How does a book become a book? — part three

If you missed the first two parts, here’s part one and part two.

#5 — Making the most of your marketing plans

Look at where you can submit your book to win awards. (I suggest the Writer’s Market book for this. They list many places you can to submit to. They also come out with an updated version every year.) Where can you promote your book at? Bookstores? Radio? Where can you do book signings at? Is there anything you can send out to your followers like newsletters, emails, etc.? Any book events you can attend?

Format all those ideas.

Some of the marketing process should have already started (like with ARCs in the last step). The closer your book is to becoming a book in your hands, the more marketing seeps into your everyday plans.

If you’re working with a publisher, you have a PR team to help you with this. Depending on how big the publisher is, depends on how big the team is. For example, bigger publishers like Penguin can have a full team. But smaller presses like university presses may have just one person.

However, even the bigger presses usually don’t offer as much marketing for your book as you’d like. They usually mainly push their big books from well-known authors more. You will still be responsible for a good amount of the marketing process.

If you’re not working with a publisher, it’s all on you to plan these ideas and see what you can work with. You’ll have to find where you can submit for awards, find the niche ways to put your book out there, etc. I have a post about creative ways to market your book here.

#6 — Congratulate yourself

It’s publication day! Congratulations!

Holding your book in your hands is a precious thing. Don’t take it for granted.

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Hopefully this helps!

Click here for part one.
Click here for part two.