How many of you are struggling with your in-box? (Me)

How many of you have been “catching up” since 2009? (Me)

How many apologies have you made this month for delayed responses and delivery of promised work product? (Countless)

How many of you are tired of the cycle? (Me)

As of today, I am saying no to saying “yes.”

While working with a wonderful business coach, Vicki Hainault Fitch, I have (once again) determined that 100% of my problems are of my own making. (This is not a huge surprise…)

Since I started my business in 2006, I have seen wonderful growth and been able to enjoy an ever-expanding base of authors and publishers that I truly enjoy helping. But there is also an ever-growing list of authors that I have disappointed when I tried to be of help and fell short.

What was/is the problem?

I want so badly to help every author and to guide each and every new press away from the pitfalls that they face. I end up offering to help on too many projects and fall behind on all. As I struggle to meet expectations (expectations that I CREATED FOR THE AUTHOR), I fall further behind. Then I stay later and later to generate the work promised and, in the end, frustrate the author I was trying to make happy.

All with the added benefit of harming my reputation and health in the process.

The routine looks a little like this: I want to be liked and I want to be helpful and I want approval, so I OFFER (yikes) to help. When the author/client agrees to work with me or to take my help, I feel GREAT. It gives me a little “high.” But that high does not last long. Soon, I am feeling dragged down by all my promises and the VERY reasonable requests from the same authors that I TOLD I WOULD HELP.

I start out with wonderful “zing” feeling when I say “yes” but in doing so, I set in motion a series of events that eventually end with me feeling terrible and doing more harm than good.

Over and over again, what follows is a decline and crash of process that I can usually smooth over with offering more help and spending more time and money. I then end up doing even more just to break even (emotionally, financially, and reputationally) AND it creates even MORE items for my “to do” list.

I am done.

I am putting a one-month moratorium on the word “yes.”

I am not saying I won’t DO anything this month, but for one month, I am not going to agree to, offer, or pursue anything. It is time that I stop pulling up out of the steep dives that happen when I over-commit to project and beloved authors.

I know I can do better and I know I can find a way to help in a manner that does not end with me up at 3 am sending apologetic emails while eating antacids and asking “How did this happen AGAIN?”

Here are my goals for the next 30 days:

1. To not take on any new projects
2. To not do any favors
3. To not say “Oh, I can do that quickly”
4. To use the 30 days to advance and finish my current list of obligations
5. To practice using my calendar and clock in a responsible manner
6. To remember that everything takes time and time is finite
7. To set realistic expectations for how I should spend my workdays
8. To let others tend and harvest the fields I plant
9. To take one day a week off
10. To tell everyone what I am doing without shame or guilt (this one is the hardest…. *deep breaths*)

After ages of fine-tuning your metaphors, tinkering with POV, and conjuring up a cast of characters so life-like you hear them bickering in your dreams, you’ve finally written a book you can be proud of. But your job isn’t over just yet.

As an author, you know your plot structures: you’ve poured time, energy, and maybe even tears into your book, a lengthy exposition full of hard work and authorial savvy. You hit the climax when you finished writing, and now you want to give your work the satisfying denouement it deserves — with the launch of your dreams. Just follow these tips and tricks for a headstart on the perfect launch day, and you’ll be able to send your masterpiece out into the world in style.

1. Pick the perfect date

Sure, there’s only one hard-and-fast rule when it comes to choosing a book launch date: the book has to be done. But that shouldn’t be the extent of your thinking. With a pinch of calendrical savvy, the actual timing of your launch could lead to a dramatic sales boost right out of the gate.

The key is to think in terms of both season and genre: when are readers most likely to buy books, and what sort of books are they buying? It’s a retail truism that sales of all kinds spike around the Christmas season, and reading material is no exception. But that doesn’t mean you have to launch with the goal of getting pre-ordered under the tree. In fact, early December can be a risky time to launch, unless your book is directly related to holiday cheer: you’ll be facing cutthroat competition, much of it from traditional publishers able to outgun you with their marketing budgets.

Don’t treat your book like some sort of generic holiday present — it’s not a scented candle. Instead, think about the specific value it has to offer, and when that’s particularly likely to be in-demand. Self-help books and inspirational fiction play well in January, when they can capture the New Year’s Resolution crowd. Romance novels are a no-brainer for Valentine’s Day, and Halloween tends to put readers in the mood for something spooky, whether that’s the witchier of fantasy or straight-up, spine-chilling horror.

Feel free to think beyond the obvious, Hallmark-y holidays. How about launching a political thriller during election season, or releasing a historical fiction novel on the Underground Railroad during Black History Month? Pick a spot on the calendar that somehow ties into the message of your book, and your marketing materials are as good as pre-written.

2. Go on a blog tour

Once you’ve set a date, it’s time to start drumming up anticipation for your book’s big debut. One great way to do that? Guest posting! You may not have the budget — or the time — to go on a traditional publicity tour, hitting up bookstores and talk-show sets across the country. But you can replicate that effect virtually, with a blog tour. All you need is a computer, some research and, of course, your writing skills.

Start by looking around for blogs that a) accept guest posts and b) might want to hear from you. Writing blogs are always a good bet, but you should also think about the topic of your book. If you’re a nonfiction author putting out a primer on, say, drafting your own clothing patterns, try targeting sewing blogs and style blogs. If you wrote a romance novel with a single-mom protagonist, look for parenting blogs, lifestyle blogs, and other sites aimed at readers in your target demographic.

Contact these blogs with a couple of ideas for guest posts you could write. Of course you’ll ask to include your book launch info in your bio, but don’t try to sell them on a purely self-promotional post — you won’t get very far pitching something that sounds like a press release for your book. Instead, focus on providing value to the blogs’ readers by showcasing your expertise.

As a newly minted author, you’re perfectly positioned to share insights on bringing a book project across the finish line. Or you could even offer to judge a writing contest for blog readers, providing the winner with a small prize, like a Starbucks gift card — alongside a free copy of your book, of course. In any case, make sure you’re tailoring your pitches for each outlet. Keep it short and sweet, and try to work in a few references to their past work, so they know you’ve done your homework.

Set up your blog tour early — that way, you can make sure our guests posts come out in the month or so before your formal book launch, with at least a few dropping on the launch day itself. Point readers to your author website and your book’s Amazon page, and then wait for those subscriptions and orders to come in.

3. Collect those reviews

There’s another great way to build anticipation for your book launch, one that also relies on pitching to other people’s blogs. But this time, you won’t be the one doing the bulk of the writing — that will be up to the book review bloggers you contact.

If you let bloggers read your book ahead of its formal launch, you’re liable to get some invaluable free publicity when the big day comes. Contact some book review blogs known to work in your genre, and pitch them your book. Explain why it’s a good fit for them, and be sure to let them know when it’s launching.

When the big day comes, post some quotes from your positive reviews on social media. You can even use an online design tool like Canva or its free alternatives to turn those quotes into eye-catching graphics. That way, they’ll be sure to grab attention on visual platforms like Instagram.

4. Send out a newsletter — and post them

Send out a nicely formatted newsletter to your mailing list to let them know about your book’s debut. Keep it simple in terms of graphics, but consider referencing colors and typefaces from your cover design to give it a coherent, professional look.

Besides the most essential part — a link to buy the book — include some quotes from the positive reviews you’ve cultivated. And to really dial up the anticipation, embed a short preview of your book right into the newsletter.

5. Have a launch party

Book launch parties can be a lot of fun — and you certainly deserve a chance to pop some bubbly! But they can also furnish you with some all-important PR. Find a local venue related to the topic of your book — say, a fabric store for a home-sewing manual or a tapas bar for a romance novel set in Spain. A family-owned bookstore is always a good bet, and you might also consider your local library.

Enlist a trusted friend to serve as your MC — they’ll be able to talk you up without sounding distinctly silly. Prep some material to entertain everyone who came to celebrate your triumph: say a few words about your writing journey, or read a snappy, memorable passage from your book.

Make sure to have a sign-up sheet at the event so you can collect attendees’ contact info, assuming you don’t already have it: those emails will come in handy when your next book comes out. And get someone to take high-quality pictures of the festivities. Send them to local press afterwards, and you might be able to swing a little post-facto publicity, keeping your sales strong after the launch.

Desiree Villena is a writer with Reedsy, a marketplace that connects authors and publishers with the world’s best editors, designers, and marketers. In her spare time, Desiree enjoys reading contemporary fiction and writing short stories.

Does any of this sound familiar?

• “I wrote this book so that I could make a living as a writer.”
• “My goal is to quit my day job.”
• “I plan on retiring on my book income.”

If any of those sentiments have crossed your mind or your lips, this article is for you. (You are not going to like it… but keep reading.)

I recently met with a Chicago-area author for breakfast who was concerned that she was doing something wrong. This author had written a terrific book, designed the cover properly, promoted the book heavily, placed ads on Amazon, got reviews and consistently worked to sell her book to stores, libraries, online and to organizations.

So what was the problem?

The book was not selling ENOUGH. All of those activities–and her book was still limping along in sales.

When, she asked, and HOW were her sales going to allow her to make a living?

Well, I had to tell her that her book sales would NEVER allow her to make a living. If history and reality were any indication, one non-fiction book (no matter how well written and powerful) is not enough to support an author.

So what is the answer? Why do some authors get to make a living as writers and what separates them from the rest of the authors who do not?

They diversify and create numerous avenues of writing income.

This author was leaning WAY too heavily on her one book when her income could have been augmented and her fame and sales as an author could have increased if she had also:

• Created a workshop based on her book
• Pitched her advice and writing to a magazine as a freelance article for pay
• Developed a podcast and promoted it to subscribers
• Created and sold journals and auxiliary materials connected with the book
• Written another book

Writing and promoting your book is just a piece of the puzzle. To truly succeed as a writer and as an author, you need more than one piece to successfully get that puzzle together. Fiction and nonfiction authors who make a living as writers do not do so on one book.

The truth is, THIS author is not interested in writing a second book. At the moment, it is not in her plans, but she is still working towards her dream of quitting her day job.

This author is turning everything around and creating a marketing and business plan that promotes her MESSAGE and herself as an expert. Speeches, workshops, consulting sessions…. Already she is making a great deal more BASED on her book.

And guess what? Her book sales have gone through the roof.

Talented authors all over the world are writing terrific books and promoting them properly and they are not selling. It is not the fault of the author or a problem with the book. It is just how reality works.

I have heard a lot of talented singers in my day at local festivals. I have watched some terribly talented golfers consistently play fantastic games of golf. I have dozens of friends who paint beautiful pictures. None of THEM expect to make a living with THEIR talent.

Those talented folks would be THRILLED to quit their day jobs and make a living with their talent, but very few of them are surprised when it does not happen. They are not shocked. Why are authors so consistently shocked when their first book does not generate an independent income?

So let’s focus on using our talent and writing to make that full-time living we are all dreaming of.

• WRITE that NEXT book.
• BOOK that speech.
• CREATE that podcast.
• GENERATE that advertising income.
• SELL that story line.
• PITCH that freelance writing job…

Let’s keep going!

Previously published at www.thebookdesigner.com

Librarians have goals, wants, and needs that we need to understand.  You have to remember that, although librarians are lovely people most of the time, libraries are a business.  Walking into a library, sending an email, or picking up the phone to tell them how great your book is won’t get the job done.  You need the right materials and the right approach.  This will make a world of difference for you.  It will be the difference between potentially making sales for your book and getting rejected.

What are some of the goals, wants, and needs that librarians have?  I’m glad you asked.  Here they are:

• Acquire books that their visitors will enjoy
• Increase their traffic
• Stay in budget
• Serve the community 
• Do a good job easily and quickly

Check out rates are key.  The more that a book, or a series of books, are checked out, the better off a librarian is and the more secure their job is.  A librarian stands a better chance of keeping their job and their bosses will be happier with them if the checkout rate is high.  If the checkout rate starts to drop, it means they aren’t picking great books, and all of the sudden, they start to get nervous about their job security.

They also need to see that their foot traffic is increasing.  As you’ve seen from the survey data, that’s actually happening in the US, but librarians want people to come to their library branches.  The more people who show up to their library branch, the better off the library is.  Also, librarians have to stay within their budget.  They aren’t allowed to go over budget, so anything that you can do to help a librarian order books less expensively is a huge help.

Librarians also want to serve the community.  Again, many librarians are lovely people, and one of the main reasons a lot of them have for becoming librarians is because they want to be of help.  Further, they want to do a good job, but they need to be able to do it easily and quickly.  A librarian is likely juggling all kinds of plates in their air at any given moment, so the easier you can make their job, the more you’ll be able to keep a conversation going.  You both may be able to achieve your goals mutually, if you take the time to care about what they need and offer to do what you can to help.

One way to help is to help them quickly and easily attain a book that will increase their foot traffic and allow them to stay in budget, and you.

If you would like to learn more, click below to watch a free video class on selling to libraries.

Some wonderful news has recently come about concerning libraries.  This data was released by Library Journal and American Library Association (ALA) materials survey in March of 2019.  Library Journal is the largest periodical for the library market, and the American Library Association is a nonprofit organization that’s based in the United States which promotes libraries and education internationally. 

These two organizations have been putting out their material survey once a year for 19 years.  To build this survey, they ask libraries to report things like the amount of foot traffic they are getting and information about their budgets.  The organizations also gather data from various US Government information and lots of other sources.  This is an enormous report, but I have broken down some of those numbers in order to share as much as I could with you today.

According to the survey, and research done by the ALA, libraries within the US have had more foot traffic. In fact, it has gone up almost 20%.  That means the number of patrons which actually walk into libraries, checking out books and utilizing their services has increased dramatically between 2015 and 2018.  The 2018 trend continued in their budget.  Libraries of all sizes have reported an overall increase in funding or operations, materials, and personnel budgets.

And according to the US Census, libraries are growing online as well! 

More librarians are being hired, and they are being given higher salaries.  The material budges have increased as well.  Check out this statement from LIBRARY JOURNAL:

“Total operating budgets averaged $7,046,700, a rise of 3.5%, compared with 2017, though different libraries report each year, making such comparisons subject to variations in the sample. This bested both last year’s 2.8% and 2016’s 3.4% gains. Slightly fewer libraries saw their operating budgets grow—76%, down from last year’s 77%—but those that did saw a larger increase.Not only have budgets gone up between, but they’ve been rising each year.  The previous year showed a 3.5% increase over 2015, which showed a 2.8% increase over the year before that.“   Source: http://www.libraryjournal.com/?detailStory=More-Service-Than-Circ

If you are in New York or Los Angeles, your library system’s annual budget is over $35 million.  They get this money in every year to spend on materials, and most of that goes for books.  Now, for those of you who are curious about what kinds of books library systems are buying, let’s take a look at some of the facts according to the study:

More people are visiting libraries, but physical check outs for print books are down.

When it came to book and media circulation, the total average of 1,203,800 was down more than 100,000 items from the previous year. Numbers were highest in Midwest and suburban libraries, with about ten to 11 circulated items per person. But spending on materials was up. 

So what is the deal?

There are a number of possible explanations, including a rise in usage of e-materials that may not be counted side-by-side with physical materials; ­ebooks that are part of vendor packages may also be considered database materials when circulation is assessed. And materials lent by other libraries under consortial agreements are not rolled into the borrowing library’s ILS statistics.

Again let’s look at LIBRARY JOURNAL’S take on this:

“Although recent studies have focused on the question of whether library lending has cut into ebook sales, the reverse may also be true: patrons accustomed to the ease and relatively low cost of online ebook purchasing and instantaneous delivery may bypass long holds lists on popular new releases for the immediacy of one-click ordering—particularly if a library’s budget can’t keep pace with the demand for best sellers. “It’s so convenient and cheap now to order off Amazon,” explains Jones, “when somebody wants to read a new book, we’ll have a hold list of 700 people. Some will wait; a lot of people will just buy it themselves.”

The best selling genres right now are broken out by eBooks and print books.  When it comes to grown-up books, the top non-fiction categories are:

These are the top adult categories for both print books and eBooks.  Now, if your book doesn’t fit into these categories, don’t get discouraged.  These statistics don’t mean that your book doesn’t belong in a library.  This data just shows where the most interest is.  As you are looking over this data, you may notice that the Biography/Memoir category is listed second, but take note that this became the #1 selling category in 2017.  It barely took first place, but it did take the lead for the first time in many years.

Also, please don’t say to yourself, “Well, I have a cookbook, so I can’t do an eBook.”  That’s not true.  Cookbooks was the #1 category in 2018 for eBooks.  Cookbooks are huge! 

Okay, so now let’s talk about fiction categories for adult books.  The top fiction categories have actually stayed the same over the last few years, and they are:

Again, if you’ve written a western, you still belong in libraries.  These are just the top categories.  In the print world, thrillers have edged out romance for the first time in years.  There was a lot of moving and shaking going on in 2017 in terms of genres. 

For those of you who are children’s book authors, the same survey showed that of materials and material budgets, over half of the money spent on books in the United States is spent on children’s books.  So, if you are a children’s book author, you are in great shape.  Librarians still dramatically prefer hard cover in the children’s book world, but that’s not the case with grown-up books. 

Whether you look into the survey data, or just ask the librarian down the street, you’ll find that libraries don’t have the money to spend on hard cover books that they used to.  Also, keep in mind that years ago, paperback books weren’t as sturdy as they are now.  We’ve come a long way in technology over the past 20 years, and nowadays, paperback books last much longer.  Libraries have no problem buying paperback books anymore.

As I have previously stated, hardcover children’s books are still the most in demand, and preferably without a jacket.  That’s just one more detail to take note of.  The money is there for children’s books, so you might as well take advantage of this news if you are a children’s book author and try to get your books into libraries.

These stats are really great, but what you really want to know is whether or not print on demand (POD) books, eBooks, and self-published books can get into the library market.  If you are reviewing this material, it’s pretty likely that you are self-published or independently published.  You’ve done it all yourself, and you’d like to know where you stand.  Well, the answer is “yes,” you absolutely have just as much of a shot at getting into these library systems as anyone else. 

How do I know this?  I spend half my day, every day, talking to libraries, and I know, for a fact, that they buy small press, independently published, and self-published books all the time. 

If you are interested in watching a full overview that teaches how the best ways to get your books into libraries, you can go to http://.realfastlibrarymarketing.com The video offered there will walk you through the entire process!

http://realfastlibrarymarketing.com