Coffeeshop Author Talk Magazine CAT Maagazine August 2013 | Page 14

First Steps To Author Marketing by Rebecca L. Graf

A big myth in the world of writing is that you don’ t start marketing until you have published your book or at least when you are close to publishing. That is so far from the truth. Your marketing starts as early as before you ever start writing.
Become Familiar
You don’ t step out into the world and proclaim“ Here I am! I’ m an author. Buy my book.” They’ ll give you an odd stare and go about their lives. You have to be someone they know. Strangers trying to get you to part with your money and time are always dealt with suspiciously.
When people know you, they support you. They listen to you. They stop to pay attention. You need to be familiar to them.
So, how do you get familiar?
You get around the social networks. You join writing and reading groups. You participate. Get known. Let your name and face be seen. Eventually, they’ ll know you are becoming an author and will be curious. Let them get to know you first before you ask them to buy your book.
Create Your Own Blog
Before you publish, get your own blog started. By writing about books you read, interviewing other authors, having authors do guest posts, and writing about your own experiences, you can really draw in followers. That gives them a chance to get to know you and your writing before you get published. It will make the marketing of the published book a little bit easier.
You can write about anything. You can invite readers into your world. This will help them get to want to read more of your work.
Develop Your Writer’ s Character on Your Blog and Elsewhere Find yourself as a writer on your blog. New authors are like children – they are being shaped