CHAPTER TWO
B IS FOR BALANCE
WRITERS’ TRICKS OF THE TRADE
CHAPTER TWO
B IS FOR BALANCE
Writing and promotion ~ Both are time consuming— but necessary
Whether it’ s in print, electronic or both, you finally have a book. Don’ t think that’ s all there is to it, because the work and balancing act begin now.
If you’ re self-published perhaps only friends and family know about your book. Unless you’ re ordering small quantities produced with print on demand or POD technology, you probably have a garage full of copies. If you’ re published by a royalty-paying publisher, but there is no promotion on your part, sales could be flat or nonexistent. That doesn’ t make for a happy publisher. People simply don’ t buy something they don’ t know exists.
In this day and age, there are many ways to promote yourself and your book, ranging from becoming an internet guru to doing personal appearances. These avenues of promotion all have one thing in common— they’ re time vampires. How often have you sat at the computer and although it seems like no time has passed, you swear the clock must be wrong. How can it be that three or four hours have passed?
Local appearances involve preparation and driving time.
There is no“ free lunch” here. If the venue is out of town, add transportation, hotel costs and other factors. What’ s the thing that’ s
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