See Head Spin
Most of the time I hibernate as a writer. Not so the next couple of months. I have four days of stuff going on as a speaker for this (two panels). Then I have a book and author dinner for 100+ on October 19th, a signing in November, and another school appearance that month . . . and multiple school appearances and signings after that. Consider that every single school appearance/signing entails ensuring childcare for Dynamo Boy and making sure my middle two children are okay, fed, at whatever afterschool or weekend activities . . . and my head spins. I have to do this all pretty much on my own, and oftentimes, I wish for that clone. Add to that I worry about feeling well enough on whatever big day it is . . . (I would make sure my clone was completely free of Crohn's.)
I don't particularly like coming out of my writing cave, but I know the middle grade market really demands author interactions with kids. I'd love to do more Skyping because that takes some of the pressure off. This guy does not travel because of a medical condition having to do with his stomach (I often wonder if it's Crohn's). It can be very draining--but at the same time inspiring because kids are AWESOME. They are full of energy and passion for books and authors. I adore meeting them. Just wish they could all come over to my house for a pizza party.
There are these aspects of being an author that are sort of hidden, or you don't really think about as you're writing. But if you make your living solely as a writer, it sure occurs to you pretty fast once publication looms.
And when it comes to middle grade and YA, I often wonder what the Kindle will mean. What will signings be like in the future? How will promo be affected?
Anyone have any thoughts? Anyone in the middle grade market especially who has thoughts?
18 comments:
You know, I was thinking about this this morning. Basically I was thinking about how we tend to struggle to become writers and sometimes it's not what we think it's going to be, which for me often means the entire promotion thing, which I'm not very fond of. And it occurred to me that my freelance writing pretty much got me the writing lifestyle I expected without the promotional crap that annoys me. Which doesn't mean I'm inclined to stop writing fiction, it just means that life can be rather annoying that way.
I believe Nelson DeMille has either Crohn's or colitis and I gather he manages to do some of this promotional stuff, but what a nuisance, I'm sure. Good luck.
I've been watching the MG market pretty closely (no surprise), and as far as I can tell, it remains fairly "traditional" in its patterns. There's no real MG market for Kindle-published or self-published books. I don't think the Kindle has any penetration at all into that audience of readers. I think the schools still have enormous sway over the market, and it's all about authors writing books that kids love, then getting out there and talking with and meeting kids.
I'm not even 100% sure I feel this will change. I think kids will transition to e-books, but I'm not sure it will be Kindle e-books. I wouldn't be surprised to see a third delivery venue emerge and get rapidly adopted by schools, families and kids. Perhaps it will be a Kindle, but early experiments with the Kindle as a textbook-delivery system have been disappointing. Whatever this technology is, it will be cheap, color, and tough.
If I thought there was an actual MG market for e-books, I might consider e-pubbing some of the manuscripts I have sitting around. But ... right now ... no.
Mark:
It's mainly that the disease is so unpredictable . . . I don't know if I am going to wake up and be hobbled, or wake up and be vomiting, or wake up and feel awesome. :-(
And yeah. I still love editing because someone hands me a 500-page manuscript and says, "see ya in two weeks" and I am left alone with it and my red pen. Um . . . Track Changes.
:-)
Jon:
When I do signings with MG kids, they want to HOLD THE BOOK and have it signed to them, and they want to talk to me about the things they've guessed about the series and want me to give them hints of what's to come, that sort of thing. They are VERY engaged--whereas sometimes grown-up signings don't feel that way at all.
E
There's a guy out of Michigan, Johnathan Rand, who has been enormously successful writing books for kids. I've never quite been able to figure out if he's self-published or not, but my kids loved his books, as did my brother's, when they were a certain age--probably late elementary, early middle school. He's got a great brand--they started with Michigan Chillers, which involved titles like Dinosaurs in Detroit, and other Michigan cities, then expanded it into American Chillers, like Ogres of Ohio, etc. Hell, the guy's got his own bookstore in northern Michigan.
And one of the things I've noticed, besides spot-on branding, is he did a ton of school visits--both my kids caught him at least once--and how he turned them into some sort of show. I've heard he drives up in a limo and does the whole rock star thing. And God knows Rick Riordan, who has a different approach, does an astonishing amount of travel and promotion for his books for kids. So I think it probably is really necessary for writing for kids, for the most part. On the other hand, there might be online and website ways to interact with kids now--maybe a website with live chats on a regular basis, stuff like that.
My one and only writing partner visited this past Sunday, with her she brought a middle-grade book that she purchased at a local grape festival (I live in New York State's wine country, so there's always something winy going on this time of year). She said that she couldn't resist buying it, its author a high-school freshman who set up a small table to sell his book. I looked at the spine and saw it was published via Lulu.
I tried not to roll my eyes, but the lesson here is that this young writer realized the importance of promoting. Sure, kids at his school probably think he's a major league geek, but then again, look at Bill Gates. ;-)
I think writers should realize the importance of connecting with the reading world. I have found through the book club I belong to that readers LOVE meeting authors, and that the times we've phone conference with authors we've ended up reading another one of their books. (Great marketing tool!)
One more lesson to mention: It's nice to be important, but more important to be nice. The self-published trollers need to realize this.
At one time I taught school, including some junior high. I can see how getting to know the author personally would be important to young people. It is also a real opportunity for you to make an impression on YA's at a critical time in their lives.
Mark:
I have skyped with classes. It depends on the school and technology issues--not every school has the kind of technology to pull it off successfully.
Librarians, too, are a HUGE part of the MG equation.
kath:
Knowing how excited they are, I try to take time with EACH child to make their moment at the signing memorable. It is important to be nice. Though to be honest, my personality is such that it's not difficult. LOL! I do like meeting them!
Joe:
I try to encourage the budding writers--you meet them . . . and they are SO into it. And you see a little of yourself in them (at least I do. I was writing stories and plays as a kid).
These are good pieces of advice. Thanks for sharing! I'm going to try to remember them for my signings.
Hi JW:
Promo theories abound, and it definitely depends on the age/market/genre. I know a lot of romance writers who invest in bookmarks and so on. I personally think it's not wise at all. I throw out all that crap when I get it, and I don't know a soul who keeps it.
If I had one piece of advice for any author just starting their first promo, it would be not to be so invested on being an "author"--analyze the market and spend accordingly. I think I've seen too many writers invest money in bookmarks, pens, and so on, and I don't know if there is any tangible return on that other than making the author feel cool that they have that stuff.
E
I laughed at the rock star thing. I have a con persona, and it's definitely a bit rock star. Works for musicians!
My kid is already reading his graphic novels on my ipad. I think we're going to go from signatures to friends on FB, to kids following our blogs, to Twitter follows, and other stuff the internet hasn't even dreamed up.
I took the time out to talk to a local bookseller yesterday. It's a metaphysical and religious bookstore with lots of NF, but also some religion based fiction. I just was being friendly, only later did I realize his store is a perfect place for SCAR.
As far as swag, it works at SF cons. Buttons, pens, stuff like that. Attendees like to bling up their badges. :)
I always take the time out to talk to booksellers, even though I only have eBooks so far. They are always interesting people, for sure!
Oh, and I still recall meeting SE Hinton in 4th grade. I had no idea what the OUTSIDERS was, nor that it would later become my favorite book, but that's when I started writing. 4th grade.
Starbucks:
Interesting . . . I could see buttons working for kids . . . but they are pricier to make up. But I hate swag. I bring it home for Jack-Jack or my kids, and don't really think about the book behind it. I guess I am bad to market to, LOL!
Hell, I'd bring them candy, not swag. That'll make a good impression at any age!
starbucks:
I always have a candy dish. :-)
I would love more reader interaction. I think it's definitely moreso now that I can be me, instead of the constant pressure to be what my students need or act in a certain way to parents. That was so draining, I'd go in a coma every night. My one colleague would hibernate the entire summer, like she was shell-shocked or something, LOL.
I miss kids, though, and would jump on the opportunity to talk with them. Also, I'm so deprived of people in my daily life now, that I am over the moon when I get to play with real, live people.
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