1. badgerjelly

    badgerjelly Contributor Contributor

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    Some Pondering on Marketing/Advertising

    Discussion in 'Marketing' started by badgerjelly, Mar 27, 2017.

    I have been thinking about this recently.

    Although I am a long way away from even having a novel complete I think I should spend at least a little time to consider how to get it "out there".

    My thought comes to what makes me buy a novel ... not much to go on there!

    So then I thought about why I buy an album. I have the habit of hearing one song and then going straight out to buy the album. I have done this for many different artists over the years.

    SO, I am wondering what is the equivalent of listening to one track from an album in the literary world? I am guessing it would have to be something like a short story, novella, article or essay, that would gain interest.

    So my reasoning is it makes sense to throw out numerous short stories and articles in order to gain a "following" of sorts. My next problem is then trying to figure out WHERE to post short stories, novellas and articles in order to gain exposure.

    I've just had an idea :)

    HAHA!!

    note: have to write some short stories first
     
    Tea@3 likes this.
  2. jannert

    jannert Retired Mod Supporter Contributor

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    I know what induces me buy a novel from an unfamiliar author.

    First—obviously—I need to know it's been written. I have several subject-matter interests, and I follow various avenues that deal with these interests. These include subscriptions to magazines that cover my interests, as well as websites that deal with the subjects. If a book gets mentioned in any of those places, I will look into it.

    I also check out books linked by Amazon to other books I've bought or showed interest in buying.

    I search my subject on Amazon, and see what comes up.

    I always read reviews in magazines and newspapers. This exposes me to books outwith my scope of subject-matter interest. I also have friends who recommend books to me.

    I attend book festivals, listen to author readings, and rarely ever go away without buying several books.

    Although they are scarcer than hen's teeth, I do visit bookstores and buy books there. Of course I'm able to pick them up and read through bits of them to see if they're 'for me' before I buy.

    What I don't do is follow online blogs, unless I'm already interesting in that particular author. And I'm not a short-story reader, as a rule.

    My methods may seem slightly out of date to the blog/flash fic generation, but damn. I do buy LOTS of books.
     
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  3. BayView

    BayView Huh. Interesting. Contributor

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    I think short stories can be a good introduction to new readers, but you need to get the short stories in front of those readers, which isn't always easy. Depending on your genre, you can probably find publishers who put out anthologies with specific themes, or you can look for well-read magazines. But these can be hard to get your work into, and all the time spent learning how to write a great short story is time you aren't spending learning how to write a great novel, so... it's a gamble.
     
    Laurin Kelly likes this.
  4. Tenderiser

    Tenderiser Not a man or BayView

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    I also wonder how much cross-over there is between short story readers and novel readers. I don't know the answer in general but for me as a reader, there is very little cross-over. I buy probably as many anthologies as I do novels, and on several occasions I've bought novels from authors whose short stories I enjoyed. In every case but one, I haven't liked the novels. Nowadays, I will look for more anthologies but the author but I won't buy novels unless they sound REALLY compelling. I just get annoyed that brilliant short story writers are putting out novels I'm not interested in instead of putting out more anthologies that I would love.
     
    Laurin Kelly and BayView like this.
  5. Homer Potvin

    Homer Potvin A tombstone hand and a graveyard mind Staff Supporter Contributor

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    Lord if it were only as simple as the music business!

    Me: "Hey, Mrs. Record Company Executive, want to hear my song?"
    Exec: "Sure, I have three and half minutes to kill."

    And then there's:

    Me: "Hey, Mrs. Publishing House Executive, want to read my book?"
    Exec: "No. That will take days to read. First you have to find an agent, but it'll take them days to read it too, so you have to write a query, and then if they like that you can send a sample chapter, and then if they like that you can send the full manuscript and we'll get back to you in a few months. Or not at all."

    I should have stuck to music!
     
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  6. badgerjelly

    badgerjelly Contributor Contributor

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    Homer -

    I decide in less than three minutes if I like a book. I think the problem is getting someone to read it in the furst place.
     
  7. Laurin Kelly

    Laurin Kelly Contributor Contributor

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    Agreed. I would be much more likely to buy a short story from a novelist whose work I've enjoyed than vice versa.
     
  8. Homer Potvin

    Homer Potvin A tombstone hand and a graveyard mind Staff Supporter Contributor

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    And I'm sure the publishing gatekeepers do too. Too bad it takes 6 months to get three minutes of their time, eh?
     
  9. Lew

    Lew Contributor Contributor

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    I did both, but my novel is outselling my short story 20 to 1, though they are different niches: historical fiction action adventure vs. historical semi-religious

    I have found my facebook author's page to be my most useful tool. As you get close to publication, do a boosted post talking about your book to reach several thousand people. Hopefully, you will pick up a few followers/likers who will get your announcement of publication and be at least inclined to take a look.

    If a tree falls in the forest and no one hears it, did it really make a sound? If a book is posted on Amazon and no one knows about it, will anyone find it to buy?
     
  10. TaylorkoleDOTcom

    TaylorkoleDOTcom Member

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    I
    I released first stuff 12/1/17. I intend to give out short stories free, hope to build audience.
    I fear short stories have little impact, evidenced by the great ones usually averaging 70 pages (shawshank, mist, long walk)
    It's a hard fight to get readers
     
  11. JLT

    JLT Contributor Contributor

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    If you already have a web site or blog, you can put some of the work on there; you presumably already have a sort of following for those. I've done that with my books.
     

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