Advice Every Writer Needs To Know

Filed under Promote your book.

“It is the writer’s duty to get their book noticed”

This is a great interview. Do stick with it past 4:15 when Casey Sherman gets into talking about writing.

5:00 – Sherman also talks about self-publishing.

6:30 – Promoting book is about “building relationships in the media and then using them as leverage” and writers must “learn to be a good interviewee.”

6:00 to 7:00 – tips on how to be a good interviewee.

Felt the opening statement that writing a book and promoting a book are two very different skills was the real takeaway from this interview.

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  • http://principlesoffailure.blogspot.com/ SHerdegen

    I agree authors need to market their work these days. I agree marketing is a different skill from writing. My question is: in other areas where these skillset differences occur economic theory tells us specialization would increase efficiency and productivity.

    Why do you think it is that authors must now interact directly with their audience rather than through a marketing team? It can’t be financial since it would be more efficient to separate the two functions. Is there a greater expectation these days that fans can (and should) talk directly to an author?

    Why couldn’t you develop yourself as a skilled social media marketer and promote several authors who could then just focus on writing? Fans wouldn’t get to interact with the authors but they could interact with you and trust you to recommend great work.

    I think the quintessential example of this is Oprah Winfrey. She is not an author but she connects with her audience and when she recommends a book it’s an immediate best seller.

    Obviously we can’t all be Oprahs, but we can use that same model and experience greater efficiency in the publishing marketplace by specialization.

    Just a thought.

  • http://childrenspublishing.blogspot.com Advnturs in Children’s Pblshng

    Great interview. As always, BubbleCow, you give great thought-fodder. This interview made me consider the similarity between marketing a manuscript and marketing a book. I’ve just blogged on that and wanted to say thanks for the epiphany!

    http://childrenspublishing.blogspot.com/2010/04/know-your-selling-point.html

  • http://principlesoffailure.blogspot.com/ SHerdegen

    I agree authors need to market their work these days. I agree marketing is a different skill from writing. My question is: in other areas where these skillset differences occur economic theory tells us specialization would increase efficiency and productivity.

    Why do you think it is that authors must now interact directly with their audience rather than through a marketing team? It can’t be financial since it would be more efficient to separate the two functions. Is there a greater expectation these days that fans can (and should) talk directly to an author?

    Why couldn’t you develop yourself as a skilled social media marketer and promote several authors who could then just focus on writing? Fans wouldn’t get to interact with the authors but they could interact with you and trust you to recommend great work.

    I think the quintessential example of this is Oprah Winfrey. She is not an author but she connects with her audience and when she recommends a book it’s an immediate best seller.

    Obviously we can’t all be Oprahs, but we can use that same model and experience greater efficiency in the publishing marketplace by specialization.

    Just a thought.

  • 4kidlit

    Great interview. As always, BubbleCow, you give great thought-fodder. This interview made me consider the similarity between marketing a manuscript and marketing a book. I've just blogged on that and wanted to say thanks for the epiphany!

    http://childrenspublishing.blogspot.com/2010/04…