a treasure trove for writers
rediscover Saturdays.

If you cannot see the buttons above, try the footer links below

20 ways to Start your own Writing Business
from home
the home-study CD course that will change your writing life
go here

Writing Club


Where writers are never alone...
Join other writers in our members' online writing club. Prizes.
Details here
Latest winner here

Q. My book was published by a trade publisher. My local bookshop said they will only stock it if someone orders a copy . Yours V. Cross, Limerick.

R. Alas, booksellers make a profit by selling other people's books.

They care not that you walked the railway line at considerable personal danger to find rare sweet wrappers to feature in your book: Rare Sweet Wrappers on Railway Lines. All that matters is that a reader should stump up the price of the book.

While we appreciate you took a correspondence course in marketing yourself in an attractive way; we feel your present campaign of anonymous letters to the bookseller will not move him from his intransigence.

Neither will standing outside his premises and reading from the work make much difference. It may breach the barring order in force against you.

Better to buy some sweets in their original wrappings and enjoy.

It may inspire a sequel. Sweet Wrappers in Their Original Form.

Eddie.

© www.askaboutwriting.net
03jan09 68
more eddie answers here
----------------------------------

Q. I have invented a new way of marketing a book. Should I copyright the idea, in case it's stolen? J. Whitewash, Singapore.

R. Spraypainting your novel's title on publically-accessible walls is hardly revolutionary.

Equally, your plan to scale apartment blocks to hang a poster of your book jacket aloft is fraught with peril, in a high wind. Best to take the lift up and wave from the roof, instead.

We would consider writing the book before you seek publicity to be a saner approach to marketing, all in all.

Few writers, or their agents, conduct successful auctions of rights while absailing down a high building, even with the latest mobile phone headset switched on.

Those that do can usually promise sight of the script quite readily to the winning publisher. Lying abed in a recovery position would seem to be a cumbersome approach to composition. Delays would surely follow.

If you wish to market yourself in this gorilla fashion we would suggest you begin with postcards inserted in public phone boxes. This method encourages word-of-mouth discussion of your chances of success. And you may meet interesting people.

We wish you well in the endeavour.

Eddie.

© www.askaboutwriting.net
20dec08 67
more eddie answers here
----------------------------------

===================
Buying Books
You can buy books featured in the shop window, right, by clicking on the cover for an individual title, or on the amazon box for general purchases.

home academy advertising awards conferences competitions features how2rite marketing news opportunities whatson weblinks shop askeddie

Make your writing fortune with our assisted 20-day home study course. Start today. go