Sorry to be so quiet. My computer has been ailing among other things. My mother-in-law says her cancer’s back, one of my closest friends is having a lumpectomy for breast cancer and one of my half-sisters, Lisa Wittman, died unexpectedly at age 47. Still, I should keep up this blog better.
I’ve been trying to understand more about the internet marketing necessary for novelists. Publishing is changing so rapidly, the only chance most of us have will be through shameless self-promotion. I not only better get back in the saddle, I need to get going on promotional ideas for when my novel comes out in August.
Such as, how can I make my novel stand out? Remember the Oscar Mayer weiner song? Chances are you’ll never forget that jingle. It’s the same with writers. I have some very talented students this term. If any of you wants to know what the most important part of this business is (aside from actually writing) I’d guess it’s learning how to use the internet to market your books, your self and your “brand.” You heard that right–brand. Seekerville’s Feedblitz newsletter has been very helpful in presenting solid ideas on creating a brand. All it means is that your writing becomes recognizable in the consumer’s mind. In the split second it takes for a reader to decide on a novel, being instantly recognizable can mean the difference between a novel that sits on the shelf and one that flies out the door. We all must cultivate readers by giving them something to hang onto. And just try getting the Oscar Mayer song out of your head. Keep writing!