I feel the exact same way about all that self-promotion nonesense.

You know what? I would much rather write than waste my time on something that might never lift off – unlike my writing.

And have you noticed how the ‘big cheeses’ of writing are NOT involved self-promotion? I know, it’s because they don’t need it, but mainly it’s because they write good books that people WANT to read, instead of wasting time doing something else, ie self-promoting.

Kelly, we should start a club: The Non-Self-Promoting Types. TNSPT, catchy.

anne

There are tons of books to choose from and as a reader on a budget I’m less likely to try an author I’ve never heard of. Often it takes several favorable mentions on blogs, forums et cetera to make me buy a book.
Your novel might be fantastic. If I’ve never heard about it, I wont care, because there are many that are just as well written and whose authors embrace promotion.

However you’re completely on spot when you say that promotion doesn’t compensate for bad writing – except when it does Dan Brown, Christopher Paolini, Stephenie Meyer anyone?

When I first started reading, I thought it was completely the opposite of what I think and believe, but some points resonated with me.

I write, but not as much as I’d like (preaching to the choir, I know!). My “day job” (which keeps me in chocolate and writing supplies) is a social media consultant (i.e. online networking nerd). I teach businesses and nonprofits how to market themselves online. I started a blog for authors about this very thing – cheap, DIY promotions authors can afford. (Because you don’t need to break the bank to do a little promotion.)

One thing I run into with authors is the All Work and No Play philosophy. They believe they must promote themselves 80 hours a week for three months to be a success. They get burned out, don’t want to check their email and cannot stand to even think about the computer for weeks afterward.

They don’t realize that more isn’t better. It can actually hurt – in many, many ways.

Balance is really key. Do the things you like. If there are other promotional things you MUST do, but hate, then get friends and family to help. (Most work for food – especially kids and grandkids.)

Some authors will need more promotion than others to really take off. That is just the nature of business. But doing it wisely is key to success – and keeping sanity.

Kelly, thanks so much for a great post! I’m bookmarking this one to reread again.

Jeff, I don’t know about that. I think that most author generated PR falls into the category of bad tactics and bad strategy. It doesn’t generate sales in the short term and it mostly comes across as noise in the long term. But I definitely agree that if you enjoy doing a particular PR thing it can be worthwhile. Hence my doing cons, readings, and interviews. I think that both in terms of this book and career, you’re better off devoting most of that time and energy to writing another book, because over the long term it’s good books and lots of them that are your best way to build a career. Of course, I find taking breaks from writing to be stressful rather than relaxing, so that slants my take some.

Tanya, thanks for the data and the compliment. I’m glad you’re enjoying the Ravirn books, and, you’re welcome.

I say KEEP writing – i will be here. Oh and please don’t stop writing the Ravrin series – really like them. It is a very cool and different concept in the UF world. Many thanks!

Of course the emphasis should be on the creativity. But I find I need breaks from writing. I just do the PR during the breaks, so I can recharge.

Laura, thanks! I don’t know how situational it is. I’ve never been convinced that it’s worth the effort, even when I’m months away from release and not working on anything else. And, absolutely, in the end, it always comes back to the writing.

Jace, tomayto-tomahto…. Sure there’s some of that, but I also really don’t believe that most self-promo makes much sense. Oh, and thanks!

Tim, thanks for the reinforcement. Eric’s a good guy and very smart. I’ll happily add him to my list of seasoned pros who come down on this side of the line.