Joe Taylor
The Writing End Game
Why do you want to write a book? Because you have something the world needs to hear? You want to entertain readers with a good story? You want to make folks laugh? You need to open people’s hearts, bare your soul? Excellent reasons, all.
But, unless people read your book you’ll never enlighten, enthrall, or entertain them. The only way they’re going to read your book is if they buy your book. The only way they buy your book is if you can sell your book.
As I’ve mentioned here previously, traditional publishing companies provide minimal support in sales, placement, and distribution of books by new authors like us. Online publishers, such as KDP Amazon, that I used to publish “I’m Just Lucky To Own My Own Car” offer support in the form of online ads and placement, but for a price. Because my book is a “small” book, not really intended for wide distribution to a general audience I’m not utilizing that support. I will tap into it for my next book, on my 60 years in radio, and the changes in that industry over those years.
I learned in the radio business as I progressed into management that radio, in the final analysis like publishing, is all about sales. Stations may play different types of music, writers may write in different genres, but in the end commercials have to be sold to keep the music playing and books have to be sold to keep the author from getting discouraged and stop trying to publish.
I learned that the two most important aspects of selling are getting in front of the client, and asking for the order. The client is anyone who you think would be interested in what you have to say in your book, aka — a potential book buyer. Asking for the order is just what it implies, saying in as many ways and places as you can, “would you like to buy my book?”
The Book Marketing Plan
My plan to sell my book was two-fold: to go online reaching out to friends, family, and members of our local writing communities; and to book readings for myself, live in front of prospective buyers . My hope was that some of my personal circle would buy the book and then recommend it to their friends. The first part worked—most did purchase it. The second part—not so much.
Only a few actually enticed their friends to buy the book. This is quite understandable. It is difficult and awkward to try to be a surrogate salesperson. As online sales plateaued and stalled the word “platform” came to mind. Agents were turning me down and successful authors in our group had mentioned the word to me. Had told me I needed to build a bigger platform. Having failed Freshman Exploratory Shop in High School this scared the hell out of me until I realized no lumber or tools would be involved. It meant simply “drawing a crowd.” I created a Joe Taylor, Writer Facebook page and invited FB Friends and other potential book buyers to it.
The second “fold” of my plan, in person live readings, was thoroughly wrinkled by the pandemic. In January when I started actively promoting “I’m Just Lucky To Own My Own Car” the non-essential world was locked up tight. The best that I could do was to accept a generous invitation from The Stained Glass Writers group in Punxsy to do a reading by phone. It resulted in at least one sale that I know of. There were other virtual reading opportunities that I declined. I am IT impaired and would not have been comfortable in that mode.
I went hybrid for a live reading at the Watershed Book Store, appearing online with a few folks actually in the room, 3 of whom bought books. This reinforced the wisdom of selling in person. I decided then to do only live in person readings. My primary reason for holding out for them is simply that just like in radio sales, or any sales transaction, it is more effective to sell to someone in person. If you have ever attended a book reading and bought a book afterwards because — well, because — you kind of felt you had to, you get my point. I call it the sympathy factor. Who among us can turn away a little Girl Scout standing at our door selling cookies?
Being Your Best Advocate
Now that libraries, coffee shops, and wineries are returning to more normal operations I have been able to book some live readings. My Joe Taylor, Writer Facebook page is gradually growing. Sales are slowly picking up. I should be happy, and I am. But, there are times, as I post another reminder to buy my book or talk a librarian or business owner into hosting a reading that I feel like I’m a door to door book salesman.
Other authors, not just beginners like me, that I’ve talked to feel this way too. Hell, authors I’ve seen interviewed on network TV complain about having to be a pitchman for their book. But, if we don’t actively sell and promote our books who will? That great adventure, hilarious story, heartfelt truth that is your book, will never be read if you don’t sell it.
Yes, selling it means asking for money for it. Many of us, especially retirees like me, view our writing as a welcome relief from the business and work-a-day world. Many retirees have a part time job to keep busy. So, imagine that instead of driving an ice cream truck at $7.25 an hour, your part time job is writing a book. The hundreds of hours you put into writing your book deserve to be compensated. You have produced a product that will bring people pleasure. The ice cream man rings his truck’s bell unashamedly, kids flock to it with coins in hand, his treat gives them pleasure, he has earned his coins. So have you.
