Writers working with commercial publishers well know that they provide little marketing support for their authors' books. Publishers usually launch a book into the marketplace with minimal marketing planning and give the book only months to stand or fall before essentially abandoning it to the backlist.
However, the web gives authors many powerful tools and outlets for marketing their work themselves, and almost all are free. This resource aims to offer a concise guide to such marketing, as well as extensive reference Web sites and books.
Also, writers have the ability to self-publish their own books and articles, using the extensive network of consultants and other professionals, as well as technologies such as print-on-demand. This resource also includes guides to self-publishing, along with useful references.
Besides this resource, NASW Book Editor Lynne Lamberg has produced Write That Book, an excellent collection of books and online resources for book publishing (available only to NASW members).
Although I've done considerable research to gather information for this resource, I'm admittedly new to book publishing and marketing, although I'm actively involved. My wife and I have founded a small publishing company, Glyphus L.L.C., and have self-published the booklet Working with Public Information Officers, as well as my novels The Rainbow Virus, Wormholes, Solomon's Freedom, The Cerulean's Secret, The Happy Chip, The Neuromorphs and Mythicals. And, my book Explaining Research has been published by Oxford University Press. Here's a series of blog posts on my experience in self-publishing and the lessons I've learned. I hope these lessons and this collection of articles are helpful in your decision about self-publishing and in making it a rewarding experience.
I also hope my fellow NASW members will give me feedback — both insights into marketing and publishing from their own experiences and ideas for additional topics to be covered. Below is a list of articles in the Marketing & Publishing Resource. Best of luck with your publishing!
Dennis Meredith meredith@nasw.org
Article list:
- Definitions: POD, subsidy publishing, self-publishing and more
- Publishing e-books and e-articles
- Marketing on Amazon
- Promotion using Google Book Search
- Marketing your book
- Deciding to become a self-publisher
- Building a compelling writer/author Web site
- How to print on demand and make money
- Using a subsidy publisher
- Publishing organizations, discussion and support groups
- Working with book packagers and consultants
- Picking an offset printer
- Blogging to promote your book
- Basics of book design
- Using a publicity/marketing company
- Nuts and bolts of book distribution
