Authors, Enter a Contest, Write an Article Plus Other Free Book Promotion Ideas
Writing Motivation and Fantastic Book Recommendations
Writing Contests: Deadlines, Why Writing Articles is Book Promotion, Books I’m Reading
Why Writing Articles is Book Promotion
This week I would like to start with an inspirational article by author James Wade in Writers Digest online to keep you, my book marketers and writers, motivated to keep writing and marketing!
Writing Joy or Why We Write in the First Place
“No matter your reasons for writing, if you can hold on to those reasons every time you sit down, you’ll never be uninspired” James Wade
Book Promotion Ideas
In addition to being a fun, inspiring article there are ideas for you, the book marketer, writer and author!
Writing an article (not about your book) is an example of how you can promote your book. Many magazines have submission instructions to submit an article. As the writer of a book, you are a writer and can submit an article on any subject that would be a good fit for a magazine publication. Go for it. Your byline will include the titie of your book and if readers like your article they may take the next step to look you up and find your book – perhaps even purchase the book!
This suggestion is a Book Promotion Task on your book marketing plan.
The author in the article, James Wade, cleverly mentions his book All Things Left Wild Novel IN the article. So of course, I looked it up. His book page is a treasure trove of promotion opportunities for the book marketer – you! I also downloaded the sample of the book because it looks interesting. If I like the sample and decide to purchase the book, I may even wrote a review for it.
There’s more…
If you look at the reviews on the book page, you will learn:
To put your all of your reviews on your Amazon page. If you are with a traditional publisher, make sure that you contact your publisher to keep them up to date on new reviews so that they can update your book page.
As you read the reviews on the book page there is more information that you can use.
Two of Mr. Wade’s reviewers are currently accepting books for review. Include a submission to these reviewers in your book marketing plan under pre-publication advanced review outreach. I list the two book reviewers here. Note their strict submission requirements and their deadlines – many are months before publication.
Writing Contests: Deadlines Coming Up
It is that time of year and year-end deadlines for writing awards is coming up.
Here is one such contest held my TCK Publishing if you are interested in submission.
There are many such writing contests. Google to see if there are any that are a good fit for you. Try submitting to one and then go from there. Most require a modest fee.
Remember that if you win a contest, there may be a cash payout but you may also promote the win on your website, book page, add it to your author bio and use to bolster your author platform. Book promotion benefits all around!
Here are a few more off the top of my head: Notes due dates…some 12/15!
WOW – Women On Writing – Quarterly Writing Contest
Reedsy LIST of Writing Contests
What Am I Doing/Reading this Week? Popourri
Books I’m Reading
I am reading four books right now…
Here is what I do – maybe you do this too – I read four books at a time taking turns with each and then see which one “wins.”
The Memoirs of Cleopatra – Margaret George – Folks, this book is so interesting but huge… I needed to take a bit of a break from Alexandria, Egypt. I’ll go back soon, though, because Cleopatra is about to go visit Marc Antony and that should steam things up.
The Jaws Log: Carl Gottlieb – chronicles the making of the movie JAWS. This book was actor John Krasinski’s recommendation and is fantastic so far. It documents the creative process. I find that movie making production process runs parallel to book publishing process.
The Key To Rebecca – Ken Folliet – everything this guy writes is amazing. In the spy thriller set in Cairo during WWII… years after Cleopatra, obviously, a spy hunter uses a beautiful women to capture the spy – an Egyptian/German who hides in plain sight. Super fun and sexy.
The Lindbergh Nanny – Mariah Fredericks - Historical Fiction – The story of the Lindbergh Baby kidnapping – it happened around the corner from where I live in Hopewell, NJ. I read The Aviator’s Wife by Melanie Benjamin and loved it. The Lindbergh Nanny comes at the story from a new perspective. Very well-written.
What else am I doing?
I am promoting the new release of my audiobook which dubbed 11.22.22 – I am doing what you are doing and will share the what works and what is a waste of your precious time for book promotion. I will be posting a podcast episode with Rebirth author/podcast host, and my colleague, Kate Brenton about the audiobook next week.
It Gets Easier and Other Lies We Tell New Mothers audiobook ranked #1 on Amazon in Motherhood and Childbirth category on release day.
The first part of my marketing plan for the audiobook was to place an Ad on Facebook. I had an ad created with a Fivver graphic designer who I have been working with for my book… I trust her… Then I posted the FB ad on the day of the book launch. Actually, my daughter, who is marketing expert, placed the ad for me… Shake your tree!!!
Write an Article to Promote Your Book
I’m off to pitch an article for new grandparents to a few appropriate magazines. Since I am no longer a ‘new mom’ – the target audience of the audiobook - I thought that a another way to promote the audiobook would be to write an article for new grandparents, like me, who may be adjusting to what is different in caring for babies and what is the same. Perhaps they will gently suggest the audiobooks to their new parent children. I am taking the example of Mr James Wade above and placing it into action.
I would love to know WHY YOU write and what keeps you motivated to keep writing. Please share in the comments!
Thanks for reading.
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