No one wants mistakes in their manuscript but how do we avoid them?
So you’re writing your first novel. What’s your journey in life? What is your unique selling point (USP)? Are you a retired police detective writing a novel? Have you fame in another field? Do you have thousands of followers on social media? If you look on the shelves in bookstores, you are likely to recognise celebrity names – instant appeal to potential readers – some good, some not so.
Richard Osman (TV), Bob Mortimer (Comedian), Alan Titchmarsh (TV Gardener), Nadine Dorries (Politician), Carol Kirkwood (BBC Weather forecaster), Rob Rinder (Barrister and TV), Stella Rimington (MI5).
Now well established but had their starts in other occupations:
Ian Fleming (journalism, also espionage), Gerald Seymour (journalism), Frederick Forsyth (journalism), Jeffery Archer (politics).
A double advantage in that they have backgrounds and experiences to draw on in their writing but also recognisable names for the covers of the books.
So where are you?
- How can you boost your reputation?
- Do you have a website?
- Have you made an author page on Amazon (if your novel is already published)?
- How many followers on social media (do you promise “follow back” for being followed?
- Are you a member in the right groups, there are many devoted to writing and writers?
- Is there some (legal) way you can get mentioned in the professional media?
- Do you know if your on-line publisher/retailer allows promotional deals (you cut your price for a number of days)?
- You have to attract people to you. No “Field of Dreams” strategy (If you build it, they will come).
The marketing professionals will tell you about AIDA.
A Attention. Get noticed
I Interest. Stimulate their interest in your product to creat
D Desire. They wish to buy, which converts into
A Action.. They make a purchase.
Good luck comes to those who work for it.
Keith
Credits
Author: Keith Lawson
Photo by Suzy Hazelwood
