So, who can you recommend as having a really good author newsletter? Especially, who sends out the most appealing initial posts? You know, the one that goes out automatically when a new subscriber signs up. I've been putting off building my email list because I just don't know what works for the introductory mailing. I'm short on good examples, because I don't mess with email very much at all and it's likely I would forget a newsletter I'd signed up for had even come in. But according to book marketing experts, I'm an outlier, and an email newsletter is a Must Have. So please, authors whose newsletters you like getting, especially those that appealed to you right off the bat, let me know who they are. Links welcome!
Lesley Penelope has a really great newsletter. they typically come out monthly with the exception of when she's in the middle of a new book. She just had a book come out a few months ago, so her newsletters have been sporadic. But i really like her newsletters. its full of her own personal thoughts as well as stuff she's learned from talking to other authors. she provides links to writing tools and resources (I found out about ChatPDF from her... I used it twice. You can upload a section of what you are writing, then ask the bot questions about your work... like "who are the main characters? what are their motivations? what is the over arching plot?" it helped me identify a few plot holes and underdeveloped characters). She also has a vlog where she interviews authors that she also links to her newsletters. her newsletter is called "Footnotes" I thought about having a newsletter, too. But, like you, i wasnt sure about how to go about it or if I would have enough content to make it interesting/engaging.
Coincidentally, i just got one of Writer's Digests emails letting me know of their upcoming August 8 webinar: Establish (or Improve) Your Email Newsletter: Every Author's Most Important Marketing Tool its more affordable then their other workshops. if I hadnt already spent an arm and a leg a few hours ago on some other things, I would have signed up to learn more.
Oh, cool. I'll check that out. Hopefully it's at a time when I'm not scheduled to work. EDIT--- Oh, it's one of Jane Friedman's! Interestingly enough, I'm listening to a one-on-one seminar with her on my phone as I write. I'm free when it's on. I'll have to think hard about the fee, however. I'm a little broke at the moment.
All right, I've signed up as a reader, under my real name. I feel a little bad about it, as I don't read that much fantasy. On the other hand, I do like urban fantasy, and her covers are marvellous. Love the clothes! I notice she says right off what you'll get when you sign up, including the sample of her work. That's better than those annoying popups that instantly get in the way on the website content and demand your info.
