Grael Norton

7 October, 2013

9 reasons authors should still commit to sending press releases

By Grael Norton|2023-06-09T11:25:25-07:00October 7, 2013|Marketing, Resources|Comments Off on 9 reasons authors should still commit to sending press releases

Google has new rules about press releases. Writing them simply to get links back to your site and create Google synergy is no longer a favorable action but there are still plenty of positive reasons that authors should use online press releases.

After all, when it comes to selling more books, there are other entities to impress, besides Google, in the bookselling world. Think of people like book readers, book reviewers, bookstores, publishers, media-hungry folks looking for a good story, bloggers looking for someone to interview, radio and TV stations looking for the next great guest on their program.

Still not convinced? Here are nine reasons that writing press releases every 30 to 90 days should be part of your yearly book marketing strategy:

1. Exposure. This goes without saying. Wonder why no one is buying your books? One good reason may be they simply don’t know your book exists. Let people know.

2. […]

23 September, 2013

How to use a storyboard to plan your next book

By Grael Norton|2023-06-09T11:26:45-07:00September 23, 2013|Resources, Writing|Comments Off on How to use a storyboard to plan your next book

While storyboards are commonly used for creating video scenes and movies, they can also be used for planning your book. Whether your book is fiction or nonfiction creating a storyboard can help you to plan a timeline, plots, subplots, characters, and events.

To get started you will need a wide board that is smooth enough for sticky notes to stick. A 4 x 8 poster board can be rather expensive but you can make one yourself either with butcher paper that you tape to a wall or cut a large cardboard box cut to make a single surface. Use a big enough size that you can spread your notes apart and read them easily.

Initial Idea Session

You will need a small pad of 2- or 3-inch Post-it notes. To start, simply put a single idea about your book on a Post-it note. One idea per note. Slap it on the board. Any […]

14 September, 2013

Should you enter a Writer’s Digest eBook contest?

By Grael Norton|2023-06-09T11:26:54-07:00September 14, 2013|Marketing, Resources, Writing|Comments Off on Should you enter a Writer’s Digest eBook contest?

Writer’s Digest holding a contest for self-published eBooks?

Whoa! Times are a changing.

If your eBook has been self-published since 2008 (and yes, using Wheatmark qualifies you), you can enter your book for a chance to be on the front cover of Writer’s Digest magazine and win $2,000. You can submit a print edition of your book as well as an eBook version as long as it is self-published.

While Writer’s Digest does not have a huge circulation, a little over a hundred thousand subscribers, being noted as a winner by this established writing magazine will certainly give your book great credibility.

Wonder if your book has a chance? Here is what your eBook will be evaluated on:

Content
Writing Quality
Production Quality
Appearance

This is where Wheatmark’s continued insistence that your book have an awesome cover, professional layout and top-notch editing will give you a legs up on the competition. There will be one grand […]

16 August, 2013

Why every author should create a book marketing blueprint

By Grael Norton|2023-06-09T11:26:59-07:00August 16, 2013|Marketing, Publishing, Resources, Social Media|Comments Off on Why every author should create a book marketing blueprint

Writing a book? Ask yourself these three questions:

Question: What do you do once your book is written?

Answer: Get it published.

Question: What do you do once your book is published?

Answer: Sell it.

Question: How?

Answer: Create a step-by-step book marketing plan.

A friend of mine is an avid fan of Robert Middleton, Action Plan Marketing. His latest post she told me is about creating an action plan for marketing your business. Leaving things up to chance, Middleton says, “Is simply going around in circles with your marketing.”

Certainly, you may get some random moments of success. But, how about consistent moments? Moments that build up your book selling so that each month you sell more books than the month before?

That is done most effectively by creating a book-marketing plan. Not a “to do” list for today. Not scribbling down a few things you could do in the next week but a step-by-step, three-year book marketing […]

2 August, 2013

7 simple letters any author can write to sell more books

By Grael Norton|2023-06-09T11:27:21-07:00August 2, 2013|Marketing, Resources, Writing|Comments Off on 7 simple letters any author can write to sell more books

One easy way even the most introverted author can sell a few books is to write letters.

Here are seven different kinds of letters you can write. With each letter include a bookmark or business card, handmade or professionally printed, that includes the title of your book, a quote, and a link to your web site.

1. Friendship letters to family and friends. Share whatever is going on with your life and of course, part of that is your book! Talk about how excited you are about it. The challenges you are facing, the successes you have had and ask if they have any ideas to help you to promote your book.

2. Write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper in response to an article that interests you. You don’t have to promote your book, just getting your name out there for a cause that is important may cause someone […]

28 July, 2013

21 perfectly practical reasons to procrastinate from writing

By Grael Norton|2023-06-09T11:27:32-07:00July 28, 2013|Resources, Writing|Comments Off on 21 perfectly practical reasons to procrastinate from writing

1. Realize that you’re not in the mood for writing … Better wait till you feel like it.

2. Remember how stupid your last writing was … Better wait till you can do better.

3. Start comparing your writing to someone else’s … and sink into discouragement.

4. Need something to drink … Go get a drink.

5. Need something to eat … Get a snack.

6. Too tired to write … Take a nap.

7. Can’t think of anything to write … play a game of solitaire.

8. Can’t think of the perfect sentence? Stop until it comes to you. This may take weeks.

9. Realize you don’t have enough information … Stop and spend more time researching.

10. Notice how hot it is. Too hot to write. Better wait till it is cooler.

11. Hmmm, seems to be too cold to write. Better leave it for now till it warms up.

12. A blank screen is taunting you. Don’t […]

14 July, 2013

5 ways to publicize your book that take 5 minutes or less

By Grael Norton|2023-06-09T11:27:45-07:00July 14, 2013|Marketing, Resources, Social Media|Comments Off on 5 ways to publicize your book that take 5 minutes or less

Publicity does not have to be big to make an impact on book sales. Something as simple as leaving a comment on a blog post with a link back to your book can be the start of a publicity campaign.

Here are 5 simple ways that you can publicize your book in less than five minutes.

1. Create an email signature that promotes your book. It can be as easy as writing the title of your book with a link to Amazon or your website. You can add a simple statement such as, “Read my new book.”

2. Write a quick comment to a blog post with a link back to a page on your website about your book. If your comment is interesting enough for people to want to know who you are, they will click through and find out about your book(s).

3. Send a fun note about your book to family […]

13 July, 2013

42 types of memoir writing

By Grael Norton|2023-06-09T11:27:56-07:00July 13, 2013|Resources, Writing|Comments Off on 42 types of memoir writing

A good beginning exercise for writing your memoir is to read the memoirs of others.

Bestselling memoirs might be the place to start for excellence in writing and understanding the different processes. You may be surprised at how differently they can be written and still grab and hold your attention.

Look at some of the less popular memoirs to give you an idea of what doesn’t work. What makes the difference between selling ten copies and ten thousand? It is just as powerful to find out what you don’t like in a memoir as to what you do.

If you have an ebook reader you can often download a chapter or sample of different memoirs to make the search short and affordable.

Finally, check out the memoirs in the area that your story will most likely fit. By reading memoirs in your own genre you can check out if is a popular niche. Going […]

24 June, 2013

How to create a basic plot for your novel

By Grael Norton|2023-06-09T11:28:10-07:00June 24, 2013|Resources, Writing|Comments Off on How to create a basic plot for your novel

Writing a plot for your story is like planning a road trip.

You start at point A and you map out how to get to point B.

A plot is not the story. It is the highway that must be traveled to get to the end. The story is how the character goes down that highway to get to the destination.

When writing your plot you must first decide what the ending is going to be. Then you work backwards, charting each point to reach the end. Every step should build to the final climax but have conflict that must be worked through to move the story along.

To make your plot more interesting than “got in car, drove to store, got bread,” you build in points of conflict that must be overcome. In a novel, there is usually one major plot line of conflict and a series of subplots.

The main conflicts basically fall […]

22 June, 2013

The super, simple secret to getting more exposure for your book

By Grael Norton|2023-06-09T11:28:16-07:00June 22, 2013|Marketing, Resources, Social Media|Comments Off on The super, simple secret to getting more exposure for your book

The super, simple secret to getting more exposure for your book…

Ready?

Here it is in a nutshell:

Comment on blogs in your niche.

You see, the way to build a new audience for your book is to go where that audience is already congregating and enter into the conversation.

Ask yourself these two simple questions.

Who do you want to know you?
Who do you want to follow you?

Now look around for blogs with those types of avid followers. Start commenting on their blog posts. When possible, try to comment as soon as the post goes live so that your comments are at the top of the list to get greater exposure.

Make sure your comment adds some spark and sparkle to the conversation. Don’t steal the light of the blogger with your own amazing story but rather highlight what they have said and offer positive feedback with sincerity.

Here are 3 powerful reasons to leave […]

Grael Norton

About Grael Norton