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Permalink Reply by L. A. Howard on March 14, 2012 at 11:35am

Boy, do I understand motivational difficulties!!  x_x;;;;

-- Do you follow any writer's groups on Facebook, or is it primarily friends and family you know IRL?  A lot of Internet connection is being as active as you can in as many different venues as possible, and then finding groups that are specific to your interests.  For instance, don't just do your blog and Facebook.  Expand to Google Plus, to Twitter, to LinkdIn, deviantART, etc.  And find the writer's groups/circles, etc. on there.

-- Do you comment on other people's blogs and Facebook accounts?  Another important part of social interaction online is that you MUST be willing to also care about what others are doing.  In ministry, there's a saying:  "No one cares how much you know until they know how much you care."  That's a simple way of saying that in order to get something FROM people, you have to also GIVE TO people.  

-- I understand wanting to self-publish; it's an easy route to take!  However, that doesn't mean you have to do EVERYTHING yourself.  I haven't looked into this option, but I know there's folks even on this site who offer services for editing, and maybe even beta reading.  (I'm leaning towards the agent angle myself, because the idea of having to do the advertising AND the printing AND the cover-art, etc. just sounds like a bit much for me to handle.)

-- Recruit beta-readers.  Find family and friends, online or off, who are willing to help you out.  (I'm still working on how to do this myself.  ;) )  Sometimes they can see things or offer suggestions that you can't think of.  If you know any teachers, perhaps get them in on it as well.  

-- Don't try to sell your book until the product is finished.  I know this goes against some things folks out there say, but until the book is fully edited and only needs to be published, don't worry about selling it; if you try to do both at the same time, you'll give yourself burn-out.  Just focus on the story right now, and worry about agents and advertising and all that once it's done.  

Of course, you can play around looking for someone to be interested, but honestly, since this is (I assume) your very first endeavor, I'd suggest taking it slow and easy.  (However, if Opportunity knocks, DEFINITELY grab on to it!!  :D  )

From everything I understand, advertising one's own book and looking for editors, etc. can be a full-time (and largely un-paid) job.  Just take it easy, focus on the story, and THEN advertise.  ^_^  

-- BTW, Wordpress is much more writer-friendly than Blogger.  I know it sounds weird, but Wordpress just feels more...professional.  I love mine, and advertise the HECK out of it whenever I post a new article, etc.  

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Permalink Reply by Jennifer White on March 14, 2012 at 1:27pm

Thanks so much for the tips Liz! I am just starting to utilize the social networking angle and I could definitely be doing more and giving more in order to get more response. Trouble is that when I sit down to work on my blog/networking it ends up taking up all of the time I had carved out for editing my manuscript! I will keep trucking though because I want it and I think it's worth it! Thanks again!

 

Jenny

 

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Permalink Reply by L. A. Howard on March 15, 2012 at 6:54am

You're welcome!  :D  And yeah, social networking can take up several hours if you let it!  lololol

If you budget your time for networking as well as you budget for your manuscript, I think things will come together smoothly.  ^_^  Good luck!  

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