tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post5809656734408243714..comments2024-03-18T09:09:59.625-04:00Comments on Janet Reid, Literary Agent: How to NOT be a bone-head promoterJanet Reidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00615380335938685231noreply@blogger.comBlogger32125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-42041454088296668452017-09-06T19:46:09.703-04:002017-09-06T19:46:09.703-04:00Thank you, Theresa! You're too kind. I test t...Thank you, <b>Theresa!</b> You're too kind. I test the waters first before I decide to give them out. <br /><br />Another little tip - I leave them around. Ya know - doctor's offices coffee tables, restaurant tables, hither thither, I sprinkle them around. <br /><br />That might be more in your comfort zone.<br /><br />:) Donnaevehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09026536210749494257noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-2523426022512734112017-09-06T19:31:28.945-04:002017-09-06T19:31:28.945-04:00Congratulations, Sherry. Great news.
Wish I'...Congratulations, Sherry. Great news. <br /><br />Wish I'd started one of those data bases say five years ago of people who I interacted with directly. Instead, I have a mailing list of mostly people who wanted a free book. Not nearly so valuable. Beth Carpenterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02447148196867821907noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-9993910979670517182017-09-06T19:23:04.116-04:002017-09-06T19:23:04.116-04:00Congratulations Sherry!
Donna, you do everything ...Congratulations Sherry!<br /><br />Donna, you do everything with wonderful style and I will emulate you as much as I can when my next book comes out. I'm so bad at promotion that even though I carry my bookmarks around with me, I can't bring myself to actually hand them out to strangers.<br /><br />Theresahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18165072684559960801noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-80602139921976653772017-09-06T18:04:14.297-04:002017-09-06T18:04:14.297-04:00Congrats, Sherry! As far as marketing my book goes...Congrats, <b>Sherry</b>! As far as marketing my book goes, I'm just taking it one step at time. Mainly, I've just been socializing with other writing folks on Twitter. I know it's time to start thinking about a blog, but I'm waiting till I get somewhere in my agent search before proceeding with that. At least I think I'm doing things right...somebody please correct me if I'm wrong.<br /><br />And, oh yeah, speaking of Twitter, tomorrow is #Pitmad! Get your pitches polished, people! Guess where I'll be in cyberspace tomorrow...hope you didn't mind me mentioning this event, Janet.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08624316875028504166noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-73943804332505192802017-09-06T17:51:48.522-04:002017-09-06T17:51:48.522-04:00I'm with Goldsmith on the dread of marketing/p...I'm with Goldsmith on the dread of marketing/promotion. Not dread exactly, just, well, the reality of it kind of kills the buzz of anything published that does not have the full backing of a big, traditional house able to get you big media exposure, and even then, you've got to spend time on promotion. Especially for older writers, the idea of sitting at a computer engaged in promotional activily and compiling databases for same instead of creative activity is onerous. <br /><br />There is one way around the dilemma: professional publicists, but they come at a premium. I am in absolutely no danger of becoming a bonehead in this regard. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03546056344286926982noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-36496737018907473312017-09-06T17:17:09.871-04:002017-09-06T17:17:09.871-04:00Hooey, I can hardly manage me, but I am flattered....Hooey, I can hardly manage me, but I am flattered. I'm happy to offer tips and tidbits WHEN that happens. (notice I said <i>when</i> <b>Joe Snoe, and Elise</b>)Donnaevehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09026536210749494257noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-31262784956439314332017-09-06T15:44:21.932-04:002017-09-06T15:44:21.932-04:00Sage advice indeed. It does, however, assume that ...Sage advice indeed. It does, however, assume that you can talk to agents like they were real people or something. I'm stuck with the hope that three agents have more than doubled their response time for me because they have serious considerations for my offering.<br /><br />I say offering because that is how it feels, offerings in a biblical sense.<br /><br />OT: Hope everyone up and down the East Coast is getting prepared. Irma is a beast and there is no telling when she will strike.Craig Fhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07157301156577795781noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-5702029866442751772017-09-06T14:31:27.228-04:002017-09-06T14:31:27.228-04:00Very useful advice again today. I haven't sta...Very useful advice again today. I haven't started a newsletter yet, because I'm not sure I have enough to say, even once a month.... But I should think about it. I got a box of print copies of my book yesterday, so I finally feel like I'm a real author! I know ebooks are real, but they don't feel quite so tangible. Now to go and get some copies into my local libraries.Kate Larkindalehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06202347563426692610noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-20729077935345849882017-09-06T14:28:15.888-04:002017-09-06T14:28:15.888-04:00I second making Donnaeve my marketing manager when...I second making <b>Donnaeve</b> my marketing manager when and if the time comes. <br /><br />Then I will hire The Reef as my publicist. <br /><br />Congratulations <b>Sherry</b> - well-deservedE.M. Goldsmithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18387494005655553037noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-33414818633780255142017-09-06T14:19:15.163-04:002017-09-06T14:19:15.163-04:00First, Congratulations, Sherry Howard. I love good...First, Congratulations, <b>Sherry Howard</b>. I love good news. Every accolade, every reinforcement, every positive recognition is a step upward. And you've had two exciting ones.<br /><br />Second, I want <b>Donnaeve</b> to be my marketing manager.<br /><br />Third, I agree with <b>2Ns</b>. If I have any success, I’d want to share it with <b>Janet Reid</b> and the people on this blog (especially <b>Julie Weathers</b> and <b>AJBlythe</b>, who have been so helpful to me). I’d feel self-conscious emailing <b>Janet Reid</b> directly, but I may do it anyway.<br />Joseph S.https://www.blogger.com/profile/07437663031050410028noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-58041589249403555802017-09-06T12:38:11.382-04:002017-09-06T12:38:11.382-04:00Yeah, I'm with 2Ns - when I get an agent and p...Yeah, I'm with <b>2Ns</b> - when I get an agent and publishing deal, I will be jumping up and down and emailing Janet a bunch of other folks and there will probably be misspellings and missed letters and lots of thank-you's. It won't be for book promotion but from purely a, "Look what you helped me accomplish!" like a student showing their teacher. <br /><br />Hopefully I will calm down enough to appear professional shortly thereafter. Lennon Farishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03570629350169504234noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-85939196020141369182017-09-06T11:13:13.158-04:002017-09-06T11:13:13.158-04:00I love this blog and treasure the great advice I&#...I love this blog and treasure the great advice I've actually used -- not just from Janet, but from the commenters. I read daily but rarely comment. <br /><br />Like everyone else, I queried Janet and while she didn't represent me, she went out of her way to help me (after the recent WDC). I truly appreciate that, and although it didn't work out, I managed to get an agent for my nonfiction project. I'd never do the "neener neener" thing - quite the opposite. Thank you, everyone - esp. Janet - for the advice here that got me this far. 💖<br /><br />Lesliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10657190244852959404noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-1635207244397639882017-09-06T11:03:38.990-04:002017-09-06T11:03:38.990-04:00I'm not saying this to pat myself on the head ...I'm not saying this to pat myself on the head (well, okay, maybe just a LITTLE) but when I started sharing my cartoons on my blog, I started engaging with readers, just like Janet is relating: one at a time. I'm saying you should do this because it is a FUN way to connect with people.<br /><br />I spend days at a time staring at my easel, or sitting at my panda desk, not talking to anyone. To be able to connect with people over something we all love (pandas) is pure joy. The bonus is those readers who have so embraced my characters that they are chomping at the bit as to what will happen next in the serialized stories. And they do buy my books and support my Kickstarter projects.<br /><br />When my graphic novel finally sells and is published, these folks will all be ready to welcome it and sing its praises to anyone who will listen. I can't wait to celebrate here when that happens, along with celebrating your book releases too.<br /><br />Did I mention how much fun it is to connect with people this way?Panda in Chiefhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14160375490647791433noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-37477918091742995912017-09-06T10:55:43.722-04:002017-09-06T10:55:43.722-04:00I wish I'd started this years ago. I had so ma...I wish I'd started this years ago. I had so many people on Twitter and Facebook say they'd like to read my book, but I thought I'd wait until I had an agent and/or a publishing deal before jotting them down, and I - of course - figured that would be imminent. (Spoiler: It wasn't.)<br /><br />Now I'm looking at a marketing software that will help me keep track of these things - it's free, but I haven't even downloaded it, so I won't give any recommendations. It may be too big - it's for companies. But I'm soooo interested. Cuz marketing. :)BJ Muntainhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12977414826388000094noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-27731764430472281472017-09-06T10:36:58.519-04:002017-09-06T10:36:58.519-04:00This was such a helpful post and one that I seriou...This was such a helpful post and one that I seriously needed. I am feeling not at risk of being one of those boneheads, but maybe one of those who would say, "if I only knew this back then..." (thank you Janet for building my to-do/not-to-do lists)<br /><br />OT-didn't catch all of yesterdays threads till way too late to comment, so <b>Melanie</b> I hear your fear about that many littles at one time. My solution if baths. Baths with music. And baths with wine. And baths with music and wine. <br /><br />And to all who are in the middle of or preparing for natural disasters, my thoughts and prayers are with you. Yesterday felt weirdly eerie, hot and oppressive, yet with a sun that was either partially or fully obscured from several area fires, with visible ash raining down and dusting cars and mailboxes. These fires are not close, either, rather 200+ miles away. The west is battling so many fires, it is sad.<br /><br />A hard one to see footage of is the one near Multnomah Falls in the Columbia River Gorge. For anyone who has not driven the stretch of I-84 east of Portland, OR, it is a stunningly beautiful drive. Now it is burning on both sides of that majestic river. Sad.<br /><br />Sorry for the long post, am not usually this long winded. RosannaMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06399732751877180737noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-66669327295656894612017-09-06T10:26:09.685-04:002017-09-06T10:26:09.685-04:00At this point, querying has become a part time job...At this point, querying has become a part time job, so on the chance that I do get an agent and a deal, sending out personalized emails about my book will be the best feeling ever! <br /><br />I personally don't like author newsletters. Not quite sure why. I either like an author blog, or just a notice about a new book being published. To me, a newsletter usually feels like those times you're looking at a recipe blog to find a recipe for muffins, but the blog author spends two pages just talking about their day and sharing photos of those muffins, and you have to scroll and scroll to even find the recipe. I actually love reading a new book from an author before reading anything about their process behind writing the book. To me, reading blog posts and interviews about how they felt during writing the book is like a bonus, like the extra features on a DVD. So getting a long newsletter when a book comes out feels a lot like watching the extra features before the film. H.Oakwickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08787785117014423829noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-78536128260141994232017-09-06T10:06:08.523-04:002017-09-06T10:06:08.523-04:00Not only is this a grand idea, it motivates me. Or...Not only is this a grand idea, it motivates me. Organizing helps scare away the fear. Fear paralyzes the writing, the querying, the promoting. <br /><br />Well...that and laziness.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11543685541225544175noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-89140273816553949812017-09-06T09:54:19.339-04:002017-09-06T09:54:19.339-04:00Thank you so much, Sherry! That means a lot. Som...Thank you so much, <b>Sherry!</b> That means a lot. Sometimes it's hard to gauge, so getting a viewpoint from someone objective is helpful!Donnaevehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09026536210749494257noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-23810353097719148242017-09-06T09:42:35.454-04:002017-09-06T09:42:35.454-04:00It comes down to the fact that there are no short ...It comes down to the fact that there are no short cuts. Effective promotion means putting in the long yards - just like effective writing does. Slow down. Take the time to do it right. Don't be another impersonal message in an advertising-drenched world.<br /><br />(Aside: it is the most beautiful early fall day here. I can hardly make myself stay at my desk. Perhaps I'd better walk to the library later on, just in case something new came in overnight...)Amy Schaeferhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17263719891092841767noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-79647860574608757202017-09-06T09:30:53.024-04:002017-09-06T09:30:53.024-04:00Donna, I've watched your marketing, and intera...<b>Donna</b>, I've watched your marketing, and interactions, and think you have a wonderful, personal way of reaching out to people. I hope that translates to sales for your awesome work! I think your first sentence posts are a great idea! I'm a big fan!Sherry Howardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04326605891373049617noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-55467241661398088682017-09-06T09:28:33.095-04:002017-09-06T09:28:33.095-04:00One other note in defense of marketing - the best ...One other note in defense of marketing - the best marketing is usually perceived as a service to the ideal recipient. <br /><br />If you look at Janet's example, she says explicitly, "I look forward to buying this." Not Bonehead Author did her a <i>service</i> by noting down her interest, and letting her know when it was available. It saves Janet from having to keep track of it herself, look it up, google, figure out the likely title change, etc, etc. That's why you build a database like this, to help people who care about your work to find it, to fill a desire they have. It's step 3 in the marketing process (attract, engage, ask). <br /><br />I could blab about this for much longer, but I'm pretty sure I'm around 100 words. I'll save it for when I start my own blog =). RachelErinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09510327163701754950noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-37355143479158232662017-09-06T09:14:39.239-04:002017-09-06T09:14:39.239-04:00Sherry - well done! It must be very satisfying to ...Sherry - well done! It must be very satisfying to have your hard work and talent acknowledged by others in the industry. Congrats.<br /><br />I love this idea, Janet. It's got the vibe of a feel-good scrapbooking project instead of a calculated promotional strategy.<br /><br />MA Hudsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11055543285024785889noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-83753544257442400162017-09-06T09:11:49.156-04:002017-09-06T09:11:49.156-04:00The other reason to personalize the emails is then...The other reason to personalize the emails is then it's not a mass email, which means you won't run afoul of the various spam laws. <br /><br />(for mass mailings like newsletters, you need to have people opt-in, and they need a way to unsubscribe in each email. It's also just the right thing to do relationally, to respect their inboxes).<br /><br />A lot of newsletter programs are free up to a certain number of people (e.g. 2000), so you could consider putting all this info directly into a mail managing database. Then, when you send your personalized email, you can also include a link or an invitation to join the mailing list for further announcements (and put one on your website). If you do build it in excel or similar, however, they are not difficult to import. RachelErinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09510327163701754950noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-14381003688694452192017-09-06T08:59:22.739-04:002017-09-06T08:59:22.739-04:00Belated congrats on the Snappsy The Alligator cont...Belated congrats on the Snappsy The Alligator contest to <b>D. Willadsen!</b><br /><br />Way to go to you too, <b>Sherry!</b><br /><br />The chances of me buying a book from an impersonal email blast are zero. <--I would <i>never ever</i> do this.<br /><br />The chances of me buying a book from a personalized email are about 80%. <-- this still makes me sort of cringe, no matter how much I know, or THINK I know a person.<br /><br />What I like to do are a couple things: 1) engage with new readers on social media. What I've found is, if they liked the story, and even better, if they like me, they will tell their friends and family about my books. I also trot out my bookmarks quite regularly (as y'all know), no matter where I'm at or what I'm doing. Post office, mailing books...to the people in line, here you go, here's a bookmark. Shopping, and to the sales clerk, "do you like to read? Yes? I write southern fiction. Here's a bookmark."<br /><br />When I visit book clubs, I ask members if they'd like to be added to my Newsletter, and that's when I get email addresses. <br /><br />So, this is just some other stuff I do that's a bit different, but I'm sure Janet would agree, there's no 100% foolproof way you HAVE to do this, just do it the way you're comfortable with - and won't make you feel socially awkward, or dread it like a dose of castor oil. :) Donnaevehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09026536210749494257noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-2637816296668671692017-09-06T08:31:26.769-04:002017-09-06T08:31:26.769-04:00Today's advice makes so much sense. The idea o...Today's advice makes so much sense. The idea of marketing muddles most of our brains, so every kernel of advice is stored like a chipmunk's winter stash.<br /><br />OT: I hope it's okay to share some fun news I got yesterday. My YA won first place with Rate Your Story's awesome openers, and my MG got honorable mention. At least one Reider was a beta reader for the YA and helped me polish it up. So, remember we have two treasure chests: the one Colin maintains and each other!Sherry Howardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04326605891373049617noreply@blogger.com