Have you signed up to be a DIY MFA Radio Insider yet? This is an exciting new monthly newsletter, especially for our podcast listeners. Every month, you’ll get an email from our podcast producer with recaps of the most recent episodes, a curated Listening List of episodes on a particular theme, and other fun goodies we only share via email. Best of all, it’s free to join! The theme for January is debut writers, and you can become an insider by signing up with your email at diymfa.com/insiders.

In this episode Sue Campbell and I discuss:

• False stories writers tell themselves about marketing and why it isn’t as scary as you think.
• How to shift your thoughts about marketing—Sue shares some exercises to help!
• Why getting hard feedback early on is actually advantageous for you later on.

Plus, her #1 tip for writers.

About Sue Campbell

As founder of Pages & Platforms, Sue Campbell is the mindset and book marketing coach writers look to when they are ready to honor their dreams, address the negative stories they’re telling themselves, and share their work with their ideal readers to maximize the impact of their words.

Sue has helped hundreds of writers, from newbies to bestsellers, transform their inhibitive mindset around marketing and realize their full potential as authors. Her clients have exponentially increased their email lists and book sales, landed articles in prestigious publications such as The New York Times, done guest spots on popular podcasts, and more.

Sue helps writers opt out of harmful stories they tell themselves and carve out the creative life they’ve always known they were meant to have.

You can find Sue on her website or follow her on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Link to Episode 394

(Right-click to download.)

If you liked this episode…

Head over to iTunes, Stitcher Radio, Spotify, or Google and subscribe so you’ll be first to know when new episodes are available.

Also, remember that sharing is caring so if you know anyone who might enjoy this podcast, please tell them about it or leave us a review so other listeners will want to check it out.

Until next week, keep writing and keep being awesome!

The post Episode 394: What Stories Are You Telling Yourself? Marketing Mindset Shifts for Writers – Interview with Sue Campbell appeared first on DIY MFA.

On that note, if there’s anything I’ve learned in my three years at Reedsy and two years of writing for DIY MFA, it’s that we creators thrive when we share resources and support one another. In that same spirit, here are my top tips for self-publishing authors! While they’ll be most helpful for the first-timers, I hope even experienced authors learn a little something new about the self-publishing process.

1. Write the book you believe in

Before you can self-publish a book, you have to actually write it. And though “write to market” is increasingly common (and valid!) advice these days, I still think most authors should start with ideas they really love. Not only will the passion shine through in your prose, but it’ll also motivate you to write all the way to the end—something that marketing potential alone may not do.

A little anecdotal evidence: nearly all the most interesting, fresh-voiced books I’ve come across through Reedsy have been passion projects. Plenty of these titles end up with solid audiences too! But with the exception of nonfiction books serving specific groups (how-to, self-help, etc.), the best books are inspired by the story, not by the people who will buy it. 

In short: write the book you truly believe in, and the audience will follow.

2. Invest in your cover design

As I emphasized in my post on cover design mistakes, your cover is a crucial window into your book. Readers use it to judge genre, tone, and ultimately whether or not they should commit to your work; even the tiniest design mistakes can have a devastating impact on this decision.

This is why you must invest in cover design over everything else, whether that means spending sufficient time on your self-design or hiring a professional to make it look flawless. I’d certainly recommend the latter route to most authors: while you can always self-edit your book in a pinch, graphic design skills are simply not in most writers’ wheelhouses. And on top of being artistically gifted, a professional cover designer will be savvy enough to know exactly which design elements readers in your genre want to see.

True, hiring an artist will cost more than doing it yourself. But the time and stress you’ll save in the long run—not to mention the gorgeous cover you’ll get out of the deal!—will be worth it.

3. Start marketing relatively early

I stand by the notion that “writing to market” is not mandatory for success. Once your book is finished, however, you can (and should!) turn your attention to marketing—ideally as you’re editing your book, commissioning your cover design, etc. This will give you a few solid months to attract readers before your book hits the shelves.

Why market so early, you ask? The main reason is reviews: you’ll want to launch with reviews already in place, so your first “real” readers can purchase your book with confidence. In order to get these reviews, you’ll need to send out ARCs to bloggers and reviewers at least a few weeks in advance of your launch. So once your book is in its near-final form (i.e. only awaiting minor copy edits or a proofread), get on those ARCs ASAP.

You may also want to set up a website, start posting more on social media, and create ads if necessary. Needless to say, this work can pile up quickly—so the earlier you start, the better.

4. Make the most of the community

Somewhat paradoxically given the term, one of the best things about self-publishing is the self-publishing community—the authors, readers, and professionals dedicated to the cause and its ever-evolving points of interest. They convene on Twitter, Instagram, Reddit, etc. Wherever you normally spend time online, you should be able to track down the right community for you.

These communities are not only treasure troves of advice and commentary but also of genuine compassion and understanding. Join to connect with authors and readers in your genre, stay for the people that care about authors like you. Yes, it’s always handy to be able to post a reader poll or pick the brain of an experienced editor—but when you’re despairing over writer’s block or Amazon algorithm woes, that’s when your own little self-publishing community bubble feels truly invaluable.

5. Be wary of publishing scams

Not to pull a terrifying one-eighty with this next point, but for all the amazing people you’ll meet online, scammers still sadly abound… and their sociopathic inventiveness and persuasion can hoodwink even the most experienced authors.

The most common scam is when someone (often impersonating a real editor) contacts you, the author, with some fantastic offer—a full publishing package, a contract with a Big 5 imprint, or a deal to turn your book into a screenplay—in exchange for upfront payment. They’ll often call this an “agent fee,” a “signing fee,” etc. to try and make it sound more legitimate.

No matter what they say, though, contacting you out of the blue + requiring payment before providing any services = going to take your money and run. 

The good news is that once you’ve heard about the Big Scam, it’s easy to spot: anyone who randomly pops up in your inbox, proffering fame in exchange for money, is bad news.

For future reference, this post and Writer Beware are excellent resources to help you steer clear of publishing scams. When in doubt, you can always Google—where there’s smoke, there’s fire in the world of online scams.

6. Build out your backlist

On a more uplifting note, one of the best things you can do for your self-pub career is the very reason you started it in the first place: to write more books! Building out your backlist is a huge part of long-term marketing, allowing you to usher readers toward more books they’ll be interested in—especially if you’re writing a series about characters they love.

If you’re completely finished with the world of your first book, you can still write something similar. For authors of genre fiction, this shouldn’t be too hard; just start on another sci-fi book, or lit fic novel, or historical romance, as you were probably planning to anyway. For nonfiction authors, it might be tougher. Consider asking your readers what they’d like to learn about next.

Once you have a few books in your backlist, plug them like nobody’s business. Your most recent release should remain your primary focus, but you can still have things like a website banner displaying all your books; social media posts about previous books, especially harking back to fan-favorite bits; updated ebooks with intriguing previews at the end of each; and so on.

7. Remember that success takes time

Coming full-circle, I’ll end on another point that sounds obvious, but is worth reiterating for authors everywhere: quantifiable success takes time. Of course, publishing even a single book is a massive achievement by most people’s standards—but if you’re looking for strong sales, abundant readers, or even consistent critical acclaim, it’s likely going to take a few years.

Whether this statement feels inspiring or discouraging really depends on you as an author. If it currently skews more “discouraging,” try to get some clarity. For example, if you’re after a very specific type of success, ask yourself why. Are you working toward a sustainable career as an author, or is it a matter of ego? Which matters most to you: money, readers, or glowing reviews?

None of these are mutually exclusive, nor is any answer invalid—the idea is to guide you on how to proceed. You might even decide that self-publishing isn’t for you and end up pursuing a traditional publisher instead! 

But if you do stick with the self-pub route, take comfort in the fact that you won’t be the only one on the indie grind.

This also seems an apt note on which to end my indie grind, so to speak. As I close out my final column for DIY MFA, my wholehearted wish is that every author reading this—whether green or gold in terms of experience, indie or trad pub in their eventual path—pursues their dreams uninhibited, and gets everything they want out of craft and career alike. Best of luck to you all, and have a wonderful 2022!

Tell us in the comments: Have you ever considered self-publishing your novel? Why or why not?

Savannah Cordova is a writer and content creator at Reedsy, a marketplace that connects authors with the best editors, designers, and marketers in the business. In her spare time, Savannah enjoys reading contemporary fiction and low fantasy, as well as writing the occasional short story. She’s here to pull back the curtain on publishing so that every author can have the greatest possible chance at success.

The post My Top Tips for Self-Publishing Authors in 2022 appeared first on DIY MFA.

In the last few articles, we’ve discussed author brand, how to spark great book cover design, and creating professional, valued posts on LinkedIn. Now, we’ll discuss the role of writing contests in marketing your work.

Why Participate in Writing Contests?

Have you wondered how to break through among hundreds of thousands of books that are published every year?

As a debut author, it’s important to overcome readers’ natural tendency to be skeptical about a new writer’s work. One way is to build credibility with authoritative sources, such as blurbs, reviews, testimonials, and awards.

Today, we’ll focus on writing contests, so that you can pursue the claim of being an “award-winning author.” Or even better, “multi-award-winning author!”

Awards don’t only matter to new authors. Best-selling romance writer Nancy Herkness believes “a mention of a contest win on a book’s detail page or a retail site can often reassure a first-time customer and validate their desire to purchase the book.” In addition, she’s found that contest judges are avid readers who talk about books they love. “Several booksellers who judged my books in the early days of my career are still handselling my new work to customers and book groups.”

She also values the power of awards as validation for the writer. Nancy says “Publishing careers are rollercoaster rides, the ups, and downs influenced by many factors that are totally out of the writer’s control. One thing we have within our grasp is producing high quality work. Being a finalist or a winner in a contest is proof that we have done our job well.”

Myriad Writing Contests

During the busy period leading up to launch, authors have limited time to investigate contests. There are, of course, the most famous literary recognitions, like Man Booker Prize, Pulitzer, PEN/Faulkner, National Book Award, and genre-specific awards like the Hugo for the best in science-fiction and fantasy. If you’re in the running for these, congratulations and good luck!

You’ll quickly find that there are many other writing contests, too. Some are run by writing organizations and their chapters. Writer’s Digest runs a well-known set of competitions. Other contests are geography-specific, like ones in Ireland, where I’d enjoyed being part of writing groups when I lived in Dublin for a short-term assignment.

Each one has specific qualification rules, varying deadlines, and entry fees (if applicable). Prioritize contests with relevant categories, and responses before key milestones (like your publication date). If you only have Advanced Reader Copies (ARC), you may also need to narrow contests to those that would accept ARCs.

It’s helpful to prioritize the contests that best suit your needs, as costs can add up. Publishers may enter your work into some contests. If there are other writing contests that you want to enter on your own, submission fees can range from free to several hundred dollars per entry.

Helpful Resources!

The sheer number and scope of available contests can be overwhelming. For instance, each website houses information in different places. You can use a spreadsheet to track viable ones.

There are also compilations of contests, like those at Poets & Writers (pw.org).

Or, take advantage of technology! I paid for a service called Book Award Pro, which automates searches to identify the awards you qualify for, tracks deadlines, and can even enter your book for consideration. (Full disclosure: I don’t get anything for this endorsement. I simply love the service, and have come to know and respect Book Award Pro’s founder, Hannah Jacobson!)

Results and Best Practices

Debut author Jon Hinderliter found that contests played a role in driving sales. In the weeks following the announcement of his book awards, Amazon sales rank spiked 705%! “Data tells a story, and I’m finding that award contests influence book sales,” said Hinderliter about the positive results on his book The Death of Content as King: How a Data Democracy has Revolutionized Marketing.

Six weeks before my publication date, I received the good news that Goodbye, Orchid had won recognition as the 2020 American Fiction Award winner for urban fiction, and Pinnacle Achievement Award winner for multicultural fiction. My book had achieved the status of “multi-award-winning!”  

These wins boosted my spirits in the busy time before launch, and gave me a concrete reason to engage readers. The congratulations poured in, as friends and supporters were genuinely excited for Goodbye, Orchid’s success. 

Since then, the book has been recognized sixteen times. Some of the awards include the Independent Author Network Outstanding Fiction Award, Royal Dragonfly Award, Book Excellence Award, Kops-Fetherling International Award, Chanticleer International Book Award, National Indie Book Excellence Award, and more.

These best practices helped along the way:

• It sounds obvious, but follow instructions precisely, so you don’t give any reason for your entry to be invalidated
• Select contests that highlight your genre—for instance, I didn’t apply to mystery or thriller contests, as that doesn’t match my work 
• Choose categories that suit your work. For example, Goodbye, Orchid won for best first novel, multicultural fiction, urban fiction, cover design, disability awareness, audiobook quality, and other categories.

You’ve won! Now what?

If your book wins an award, congratulations! 

Let readers know, through places such as:

• Your author newsletter
• Social media sites (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, etc)
• Goodreads (create a blog post, and update your author profile)
• Your website (I house all the awards on my media kit page, and update my bio with them)

I enjoy sharing contest wins with my publisher, editor, or book cover designer, as a way to recognize their part in the book’s success. It’s also important to inform your publicist so they can publicize the news. As my book won one, two and then many awards, Koehler Books published an article about me on their homepage, Women Who Write featured my work on their website, and multiple media outlets wrote articles about Goodbye, Orchid.

Another option is to tag fellow authors who’ve also been recognized in that contest, as well as the contest organization. You can get creative and sponsor a promotion with other authors who’ve won. Here’s an example of Book Excellence award winners creating a giveaway to celebrate our win, and at the same time, be able to gather reader email addresses:

You can also update your social media header banners to showcase awards. Here’s an example of mine:

Tell us in the comments below: What are your experiences with writing contests?

Carol Van Den Hende is the award-winning author of Goodbye, Orchid, a public speaker, and MBA with 20+ years’ experience in marketing, strategy, and insights. Carol is passionate about simplifying marketing concepts into actionable steps that authors need for publishing success. Please sign up for Carol’s newsletter at https://carolvandenhende.com/contact or linktr.ee/cvdh

The post Why You Should Enter Writing Contests appeared first on DIY MFA.

Gabriela and I met while both speaking at Writers’ Digest Conferences. Not only are her insights stellar, but she also knows the best places for meatballs!

When Gabriela and I spoke on her podcast last fall, she asked for my top piece of advice for authors. I suggested that authors should aim for clarity of their inspiring purpose, which is part of their author brand. Inspiring purpose is simply the reason for your work. Ask yourself why you write, beyond the obvious profit and functional purposes.

Finding Your Cause

We often seek inspiring purposes to be Catchy, Aspirational, Unique, Short and Everyday understandable (spelled out as the acronym CAUSE).

Having clarity of inspiring purpose and brand provides a true north that can guide what and how you write, which opportunities you accept, and provides a meaningful connection for others to your work.

Sometimes the idea of a person being a brand can be confusing. So let’s pause for a definition. Marketers consider a Brand to be a concept that encapsulates the UNIQUE positioning, differentiation, relevance, and meaning of a person, product or service. Quite simply, it’s a PROMISE. A promise on what you’re going to deliver to your readers.

This is distinct from the look and feel of your marketing assets. That’s what we’d call Visual Identity, which is your brand promise translated into physical and digital assets. For example, your logo, typeface, website design, business cards, book covers, and ads. It’s important to note that brand and visual identity are separate topics; we’ll cover more on visual identity and design in future articles.

The Parts of an Author Brand

Let’s review the parts of an author brand. Besides your inspiring purpose, it can be helpful to think about:

·         Archetype

·         Brand Values, which can be informed by your archetype

·         Personality / tonality

·         Unique assets / visuals

First, it sometimes surprises authors when I bring up archetypes. Fiction writers might use archetypes to cast their characters, and don’t think to apply the concept to themselves. Yet, marketing often defines products by an archetype. Likewise, authors can think of their brand promise from the lens of which story best describes the benefit they provide readers.                                                                           

Character Archetypes

Carl Jung’s twelve classic archetypes are Creator, Innocent, Magician, Hero/Warrior, Sage, Jester, Explorer, Rebel, Regular Guy/Everyman, Lover, Ruler, Caregiver. Jung considered these to be the twelve universal stories that have been told throughout time. Since that time, nuances and variations on these archetypes have been developed.

There’s flexibility to choose the framework for your author brand that resonates best with you. It’s even okay to choose a mix of more than one archetype. Think about which of these appeal to you as an author, or you can google a number of online quizzes to help guide you. Here’s one I’ve used with clients.

Within the archetype(s), you can then articulate the values that your brand most believes in. Are you a Warrior who fights for honor? A Sage who values wisdom for all mankind? A Jester who believes nothing is more important than finding the humor in every situation? For those curious to read more, The Hero and the Outlaw is one classic tome on archetypes and their values.

Secondly, personality and tonality provide the nuance that makes you unique when added to the deep-seated beliefs that are represented by your archetype and values. For instance, you can be writing about social issues with a personality that’s somber, or another writer could be working in the same genre with a personality that is humorous, or one that is relatable.

Third, your assets and visuals bring these personality/tonality and brand values to life. This can include the way your author name is represented, your logo, tagline, and other elements that are used consistently. Consistency is key because people lead busy lives and require the same image or communication two to seven times for it to break through.

Finding Your How

One way to differentiate these elements is to think of your Inspiring Purpose, archetype and values as describing your personal “Why,” and your personality and assets as your “How” your work shows up in the world. 

A key tenet in crafting an author brand framework is to be honest. After all, marketing shouldn’t be artifice. My inspiring purpose, for instance, reminds me to be true to myself in its opening phrase. Here’s my inspiring purpose:

“By being my authentic self, inspire hope and empathy for people and planet.”

A few things to note…first, I typed this statement from memory. That’s the sign that it truly resonates with me and reflects what I believe. Second, my work holistically adds up to my inspiring purpose, but not every individual piece needs to deliver every aspect of the statement.

My novel Goodbye, Orchid pays homage to combat-wounded veterans. These heroes sparked a story that has been awarded for disability awareness, and “inspires hope and empathy for people.”  My public speaking as a Climate Reality Leader meets a deep-rooted desire to “inspire hope and empathy for people and planet.” These together, along with my career, and service on the Board for a special needs school, fulfill my inspiring purpose.

Here’s my brand framework altogether:

Notice how the elements ladder up to a central theme and build upon one another, each adding a layer of uniqueness without conflicting with the other.

Word nerds, we are fortunate that Gabriela has been kind enough to share DIY MFA’s brand with us! Think about all we experience in DIY MFA’s world, the knowledge we glean from her podcast, the confidence she provides through her frameworks and teaching, and the sense of community she and her team have cultivated.

See which of these you can find in her brand, and pressure test whether seeing this framework without a brand would conjure DIY MFA in your mind:

If I were to interpret YA author Marissa Meyer as a brand, here’s how I might imagine her brand framework (for illustrative purposes only):

As you’re drafting yours, you may find it helpful to solicit input from those who know your work (critique partners, agents, editors). Think of these guides as your “beta readers” for your brand framework.

Crafting an Author Brand Framework 

Ultimately, there are no hard and fast rules. Crafting a brand framework isn’t a chemistry equation, but more like poetry. A marker of a good one is whether it helps guide and inspire YOU, and those working with you to build your equity.

Now that you’ve undertaken the hard work to think about your brand, what can you do with your framework? I use my brand framework to guide creative decisions, for instance, whether my website and posts reflect my personality and visual assets. My inspiring purpose is helpful for determining what opportunities I accept and which ones I must respectfully decline.

Lastly, consistency of brand matters. Remember, brand is your promise to readers. People are increasingly looking for authenticity, and once they find a promise they resonate with, they’ll return to it again and again. Not that your brand framework has to be completely static. Even famous brands will tweak the nuances of personality/tonality and visual assets to stay contemporary. Usually, though, the brand’s core values stay fairly consistent over time.

Please let me know the ways in which these concepts helped clarify your brand thinking. I’ll look forward to chatting more next time, when we’ll dive into the world of design. Meanwhile, connect with me on any of these social media sites https://linktr.ee/cvdh and let me know what else you’d love to learn about marketing and brand strategy.

Happy writing!

CAROL VAN DEN HENDE is the award-winning author of Goodbye, Orchid, a public speaker, and MBA with 20+ years’ experience in marketing, strategy and insights.. Carol is passionate about simplifying marketing concepts into actionable steps that authors need for publishing success. Please sign up for Carol’s newsletter at https://carolvandenhende.com/contact or linktr.ee/cvdh

The post What Is Author Brand and How to Craft Yours appeared first on DIY MFA.

Today I am so excited to have my good friend and mentor Jane Friedman on the show!

Jane has 20 years of experience in the publishing industry, with expertise in digital media strategy for authors and publishers. She is the co-founder of The Hot Sheet (my go-to resource about the industry), is a columnist for Publishers Weekly, and has been interviewed on many prestigious media outlets like NPR, PBS, and The Washington Post.

In addition to all these accomplishments, Jane has delivered keynotes and presentations on the digital era of authorship at major writing events and today she is here to share her expertise with an inside look at her new book The Business of Being a Writer.

Listen in as we chat about the topic Jane discusses in her book and the ins and outs of the business side of writing most creatives don’t often talk about but need to hear.

In this episode Jane and I discuss:

• Bridging the divide between art and business.
• Developing your own marketing strategy to make a living as a writer.
• Understanding the truth about how the publishing industry works.
• Tips for building your own business model.
• How to be entrepreneurial in your writing career without being an entrepreneur.

Plus, Jane’s #1 tip for writers.

About Jane Friedman

Jane Friedman has 20 years of experience in the publishing industry, with expertise in digital media strategy for authors and publishers. She’s the co-founder of The Hot Sheet, the essential publishing industry newsletter for authors, and has previously worked for F+W Media and the Virginia Quarterly Review. She has been interviewed and featured by NPR, PBS, CBS, The Washington Post, the National Press Club and many other outlets. Her speaking engagements have taken her around the world to Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean.

In addition to being a columnist with Publishers Weekly and a professor with The Great Courses, Jane has delivered keynotes and presentations on the digital era of authorship at major writing events, such as the Writer’s Digest conference and The Muse & The Marketplace, as well as industry shows such as Frankfurt Book Fair, BookExpo America and Digital Book World. She’s also served on panels for the National Endowment for the Arts and the Creative Work Fund, and has held positions as a professor of writing, media, and publishing at the University of Cincinnati and University of Virginia.

Jane’s latest book The Business of Being a Writer is from by the University of Chicago Press and is available now.

To connect with Jane check out her website at janefriedman.com

The Business of Being a Writer

Writers talk about their work in many ways: as an art, as a calling, as a lifestyle. Too often missing from these conversations is the fact that writing is also a business. The reality is, those who want to make a full- or part-time job out of writing are going to have a more positive and productive career if they understand the basic business principles underlying the industry.

The Business of Being a Writer offers the business education writers need but so rarely receive. It is meant for early-career writers looking to develop a realistic set of expectations about making money from their work or for working writers who want a better understanding of the industry. Writers will gain a comprehensive picture of how the publishing world works—from queries and agents to blogging and advertising—and will learn how they can best position themselves for success over the long term.

If you decide to check out the book, we hope you’ll do so via this Amazon affiliate link, where if you choose to purchase via the link DIY MFA gets a referral fee at no cost to you. As always, thank you for supporting DIY MFA!

Link to Episode 194

(Right-click to download.)

If you liked this episode…

Head over to iTunes, Stitcher Radio or Google Play and subscribe so you’ll be first to know when new episodes are available.

Also, remember that sharing is caring so if you know anyone who might enjoy this podcast, please tell them about it or leave us a review so other listeners will want to check it out.

Until next week, keep writing and keep being awesome!

The post Episode 194: The Business of Writing — Interview with Jane Friedman appeared first on DIY MFA.

Conflict, rising tensions, epic rivalries; we writers love to finger paint with all of it.  But what if you could use the same raw materials of story to map out your marketing efforts?  How fun would that be?  Today, I’ll show you some simple strategies to do just that.

At its core, a story is what happens when a need butts heads with an obstacle. The actions a character takes to overcome that obstacle drive everything forward and keep us reading.  In other words:

Story = Need + Obstacle + Action

Luke Skywalker needs adventure, but has to stay home and take care of the farm and family.  So, Luke sneaks out to take care of some weirdo droids and… the rest is history.  Of course, the needs and obstacles will change throughout the story.  But usually, there’s one core need that doesn’t.  Luke still needs adventure even after his Uncle and Aunt are vaporized, but now there’s revenge mixed in, so we get some adventurous revenge.  His obstacle is still his duty, but now it’s his duty to help Leia (still his family, unbeknownst to him at the time).

Now let’s talk about you.  You’re the main character in your marketing story.  How do you take these building blocks of conflict and use them to map out a marketing plan?  Let’s start with need.  What do you need?  It’s a much harder question than at first glance.

The Need

Maybe you have a pretty good idea what you need to focus your marketing efforts on as a writer, maybe not.  Whatever the case, here are a few questions to help clarify things.

• What do I need to communicate right now?  To who?  Why?
• What’s the highest priority in my writing life?
• What goal would make me the proudest to achieve?
• What would really stick it to that (insert your own jerky authority figure) that said I’d never amount to anything?
• If I died tomorrow, what would I regret the most not having done (in terms of writing)?

After you’ve gone through these, you should be able to formulate a statement like this:

Right now, what I need most is to build an audience for my self published sci fi novel.

Now, you may have a couple of needs.  But for the moment, pick one and stick to it.  Whichever resonates the most with you and feels right.  Remember, needs can and should change, but right now, we’re just picking a focus.

The Obstacle

No story, not even the story of your marketing efforts, would be complete without some conflict.  What’s standing in the way of you publishing your novel?  What’s the obstacle?

When I’m formulating a goal (of any kind), I like to list out as many obstacles as I can think of and then look for patterns.  Set a timer for five minutes and write down as many obstacles as you can think of. Your list might include:

• Too much work at day job
• Not enough money to pay for a babysitter
• Too lazy to write query letters on the weekend
• Too tired in general

And so on.  Then you boil it down to one or two BIG obstacles.  From this list above, we can assume that the big obstacle is lack of time to spend on marketing.  Now that we know what we’re up against, we can plan according.

The Action

What differentiates stories from real life?  Characters, when backed into a tight spot, take action.  In real life, we might just buy some popsicles and binge watch Gilligan’s Island on Netflix.   In this case, we need to imitate fiction.  We need to proactively ride out to meet our obstacles, and attack them with overwhelming force. Again, free writing a list helps.  Mind mapping also works well.  Bottom line: use whatever works for you.

If you don’t have enough time to market your novel, you might:

• Cut back your hours at your day job.
• Ask a relative to watch the kids on the weekend.
• Not go to bed until you’ve sent out two query letters.
• Try a new scheduling app so you can squeeze in time where you can.
• Cut back on TV or cut it out altogether for a month

I’m not advocating any of these choices; the point is to get some ideas on paper.  Write down what you could do, not what you have to do.  You don’t have to make any decisions until you’re ready to. But when you are ready, pick three to five actions that you can take, and start putting them into action right away.

Tools

What are some things you can use to make your actions more effective?  Sure, you can throw a rock on your own.  That’s an action.  But a slingshot will help you fling a rock three times as far, with a lot more precision.  That’s a tool.

Tools are anything that can help you supercharge your efforts.  Maybe a website where you blog about your upcoming novel.  Self publishing is also another tool (and also a whole other can of worms, too big for one article).  Contests, social media, writing groups; all of these are incredible resources to tap in your marketing efforts.

Identity

Who are you as a writer?  Why do people care about what you have to say? This is something you need to know to tell your story.  A small three sentence bio can help you enormously when reaching out to agents and publishers, but also when working on your writer’s website or other marketing materials.

It also helps you in your own quest, when things look bleak.  Who am I?  I’m a sci fi writer. It’s what I do.

One great way to put this together is to write a character bio for yourself.  There are lots of great ones out there, but a simple one pager should do the trick (like this one).

Putting it all together

By the time you’re done, you should be able to put it all in one place.  Below is a basic template with the examples we used above.  Feel free to use this in your own marketing plan.

Need: Right now, what I need most as a writer is to: (Publish my Novel)

Obstacles: The biggest obstacles I’m facing are: (Lack of time because of work and family obligations)

Action:  I will take the following Actions to overcome my obstacles: (Stop watching TV for month.  Spend at least 30 minutes daily brainstorming ways to market my novel.)

Tools: I will use the following tools to maximize my efforts: (My writer website, my beta reader Max, mocha cappuccinos, social media)

Identity: As a writer, I am can be summarized as: (I’m a Sci Fi writer who lives in San Diego with my husband and parakeet.  I have written short stories for various Sci Fi Anthologies.)

Something that works really great with this is Gabriela’s writing goals tool worksheet.  Check that out here.  It’s really powerful to know what your writing goals and your marketing goals are, and to be able to look at them once a week, once a month, or whenever you need some inspiration.

Getting specific and getting it on paper makes your goals real, and not as easy to blow off as the daydream of you winning a Hugo.

Last thoughts

As writers, we need to tell stories.  So, why not map out your market strategies as a story?  What are some other ways that you can use the elements of story to get published, get an agent or achieve your other marketing goals?

Post in the comments below.

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Kent Bridgeman is a freelance writer and marketing strategist who also writes short stories, screenplays and poetry.  He helps his clients clarify their marketing messages and craft potent content. He lives in Chicago with his lovely fiancée D, and a grumpy parrot named Poncho. Check out his work at thewritejazz.com

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