The Word on the Lake Writers Festival has wrapped up for another year. In the next few entries, I will share some of the information and experiences from a very productive weekend.
A portion of the festival focused on changes in the publishing world. Writers and publishers alike have been plunged into the reality of digital publishing. Many of us find E publishing exciting and at the same time, daunting. A thought provoking panel consisting of three authors, and an editor/publisher, discussed the face of publishing now, and what can be expected for the future.
Everyone on the panel agreed that whether your book is self published or through a publishing company, the expectation is the same. You, the author, must promote your book.
I can hear a collective groan. If I have to promote my book, or even worse, learn how to promote my book, when will I have time to write? To be successful, an author has to find a balance between creating and promoting, heavier on the promoting.
Sylvia Taylor, Executive Director of the BC Federation of Writers, freelance writer and author of The Fisher Queen, said,” There’s opportunity for everybody despite publishing changes. Publishers want to know how connected you are for potential sales. They need to know that the author will be committed to selling the book, through social networking, Interviews, and readings.” Having an author’s platform is a necessary component for your book promotion.
I found the panel discussion valuable, but like most of the audience, thought, Okay, I get that, but how do we make that happen? In Sylvia’s workshop, “Building your Platform: A Blueprint for Success” she suggested something I hadn’t thought of. Build a portfolio of what you have done as a writer so far.
- Keep a record of your published stories. Newsletters and letters to the editor count.
- If you receive a card of appreciation from the community for volunteering, add that to your binder. Community contacts are important
- Ask for a letter of recommendation if you’ve presented at a writing group or festival.
- Are you a member of a writing group, or on the board of directors for an organization?
- Have you done any readings? Be sure to include who also shared the stage.
There is much to learn, and it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. Try taking on a little bit at a time. Here’s one last suggestion: Sylvia mentioned that eighty percent of published works in the world are non-fiction. She suggests: “Write a clutch of articles, 300-600 words, on timely topics for magazines, newspapers, and journals.” Be sure to send a query letter rather than an unsolicited article.
Next week, we’ll look into query letters and more information gleaned from the festival.
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