The following is a guest post by Michael from The Entrepreneur Hub! Give him a visit at theentrepreneurhub.com for more great entrepreneurship-related content like this!
Maybe your first novel is going to be published soon, or perhaps you’ve just found an agent. Either way, you’re eager to make your mark as an author, and you’re wondering how to gain positive exposure for your work. These tips will show you how to draw up a business plan, write ironclad contracts, and meet other authors in person!
Develop a Business Plan
You might not think of your writing endeavors as a business pursuit – but even artists need business plans! To create a business plan, start by writing down which types of books you plan to sell and what your publishing schedule might be like. You should also include details about which platforms you’re planning to use for selling your books. If you plan to register with a business structure, you can note this, too, as well as your project budgets, projected income, and any funding you might need.
Draw Up Strong Contracts
Many people in creative professions overlook the importance of strong contracts when they’re conducting business. But it’s all too easy for new authors to take a financial hit because someone takes advantage of them when they’re looking for early exposure.
If you offer other writing services to clients in addition to writing novels, you can find basic contract templates online and tweak them to suit your business. Furthermore, it’s a good idea to use a PDF editing tool that will allow you and your clients to fill out and sign contracts online without printing physical documents. Once you e-sign it, you can safely and securely send the files.
Utilize Social Media
Do you follow some of your favorite authors on social media? If you’re already on these platforms, it’s time to start sharing details about your own work, too! Putting yourself out there can be intimidating, but it’s crucial if you want to sell books. To use social media effectively, Gatekeeper Press recommends hosting Q&A live streams to chat with your readers, posting progress updates about your latest books, or sharing writing tips to help other new authors.
Enter Contests
Entering writing contests is a great way to bring more attention to your work. You might assume that it’s not worth entering contests if you’re inexperienced because your chances of winning seem slim – but if someone has to earn the prize, why shouldn’t it be you? If you want to enter a particular writing contest, make sure to go over all of the submission requirements in detail so that you don’t miss any requirements.
Network In-Person
Finally, it’s important to look beyond the internet in terms of gaining exposure. You’ll also want to connect with a writing community offline! While getting together with other writers in person can feel a little nerve-wracking at first, it’s also a lot of fun. To meet writers in your area and make friends with other authors, Novel Publicity recommends going to events in your city, like public readings, or signing up for a writer’s workshop that meets regularly.
Just be sure to come armed with a stand-out business card to pass along to others. There’s nothing like having your own calling card with your branding message as you meet potential partners and clients. When you’re looking for an online business card creator, here’s a possible solution that offers professionally-designed templates you can choose to personalize with your contact information, graphics, colors and logo. Business cards remain a medium that has long-lasting appeal and a tangible way to stay in front of others.
At these events, you can offer to exchange manuscripts with writers and give them feedback. This is a great way to learn more about the revision process and get inspiration for your future projects.
It’s not easy to break into the publishing industry. If you have a novel in the works, you’ll need to focus heavily on self-promotion and getting eyes on your work. By developing a clear business plan, working with contracts, having a business card, and leveraging social media to your advantage, you can build a loyal audience.
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Thanks to Michael for contributing this guest article! If you enjoyed the post, remember to check out more of his content over at The Entrepreneur Hub!
Grammarai Warrior 