1.Book Blurbs
I recently read a book blurb, and I was so excited to read the book. After reading a few pages, I felt something was off initially, but I thought, maybe I’m just not far enough. I read the entire book, then realized the blurb had nothing to do with almost anything I had just read. Yes, you can hire someone to write your blurb, but it needs to fit the text. Book blurbs, sell books. Let me foot stomp that book, blurbs, sell books.
Why did I foot stomp that? You need to get the book blurb right since people don’t just start reading your book. The order in which they see the books is the cover, blurb, then the rest. If the blurb doesn’t entice them after the cover, 90% will walk away.
Above all else, make the blurb match the book. Unless you are only going to write one book, then you want people to trust you. I don’t think I will read another book by this author because now I don’t trust what is in the blurb, not to mention, I didn’t enjoy the melancholy of the book.
2.Free Books
Most authors are cringing right now. I get it; we work hard to put together carefully crafted works of art to make money and share with the world our creations. Here is the thing, a little kindness goes a long way. If you want to entice people to take a chance on you when publishers didn’t, wouldn’t, or haven’t tried, how will the general public, if you aren’t willing to give them something?
Before you unsubscribe, follow and want to choke me, hear me out. Write a short story about a character who has a small role in one of your more extensive books. Give the readers something to get their mouth-watering then you can funnel them to your bigger projects. They will come running if your work is good. This brings them in. This is your hook, so to speak.
3. Newsletter Swaps
Interact with other authors and build trust to share newsletters. It’s always good to get in front of different audiences. You have cultivated your list; I get that; you don’t want to share. I think it is good to expose your audience to new things as well. I’m not saying give your audience over to any tom dick or harry. Vet the people you want to work with. Make sure they are trustworthy and in the spirit of what you believe your audience will want to work with.
This doesn’t mean giving another author your whole email address listing. Still, it means they write something you can publish on your newsletter with a call to action to follow them if they wish and vice versa. You may get some new subscribers.
4.Pen Name or Not
Some use a pen name, and some do not. I think it will depend on what you want out of your career and what you are writing. I choose a pen name for my children’s books. I wanted something that felt like home to kids. “Auntie Nann” was born. I choose Auntie Nann because of my great-niece, who I asked if she could call me Auntie Nann because my grandmother was Nana, and I wanted to be Nann to honor her and, of course, since I’m the aunt. You get the picture. I choose CJ Ives Lopez as a play on my real name to honor myself, who I have become, and to have some kind of anonymity, so people don’t super stalk me at my house. Some use nothing at all. The bottom line is it’s a choice. I have known people who write super-sexy scenes and don’t want anyone to know that it’s them and the same with crime, horror, and fantasy. Think about how you will feel if someone read your work and knew it was you, then decide.
5.Above all else, be a good human.
I’ve said it before, and I will repeat it. Be a good human. I love it when people I see every single day are willing to constantly give back. I do not like when I see them giving, giving, and giving only to watch others take to gain without recognizing what they have received.
In this world, we only have each other. We rise together. Without the phenomenal people I’ve had to lift me up, I wouldn’t be where I am today. I want to recognize them becuase they are my tribe. If you don’t know them, you should, but trust me, tread lightly becuase they will not take any crap.