Things to Think About as You Write and Promote Your Book

by Charlotte Barnes
(Navarre, FL, USA)

The first book I ever published was called, "Creative Mojo: The Brainstormer's Book of Gift Ideas for Anytime." Now that you've read that title, I bet you know that my first piece of advice is: Keep your title short! You'll get tired of that long title after months of book promotion--I now just say, "Creative Mojo."

One of the best things I ever did, aside from getting a website, was having business cards made. It makes me feel like a writer, and they're very handy when you're having that conversation with a stranger, and they think it's cool that you're a writer, and want to know where to get your books.

One of the most important things you can do as you write your book is choose topics that you love, and not what you think publishers might want. Just writing the book is not the end by a long shot. You will spend the rest of your writing life promoting that book, and if you don't love it to your bones, you're not going to do the work to promote it.

While you're out promoting your book, remember to set boundaries. Yes, you want to promote your book, but you have to have personal boundaries. I mean this not only about how much you want your readers to know about you in a personal sense, but in a time sense as well. Make sure your book promotion activities leave you time to pursue other activities you enjoy. I like to watch college football and spend some time reading books that others have written. It recharges my batteries.

Share information with your fellow authors. Join writing groups (if you are a group kind of person). Join author networking sites. If you know other authors personally, share any good information with them. We're all trying to help each other.

Visit Charlotte Barnes, Florida Poet, Author and Humorist.