I’ve been thinking about my involvement in social media, podcasting and general networking, specifically with a focus on how I hope it will help me get my work published. I’ve come to a conclusion and it is this: the people who podcast thinking it will get them published directly are missing the point.

Now, if you’ve read any of my posts, you know that I rarely make inflammatory comments. It’s not that I’m afraid of starting controversy, but rather I just don’t care to do so. So why do I make one now (and yes, I know on the flame scale it still rates pretty low)?

Let me put it this way; those of us who listen to podcasts know of at least one (and likely several) podcasters who have managed a book contract. Naturally, if you jump to conclusions you might do the calculation: write something + podcast it = book contract.

That has been true in a couple situations but if you really start to look under the covers you will find an individual who has been working his/her butt off to get their work out there. Often, although we don’t necessary realize it, the work is put under contract because of the author’s hard work and outreach, not because it was podcast.

This leads me to the point of this post (I knew I’d get there eventually): podcasters and people involved in social media are exactly that, involved. Those people are actively seeking out an audience and talking about what they do and THAT is my point.

At the end of the day it doesn’t matter whether you podcast your work or not. What matters is that you engage people. Do it through a blog, Twitter, Facebook, podcasts, whatever. Just do it.

Let me give you a couple of personal examples of how I have reached out and made some great contacts which, I believe, is helping me move forward in my quest for publication.

1. I have volunteered for the past six years at the Calgary Young Writer’s Conference – this volunteering hasn’t gotten me any editor/publisher contacts, but it has let me meet some amazing writers. Writers who have become my mentors in various ways. It has also given me contacts within the Conference committee so I can become a guest presenter when I get a book published. Immediate access to my fans.
2. I talk to those writers you see sitting alone at book signings. This has introduced me to more great writers including one who I consider a mentor and guide. It also gives me insight to how the publishers work and what can work/not work in signings.
3. I’ve attended conventions with other writers. I’ve met several publishers who have considered my work and given me guidance. In many cases, these publishers have given me insight about my work that I wouldn’t have received through traditional submissions. I’ve also gotten good insight into the publishing industry through these publishers. The authors I’ve met have shared their experiences with me and made suggestions that have helped me to improve my craft. This advice has been worth its weight in gold.
4. Podcasting. I can’t even begin to tell you how much great advice I’ve gotten through my podcasting. I’ve made connections with Publishers, Editors and Authors who all have valuable things to say. I’ve learned about contests and submission opportunities and what to do and not to do in my writing and submissions. I have had the benefit of meeting and connecting with the wonderful people who make up my audience and I’ve become a member of the dynamic podcasting community.
5. Blogging. Just writing down some of the challenges and successes I’ve had has really put things into perspective for me. The added bonus of growing a reading audience is exactly that, a bonus. Having the site also shows perspective publishers that I care about having a presence.
6. Twitter/Facebook. I’m lumping these together even though they are very different. At the end of the day both tools (and they ARE tools) allow me to get to know people I never would have met before in a very personal way. I’m getting contacts this way, it’s true, but I’m also making friends. An even more valuable thing. AND I hear about all the cool things (like contests and open submissions) that I wouldn’t have known about otherwise.
7. NanoWriMo. I’ve tried to be involved in the regional group as a cheerleader, writer and mentor. This increases my local exposure as well as allows me to help others with their craft. I’ve made several friends through NanoWriMo.

I’m sure I’ve done other things, but you get the point. There are TONS of ways to get involved with people through your writing. These connections may help you get published and they may not. But having a community you can rely on is so important. Having your own group of cheerleaders can always prop you up when you’re down and you never know if it will translate into a sale. I’m still waiting for that first contract, but I know it’s coming and that’s largely because of the people I’ve met through my efforts.

Personal Update

I discovered that this blog has made it to the short list of the “Author Blog Awards”. I’m up against some pretty tough competition (i.e. Neil Gaiman) so I could really use your votes. Go to http://tinyurl.com/ydusrwo and vote for me. Did I mention that anyone participating in the vote is eligable for prizes? I didn’t? Well, let me tell you, several publishers are offering books and other prizes to any people that vote. Look for www.michellplested.com and vote for me. And before I leave this topic, thank you to everyone who nominated me to make it this far.

Tags: author blog awards, blogging, facebook, irreverent muse, Michell Plested, neil gaiman, podcasting, twitter, www.michellplested.com

For those of you who tuned into the site yesterday, you would have noticed a strange message. In it I appeared to be talking about NanoWriMo only to have a weird “hacker” type message appear. This was not a mistake. I had actually volunteered to participate in JC Hutchins’ promotional campaign for his “7th Son, Descent” book launch yesterday.

The premise was as follows: one of JC’s characters in “7th Son” is a world-class computer hacker. Wouldn’t it be fun if several sites were “hacked” by the character for promotional purposes? The same idea was carried out on Twitter too.

JC has always had innovative promotional ideas and I take notes every time he comes up with something new. Promotion is intended to create a buzz, but JC goes one step further. He gets people involved to the extent that they become an integral part of the promotion itself. I think that is where the secret of marketing yourself lies.

Take, for example, a book signing. That is a promotional thing but how often do you see authors sitting at a table in the bookstore twiddling their thumbs, alone? Surely they get a few people to stop by, but when you compare those few against the overall time, it appears that no one comes. What if you could get those few people to help you get bigger numbers? What if you did something to incent them to bring friends, family and even total strangers to the event? Do you think that might increase your sales?

The problem I see with promotion and marketing is actually getting people to be aware of it. If you do a huge newspaper advertisement along with radio and television spots you will reach a lot of people. Are they the right people? Who knows, but one thing is certain, you will be paying more money than you will likely ever recover.

If you restrict yourself to online promotion (i.e. Twitter, Facebook and blogs) you are more likely to hit the target audience, but only the people who know about you will see what’s going on. What JC has done is take his existing online community and created a “Street Team” who actively evangelizes his work. Yes there are incentives (non-monetary) to do so but you would never get rich doing it. What you are able to do is become a part of something bigger. By utilizing his community and getting them pounding the pavement, so to speak, JC really gets the best of both worlds. He gets a targeted, broadly sweeping campaign that (I believe) paid off handsomely for him.

So what is the “right” way to do it? I don’t think there is any magic bullet. You, as a writer, need to do the traditional things like readings and signings. The challenge is to do them in non-traditional ways. You also need to use every resource available to you: Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, blogs, podcasts and so on to spread the word.

I know I’m inspired. Now I need a book to evangelize. Getting a book published will have to be my next step. Now get out there and innovate.

Personal Update

Frenzied. That single word really defines my life the past couple months. I work full-time, have a two-night-a-week-minimum commitment to Scouts and I’ve been editing like crazy to meet a self-imposed October 31 editing deadline. That doesn’t even take into account the podcast work I do and family time (of which there is not enough). Yup, frenzied is the word.

The editing is going well and I still think I can hit the October 31 deadline. Why October 31, you ask? Well, the following day is the start of NanoWriMo. I don’t want the two to interfere with each other any more than they have to.

I still have to do some outlining for Nano (although I now doubt that I’ll get as much done as I wanted) and I have a podcast to record and produce this week so I won’t have much time for anything else. (Sigh) Such is the life, I suppose. I was reminded today that I’m working towards a  big payoff (publication) which will make it all worthwhile. Oh yes, it will. That’s when I’ll have to put what I’ve learned about promotion into play.

Tags: 7th Son, facebook, Get Published, irreverent muse, jc hutchins, Michell Plested, nanowrimo, podcast, twitter