Thanks so much, Gabino. I really needed to hear this right now. I’ve been wrestling with the whole “am I a writer or a marketer” thing. Some well-meaning folks say things like “You just have to find the right balance”, which is a great sentiment––the problem is that except for some nice fleeting moments, it never really feels “balanced”, and we end up feeling guilty and stressed about neglecting one or the other. One things I really appreciate about your post is that there’s no “Top Ten Things You Should Be Doing” advice. There’s more than enough of that out there. Your post made me feel “seen”, which, I believe, was your intention––so, mission accomplished. And thank you (again.)
Raising my hand as another author with a 2024 pre-election (two weeks before) release, sophomore effort as well. Plug, plug, away. What else can we do?
I really don't knock any type of marketing. What more can any of us do but try one thing after another and hope that something works? We're just doing what we need to do to try and make a dollar while crafting entertainment. Unless someone volunteers to pay your rent and utility bill and Little Debbie cakes bill, they have no right to advise you on marketing. Great post, Gabino.
Some of the readers who discovered my family over the years found those books in the dollar bin and became fans and then bought the new book. Getting someone to discover that book for the first time is worth so much. You have such a good mentality and attitude on all of this.
When one of my Parasocial Writer Pals has a book, you know what I do? I SHILL THE HELL OUT OF IT. Endlessly. I do not care. I tell everyone about the amazing thing with the pride of a mom showing off her kid's kindergarten illustration. It utterly SUCKS that artists have to also be marketers in addition to being paid chump change for their actual art.
📢 To anyone selling a book for 99¢ - - there are book promotion websites with zillions of readers where you can announce a "99¢ for one day only sale" & save yourself this extra work.
I'm listening to The Devil Takes You home on Audible at the moment and loving it. I first heard about your writing from the found fiction collections, and it's great to hear the novel read so well.
As for plugging things.... Yeah, I dread it! I'm planning to self-publish my first novel next springtime (got a professional line editor queued up to work on it before then) and the marketing is the bit I'm least excited about. Stil, some people will read it, which is better than nobody.
Keep fighting the good fight and plugging the good plugs!
I love the marketing side of writing. I am a super rare exception. But i suck at online sales. 80% of my sales are in person. People buy from people they like. Maybe the sophomore book will have better balance.
Thanks so much, Gabino. I really needed to hear this right now. I’ve been wrestling with the whole “am I a writer or a marketer” thing. Some well-meaning folks say things like “You just have to find the right balance”, which is a great sentiment––the problem is that except for some nice fleeting moments, it never really feels “balanced”, and we end up feeling guilty and stressed about neglecting one or the other. One things I really appreciate about your post is that there’s no “Top Ten Things You Should Be Doing” advice. There’s more than enough of that out there. Your post made me feel “seen”, which, I believe, was your intention––so, mission accomplished. And thank you (again.)
Raising my hand as another author with a 2024 pre-election (two weeks before) release, sophomore effort as well. Plug, plug, away. What else can we do?
I really don't knock any type of marketing. What more can any of us do but try one thing after another and hope that something works? We're just doing what we need to do to try and make a dollar while crafting entertainment. Unless someone volunteers to pay your rent and utility bill and Little Debbie cakes bill, they have no right to advise you on marketing. Great post, Gabino.
Some of the readers who discovered my family over the years found those books in the dollar bin and became fans and then bought the new book. Getting someone to discover that book for the first time is worth so much. You have such a good mentality and attitude on all of this.
I needed this. Thank you. Always nervous to hit “Post” on posts about my books. Keep rockin’ it.
When one of my Parasocial Writer Pals has a book, you know what I do? I SHILL THE HELL OUT OF IT. Endlessly. I do not care. I tell everyone about the amazing thing with the pride of a mom showing off her kid's kindergarten illustration. It utterly SUCKS that artists have to also be marketers in addition to being paid chump change for their actual art.
📢 To anyone selling a book for 99¢ - - there are book promotion websites with zillions of readers where you can announce a "99¢ for one day only sale" & save yourself this extra work.
I'm listening to The Devil Takes You home on Audible at the moment and loving it. I first heard about your writing from the found fiction collections, and it's great to hear the novel read so well.
As for plugging things.... Yeah, I dread it! I'm planning to self-publish my first novel next springtime (got a professional line editor queued up to work on it before then) and the marketing is the bit I'm least excited about. Stil, some people will read it, which is better than nobody.
Keep fighting the good fight and plugging the good plugs!
I felt all of this down to my bones. Thank you. And ... I'm buying your book, so it worked.
I love the marketing side of writing. I am a super rare exception. But i suck at online sales. 80% of my sales are in person. People buy from people they like. Maybe the sophomore book will have better balance.
I'm a million rungs lower down the ladder, man, but this rings so true. That 99c sale which bags you a new reader is gold.
"Dead reader"
Damn, I felt that typo deep down in my plums.
I intend to read every book you publish in my lifetime. Batting a thousand so far.
Cheers. Here's to your doing this for the remainder of your lifetime.
"(I already gave [my soul] to the Devil for a book contract…and the fucker still insisted on getting his name on the cover)"
Well played, sir. 😄
This is exactly what I needed to read today, trying to get my new novelette in the hands of readers who I know will love it!