Before you say “Bah” and flip to something more interesting, I’m NOT trying to sell you anything. I’m also not trying to tell you how to increase your followers or get rich working from your home.
I just want to talk, honest.
This whole building an author’s platform and selling yourself on the Internet is a big question mark to me in certain ways. Sure, I get that if you reach out to people and get to know them they’re more likely to care about you than if you simply try and shill a product. In fact, I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Part of the writing thing for me has always been about connecting with people through my stories. Yes, I do want to sell books at some point in my career but I’d be writing even if that wasn’t a possibility.
Enough trying to spout my motives. This discussion is about what to do to get known. I still don’t really know what the magic bullet is. Sure, there are millions of people on the Internet. It is this great, global info dump. How do I get noticed amongst all the other writers, podcasters, etc. out there?
If I knew that answer, I’d probably be the next JK Rowling. I know that word of mouth is as important as anything; if I can get people talking about my podcasts and books, then others will come. But what is the compelling thing that gets those people talking? And just who are THOSE people anyway?
I know of some ways to get partway down that treacherous path. I can use social media tools to meet and make friends with people. I can podcast my work to get others. I can try and tap into known quantities (like podiobooks.com) to build audience. But that will only get me so far.
I can ask people to review my work. That should be good for a few more hits. If I leave comments on websites and podcasts, contribute to forums and chat rooms that will even draw more people in, especially if I can say brilliant things all the time.
Still, when you take the sum total of all these activities, how much does it really add up to?
When I look at my peers who have gone before, some are successful and some are not. I know that the success or lack thereof is not a factor of talent. Great writers/podcasters have fallen short when equally talented ones have gone on to do big things.
Is it as simple as personality? Does someones drive push them over a certain threshold? I simply don’t know the answer. I wish I did. What do you think?
At the end of the day, I would like my books to be successful. I too would like to work full-time as a writer. I don’t expect to, but I would sure like to. All that’s missing is that magic… something.
Chime in if you have any thoughts on the subject.
Personal Update
Just got (another) rejection on my YA novel. This was the writing contest I entered. I’m not totally bummed. It just means I need to keep sending it out. Maybe next time.
I also set up a new group on Facebook (my first) at the suggestion of Ross Gallagher. He said I should have a page for fans of GalaxyBillies so he could start spreading the word. Hopefully this is what he had in mind. Ross is a great example of how word-of-mouth can spread the message. He heard about GalaxyBillies from Megadan who was my winning bidder for the GB character spot. Megadan talked about it on a WoW podcast. That’s an audience I hadn’t thought about approaching (yet).
I think I need to set my sights to the horizon and find the new possibilities. Have a great week.
First off, congratulations on your latest rejection. Not that I don’t want your book to be published, but rather the opposite. Statistically, your book will need to go through a number of rejections in order for it to find it’s eventual home – I’m thinking that you are one more rejection closer to being published.
Also kudos to Megadon for helping to spread the word about GalaxyBillies to a new corner of fandom the Internet – and for donating for the Boom Effect. I’m looking forward to hearing his guest role.
Additional kudos to Ross Gallagher for suggesting the Facebook presence & to you for setting it up. Personally, Facebook drives me crazy, but it really is one of the places that authors/podcasters need a “storefront” presence & Facebook users are an audience to send the word out to.
Again, awesome job on GalaxyBillies & well wished for your YA novel. 🙂
Thanks Richard. While it would have been great to have the book accepted, it is one step closer to that goal. I’ve already had two publishers interested in it so why not a third? Or a fourth.
I echo the kudos to both Megadan and Ross. I can’t thank everyone who spreads the word enough. It is only together that we are mighty.
Okay, so without getting too Oprah or Tony Robbins on you, I think the best way to get more people interested is to adjust your outlook.
For example: “I too would like to work full time as a writer. I don’t expect too, but I would sure like to.”. Why don’t you expect to?
I personally have zero doubt I’ll succeed. And I proceed accordingly.
Sure, talent is very important if you are a writer, but there are tons of hacks making it. The defining characteristic of a successful writer is strength of personality. It doesn’t have to be ego, there’s enough dicks out there, but confidence in who you are and what you do is parmount. Your audience is buying YOU not just you’re writing. TELL them to follow you, TELL them they need to read your work. Don’t give them a reason to doubt you.
You want to know what that “magic something” is? It’s you!
Now go forth and kick some ass!
RAWR! Thanks for the kick in the pants. You are absolutely right. I have to be committed to making a career of this or I’ll never go beyond a certain point.
That in mind, I have absolute certainty that I will get published. I also know that I will have a career as a writer. What that career will look like, remains to be seen. I know I’ve got a long-range plan and several shorter term ones.
Your point about doubt is a great one. If I doubt myself, why should anyone else have faith that I’ll make it. I’m also glad that you don’t think ego is necessary since I am not an ego-centric guy. I can certainly talk with passion about writing (and other topics) for hours on end if you get me started though.
Putting my steel-toed boots as we speak. 🙂
And now . . . from the other side of the spectrum . . . a tidbit to ponder:
The nature of writing is communication.
Would you rather be heard than paid? Or vice-versa?
(queue Jeopardy music)
Interesting question. Out of the gate, I’d like to be heard. Later on, paid for my stories. My blogs/opinions/etc. will always be free. (always defined as: until a completely new business model comes up that makes what I’m doing obsolete and stupid)
Michell, hunni…. I don’t think anything you do will make you look obsolete and stupid. I think you’re doing a really fantastic job so far. Keep doing what you’re doing. Your ahead of the game than most people, including me!
Thank you for the kind comment, Huushiita. I was more referring to the far off days when podcasting might be obsolete. It will probably be video casts in 3D or 4D or whatever. 🙂
I’ve got to keep up or shut up.
I think everyone’s magic bullet is different. I do think there are some great tools out there for us to get some exposure. Will this audience we gain purchase our work, or simply really enjoy our free content? It’s hard to say. I think that Scott Sigler has a good point when he talks about putting stuff out there on a consistent basis for a few years to build up an audience. That’s what I’m going to try and do. It worked for Nathan Lowell with almost zero butt shaking, but a whole heck of a lot of content. He was working it, by producing content. If you build it, they will come. I think getting a “New York” contract is still going to be as it was before, the right story, in the right hands, at the right time. Is this New Media promotion a fast track for some authors to get that story in front of the right eyes and out of the slush pile? Maybe. I’m curious to see what happens with the third generation of podiobook authors who are new to the space, putting out stuff right now. Hopefully I’ll join their ranks by year’s end or early 2011. Sorry if I’m preaching to the converted here 🙂 It’s fun to hash out these ideas and see what other people think.
First off, congratulations on your latest rejection. Not that I don’t want your book to be published, but rather the opposite. Statistically, your book will need to go through a number of rejections in order for it to find it’s eventual home – I’m thinking that you are one more rejection closer to being published.
Also kudos to Megadon for helping to spread the word about GalaxyBillies to a new corner of fandom the Internet – and for donating for the Boom Effect. I’m looking forward to hearing his guest role.
Additional kudos to Ross Gallagher for suggesting the Facebook presence & to you for setting it up. Personally, Facebook drives me crazy, but it really is one of the places that authors/podcasters need a “storefront” presence & Facebook users are an audience to send the word out to.
Again, awesome job on GalaxyBillies & well wished for your YA novel. 🙂
Thanks Bruce. You are absolutely right. Each rejection is another step closer to publication. This particular book has now been requested (as a full) by three different presses, so I am confident it will find a home eventually.
MegaDan has been doing a great job on GalaxyBillies. I’ve had lots of fun writing him a recurring role. I’ve also really appreciated his evangelism to a different audience than I normally tap into. Also special thanks to Ross for his great suggestion. Now I just need people to start signing up on the Facebook page 🙂
I’m glad you’re enjoying the podcast and thank you so much for listening and taking the time to send me this feedback.