Recommendations for Debut Authors

If you are not a debut author, feel free to skip this post.

I've had a lot of people asking me what I thought worked and didn't work, what was worth my time, etc.  I was in a fortunate position because my publisher was very supportive and my book was one of their "lead" titles for fall.  Regardless of what your publisher is doing, you can do some things, too.  This is my advice.  Other authors feel differently--but this isn't their blog, so neener neener.

Swag
I didn't do it.  Any of it.  I got so many requests to send free things to people that I'm really glad I never got anything made.  The amount of time and effort it would have taken for me to mail things out, not to mention the cost of creating and mailing the materials, would have been ridiculous.  In the end I figured no one was going to buy my book because they won a free bookmark.  Having an "I don't send anything out for any contests, ever" policy was one of the best choices I made.  (I did get bookmarks that I give out at signings, but I think that's different.)

Indie Bookstores
I was really lucky in that Harper featured Paranormalcy in their mailings to indie bookstores.  I think that indies make a huge difference in getting word out and handselling books.  If your publisher isn't getting your book to indies, see what you can do to help.  (Some authors make postcards to send to Indies, which is a great option--that way they have cover image, ISBN, book info, etc.)

Online Presence
Umm, yeah.  Kinda big on this one.  I honestly feel like without my blog and twitter I wouldn't have hit that little list that I'm a fan of.  But, like I always say, if you don't enjoy blogging and tweeting, don't do it.  If you only use it as a marketing/self-promotional tool people will not be interested and you might as well spend your time elsewhere.  My feeling is that to be successful in blogging or twitter you must be one of two things: helpful, or entertaining.  Or Neil Gaiman, but odds are you won't be able to pull that off.

Interviews
I went a little overboard on this one.  I decided my policy was going to be to say yes to any and all interviews, whether the blog had 3 readers or 3,000.  It was not the best choice.  I got burned out on them.  I also tried to make each interview unique, but there are only so many times you can answer "What was the inspiration behind Paranormalcy?" before you want to burn your own eyes out with a sparkly pink Taser.  In fact, I think I still have eight interviews in my email that I haven't managed to drudge up the creative energy to answer.  For me interviews were a huge time suck and creativity suck.  I don't regret doing that, but I won't be doing it again.  Ever.  I have such a big online presence anyway that I don't think it had much point, but if you don't have an active blog or twitter you will probably want to emphasize interviews more.  For Supernaturally I will probably limit it to about fifteen interviews and make sure that they are worthwhile.

Emails
I answer all emails.  This is another time suck, but it's important to me to be accessible.  Eventually I may change my policy to only respond to fan emails, but I will try to always, always answer emails from my readers.  People asking for time/free stuff/personalized advice/etc may not always get answers in the future.  It just takes up so much time, especially with the personalized advice--if I don't know you, how can I tell you how you should write/what you should do with your life/whether you should be Team Edward or Team Jacob?  It boggles my mind a bit when people think I actually have answers.  Umm, have you read my blog or twitter feed?  Do I seem like a responsible, enlightened person?  If so, I am the best liar alive.

Blurbs
I think these make a difference.  And not just official blurbs.  Any time you get other authors talking about your book, that means their readers are going to hear about it and become your readers.  Get all of the blurbs you can.  Get your book to as many authors with similar audiences as you can.  Are they all going to love it?  Nope.  But if even a few of them do, I think it makes a difference.

*The question of HOW has been asked.  Umm, it goes back to that networking thing.  If I am familiar with an author (via twitter or comments on my blog, etc) and their editor asks my editor if I will read their book, I always say yes.  Most of it has to go through editors, although if you do have a connection to an author do not be shy about asking them to read your book.  Just please don't feel bad if they don't offer an official blurb.

ARCs
This goes along with the previous ones.  The more ARCs that are out there to book bloggers and readers, the more people there are to talk about your book and create buzz.  This makes a big difference, too.  I coordinated with my publicist to get ARCs to the bloggers I felt like were the most thoughtful and effective, but again, I was lucky in that Harper gave them a pretty wide distribution.  If you are getting a limited number of ARCs, plan very carefully who to give them to.  Do your research.

Reviews
Don't read them.  Just, don't.  For every ten glowing things you will remember the one complaint.  And it's not going to do you or your writing any good.

ADDENDUM:
WRITER FRIENDS
This is a must, must, must must must.  Especially friends who are on a similar schedule publishing-wise as you, AND friends who are ahead of you and so can prepare you for what is to come.  There are a lot of author groups you can join (I joined the Tenners and made some great friends through there) and also twitter is fabulous for making author friends/networking.  But really.  I can't believe I left this off.  They will keep you sane, trust me.  (Well, sane-ish.  Saner.  Okay, fine, you'll still be totally nuts, but you'll have an equally nutty support system.)

Contests
I did do some ARC contests, and then a big month-of-release contest.  I felt like they were worthwhile and got people seeing my cover/interested in my book.

In the end, it's word of mouth that sells books.  So you want to get as many mouths talking about your book as you can.  And really, the best thing you can do for your career?  Be working on your next book.  Right now.  You've already written the best book you possibly can, you have NO IDEA how much your life is going to explode and how many more demands on your time and energy and attention there are going to be once your book comes out.  Spend the time before it does doing what you can promotion-wise, but most especially writing new things.  And don't forget how much you love writing and why you love writing, because you'll need to remember that.  A lot.