WRITING WEDNESDAY
On Wednesdays I like to share information I picked up on my path to publishing, marketing and preparing to publish again. Information that I wish someone would have shared with me, back then.
As much as I intend to stay in the moment and enjoy every single second left of summer it is time to plan for the fall, winter and spring.
If you are like me, achieving your writing goals is nearly impossible during the summer. Having a book to market, a new one coming out this fall and writing another has kept me busy and I didn’t quite meet my goals so of now I am in panicked catch-up mode.
How did you do with your writing goals over the summer?
I have a few author events coming up and I need to start preparing for them so I thought I would share what I’ve figured out with you.
Preparing for Author Events
I’ve been reading a lot lately about authors that no longer want to do book signings because they have no luck with them. While I agree that there are times when no matter what you do to prepare for the event people just don’t show up and other times there can be a line out the door.
What I have learned is there are things you can do to improve your chances for a successful event. The fact is publishers are not doing much these days to market and or promote their authors. Book stores depend on the author to bring the crowd to their store. It is up to us to advertise; market and promote ourselves.
Two months before the event:
Contact the community relations manager (CRM) and ask if they have ordered your books from their distributor or if they need you to supply them. Ask if he/she sends out press releases and if they do provide them with your bio, high definition book cover and author photos. I always send my own press releases too.
Most newspapers have an event calendar online that you can add your information to. Place a series of ads in your local newspaper or magazine advertising the event. Ads can be pricey so ask about specials or discounts and check the rates of large and small publications. You don’t want the ads to run sooner than two-weeks before the event but they may have to be ordered weeks in advance.
Create and order postcards. I use Vista Print and use my book cover, author photo and the bookstore’s logo or a photo of the front of their store. Ask the CRM if they will put the postcards on their counters.
Create a Facebook event. I always mention that I have a gift for the first ten people that buy the book. I get ten gift bags from a dollar store and pens, candy, small notebooks, bookmarkers and other small items from Sam’s or BJ’s. It doesn’t have to be much and the ten small bags with bows look nice on your table.
Send pitches to your local TV and radio show producers.
Six weeks before the event:
Send out an announcement to your e-mail list. Add the event to your website/blog and check with local bloggers to see if they will do an ad for you on their blog. These can be as inexpensive as $15.00 a month. Some will offer to do a write up and a review as well.
Mail postcards to everyone you know, friends, family and co-workers. Ask them to spread the word.
One Month before the event:
Think about how you will set your table up. You may want to bring a table cloth that matches your book cover, business cards, bookmarkers, a stand to put your book or poster on and a big bowl of candy. I put a sign up on my table that says ‘Meet the Author.’ Believe it or not sometimes people just have no idea what you are doing there.
Attend one or two author events at the store and network while you are there.
If you can afford to hire a professional photographer to take photos during the event it can create a lot of interest in you and your book.
Write an announcement for the store to use. I write three so they aren’t repetitive.
Two weeks before the event:
Follow up with whoever you invited. Place reminder calls. Create social media posts. Do not post about the event more than once a day. It can annoy people. Two or three times a week is plenty.
What are you going to wear? Whatever you decide on it should be business casual.
The Event:
Plan to arrive ½ hour early so you have plenty of time to set up your table and deliver the announcement you wrote to the person who will be doing the announcing.
Bring a small gift for the CRM. One of the small gift bags is fine.
Get out from behind your table and mingle. Always have a book in your hand. If someone ask you what the book is about hand them the book with the back cover up and invite them to read the synopsis.
No matter how many people show up, have fun. I once had a signing and only two people showed up. One of them was the host of a radio show, she invited me on her show and I sold dozens of books because of that appearance.
Ask the CRM if you can sign a few books to leave in the store. Post on social media that you left signed copies at the store.
After the event:
Send a thank you card to the CRM and let him/her know that you are available for future events, author panels etc.
Good luck and happy writing,
Doreen
24 thoughts on “Preparing for Author Events…”
I’ve done many a book signing and admit that some have been less than engaging. It’s a crap shoot but I’ve always had fun with them. I remember one winters day in Colorado a snow storm was hitting the city hard. My book signing had been scheduled for weeks and I dreaded going as I knew no one would come out in that awful weather. The place was packed to the gills. Guess where people go when the weather is bad? Yup, sold over 65 books that day. You just never know. Loved your suggestions, I always brought a bowl of candy. It seemed to help draw peeps in.
OMGoodness I have a similar snowstorm story. Fun is the word for sure. I definitely love doing them now.
I always feel that ever single person who shows up is to be honored and appreciated. After all, we can change the world one person at a time.
Absolutely!
I may contact you to get some advice on how to write an ebook!
I would love that and will look forward to reading that book. You should consider a coffee table book, your photos are just amazing.
I hope to write a book sometime soon. I need to go away for a few weeks to think and write. Lots of good information here. Thank you and congratulations!
My favorite way to start a book is by the beach. It always motivates and inspires me.
I am so SO behind on my writing deadlines, but as long as we keep working at it, eh?
Awesome advice on promoting events. *tucked into “for-later” memory file*
Thank you Crystal. Yep just keep moving forward…
I love your ideas. Your success speaks for itself! And your sharing is so generous.
Thank you Carol.
Your tips are always so spot on and practical Doreen and I really do appreciate them!
Thank you Rena.
I’m saving this post just in case I ever write a book. Meanwhile, I’m sharing it with my book writing friends. Oddly enough, I find the summer more conducive to writing than the winter–possibly because my mood is better. It’s hard to create when one feels blanketed by gray. Yep. I’m pretty sure I have Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).
I definitely suffer from SAD too.
You always share such great tips and offer so much encouragement. I’m definitely passing this on to a few other writer friends.
Thank you Lois!
You have the best advice, Doreen. You are my go-to person for great tips about the writing/publishing process.
I am looking forward to your book too.
I am so in awe – AWE – of you, Doreen. Your brain is like a computer chip filled with knowledge about writing, publishing, well, too much to name here. When I FINALLY get my rear in gear to writing my book I know the first person I’m going to turn to.
You continue to inspire me.
I am looking forward to that book!
Doreen, I’m new to your site and love what I read here! Your tips are practical and excellent. I, too, am working on my second memoir and have been hopeful that the lessons learned from publishing memoir #1 would serve me well. However, what I have found is that each book follows its own course. Your tips are a great reminder for me as I move along, especially your points about planning ahead of time for author events. Thank you for sharing and best wishes with your second memoir.
Thank you so much Kathleen and best of luck to you too!