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Robert Stephen, writer, photographer, storyteller
  • Home
  • blog
  • Writing
  • Helpful Hints for Writers of Fiction
  • WHAT OTHER WRITERS HAVE TO SAY
  • AUDIO ESSAYS-STORIES-AND MORE
  • ArtWithMyCamera
  • Rory and El Paso
  • Pierre and the Baker
  • About
  • Connect
Robert Stephen, writer, photographer, storyteller

THE EXCITING JOURNEY OF Writing
​a Fictional Book

"IT'S A LUXURY BEING A WRITER,
​ BECAUSE ALL YOU EVER THINK ABOUT IS LIFE."

​AMY TAN






The Book is Completed-Yet Another Hill to Climb--MARKETING

4/25/2018
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FREE BOOK REVIEW
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​PAID BOOK REVIEW
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Nearing the time when my latest book will launch. Exciting for me! However, I admit to a short coming that many authors suffer and that is marketing. A daunting task to say the least. I finished editing early and promised myself I'd spend a week just researching various ways to market and I must say it is, and will always be, overwhelming.

Writing is a solitary job, that's a given. Marketing though requires the help of others. Whether it be cover design, book reviews, speaking engagements, book signings, and on and on. In my research I stumbled across a few sites that I wanted to share.





Author's Atlas is a well rounded site of proofreaders, editors, social media management, plus much more. This site is for author's wanting to up their game. It has a list of names of people who will help authors create a strategy for book launches. It is not a free service, but if one can afford a part time assistant, paid by the hour, it is worth investigating. I know I will and will write about my findings.




​After writing the book and uploading to Amazon or Barnes & Noble comes the nail biting part of an author's writing career, REVIEWS. I found two places The Indie View and  The Bookbloggers List where an author can submit their book for an unbiased free review. The setback is a review can and will take several weeks or months.


I believe I am like most authors. I've spent months writing, editing, rewriting, and re-editing. I'll welcome the reviews when the reviewer is able to read my book.



A paid review from reviewers like
Kirkus and IndieReader  can be expedited for a price.




​


Of course their is the author's profile page in Amazon and Goodreads, plus social media, a website if you have one, and posting on your blog. All necessary and helpful, but with all that being said there is still more that needs to be done. 


I saved one of the best finds for last. CANVA  

​If you have never heard of Canva I recommend that you familiarize yourself with this site. With a little creativity there are many useful products an author can use to promote their brand.

Below I created four bookmarks using Canva's template.


The first two-"Keep Reading Between The Lines & there are worlds between words" were from the Canva library and were free. All I did was insert my name and website.

The other two bookmarks are from my books "THE MOUSE THAT BECAME THE CAT AND LAYERS OF DECEIT."  I used a blank template and downloaded my images in less then 2 minutes for both. I called the printer and after converting each image from a jpeg to a pdf I printed 250 of each at the printers. (8 each-2x5's on a 8 1/2 x 11 card stock) Cost $80- 8 cents each.

Here is the salesman in me. I post them on any message board in markets or libraries and when I'm at place like Starbuck's and see someone reading an actual book I introduce myself, tell them I'm a writer, and give them all four bookmarks. Chutzpah, sure, but one grows an audience I reader at a time.

By the way it also takes a lot of guts to sit down and write a novel. 

Hope this helps and thanks for reading. 
#canva,#IndieReader,#Kirkus,#TheIndieReview,#TheBookbloggerslist,#Author'satlas,#bookmarketing,#Howtowriteanovel,#howtowriteabook,#learntowrite

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Comments

    Author

    Robert Stephen.
    What makes a writer? What do you envision when you think about that question?

    Someone sitting by an open window looking out over the ocean, desert, mountains? Rainy day, foggy, sunny? 

    My definition of a writer of fiction. A person who drives himself or herself to the edge of insanity when writing a story to the best of their ability that you the reader find entertaining.

    I can honestly say my life has been interesting, far from boring.  Land baron, restaurateur, photographer, artisan, author. A life full of ups and downs. A life full of stories.

    Along the way I've met hundreds of people, some interesting, some not. Some dangerous, some beautiful, some kind, and some cruel. During my lifetime I've even had my heart run over a couple of times, but when all of it is said and done I wouldn't trade it in. 


    Writing has always been inside of me, but the siren never called to me. I wasn't ready until one day in October of 2015 when life said, "Start writing."

    Writing is a long journey, full of many perils, but don't be afraid it is an exciting adventure! 

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