The Catholic Writers Guild

Over the last few months we have been talking about marketing. It is a necessary evil, but don’t let the evil take over. Each writer has to decide how much and what kind of marketing they are willing to do. Look to your strengths. Do you enjoy public speaking? Do you like to travel? If so, you can create a fan base and stir up interest in what you write. It has been my experience that public speaking is the very best way to sell books. I have had to get over a deep seated fear of public speaking. Prayer led me to understand that I needed to love the people in the audience more than I feared them.

That knowledge inspired me to create a 90 minute teaching for children. I call it “Daydream Believing.” It’s a fun, interactive seminar that teaches children to create characters and settings, turning their daydreams into stories. I had to learn to use power point and spent hours creating a give and take kind of teaching that included milk and cookies. I enjoyed it.  Why- because it wasn’t about selling books? It was about combining two things that I loved – writing and children. The Bible teaches us that “Perfect Love casts out all fear.” Find a way to market that you love and it will be a joy not a burden. Yes, I sell books at my seminars but that has become a minor bonus. I have found so much joy in sharing the creative process with future little writers that I have decided to offer the class to local schools. What I am trying to say is find a marketing tool that you love and pursue it.

Who is your audience? What are their needs? Do you write mysteries? Can you offer a mystery night at your local library? Do you write cook books? How about a seminar on healthy eating at your local school? Use some creative thinking until an idea takes.

I use other marketing skills that I had to learn. For you younger writers I encourage you to take the time to use social media. It comes naturally to you. I had to learn how to use social media because I wasn’t born in age of the internet. It wasn’t easy – I am slow and methodical but I encourage you older writers to learn to navigate the net. The surest way to become old is to stop learning. Besides, how will your characters keep current if their creator doesn’t understand the brave new world?

As far as scheduling, I do my marketing every Wednesday. Pick a day! On Wednesdays I create my tweets, so I just have to post them on the other days. I write my blogs, so I have them ready to go. And yes, I consider blogs and posts part of my marketing. I have found many readers who liked my blogs and later purchased books. I write any press releases that I want and send them to the appropriate venues. I look up and sign up for any events where I believe I might sell books. I work on talks and seminars and try to schedule them at libraries and schools. I post on Facebook and Goodreads. I write reviews of books written by others.  Helping others promote is just the right thing to do.

I don’t feel guilty about spending Wednesdays on marketing. It frees me up to write on the other days. Give marketing its own day and give your true work the rest of the week. But remember to rest on Sunday. It’s not my suggestion – it’s God’s. Use Sunday to just be – be with your family and friends, play with your dog. Daydream about your novel becoming a best seller! Give your fingers and your mind a rest. You can, you’ve done your marketing, writing, blogging and tweeting during the week. This is my last post about marketing. Pray about it, find your niche and let it go. If you finished your work you have done your best. The rest is up to God.

Karen Boyce

Karen Kelly Boyce lives on a farm in N.J. with her retired husband. She is a mother and grandmother. She is the author of “The Sisters of the Last Straw” series published by Tan Books. You can see her work and learn more about her on her website: www,kkboyce.com