The Writer's Connection(sm),
a publication of The Virtual Writing Coach(sm)

"The Creative Process of Writing is a
Liberating and Therapeutic Experience"

virtualwritingcoach.com
March 2004

In This Issue:

1. Preview
2. Publisher's Note
3. Marketing Your Book
4. Getting into Action


1. Preview

The Writer's Connection explores the creative process of writing and the interplay between thoughts, feelings, and actions. We are an interactive community of authors and readers who share ideas to enhance our knowledge, skills, and experiences in writing fiction in any genre, but our emphasis remains mystery and suspense thrillers.
Published monthly, the Newsletter offers writing tips for authors, coaching suggestions, editing, and marketing information.

Topics are presented from the perspective of Keith Barton and represent only his ideas on producing your first manuscript, and are provided to the general public. Because we are an interactive community of writers, other viewpoints are welcomed and may be printed in future monthly newsletters with permission from Keith Barton.

2. Publisher's Note

March, 2004

Dear Writer's Connection Subscriber,

This month features advice for marketing your book.

3. Marketing Your Book

This month I want to talk about marketing your book, now that you've signed that contract with your agent and he/she has landed your first book deal with a publishing house. Unless you are well-known before your first book is off the presses, you most likely will not receive an advance (a monetary offer advanced to the author up-front and subtracted from anticipated future royalties). Also, you will need a marketing tool kit to help you market your first book, because the major bookstore chains are already committed to major distribution companies marketing better-known authors. Have you wondered why you seem to trip over John Grisham's latest arrival just as you walk through the door of your local B&N store? Best-selling authors command more marketing clout and help from the publishing houses. So let's assume your first book is bound, you designed the cover, and the editor did a great job at presentation in either a softcover or hardcover edition.

Look at your demographics of your typical book buyer: women in their 30s-60s. Hopefully your book will have appeal to this buyer group. I assume if you're a savvy marketer, you've realized this already and have at least one female protagonist in your novel. I am currently working with a local physician who is marketing his first book of short stories about women patients to the above demographic plus nurses, medical students, hospital staff, and others interested in the human side of medicine. This author has really done his homework and has already done radio, tv, and newspaper interviews on local medical topics in the Houston area. He also teaches at several local universities plus the medical school and has appeared as a guest on National Public Radio. His regional promotions have extended to other Texas cities including Dallas, San Antonio, and Austin. He plans to hire a publicist to handle his book promotions and to arrange book signings for him. He also has an interactive website for his patients and plans to make his book available on-line. As a member of several professional organizations, he has access to advertising promotion in national publications where he can avail himself as a speaker at regional conventions.

A media kit includes the following: bookmarkers, flyers, handouts, business cards, postcards, banners, and other promotional material that will help the local bookstore or other seller market your book. You should arrange for book signings as part of a national or regional tour. If you don't have a publicist, then contact your local bookstore and offer to give a free talk about writing and offer complimentary copies to local businesses to help promote your book. Ask to speak at local Chambers of Commerce, Rotarians, Lions Clubs, breakfast groups to promote your book. Your enthusiasm for your work will quickly convince your would-be reading public that you are committed to "getting your book out there." Since shelf space at mega-chain bookstores is hard to find (and will not get any better), you need to create your own shelf-space. Offer to speak at local writer's groups and organizations. Ask ahead of time; most sponsors will allow you to bring some copies of your book for sale, but more importantly your business cards and flyers alerting folks to where they can purchase your book. If you can manage to sell 5,000 copies, publishing houses will take notice and might offer you a marketing package on your next book or better yet, a two or three-book deal.

4. Getting into Action

"Getting in to Action" is a monthly feature of The Writer's Connection. In this section of our Newsletter, we will discuss action steps the writer can take to improved his/her knowledge base in writing novels.

This month's recommendations:


1. Put together a media package for your book. Get advice from your local Kinkos, book club, and local writer's groups.
2. Contact bookstore owners in your town to inquire as to their policy on self-promotion.
3. Contact your local book editor to see if they will agree to read and comment on your finished manuscript before the final binding (this has to be done before the book hits the shelves or goes on-line).



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Contact Information

Keith Barton, Ph.D.
Voice: 281-893-5405
Fax: 281-893-1735
Web: http://www.virtualwritingcoach.com
E-Mail: keith@virtualwritingcoach.com
(c) Copyright 2003 A. Keith Barton, Ph.D.
All rights reserved.

Distribution Rights

The Writer's Connection (sm) is copyrighted, but you may retransmit or
distribute it to whomever you wish as long as not a single word is changed, added, or deleted, including the contact information. However, you may not copy it to a web site.

Republication of The Writer's Connection (sm) in paper media is encouraged and permitted by individuals, organizations and associations, as long as the issue is reprinted in its entirety, without change, and includes the contact information.

With advance permission, we are happy to edit an issue to fit your space requirements. Republication also is encouraged under other circumstances. However, the advance permission of A. Keith Barton, Ph.D. must be obtained in the event that changes in the text are desired.

The Writer's Connection Mission:

The Writer's Connection is dedicated to helping first-time authors create their first manuscript for publication and to offer an exchange of ideas and opinions from our readers who might be interested in becoming authors.

The Writer's Connection™ is a publication of The Virtual Writing Coach and Keith Barton, Ph.D. and a registered trademark.

We would like The Writer's Connection to be as interactive as possible. If you have feedback, comments, topics you would like addressed, or can suggest additional resources to benefit us all, please email us at any time. Send your e-mail to
keith@virtualwritingcoach.com.

Please forward this issue to anyone you think would find The Writer's Connection interesting and beneficial. Your recommendation helps us keep growing, and ensures an excellent exchange of information and techniques.

Archives

You can read previous issues of The Writer's Connection at our archive at http://www.virtualwritingcoach.com/archive.html.

About Keith Barton, Ph.D.

Dr. Barton received his Ph.D. in 1972 from the University of Texas at Austin and has been a practicing therapist for over thirty years. He is currently enrolled in MentorCoach and is accepting new clients. He has been an adjunct professor at the University of South Carolina, consultant to Fortune 500 companies in executive development, founded and managed Texas Community Living Ventures, Inc., in 1986 for providing group home services to persons with mental retardation, and for the past 13 years founded and runs a clinical practice in Northwest Houston. He writes part-time with the goal of completing one novel a year. His desire to coach others derives from his passionate interest in helping others become attuned to their creative powers of storytelling.

Dr. Barton has training in coaching, cognitive and family therapy and health psychology. He has published articles, made presentations and conducted workshops about:

Anxiety and achievement
Stress management
Self-esteem
Communication skills
Marital/relationship enrichment
Wellness issues
The relationship between psychology and spirituality

© 2003 The Virtual Writing Coach and Keith Barton.