Hi all. Happy New Year! How are you doing? I feel like I’ve been away for quite some time. I guess I have. But I’ve had my reasons – namely work. I started a new job and although it’s going well, it’s meant that I haven’t had a lot of energy for much else.
Anyway I’m gradually getting used to my new routine and today I thought I’d join in WIPpet Wednesday again. My poor blog has barely seen the light of day for ages and now is as good a time as any to update it and also read all your lovely contributions for WIPpet Wednesday again.
I’m getting on quite well with my editing/rewriting of Teaching Mr Leavis. And I’m enjoying it, so that’s a plus! The flip side of the coin is that I haven’t touched the marketing side of my life as an indie author for months! It’s just gone out the window and I’m feeling quite guilty about that! I’ve had a lot on my mind but also I’m not sure of the best, most cost effective way to go about it. I need a plan of action, some simple steps I could take to promote my books without it being too time consuming. Any ideas?
I realise that marketing requires a certain amount of work, time and dedication – which I’m simply not giving at the moment. I also realise that my books aren’t going to sell unless I do something about it and I’m feeling low in terms of morale where my books sales are concerned, so it’s a bit of a vicious circle.
However, I feel that with ebooks it’s not a race against time to sell them before they’re pulled off the shelves – there’re gonna be there forever in virtual form unless I choose to take them off Amazon. So I’ve got plenty of time to devise a marketing plan and do something about it.
There is another aspect to all of this which you’ve probably heard about – that ebook sales are plummeting. Which obviously doesn’t help any of us indie authors, especially those of us (like me!) who don’t have any print copies of their books. I want to use Create Space soon to do some print copies of Reunion of the Heart. So watch this space! (no pun intended! 😉 )
Having said all that, I am still enjoying writing, which is the main thing. There’s nothing in this world that is going to make me stop writing or persevering to (eventually) have some success with it all. I may never get there – but it won’t be because I haven’t tried. I’m just having, as my grandma would have put it, a blip!
OK, I didn’t really intend to do a long spiel about my current writing situation! So onto the main event – my contribution to this week’s WIPpet Wednesday: another excerpt from Teaching Mr Leavis. This is a new part I’ve added; it takes place towards the end of the story. Rebecca is at a party celebrating 25 years of her father’s business. She and Jonathan have been up down in their relationship. Currently they’re apart so she’s surprised and shocked to see him there. I’m sharing three short paragraphs: 1 for the month + 2 from the year.
She stopped dead when she saw the figure of a tall man standing in the group of people with her mother. He appeared to be engaged in conversation with her father. The man had his back to her. It couldn’t be, could it? Her face hot, she swallowed and walked determinedly towards the group.
As she approached, the group turned around as one and looked at her, including the tall man. It was indeed Jonathan Leavis, looking as handsome as ever. She saw that his expression was surprised as he gazed at her, his eyebrows raised. Their eyes meeting for a moment, Rebecca turned away from his stare, willing herself to ignore him.
What the hell was he doing here, she wondered, deep in conversation with her parents no less? This unanswered question goaded her as she walked up to her parents and gave each of them a brief hug.
I will visit and comment on as many of your posts as I can – but I can’t promise to look at all of them, though I’ll do my best!
If you would like to take part in WIPpet Wednesday, it’s easy. Just post on your blog an excerpt of your latest writing work. It should ideally relate in some way to the date. Then add your name to this. Don’t forget to check out all the other WIPpeteers’ offerings.
Big hugs to K. L. Schwengel for hosting. 😉
Elaine Jeremiah 
Marketing is always a struggle! I hope you find a strategy that works for you though 🙂
Great way to start the New Year though! That’s an awesome excerpt!
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Enjoyed the snippet very much Elaine! With regards to marketing, I don’t know what the formula is. Sorry. As you know I have taken mine off ebooks for now and am concentrating on trying the traditional route but I think it is just a case of keeping at it. At least I hope that’s what it is! If I hear of anything I’ll let you know and if ever you want a place to guest blog, then drop me a line. Take care, I am pleased to hear that your work is going so well and we really must catch up soon! Happy New Year! x
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An intriguing excerpt! It would feel very bizarre to run into him there. Just one small thing, though this might just be me. I feel that “Their eyes meeting for a moment, Rebecca turned away from his stare, willing herself to ignore him” would read a little smoother with something like “Their eyes met… then Rebecca turned away”. the -ing followed by the -ed felt a little funny (I know those forms of the verbs have names but it’s past 10pm here and it’s been a long day, so I’m going to just roll with my own grammar fail).
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Good luck with the marketing. Something that could work with limited time is Twitter. Make a post and ‘pin it’ in the morning, so you just have to replace it. Then all you have to do is retweet and follow for a bit in the evening to get people. There are a ton of book-based hashtags like #Bookboost and #IARTG that you can search to find other authors to retweet. Not sure how it works with sales, but I’ve upped my social media foundation on that to make longer reach for book news.
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o.O and the drama intensifies! i love this new scene. Definitely puts me exactly where Rebecca is. As for marketing, I don’t think there is a formula. My issue is just getting comfortable with putting myself out there.
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Marketing. *shudder* I always have ideas, implementing them and the worth of them are the two biggies. It’s a tough one. I feel your pain on that front! I’m having a bit of a ‘blip’ myself. Maybe it’s winter, you know…cold…lack of sunlight…um…um…stuff.
Great scene, though if this is late in the book and the two of them have been on-again-off-again it seems strange to me that she would think of him so formally (using both first and last name).
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Elaine, just keep hanging in there on the marketing thing. It seems that writing the very best book you can and then doing whatever marketing you’re comfortable with, is about all one can do!:-)
Getting the word out is much harder than writing the book—doncha think? 🙂 Wishing us all a productive year in 2015!
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Have you thought about doing a blog book tour? There are several companies, but I would recommend Xpresso. They have lots of package sizes, depending on your budget. The best thing is that you don’t have to do any of the coordinating! Giselle just tells you what she needs from you. It could be a good way to jump start your marketing. 🙂
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