That unwieldy title is the fact behind yesterday’s post about literary agents and your social media platform, and today’s follow-up.
Depending on who you ask or where you check, each year between 600,000 and 1,000,000 books are published. That’s more than one every minute, 24 hours a day.
If you only take away one thing from Sue’s post and today’s, this is it:
#1. If you don’t stand out, agents, publishers, and readers will choose someone who does.
When Sue posted some of her thoughts from that blog post on other social media platforms, there were always a few who quibbled about how agents don’t necessarily require this, that, and the other thing. Perhaps. However, see large note #1 above.
A second note which seems, still, to escape far too many authors:
#2: Publishers do not do marketing. Authors do marketing. If you won’t, they’ll find someone who will.
This shatters the dream of so many authors who, apparently, still hope they can simply write their book and have someone else do the hard work of earning the money for them. After all, writing a book is hard enough already; I know this well and understand the frustration of those who, having typed The End are dismayed to discover that it’s just The Beginning.
If you’re still secretly hoping someone else will make this easy for you, see large note #2 above.
A third note:
#3: Reputations are hard-earned currency. No one is going to lend you theirs without good reason.
Yesterday’s post touched on the quagmire of guest posting. The entire point of guest posting is to share reputations, to find mutual benefit.
If you have a brand new blog about entrepreneurship, having Richard Branson write a guest post is a great idea, right? Doesn’t hurt to ask, right?
What earthly reason would Sir Rich have to lend you his reputation?
Bringing it down to more realistic levels, what reason does mid-level blogger Jane Doe have to lend you their reputation, giving you access to their hard-earned network of fans? By writing a guest post for you, or allowing you to write a guest post for her, Jane is endorsing you, telling all and sundry “I trust and respect Billy Bo Bob Brain and you should, too.”
Why would they do that?
Flipside: why would you do that? If you have a worthwhile blog and a total stranger, entirely unknown, wants to post on your blog, why would you share your reputation with them? Do you really want to publicly endorse the views and ethics of a total stranger?
A final takeaway:
#4: If you intend to sell your book or use it to promote your business you are not just an author, you are an entrepreneur.
You may already be marketing your business. Your book is part of your business, and you have to invest the same marketing effort and savvy as you would any other new product or service launched.
A solid social media presence is vital to getting noticed as an author and should be in place long before your book is published.