful blog readers like my book? Will they like yours?

Friends and family will support us, be proud of us, and cheer us on. But not everyone will fall madly in love with our books. As much as we want to strive to have a saleable, marketable books, we just can't expect to please everyone. We have to know our target audience, the true fans of our genre. They're the readers we'll want to please.

Where does that leave us? Be wise with professionals. Be realistic with friends. And most of all, make sure we love what we’re writing. Because when we’re passionate about it, it’s a lot easier to get others to love it too.

Will your Grandma like your book? Do you have realistic expectations about who will like your book? And do you know your target auidence, agents, and publishing houses?