Marketing Tip - Book Trailers

Visuals are extremely powerful for the sake of getting the attention of a target audience. No matter what it is you are selling the visuals are very often far more powerful that simply explaining why you feel your product is superior. There is a classic saying "Telling isn't selling". Basically it is more effective to show someone something and let them sell themselves on it than push all the benefits and try to convince them to want it.

This is why we as authors will do cover reveals and try to have covers for our books that capture the eye and pull the reader in with a strong sense of curiosity. We post teasers and make advertisements that are colorful and bold doing what we can to appeal to the visual sense of our fans. Part of advertising is finding new and interesting ways to reach your audience and with the development of sites like youtube has come the creation of yet another form of promotion, book trailers.

Think of the last time you watched a show on television. When the commercial breaks happened you most likely saw ads for grocery stores, perhaps the cable company of a new and improved product either emerging or reentering the marketplace. You probably also saw a few commercials for some movies or television shows on the network you were watching. Did they interest you? Were you intrigued enough to look at movie times of consider setting a reminder or your dvr to check out the new show? Book trailers can do exactly the same thing for you story.

This is one of the ideas I most want to incorporate especially when I get my website finished. I have only three books published currently but I am working on several more and like movies I would create two to three small clips to grab my readers for each of my books. Once you have the trailers made you can of course share them through social media and personal websites but with strategic partnerships you can help reach a far greater audience through their sharing and use of sites like Youtube which can with viral videos especially get millions of views within minutes. Using this technology wisely can boost your visibility and sales tremendously when combined with other parts of your advertising campaign.

Reading Challenge

I have posted a picture of the list of book categories for the reading challenge I am participating in this year already. I have talked about some of the books I have already completed and even shared a few that are waiting to be read. I am excited to be doing this challenge but I did not anticipate that with the rest of life it would become so challenging.

I noticed the challenge posted at the end of 2014 and decided to give it a try for last year. I came up with a list of books that would fit the different categories. I went to stalk the shelves of my closest library as well as a few bookstores to gather the books I needed. Once I had everything set I began reading the books and checking off the categories though after just ten books I stalled.

Part of the halt was the book I was reading, The Count of Monte Cristo. To this day I have not finished that book though because of that I am using it as my book I started but never finished. I am determined to make it through the challenge this year but when I stopped reading my fun books and tried to read a non-fiction book to learn something that would help me in building my business I struggled and have stopped temporarily.

I have the next couple of books ready to go but I really wanted to finish learning the information in order to be able to help promote my books better and when my next books come out I will be able to send them higher and higher on best seller lists. I want to be able to help my own stories reach further  and grow my reader base not to mention I want to find a way to better communicate and interact with my friends and fans.

I need to get better at finding a way to fit everything in because it is important as a writer to not only make time to write as well edit but to have time to practice things like queries and synopses, learn ways to grow and build myself and my brand but as a writer it is vital to make time to read and stay versed in what is happening in the market and to keep finding inspiration.

Submitting - Awards

For those like myself and many of my friends that choose either in part or completely to go the Indie / Self Publishing route there a several things you can do to help raise awareness about your book. I know this sounds like I am talking marketing and I normally do marketing tips on Fridays so don't worry this tip can fall under either category. Instead of focusing on the already much covered topic of submitting for agents and publishers I thought I would jump ahead to once you have already published.

If you are still focusing on the traditional publishing aspect, my hat is off to you. You are not alone, there are thousands of submissions each year, in some cases each month, to the traditional publishers and agents. f you one of the lucky ones to get in and hold your author copy in your hands then cherish it and accept my congratulations. For the rest of us I want to tell you about something I have recently decided to embark on, submitting for contests and awards.

Of course this idea comes with a great deal of prestige if your book is selected as the winner. There are a number of social media sites, blogs and websites your book will appear on not to mention as the winner you can elevate your own marketing and reach a wider audience. It is well known and understood that winning an award can also make your book stand out as desirable because it appears to have been checked out and approved by trusted professionals and not just your book loving aunt.

If you remember several weeks ago I wrote about the submitting bible Writer's Market. In there one can find lists of agents, publishers and a chapter on the almighty query letter. There is also an extensive list of magazines that accept submissions for freelance contributors. This can be a great way to make extra money and I will be writing more about it next week. If you keep reading through the very large reference volume you will also discover lists of contests and awards for nearly every genre of writing out there.

You can of course also search social media and enter literary contests and awards into Google or your other favorite search engine if you prefer. Once you do your research and make your list of awards or contests you feel would best be suited for your story you can begin the further reading to find the guidelines. Remember that like agents and publishers every contest and award is a little different and you cannot submit in a one size fits all fashion. Some awards to require an entrance fee and / or a copy of the book for consideration. I am still making my list and working hard to make sure I have all of the guidelines for my own submissions. In the future I will be posting as I submit and the steps I take to share my journey with anyone wishing to possibly join along.

Character Profile - Ashley DeMichael

Ashley is a new and developing character for me. She was conceived as a possibility after a conversation about bullying I had with a friend recently. While I am very much against bullying in the sense that using any sort of torture be it physical, mental, or emotional is wrong my personal stance and views on bullying tend to differ greatly from many others I know. I am aware of the controversial place I stand but I believe everyone should hold strong to their own principals.

Ashley is a bully. She victimizes other students in her high school to the point they go out of her way to avoid her. They report her and form collective groups out of fear of her and her followers. She is the leader of her small gang of enforcers and though people do occasionally trade money or items to avoid her wrath that isn't why she does it. She makes sure that everyone knowns she has the power to run the school. She is strong and she has the power.

Ashley is also a victim. Her father was an abusive drug addict that was in and out of her life repeatedly. He beat her mother, verbally attacked Ashley for years and when he showed any indications of going after her little sister Ashley stood up to him and he beat her as well. Her sister was too young to remember when their mother finally stood up for herself but Ashley remembers every second of it. It is imprinted on her soul.

Her mother vowed never to be a victim again and became obsessive about Ashley being able to defend herself. She programmed her daughter never to let anyone take control away from her. Being at home was like going to self defense boot camp on steroids. It leapt past personal protection into antagonistic behavior and drove Ashley to become a girl that not only takes no shit from other people but she will start a fight just to prove she will come out on top.

Ashley is not only strong but she is beautiful. Her looks make her popular and her attitude makes her feared. She loves the power but she is a terribly lonely girl because all she wants is the acceptance she never got from her family. She insists upon the respect she feels she deserves but deep down she knows her so called "friends" would run and hide in an instant if it wouldn't mean incurring her rage. She fights the battle between how to be the person she truly wants to be and continuing in a life as both a victim and a bully.

I am working with local schools, therapists and corrections officers as well as secondary research for this book and hope it will bring to light a new way of seeing bullies and how we deal with them.

Submission Tips - Synopsis

Many people confuse the synopsis for an agent with the blurb on the back of a book cover. Both have been referred to as a synopsis but for agents it refers to the brief overview of the story in its entirety. When you are sending a query letter and the agent doesn't want any part of the manuscript they still want to know what happens in the book. This involves the ending and for many writers that can be difficult.

When you pour your heart and soul into the story and send off a masterful letter showing how well you can captivate the agent it can seem counterproductive to give away how the story ends but the agent or publisher most times will want to know what happens, characters that change along the way and how it all wraps up including major twists in the plot before they invest time reading the entire book.

Even before you send off your letters a synopsis is a good tool you can use to evaluate the story and its strength. It can be difficult to objectively look at flaws or plot holes in your own work so having a friend or online critique partner could help you. After you write out the synopsis you, or whoever is looking over the document may notice that there are some questions that need answering or there may seem to be nothing to help set your story apart from the monotonous and endless string of pitches that agents receive everyday.

In order to jump to the top of the list your story must be intriguing, original and have something special that will grab the attention of agents, publishers and eventually readers. There is a tremendous amount of competition for this attention so you have to not only hook them but keep them for the long haul. Again the synopsis will demonstrate how your story will do just that.

Most often the synopsis is written with the focus on your main characters, who they are, what their motivations are and the central conflicts that arise throughout the storyline. You don't want to write a short story explaining what happens in your novel but you want to include enough information as well. It is a fine balance and takes practice to get it right. Basically if there is something or someone that directly contributes to the main conflict or the ending would be different without then it or they should be included.

Keep it basic and don't go into too much detail. It will just add length and will distract from the story you are sharing. You can keep the details for your book and once they synopsis gets their attention they can learn more about the setting, the personality of your characters and the meaning behind your story theme as they read the full manuscript. It will take a few drafts before you get used to writing a synopsis but it is a good idea to practice and haven ready for those agents or publishers that prefer to read one first.

Book Profile - Full Dark, No Stars

This is the first book I have picked out on my reading challenge list from one of my all time favorite authors Stephen King. Full Dark, No Stars is a collection of four shorter stories, if you consider one hundred plus pages and short story, with four in total. I love the stories though because I became aware while reading each one that I had read them before but I loved them so much I reread each one eagerly. It had been a long time since I had read any of them that I was thrilled to refresh each story.

1922 - This is the story of Wilfred and Arlette James. She is the pushy wife holding land her father left her over her husband's head to try and make him leave the farming life and move her to the city where she feels she deserves to be and the events that ensue following their battle over their way of life and their future.

Big Driver -  Tess is a small town mystery writer that accepts a last minute speaking engagement not far from her home. She has no idea that by accepting help with a shortcut she will experience the most longest and most horrifying night of her life. She questions if she will be able to survive and see her home again and even if she does how will she move forward with her life?

Fair Extension - This is the shortest of the four stories in the book and while it is well written it could have been lengthened in a few areas. This story follows Harry Streeter a man diagnosed with cancer and just trying to make it through his last months with some peace. He meets a man that offers to give him an extension of his life but only if he is willing to pass the misfortune onto another who in this case happens to be his best friend from childhood. He must also pay a fifteen percent annual fee from his salary. He doesn't believe in the deal though he makes it and heads home. He must then come to terms with the fact that he has either just amused himself for awhile but is still going to die or he has passes a horrible purse onto someone he has known all his life.

Good Marriage - The final story in Full Dark, No Stars is all about how well we know the person we are married to. What kind of person are they and what deep dark secrets could they be hiding? What would you do if you found out that the one you loved was a monster? Would you cover for them or turn them in? How would you live with yourself either way? This was my favorite story in the entire book because it made me ask these questions and more.

Focusing Through The Mental Clutter

Like most authors I know I have several ideas working all the time in my head. This is not a bad things necessarily. It just means that I will never win out of books to write, though they like to get in each other's way from time to time. I am experiencing that right now. I have a plan in place but I have characters from other stories screaming to get my attention as well as new ideas cropping up all the time doing their best to cut in line.

I am working very hard to finish Sharing Strength which is an emotional and important journey for me to take and I hope my readers enjoy the story once I complete it. Once I cross the finish line with Sharing Strength I have a romance called Chocolate Covered Cherries which is the first in a series that has been patiently biding its time in the wings. I am not a big fan of traditional romance stories so I think that is why the characters haven't been too pushy on that one.

Once I have completed the drafts of these two I need to do some major editing on five total books, Sharing Strength, Chocolate Covered Cherries, Breathe, Welcome to Syn and Voices In My Head. I am looking forward very much to the editing and revising aspect but the though of a few of these books has awaked characters from them that are involved in series and want the next book written instead. Lucasta Syntel and Amanda Perella are the worst ones for this.

Lucasta is the oldest daughter of Persyphone Syntel from the Welcome to Syn series and she is itching to have some fun with her newly discovered powers reeking havoc over the men that hurt her and her family. Amanda on the other hand is the daughter of Chelsea Perella from Voice In My Head and is the sequel in the two book series. Both are books on the roster for this year but now until I finish the current works in progress and the editing. I also have research to do for the Syn series, another book for this year, Mother Said No and two new projects inspired by the city of Pioche, NV.

I am thrilled to have so many characters talking and so much inspiration but right now I am even happier that I have a clear and written plan to follow so I can stay on track. I am determined to get everything finished this year no matter how much I have to fight the distractions in my head!