A young writer, whose work I read recently sent me an email asking,
"How much do I promote myself?"
After giving it some thought, I told them it depends on who you're trying to reach...
I also told them when online to be very careful, because many see self-promotion as spamming, especially when the emails are sent out over and over again...
I can recall a couple of years ago, when I was a virgin writer, I was in a literary group and one of the members sent out a scathing email about people who are always promoting,
The email could have been a bit more tactful. but I learned a lot from the intent,
Basically it said, Please tell us in the header that it's a promotion and please don't send it out day after day, after day...also they helpfully suggested that if you have a tagline on your email those who are interested would see it and check out your website, blog, etc. I never forgot that, and I try to promote in that way...
Because what I have learned is that mostly people purchase what they want to, from whom they choose to and many times book purchasers, purchase at the recommendation of others...
I know in recent history, considering how busy I am, I rely on other readers to suggest books to me, I also have a soft spot for new writers and will give them the benefit of the doubt, but even in those cases, usually someone has 'told' me about their work...
Now local, on the ground promotion is something else, altogether...
There are the tried and true places, newspapers, libraries, radio spots...
But in that case, much of it again comes to what others are saying about your work...
The best kind of promotion is to get your books in the hands of readers and give them something to talk about...
After listening, I was then asked another question,
Then why do I see so much about your book everwhere ,
I smiled, happily...telling them,
'That comes from putting in work and being patient, most of the stuff, you see about me these days is based on building a readership and having many of those readers blast me and my work of their own accord. Most of what you see out there has cost me nothing. Also, I have People...folks who believe so much in what I do, they are working while I am sleeping, Thank God. Writing , for the most part is not an overnight venture. There is a lot of trench work and being able to take criticism, learning from it, constantly trying to provide what readers want and being patient. With my first book, I literally threw buckets of cash out there and gained no more from that, far less in fact than I have from each book thereafter. So having said all of that, you must promote yourself to the extent that is comfortable for you and palatable to those you are promoting to. However, don't take it personal when things take a while to come to fruition. That's sometimes just a part of the busines. Also, overnight sensations come and go, longetivity is about always putting in work, and finding what works for you."
blessings,
angelia
http://www.angeliavmenchan.com/
