aw, Aly! I look forward to spreading the amazing news of your future books! It’s mutual—and excited about your new writing group endeavor. I saw it on Margo’s instagram I think, when I turn back to actually writing I hope to join in at some point.
This piece is such a gift! Wow! The ideas you've given for brainstorming (and tying it all to MadLibs) is just absolutely brilliant. And I am so, so honored to have been included in this piece too. Thank you for your kindness and encouragement!
I read that piece in TODAY and was like ANNA GETS IT becuase I’m already overwhelmed with options and I have a baby and a toddler. How do they already have so many things and why are they all Saturday mornings, haha. We’re also having that third kid conversations and this one of the factors!
Honestly (and this is another piece) but third kid + extracurriculars = me stepping back from full time work. It wasn’t a surprise — I knew I would probably need to make adjustments to work if I added a third baby, but I’m *so curious* about how many moms scale back on job stuff because of extracurricular pressure.
As a querying debut memoir author, this post is PURE GOLD. I had a real moment as I was completing my book proposal this morning and doing some market research on the side, where I realized that unless a debut author has a well-built platform it is *extremely difficult* to break through the market. And to be real, I already knew this, but when I started looking at the number of reviews some of my favorite authors had as an indicator of sales, it really hit me just how hard it is to sell books. So I am REALLY thinking about what this means as I continue to build my own platform and how to shift gears into a publicity mindset now that my manuscript is query ready. This post came at just the right moment and I have to thank you for writing it because it's given me some good direction as I continue to consider the approach I want to take. Thank you!
Mirella, hi! Oh you’re in the fun part! I like to think that while you do have to layout marketing and publicity and audience in a proposal, you can also make space to layout dreams (places you could speak for large groups interested in your memoir, people you might ask to blurb the book, spaces that would potentially welcome the book. A little bit of what your platform is AND what your platform COULD be with some hard work.
And while of course I’m pro-reviews and publicity hits, sales are so much more than that and there are so many ways in! You’ll find your people! 💌
What a lovely encouragement, Cassie! I will definitely keep that in mind as I hone my marketing and publicity plan! I have very much been keeping speaking opportunities in mind as that is one of the skillsets I bring to authorship. Thanks so much for your response.
Thank you - what a master class post! This is platinum rule marketing for the publishing world at its best and its absolutely the kind of session at AWP that would be in the largest salon room and standing room only with folx turned away at the door. So much to unpack here - my biggest takeaway was to shift the gaze from old news macro to the contemporary micro in order to craft and enliven a compelling query - as in, which headlines are in the news now that are creating a stir?
Oh, Danna—this is so kind, thank you! I thought about writing a piece about headlines next since they’re most often not chosen by writers, but written for SEO and clicks and what does that say about how we angle things!
As someone who spent 40 years in marketing, PR, communications, and journalism before retiring recently to chase more creative pursuits, I'm happy to see this, and also saddened to hear that few MFA programs spend any time discussing the importance of marketing and public relations. Marketing and PR skills are essential for writers to succeed these days, whether they're shooting for a big publishing deal or going the indie/self-publishing route. The Mad Libs approach is fantastic, too.
As a writer/creator who seeks to create as a full time profession - an agent feels so comforting because it’s someone out there rooting for you, helping you, in the trenches of what is often a lonely (and unpaid!) world.
Your formula makes total sense, but as someone who is new-ish to the space, it feels less lonely to have a single person - an agent - say I believe in your work versus the raw experience of seeking publicity.
Sharing in case anyone else is there, you’re not alone!!
you can have both! That’s the joy. You can think through publicity for how to approach that agent at the same time as looking through who to query! It’ll make you better at both ends. And also, writing groups are so powerful and I’ve seen so many made here—you should totally see if there are people near you (or not!) who want to do the think together. @Chill Subs is a great outlet for this!
This response made me so happy; and what I'm coming to love about the community blooming on Substack. Also thanks for the reco on the @ChillSubs - checking it out rn! XX
Excellent advice for so many reasons. I have a Memoir due out for Father’s Day and have a publicist helping me and the publisher to build our plan. I am obsessing about the title and cover; and routinely go to bookstores, to look at Memoir covers.
I realize the audience of readers is mostly women and although a Father’s Day release, my story is about overcoming tragedy,abandonment, adoption, discovering my biological father, and fighting through demons to become a father of five and adopting my own child while becoming a trial lawyer representing children as a voluntary guardian as litem handling catastrophic cases.
Do you have suggestions or recommendations re the cover - title- and how to market to the actual readers?
Hi Steven! Congratulations—this sounds like a great book. It’s definitely good to have an idea of covers that are on the market and maybe what’s trending, but the most important aspect of any cover is going to be remembering C.R.A.P. Which stands for contrast, repetition, alignment, proximity. It’s design 101 but whenever I look at covers I like to see how each of those were thought about and why the elements are there together (and what each is suggesting to a reader). Authors don’t get a ton of say, usually a contract says something like “meaningful contribution” which usually means they’ll present a few and you get to pick and then suggest some tinier things.
Thank you-I know the publishers have some suggestions and want my input...ultimately, I will narrow it down to three and then poll my friends and family..
I feel like a ton of those Madlib bits could be used individually as marketing resources or "social media promo posts" and they're way better than almost everything I've seen come directly from everyday marketers that are out there right now.
Cassie I didn’t know it was possible to have a PR crush, but you are my PR crush. This post is gold, and deeply appreciated.
aw, Aly! I look forward to spreading the amazing news of your future books! It’s mutual—and excited about your new writing group endeavor. I saw it on Margo’s instagram I think, when I turn back to actually writing I hope to join in at some point.
This piece is such a gift! Wow! The ideas you've given for brainstorming (and tying it all to MadLibs) is just absolutely brilliant. And I am so, so honored to have been included in this piece too. Thank you for your kindness and encouragement!
I read that piece in TODAY and was like ANNA GETS IT becuase I’m already overwhelmed with options and I have a baby and a toddler. How do they already have so many things and why are they all Saturday mornings, haha. We’re also having that third kid conversations and this one of the factors!
Honestly (and this is another piece) but third kid + extracurriculars = me stepping back from full time work. It wasn’t a surprise — I knew I would probably need to make adjustments to work if I added a third baby, but I’m *so curious* about how many moms scale back on job stuff because of extracurricular pressure.
Hi Cassie!
As a querying debut memoir author, this post is PURE GOLD. I had a real moment as I was completing my book proposal this morning and doing some market research on the side, where I realized that unless a debut author has a well-built platform it is *extremely difficult* to break through the market. And to be real, I already knew this, but when I started looking at the number of reviews some of my favorite authors had as an indicator of sales, it really hit me just how hard it is to sell books. So I am REALLY thinking about what this means as I continue to build my own platform and how to shift gears into a publicity mindset now that my manuscript is query ready. This post came at just the right moment and I have to thank you for writing it because it's given me some good direction as I continue to consider the approach I want to take. Thank you!
Mirella, hi! Oh you’re in the fun part! I like to think that while you do have to layout marketing and publicity and audience in a proposal, you can also make space to layout dreams (places you could speak for large groups interested in your memoir, people you might ask to blurb the book, spaces that would potentially welcome the book. A little bit of what your platform is AND what your platform COULD be with some hard work.
And while of course I’m pro-reviews and publicity hits, sales are so much more than that and there are so many ways in! You’ll find your people! 💌
What a lovely encouragement, Cassie! I will definitely keep that in mind as I hone my marketing and publicity plan! I have very much been keeping speaking opportunities in mind as that is one of the skillsets I bring to authorship. Thanks so much for your response.
Wow! This is super helpful. I love Mad Libs and seeing them in this way is amazing and actionable. Thank you for this post!
Thank you for these! I like how the madlib approach makes publicity feel a bit more playful.
Also commenting to say how strange it was to see a photo of Omie’s coffee pop up! I lived two blocks from there until fairly recently.
ah fun! Our kids’ grandparents live over that way so we’re there a lot (plus museum of life and science and all that!).
Such a great museum. My kids miss it!
Wait, Tiff you moved to ENGLAND! From Durham?? I feel like this comment section is not big enough for me to ask the questions I want to ask, haha!
lol yeeesss to the Publishers Marketplace screenshot
Thank you - what a master class post! This is platinum rule marketing for the publishing world at its best and its absolutely the kind of session at AWP that would be in the largest salon room and standing room only with folx turned away at the door. So much to unpack here - my biggest takeaway was to shift the gaze from old news macro to the contemporary micro in order to craft and enliven a compelling query - as in, which headlines are in the news now that are creating a stir?
Oh, Danna—this is so kind, thank you! I thought about writing a piece about headlines next since they’re most often not chosen by writers, but written for SEO and clicks and what does that say about how we angle things!
Whoa. This is BEYOND brilliant.
I appreciate you!
I also just saw in your welcome email that you're connected to the wonderful Chrissy Hennessey!! I should have known!
Ahhh she was a very good mentor to me when I got to the Mfa program at UNCW & a sounding board while I was there—she’s the best!
How lovely!! And this is completely unsurprising to hear. She's so wise.
It's really a catch-22, isn't it. You need a book to get publicity and you need publicity to get a book deal.
This is one of the most practical author publicity things I've ever read. Thank you!
ah, I appreciate you saying so, Sarah!
As someone who spent 40 years in marketing, PR, communications, and journalism before retiring recently to chase more creative pursuits, I'm happy to see this, and also saddened to hear that few MFA programs spend any time discussing the importance of marketing and public relations. Marketing and PR skills are essential for writers to succeed these days, whether they're shooting for a big publishing deal or going the indie/self-publishing route. The Mad Libs approach is fantastic, too.
Love the information, the directions and the mad lib / question exercises, thank you!
Appreciate you reading, Tatyana!
As a writer/creator who seeks to create as a full time profession - an agent feels so comforting because it’s someone out there rooting for you, helping you, in the trenches of what is often a lonely (and unpaid!) world.
Your formula makes total sense, but as someone who is new-ish to the space, it feels less lonely to have a single person - an agent - say I believe in your work versus the raw experience of seeking publicity.
Sharing in case anyone else is there, you’re not alone!!
you can have both! That’s the joy. You can think through publicity for how to approach that agent at the same time as looking through who to query! It’ll make you better at both ends. And also, writing groups are so powerful and I’ve seen so many made here—you should totally see if there are people near you (or not!) who want to do the think together. @Chill Subs is a great outlet for this!
This response made me so happy; and what I'm coming to love about the community blooming on Substack. Also thanks for the reco on the @ChillSubs - checking it out rn! XX
Excellent advice for so many reasons. I have a Memoir due out for Father’s Day and have a publicist helping me and the publisher to build our plan. I am obsessing about the title and cover; and routinely go to bookstores, to look at Memoir covers.
I realize the audience of readers is mostly women and although a Father’s Day release, my story is about overcoming tragedy,abandonment, adoption, discovering my biological father, and fighting through demons to become a father of five and adopting my own child while becoming a trial lawyer representing children as a voluntary guardian as litem handling catastrophic cases.
Do you have suggestions or recommendations re the cover - title- and how to market to the actual readers?
Hi Steven! Congratulations—this sounds like a great book. It’s definitely good to have an idea of covers that are on the market and maybe what’s trending, but the most important aspect of any cover is going to be remembering C.R.A.P. Which stands for contrast, repetition, alignment, proximity. It’s design 101 but whenever I look at covers I like to see how each of those were thought about and why the elements are there together (and what each is suggesting to a reader). Authors don’t get a ton of say, usually a contract says something like “meaningful contribution” which usually means they’ll present a few and you get to pick and then suggest some tinier things.
Thank you-I know the publishers have some suggestions and want my input...ultimately, I will narrow it down to three and then poll my friends and family..
I'm preparing to publish my first book as an indie author and this is gold. Thank you!
Ah, thanks Claudia! And congratulations!!
I feel like a ton of those Madlib bits could be used individually as marketing resources or "social media promo posts" and they're way better than almost everything I've seen come directly from everyday marketers that are out there right now.
Ah, Michelle, I appreciate you saying so. That’s such a good idea on the social media post front—yes! I hadn’t thought of that!