Fear Factor 6
DAY 31
Word Count: 20,445
Sentence of the Day: He stood before her, holding out her pelisse like a mandate.
FEAR #6: WHAT IF I ACTUALLY SELL MY BOOK? DO I DARE PUT MYSELF OUT THERE AND SAY, "LOOK AT ME! I WROTE AN AMAZING BOOK...BUY IT!"
Writers are a pathetic group of psychopaths. First we're afraid to start writing, then we're scared to death that we won't be able to finish it, and finally we soil our breeches (sorry, I'm still in Regency mode) when we finally sell a manuscript and it becomes a book. Sheesh. What a bunch of freaks.
And believe me, I fly my freak flag high, especially with this fear. I would oh-so-much rather be squirreled away in a dark corner writing my next blockbuster than standing on a street corner hawking my book. But that's not the way the game is played.
When you do finally cross the finish line and your palms are sweating all over your very first novel, you're going to have to market it. Tone it down. I hear you. You signed up as an author, not a salesman. Read my lips: you're in the army now (the marketing armed forces, that is).
No, you don't have to broadcast how wonderful you are. That would be conceited. You do, however, have to let bookstores, radio stations, newspapers, media-in-general know what your story is about so they, in turn, can let readers know. But how does one go about doing that?
Besides asking your editor and agent (both storehouses of information), here are some resources:
And here's an idea that works great for me...once you've got those book signings lined up, take a buddy with you. Let them do the promotional talking for you. Once they've frothed up a few customers, you'll be surprised at the peer pressure effect on other shoppers.