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Writers: Keep Your Day Job Unless…

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Businesswoman on phone trapped inside small cubicle

I’m tired of being politically correct so once again, I’m going to be “Gutsy” and say what I think.

In my recent article, “Do authors make money? The real truth,” I emphasized one point:

  • Don’t quit your day job

Well, my day job for the last eight years has been raising my three sons, writing my memoir, and more recently, developing Webinars and Workshops, and launching a “Gutsy” Book Coaching business.

This is all fantastic and I’m loving it, however, like my author-blogger friend, Susan Weidener, said in her recent post: “So Much (Little) for Digital Book Sellers”:

“I ponder new ways to market and promote my books. As John Lennon said, I just “keep on keeping on.”  Selling books, one at a time – still, hopeful, checking my Amazon rankings, although less and less. Frankly, it’s just too discouraging.
But I’m a writer. I have to write.” — Susan Weidener.

I’m not trying to discourage writers to keep writing and marketing their books, heck no. I’m just sharing stories from most of my author friends who are struggling to sell their books and make a living at it.

I like to brainstorm with other authors and here are some of the questions we cover.

  • Should I make short e-books and sell them for $1.99-$2.99 
  • Should I turn my blog posts into e-books?
  • Should I do join some affiliate sales program?
  • Should I make videos and sell them on specific topics?
  • Should I offer free or paid Webinars?
  • Should I write another memoir?
  • Should I start writing novels?
  • Should I keep blogging even though it takes time away from my writing?
  • Should I get a day job so I can pay for my “hobby?”
  • Should I tell writers I make $15,000/month in book sales and make them believe they can too? (Unfortunately some sales people lie and I HATE that.)

Fortunately, most of them write because they love it and have another income stream.

So ladies and gentlemen:

I’m looking for a day job.

There, I said it. So here are some ideas I’ve had, and for those of you who know me, please tell me what you think I should do, and if you have an idea for me, or a job, let me know.

 

  • Apply for the Peace Corps and keep my “Gutsy Living” theme going. Blog about my adventures in Africa or Vanuatu.
  • I speak French, and American Airlines is looking for a French flight attendant. Am I too old for that? 
  • A personal assistant to a CEO
  • Work for a non-profit– Which one, other than Peace Corps
  • Other? Please let me know.

 

Next Webinar with expert Jason Matthews on July 11th at 9 a.m., PST. “Metadata Made Easy: Find the Best Keywords for Books, Blog Posts and Social Media.”

Send your questions to me at :Sonia@SoniaMarsh.com.

SIGN UP  HERE AS LIMITED SPACE.

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If you need help with blogging, book marketing and promotion, please contact me and visit my

CLICK HERE for Gutsy Book Coaching

 

 

NOW Accepting story submissions now for our Award-winning “My Gutsy Story®” Anthology

READ MORE HERE

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 We just won our 4th Award for the Anthology. 

CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT ABOUT OUR AWARDS.

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How to Create Outside-the-Box Book Events

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Sonia Marsh with Susan McBeth at PWSD meeting
Sonia Marsh with Susan McBeth at PWSD meeting

 

“Start planning your book’s destiny-NOW”

This is a phrase I got from Susan McBeth, founder of “Adventures by the Book.”

Susan creates events for authors, and says she has a “connector personality.”

Like Susan, I also like to connect people and one of the first questions Susan brought up during her presentation at Publishers and Writers of San Diego (PWSD), is to ask yourself:

“What am I good at?”

There is no one-size fits all, as far as book events, and Susan believes that we need to take our time and do it right.

Not everyone likes, or wants to speak in front of large crowds, so why not organize a smaller event where you have a glass of wine and chat one-on-one with each person.

I know how terrifying it can be to stand in front of even 100 people and speak, and since I was made fun of as a teenager, when I made a speech in front of my peers, I’ve decided to get over it, and prove that I’m no longer going to let that bother me.

“What do you consider a successful event?”

Everyone is different, and as Susan states, there are many ways to measure a successful event. Here are some of the ways:

  • Book sales
  • Attendance
  • Exposure (get your message out)
  • Engagement (one-on-one)
  • Personal Satisfaction
  • Other

From my own experience, I have different objectives for my book events, and book sales is never the main reason. I believe if you focus on sales, you may be disappointed, and you won’t focus on your audience and creating relationships with them.

“Word-of-mouth” is still the best way to sell books, and to ask for Amazon reviews–Sonia Marsh

Most indie authors hope to sell hundreds of books, and the most I ever sold was 37 books at my book launch. I remember saying that I should bring 100 books to Laguna Beach Bookstore when I did my first launch, and someone told me that even Bestsellers don’t sell 100. That was a wake-up call for me.

I launched my memoir: Freeways to Flip-Flops: A Family’s Year of gutsy Living on a Tropical Island, at Laguna Beach Books, and offered a themed party, rather than a traditional book launch. Since my memoir takes place in Belize, I organized a Caribbean party and had sponsors. We offered a traditional rum punch, and food.

Themed events offer a myriad of possibilities and increase press opportunities–Susan McBeth

There are many ways you can have a non-traditional book event. Susan McBeth listed the following, which she organizers for both traditionally published authors and self-published authors.

  • Book Clubs
  • Fundraisers
  • Panels
  • Themed Events
  • Cultural Events

When I created the launch for the 1st: My Gutsy Story® Anthology: True Stories of Love, Courage and Adventure From Around the World, I decided to make it like an Academy Awards event and held it in a movie theater in Southern California.

ANTHOLOGYMarqeeS

 

I did everything right, except I should have charged an entrance fee and offered a copy of the Anthology, free wine and food

Thanks to my connections, asking my author friends to participate in a panel, and inviting Marybeth Bond, (the Gutsy Traveler) to be my keynote speaker, and giving back to a non-profit, Womansage, I know that you can also create a unique book event based on a theme.

I would like to share some articles I’ve written on various book events I’ve done, and hope that you’ll get some ideas for your own events.

Susan McBeth is offering a workshop on August, 9th, 2014  from 12-4 pm., on Video Presentations for Authors. For more information, visit: www.adventuresbythebook.com.

If  you need help with blogging, building your platform, publishing, marketing or planning a book launch, please visit my “GUTSY BOOK COACHING” page.

Next Webinar with expert Jason Matthews on July 11th at 9 a.m., PST. “Metadata Made Easy: Find the Best Keywords for Books, Blog Posts and Social Media.”

Send your questions to me at :Sonia@SoniaMarsh.com.

SIGN UP  HERE AS LIMITED SPACE.

If you need help with blogging, book marketing and promotion, please contact me and visit my

CLICK HERE for Gutsy Book Coaching.

Accepting story submissions now for our Award-winning “My Gutsy Story®” Anthology

READ MORE HERE

MGS FINAL COVER Small

Why Indie Authors and Publishers Need to Join the Community

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Angela Bole, Executive Director of IBPA
Angela Bole, Executive Director of IBPA

 

It wasn’t until I read best-selling indie author, Hugh Howey’s statement, in the April 2014 Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) magazine that I realized how we, as  indie authors and publishers, or (if you prefer the term self-published authors) have become a HUGE COMMUNITY of individuals who are more giving and helpful to one another than any other group I’ve come across.

As Hugh Howey says:

“I haven’t seen this discussed anywhere else (makes me wonder if it’s a daft idea), but I think:

  • the #1 advantage self-published authors have right now is a sense of community.

“We hang out in the same forums (usually KBoard’s Writers’ Cafe); we chat with each other on FB and in private groups and through e-mail lists; we congregate at conventions and conferences; and we share with one another. We share sales data. We share promotional tools and ideas. We let one another know what works and what doesn’t. If thre’s a glitch with a distributor, we point it out. If there’s a way to increase visibility, we tell everyone. If we stumble upon a secret, we broadcast it.”

In my interview today with Angela Bole, Executive Director of IBPA, we discuss:

What #Indie  authors/publishers need to know about:

  • The benefits of joining IBPA,
  • Publishing University
  • Learning center for authors, indie publisher
  • Benjamin Franklin Book Awards
  • American Library Associaiton annual meeting and IBPA
  • Other trade shows indie authors can benefit from as a member of IBPA like BEA
  • “Goodies” you get like discounts etc. as a member of IBPA

I know this may sound strange, but after reading Hugh Howie’s statement, and IBPA’s slogan “Helping each other achieve and succeed,” it suddenly occurred to me that indie authors are ONE BIG FAMILY, who truly want to help others succeed.

I attended the IBPA Publishing University conference in San Francisco this year and noticed how I belonged to a community. There, people wanted to connect and help one another. Unlike many writers’ conferences I’ve attended in the past, Publishers University didn’t seem like writers were in competition with one another. Instead, we were collaborating. Larger conferences where writers’ are trying to get the attention of agents and publishers, has a certain competitive aspect to it, and therefore I believe we cannot truly be ourselves and relax. Just my opinion.

 

 

 

Next Webinar with expert Jason Matthews on July 11th at 9 a.m., PST. “Metadata Made Easy: Find the Best Keywords for Books, Blog Posts and Social Media.”

Send your questions to me at :Sonia@SoniaMarsh.com.

SIGN UP  HERE AS LIMITED SPACE.

 

 

If you need help with blogging, book marketing and promotion, please contact me and visit my

CLICK HERE for Gutsy Book Coaching.

Accepting story submissions now for our Award-winning “My Gutsy Story®” Anthology

READ MORE HERE

MGS FINAL COVER Small

Marketing Secrets from a Best-selling Indie Author Sheri Fink

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Sheri Fink Author of Children's Books
Sheri Fink Author of Children’s Books

 

It’s not everyday that you meet a  gutsy woman like Sheri Fink. She grew up poor, and ended up a #1 best-selling, award-winning children’s author and creator of “The Whimsical World of Sheri Fink” children’s brand.

Sheri Fink and Sonia Marsh at SCWA 6/21/14
Sheri Fink and Sonia Marsh at SCWA 6/21/14

I heard Sheri speak at the Southern California Writers Association,  and what I love about her, is that she is down-to-earth, stays true to herself–even when she wears her multi-colored wig–and is eager to listen and share her marketing strategies with other indie authors.

Along her journey to success Sheri says she has learned:
  • To say “NO” to the good, and “YES” to the great.
  • If it’s not a “Hell Yes,” it’s a “Hell No” (A way to prioritize the things you should accept, and those you should reject when opportunities open up to you.)
  • To build in rewards for your progress (not just for achieving the BIG GOAL.)
  • To research and consider all costs when determining the price of your book
  • That it’s not all about book sales.

Sheri is fearless, something that has enabled her to get out of her comfort zone and she says it’s important to:

Sheri Fink on magazine cover
Sheri Fink on magazine cover

 

  • Ask for what you want without being entitled (she did this after an interview and was on the cover of a magazine, because she said, “What would it take to be on the cover of your magazine?”)
  • Think of yourself as a CEO.
  • Treat everyone the way you want to be treated.
  • Stay authentic.

Sheri offered “controversial” advice tips to indie authors and I must admit I was surprised to hear her say:

  • Don’t blog, (this does not mean Sheri is anti-blogging; she does guest blog.)
  • Guest blog on those blogs that have your target audience.

In one way I understand Sheri’s point about not blogging as it does take away time from writing your next book, however, I wonder if this may be different for a children’s author than for a memoir writer.

I advise writers to start a blog related to the theme of their book which will help them build their brand. Blogs have offered many writers opportunities to form relationships with other bloggers who support them and help promote their work. I also know that blogging has offered me opportunities with the media thanks to SEO and online visibility.

Sheri said she:

  • She uses her Facebook Fan page to interact with her fans rather than blogging
  • Doesn’t do giveaways (a business choice she made.)
  • Releases different formats of her books separately with campaigns planned around each print, Kindle, Nook etc., for maximum effect.

I like her idea of releasing your book in print, Kindle, Nook etc., with several weeks apart for maximum use of press releases and planned campaigns.

I am curious what you think about “not blogging” and just “guest blogging” and using your own FB fan page to reach your readers?

Check out her books here
Check out her books here

 

I shall be offering a Webinar on “How to Create your BRAND” with Sheri Fink in August. The date will be announced shortly. 

 

Sheri writes books that inspire and delight children while planting seeds of self-esteem. Her first children’s book, The Little Rose, was a #1 best-seller on Amazon for over 60 weeks, became the #1 top-rated e-book on Amazon, and received a gold medal in the 2012 Readers Favorite International Book Awards. Her subsequent books (The Little Gnome, The Little Firefly, and Exploring the Garden with the Little Rose) have all been #1 best-sellers. Her children’s book series received the Gold Mom’s Choice Award for excellence in family friendly entertainment. In 2013, Sheri was selected by CBS Los Angeles as one of the top three authors in her local area, a distinction she shares with Dean Koontz.

 

 

 

I offer “Gutsy” Book Coaching. If you need help with blogging, book marketing and promotion

CLICK HERE

 

Accepting story submissions now for our Award-winning “My Gutsy Story®” Anthology

READ MORE HERE

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Marketing For Gutsy Writers With #1 Bestselling Resource Author Angela Ackerman

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Emotion Cover
Click on cover to purchase on Amazon

 

Angela Ackerman and Becca Puglisi are co-authors of the #1 Bestselling resource for Writers, The Emotion Thesaurus: A Writer’s Guide to Character Expression.

I love interviewing Gutsy People, and during  my 30-minute interview with Angela, you’ll learn how she, and Becca, came up with the idea of helping writers. It all started with a critique group and their initial blog “The Bookshelf Muse,” which transitioned into their new site: Writers Helping Writers.

 

 

Angela developed a BRAND through BLOGGING and during our interview, we discuss the following topics:

1). How did you come up with the concept?
2). What were your original goals?
3). When did you realize you’d come up with something BIG?
4). How did you adapt to the changes?
5). What were your biggest challenges?
6). Have you always made marketing plans from the start?
7). What made you change your blog name to “Writers Helping Writers”? Branding?
8). What advice do you have for writers about blogging?
9). What are your future goals?
10). How many books do you have now? How are sales?
11). How do you promote your books?
12). Any suggestions to help authors sell more books?

 

Here are some of the key points during my interview with Angela. 

1). What was your Biggest Challenge?

“Our self-confidence.”

We realized our book would compete with Writers Digest.

2). How did you get over this challenge?

“Getting out of our way and just doing it.”

3). Did you have a marketing plan?

“We didn’t jump into this with a marketing plan. At first it was just intuitive, and it wasn’t until our 2nd and 3rd books that we developed a specific marketing plan.”

4). Suggestions and comments from Angela for writers that you can apply to your own blogs and books

  • Really understand who your audience is and what their needs are.
  • We married our book to our brand. Our brand is all about helping writers.
  • It’s not about blasting people with , “Buy our Book.”
  • It’s the focus on how can we bring value to other writers, and how can we help them.
  • We want to cement that brand, with “Writers Helping Writers”
  • Understanding who you are and why you write the books you write.
  • How is the piece of you going into your books?

I hope you find our interview motivating and that you can apply some of the advice to your own writing, blogging and book marketing.

If you need help with blogging, book marketing and promotion, please contact me and visit my CLICK HERE for Gutsy Book Coaching.

 

Accepting story submissions now for our Award-winning “My Gutsy Story®” Anthology

READ MORE HERE

MGS FINAL COVER Small

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