PROMOTING? GROW FLOWERS THAT BLOOM

Promotion is on the minds of many writers in todays market place. Over and over we're told that we have to do our own promotion. When this is mentioned in our large critique group we hear a lot of groans. But you know what, those who are groaning nowadays are those who are working on getting their first book published. If we're smart, we who've been in the business a while have stepped into Online Promotion already.

Well, guess what? If you're working on being a serious writer, you'd better already be serious about building that platform while you try to get your work published. Promoting online is no longer just for the nonfiction writer, and it's certainly not only just for someone with two or three books out there.

Getting ready to upload to Kindle? Nook? iPub? Recently I received an email from a close friend in the business for quite a while who had uploaded her first book to Kindle. She wanted to know how to check her sales. I told her, and it wasn't but a few minutes till she wrote back and said no copies of her book had sold.

The latest figures on books published to Ebooks weekly I believe was around 65,000 per week. Well, without promotion, we're not going to stand out in that field. We'll be amidst the tiniest weeds overshdowed by the tall brilliant sunflowers, the midsized wild larkspur and even the ground hugging but blooming clover. Everyone who blooms in the field of Epublishing has a better chance than those who are withered and dried.

I tell writers, pick three or four social media sites to begin with. Concentrate on becoming a blooming flower on them. What does a blooming flower do? It gives of itself, shares its beauty, its sweet fragrance. It doesn't overpower everyone with too much leaf flapping, or swaying so widely it knocks over other beautiful blossoms. It doesn't send out roots that steal water and nurturing from others. Shares is the critical word here.

When a friend posts something interesting on Twitter or FB, Retweet or Like and comment, Share on your own site when you can. Go to blogs aimed at those who might read your book, then comment nicely and share the link with others. Do Not comment about your book. What you are doing is making a name for yourself, and to do that you must be kind, considerate and soft-spoken. No shouting Look At Me everywhere you post. Do good and good you will receive.

To be invited to be interviewed or reviewed, let your kindness be known. Let your expertise in certain subjects related to what you write be known. Build this kind of platform, and the reviewers and intervewers and bloggers will come.