Great advice! I was disappointed when I didn't get trade reviews for my (small press-published) book, despite having hired a publicist. But she did succeed in getting reviews placed in publications that were more likely to be read by *my* potential readers. So I'd add two more pro-tips:
1. Find your niche and try to get reviews in those publications
2. Build your audience brick-by-brick (this was advice from my publisher). Meaning, do as many book events as you can, and these don't need to be in bookstores - through book clubs, "literary salons" at people's homes, virtual events on Zoom, etc.
I had great reviews but limited sales for my first novel, which led to a low advance and limited push (from the publisher) for my second. I had no inkling of the amount of promotion and connection I needed to be doing; felt embarrassed about that. But here I am building a platform and actually enjoying myself.
I really appreciate this post. The question, sales or reviews?, clarified my motivation instantly and made the work ahead feel practical, doable, and purposeful. 💖
This is super helpful, as always . I think sometimes the message to fiction writers is “wait” to build a platform for yourself until you actually have a book deal and the publishers decides how they want to brand you- but what I’m hearing you say is the opposite , and that fiction writers should have a platform regardless of where their book is in the publishing process. That’s something I definitely needed to hear and it gives me some action steps to take
if I can ask a follow up question - why don’t some agents/ publishers light that fire with fiction writers and instead kind of shrug or curl their nose up at the idea? Doesn’t everyone want sales ?
One of the reasons I write this newsletter is because I know these things are not being communicated to authors. I don't know why everyone is so afraid to tell the truth!
That is such terrible advice. Your platform should be authentic to you as a writer/person and not subject to the branding/positioning of your book.
I had an author from a small publisher referred to me for marketing/publicity work who had just done a podcast interview. The podcaster had asked her for her social links, and... she didn't have any.
I was flummoxed that a publisher would publish a non-fiction author with no social following, and of they did, that they hadn't been working with her for months to build her platform.
I basically told her, "It's almost worse to start now and have 2 followers than to not have any social presence at all."
Building a following/community/voice/credibility on social takes time, often a lot longer than the year or two you'll have between your deal and publication.
I can tell you as a fiction writer I have been told on more than one occasion by people “in the business” (workshops,etc)that as a fiction writer one should focus on selling the book, not the author and that social media can be a waste of time. But now in retrospect it seems like of course stupid me how could it hurt and it might even help. So I feel a little bit like I’ve wasted time but I can still take action now.
The one exception I will offer is children's books will not sell without reviews. Libraries and schools won't order books without trade (Kirkus/SLJ/Booklist) reviews, and a star can be an automatic buy.
That said, so much of what you said applies to kid's books as well. Trade reviews are a minimum barrier of entry, and the KidLit world is full of creators (authors and illustrators) who have fantastic platforms where they interact with librarians, educators, booksellers, parents and other fans/gatekeepers who buy books for kids.
I'm with a small indie press and had few reviews, but my book is doing OK in sales (mainly through local independent bookstores here in Canada and the UK). I'm not sure I'm doing very well in the US market yet, but I'm continuing to seek out opportunities and build my platform. As you say...it's the long game! I would SO much rather sales than reviews!!
Good post and advice, but one point I will gently counter. I am a reviewer and if an author told me how to start their review, I would be very annoyed.
Great advice! I was disappointed when I didn't get trade reviews for my (small press-published) book, despite having hired a publicist. But she did succeed in getting reviews placed in publications that were more likely to be read by *my* potential readers. So I'd add two more pro-tips:
1. Find your niche and try to get reviews in those publications
2. Build your audience brick-by-brick (this was advice from my publisher). Meaning, do as many book events as you can, and these don't need to be in bookstores - through book clubs, "literary salons" at people's homes, virtual events on Zoom, etc.
I had great reviews but limited sales for my first novel, which led to a low advance and limited push (from the publisher) for my second. I had no inkling of the amount of promotion and connection I needed to be doing; felt embarrassed about that. But here I am building a platform and actually enjoying myself.
I really appreciate this post. The question, sales or reviews?, clarified my motivation instantly and made the work ahead feel practical, doable, and purposeful. 💖
And seconded: The English Teacher is a blast!
I love it.
Excellent advice. Thank you for posting this!
Great advice for all authors, however we’re published!
What amazingly smart advice and insight. Thank you!
Thanks for this. I'm going from not being on social media at all for the last 12 years to promoting my book several hours a day.
Thanks for great advice and pro-tips. Much appreciated 🙏
And this is why in part when I’m curating the monthly book club selection I support backlist books and authors too!
Preach! I feel like a broken record sometimes repeating this advice to authors. It helps to have it come from other voices than just mine.
Thank you! Solidarity!
This is super helpful, as always . I think sometimes the message to fiction writers is “wait” to build a platform for yourself until you actually have a book deal and the publishers decides how they want to brand you- but what I’m hearing you say is the opposite , and that fiction writers should have a platform regardless of where their book is in the publishing process. That’s something I definitely needed to hear and it gives me some action steps to take
Yes, the idea is to build your platform no matter where you are in the process.
if I can ask a follow up question - why don’t some agents/ publishers light that fire with fiction writers and instead kind of shrug or curl their nose up at the idea? Doesn’t everyone want sales ?
One of the reasons I write this newsletter is because I know these things are not being communicated to authors. I don't know why everyone is so afraid to tell the truth!
Thank you so much. It’s so appreciated.
That is such terrible advice. Your platform should be authentic to you as a writer/person and not subject to the branding/positioning of your book.
I had an author from a small publisher referred to me for marketing/publicity work who had just done a podcast interview. The podcaster had asked her for her social links, and... she didn't have any.
I was flummoxed that a publisher would publish a non-fiction author with no social following, and of they did, that they hadn't been working with her for months to build her platform.
I basically told her, "It's almost worse to start now and have 2 followers than to not have any social presence at all."
Building a following/community/voice/credibility on social takes time, often a lot longer than the year or two you'll have between your deal and publication.
I can tell you as a fiction writer I have been told on more than one occasion by people “in the business” (workshops,etc)that as a fiction writer one should focus on selling the book, not the author and that social media can be a waste of time. But now in retrospect it seems like of course stupid me how could it hurt and it might even help. So I feel a little bit like I’ve wasted time but I can still take action now.
Kathleen, what Threads are you speaking of and is there a link? Thanks, Susan
No link. Google it & you will find it.
I did, and the only one I got said it was bought by Spotify. I just wanted to be sure I had what you were referring to. Thanks, S
That’s incorrect. Go to Threads.net
You have to have an Instagram account to sign up. Meta owns it.
Thank you for once again telling SO. MUCH. TRUTH!
The one exception I will offer is children's books will not sell without reviews. Libraries and schools won't order books without trade (Kirkus/SLJ/Booklist) reviews, and a star can be an automatic buy.
That said, so much of what you said applies to kid's books as well. Trade reviews are a minimum barrier of entry, and the KidLit world is full of creators (authors and illustrators) who have fantastic platforms where they interact with librarians, educators, booksellers, parents and other fans/gatekeepers who buy books for kids.
I'm with a small indie press and had few reviews, but my book is doing OK in sales (mainly through local independent bookstores here in Canada and the UK). I'm not sure I'm doing very well in the US market yet, but I'm continuing to seek out opportunities and build my platform. As you say...it's the long game! I would SO much rather sales than reviews!!
Good post and advice, but one point I will gently counter. I am a reviewer and if an author told me how to start their review, I would be very annoyed.
I don’t think I wrote anything like that. It’s a big no-no. A reviewer is different than your friend Bob who doesn’t know where to start.
Thanks! This is helpful.