Back in the day, before the Internet and other technological advancements, authors would send their works of fiction that they had labored on for long to stressed-out editors who would usually reply weeks later with a rejection letter in the mail.
And if you'd be lucky, the publishing company would get back in touch with you to tell you your work was chosen, then send you a small check as an advance payment before they try to market it in the bookstores.
The publisher was in charge of all the marketing efforts and all the author had to do was sit back and wait for the commissions from sales to start pouring in. And if you'd get lucky and the book would be a success, you would get invited to do a promotional tour.
Things are notably different today. No longer do the publishers do the dirty work - it's the authors who do most of the sales pitches and marketing stuff. It is the author's job now to get people talking about the book, promote it to bookstores and hope they stock it, spread the word as well to the online bookstores, and get testimonials from fellow authors.
If you're promoting a self-published book of fiction, one of the most important things you can do to ensure its success is to go the extra mile on the book cover. But this doesn't necessarily mean adding bells and whistles and making a fancy cover - in fact, simple covers are better in attracting sales than more ornate ones.
Another tip is basic common sense when it comes to the editing part - your work of fiction should be free of any typos, regardless of how you market it. If a publishing house is handling the marketing of your book, be sure you read the galleys carefully before you release it for publishing.
But at the end of the day, the best fiction marketer for your book is staring at you in the mirror. Take some time to send out copies of your book to major reviewers like The New York Times and Publishers Weekly. A good review from one of these heavyweights could mean great sales for your book and increased cachet in the publishing circle.
You may be the best marketer for your fiction book, but of course it is going to be difficult at first as you start writing your book. It is still possible, though, that you can write a great book that would get good reviews and sales if you make the necessary sacrifices and market your book smartly.
Use every source you possibly can to promote your book of fiction, including the media, online web sites and small book stores that welcome an author's presence at book signings.
Above all, remember that you know your fiction book better than anyone else, so you are the perfect one to market it. You can use unusual methods or tried and true ones - just so you keep trying and never lose faith that your book will become a success.
And if you'd be lucky, the publishing company would get back in touch with you to tell you your work was chosen, then send you a small check as an advance payment before they try to market it in the bookstores.
The publisher was in charge of all the marketing efforts and all the author had to do was sit back and wait for the commissions from sales to start pouring in. And if you'd get lucky and the book would be a success, you would get invited to do a promotional tour.
Things are notably different today. No longer do the publishers do the dirty work - it's the authors who do most of the sales pitches and marketing stuff. It is the author's job now to get people talking about the book, promote it to bookstores and hope they stock it, spread the word as well to the online bookstores, and get testimonials from fellow authors.
If you're promoting a self-published book of fiction, one of the most important things you can do to ensure its success is to go the extra mile on the book cover. But this doesn't necessarily mean adding bells and whistles and making a fancy cover - in fact, simple covers are better in attracting sales than more ornate ones.
Another tip is basic common sense when it comes to the editing part - your work of fiction should be free of any typos, regardless of how you market it. If a publishing house is handling the marketing of your book, be sure you read the galleys carefully before you release it for publishing.
But at the end of the day, the best fiction marketer for your book is staring at you in the mirror. Take some time to send out copies of your book to major reviewers like The New York Times and Publishers Weekly. A good review from one of these heavyweights could mean great sales for your book and increased cachet in the publishing circle.
You may be the best marketer for your fiction book, but of course it is going to be difficult at first as you start writing your book. It is still possible, though, that you can write a great book that would get good reviews and sales if you make the necessary sacrifices and market your book smartly.
Use every source you possibly can to promote your book of fiction, including the media, online web sites and small book stores that welcome an author's presence at book signings.
Above all, remember that you know your fiction book better than anyone else, so you are the perfect one to market it. You can use unusual methods or tried and true ones - just so you keep trying and never lose faith that your book will become a success.
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