308Views 2Comments
The EFC Writer – Let’s Get You Published
A technological explosion not seen since the invention of the printing press provides writers with more opportunities to get their story in front of readers faster than ever before.
I interviewed two recently published authors: Lyssa Layne, who self-published Love is a Fire, and Susan Sofayov, who wrote Defective and published through Blue Opal Publishing. What’s their key to success?
Both writers point to the three most important considerations for writers before sending a manuscript to a publisher or uploading on your own:
- Edit
- Edit
- You guessed it, edit.
Layne says, “Don’t try to proofread on your own, get as many sets of eyes on your work as possible.”
And don’t get your mom or best friend to read it. Consider hiring a professional editor. They’re trained to point out every typo, lost plot line, and even pick apart what names you choose for your favorite characters. If you can survive that kind of scrutiny, you’re ready to send it out.
Sofayov drives this point home, saying, “Critique partners/groups are paramount to success.”
Another suggestion from our authors is to have a marketing plan in place before the book comes out. Sofayov wishes she, “. . . would have been more aggressive two to three months in advance, creating my own marketing plan . . . Like any other product, books do not sell themselves.”
Blogging and submitting to short story contests are good ways to gain experience, build a fan base, and win serious bragging rights before you hit send on that final manuscript.
After the title is released, blog tours, reviews, and mini-workshops can put your book in front of a potential audience.
Got a story sitting on your computer? Let’s get it out there. It sounds simple, but don’t be fooled. Publishing a book is a lot of hard work that usually requires a team of professionals to edit, build a fan base, and market your product.
We want to hear from you.
Are you hoping to get published? What’s your plan to get your story in front of readers?
Already published? What tips do you have for your unpublished writer friends?
2 Comments
by Lisa Salvary
Good advice. There’s a lot more to publishing a book than just writing it. Editing is important, but so is marketing it, and creating buzz for it. I’m not an author, but I have been following authors on social media, I would suggest checking out your fave authors, helping them promote to find out what works and what doesn’t as well as bloggers. With a solid network, they’ll be happy to help you promote your book.
by Belinda Kaye
Be on the look out for next month’s post. EFC writer topic: Be Bold.