Robert Redford’s character speaks those words in the last line of “The Candidate,” about a long-shot politician who sells his integrity and betrays his ideals to win a U.S. Senate race.
At this point, you’re wondering: “Gee, what the heck did you DO in order to get this book published?”
Nothing devious, I promise. I just like the question and want use it in this context. Okay, you’ve written, edited and published the book. What do I do now? How much time do I spend promoting? At what point do I jump back into writing the next book?
I don’t really have answers right now, just those questions. I’ve never done this before. Tuesday was certainly a good start — 15 books sold — but I obviously want to sell more. What author doesn’t?
Now it becomes a balancing act — part promotion, part blogging and part writing. If you think that balance is starting to get out of whack around here, just speak up.
alexadena 
Great post Alex. You have identified thing that must be done. Social media, knowing about the publishing industry and the part we all hate– at least I do– marketing.
Here’s some advice to myself that I will share. First I’m a novelist- Two published and another at the editor. I’m not one of the bloggist that gives a lot of advice on how to do something they’re never done– publish a book- a many paged novel.
Okay, now for the advice to me. Do your social stuff write a bunch of blogs you can post while you’re writing a manuscript. Market you previous books. When it comes time to write your manuscript you have got to get away from all of that and put your effort into the book. If you don’t it will be crap. There is no way to tweet, blog, tell writers how to write, help your neighbor build a shed or farm more than an hour a day. You have to– after building a plan for your book- sit down and write. It has to be 80,000 words or more. It has to be in your every waking moment. Not just writng but working out things to come and things that have happened. It is your life for a few months. You might take a day from time to time to throw out a blog- post a few tweets, do an interview– but most of your time must be given to your manuscript–period.
Crawl in your hole and write. After the last period of the first draft raise your head up and take a break to join the world for a bit. Give the manuscript a rest before you dive back in to rewrite, rewrite, rewrite.
This is the advice I have to give to myself so I can write something for the readers. Being an author now days is no big deal. Being a good author that does everything for the readers– rewriting, editing, copy editing– That the life of a novelist.
I’m enjoying you blog and you look like your on the right track. 15 books the first day! What that means is you’re an author! Congrats.
“Being an author now days is no big deal. Being a good author that does everything for the readers– rewriting, editing, copy editing– That the life of a novelist.”
That’s really the nut of it, isn’t it? It all starts with the words.
I don’t think I’ll ever be able to completely give up promotion and do nothing but write for a two or three month stretch. I’d rather dedicate certain days of the week to writing and the others to promoting.
But the promoting — that’s where I feel like I’m lost in the woods. I grew up an incredibly shy person and to do any promoting is really tough for me. I wish there was a line I could see so I would know where to stop before the promoting stuff starts annoying people, because that’s the last thing I want to do.
Alex. I appologise for my bit of flaming- I really do get tried of people putting everything into maketing something they don’t have and advising about things they’ve never done. The used car salemen of the internet.
You’re right about promoting(marketing) but it doesn’t take much time and only allow it certains days. If you get a bit stuck in a plot you’ll stop and promote instead of working through it. That’s not good- I think.
When you in a good manuscript it will consume you and you must let it.
Don’t feel like the Lone Ranger as far as marketing. Most writers- good novelist, poets and artist are shy or reclusive. I know talking about myself- building me up- is really hard to do. But you must and know you’re doing it for your works. I’ve found passive marketing– just getting to know others on Twitter, faceBook and Linkedin is a great way for people to know you.
By the way. I was one of those 15 people who bought your book the first day and it was because of the contact you made– so it does work. Chances of getting rich writing fiction is minimal at best. It’s the ‘How To’ writers that do that.
I would recommend a book by Kristen Lamb @KristenLambTX titled, “We Are Not Alone”-. It;s a book on Social Media marketing and Brands for fiction writers. There’s lots of good ideas in it.
Good luck, bro!