Square Up (for credit card payments)
Brandon Sanderson on developing an author signature.
John Green, How to Sign Your Name 150,000 Times.
Share your reflections or questions about this part of the process below.
I’ve heard several published authors recommend having a therapist on hand during and after your book launch.
You can hear Cait Flander’s talk about this on Claire Venus’ podcast Sparkle on Substack. Cait also helpfully reflects on how you don’t have to say yes to every opportunity and how important it is to say “no” and protect your energies during launch.
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The book tour process for traditional publishing is outlined in depth in:
Before and After the Book Deal: A Writer’s Guide to Finishing, Publishing, Promoting, and Surviving Your First Book by Courtney Maum
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ARC “arc” Advance Reader Copy
Galley (historically something specific, but now often used interchangeably with ARC)
Both ARCs & galleys are uncorrected proofs that are not in the final form factor the book will take. They are sent out to reviewers and should never be quoted or sold for profit.
Printing physical ARCs can be a big investment. Consider going green and sending out ebooks or audiobooks when possible.
You’ll want to make things easy for your reviewers by setting up a Goodreads and Storygraph page before sending our ARCs. This doesn’t mean you need to read reviews. But making your book’s page means potential reviewers will be able to find your book (and its cover) to review it. I have accounts on both, but I use Storygraph to track my personal reading. It’s vastly superior and also a black owned small business.
Another reason to send out an ARC (pdf or print copy) is to ask your colleagues to write a quote or blurb. Or to leave a review on a platform like Amazon. It’s a good idea to do this before publication. You can even add blurbs to the book. Sometimes these are used on the cover and other times are included in the front of the book itself.
How to Get ARCs (a reader’s perspective)
Nadia Odunayo on why she built The Storygraph
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Podcasts
Substacks
Blogs
Instagram Takeovers
YouTube Interviews
Book Festivals
Bookstore Signings
Zoom Events
When you expand your reach you’ll want to point people somewhere. The best place is your own newsletter (even if you don’t send one out regularly you should start collecting emails.)
The reason you want a newsletter is that you can reach people directly (versus relying on a third party app like Instagram or Twitter.) There are lots of options out there, but Substack has a lot of features, it’s free, and you’re already here.
Something you give away to encourage people to opt in.
Free Chapter
Audiobook Sample
Short Story
Author Platforms in 2024: What to Expect from Kathleen Schmidt
Marketing for Weirdos from Bear Hebert
Daniel Greene How to Market a Book, Explained (start at 7:33)
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My Creative Coach Amie McNee
How can we back our work by showing up for our books again and again?
Show your workspace.
Show your inspiration.
Show your research.
Show yourself.
Show your inner kid.
Show your book!
What inspired you to start writing this book?
Where do you write?
How do you write?
What do you find inspiring?
What are you researching?
Who is this book for?
Why is this book important to you?
What has been challenging about this process?
What have you learned about yourself while writing?
What have you learned about the world?
I’ve collected all of the Instagram posts about writing my book(s) and archived them here for you:
Here are some authors with great social media feeds or online platforms that showcase their work. Tap over to their feeds for some ideas on the type of content you can make to promote your books.
I’ve focused on Instagram as it’s easy to embed an image and showcase their visual style. Some of these authors have larger followings on other platforms.
NYT Best Selling Author, Traditionally Published (UK)
30k IG Followers
Writes “Historical-ish Rom Coms”
Also on: Twitter
https://instagram.com/p/Cr06MxQNlnQ/
Self Published (USA)
5000 IG Followers
Writes Fantasy Romance
Also on: Flodesk Newsletter
https://instagram.com/p/Cfo3RONMIZW/
WSJ Bestseller, Traditionally Published (USA)
2M IG Followers
Writes & Illustrates Poetry
Also on: Substack & Morgan Harper Nichols Podcast
https://instagram.com/p/CnkRI_bpMS0/
NYT Best Selling Author, Traditionally Published (UK)
133k IG Followers
Creates Illustrated Books & Workbooks
Also on: Etsy
https://instagram.com/p/CQjvLOjJMq5/
NYT Best Selling Author, Traditionally Published (USA)
37k IG Followers
Writes YA Fantasy
Also on: Twitter
https://instagram.com/p/Cktltq0P5su/
Self Published (Australia / UK)
381k IG Followers
Writes Historical Fiction
Also on: Unpublished Podcast & YouTube
https://instagram.com/p/Cy1Wcuvr4do/
NYT Best Selling Author, Traditionally Published (USA)
178k IG Followers
Self described “writer who draws”
Also on: Substack, Twitter, Tumblr, and an old school blog.
https://instagram.com/p/CwX1xd8uUJI/
NYT Best Selling Author, Traditionally Published (Canada/USA)
3k IG Followers
Writes Sci Fi
Also on: Twitter & Ghost Newsletter
https://instagram.com/p/CxbOoLYJBmJ/
Traditionally Published (UK)
27k IG Followers
Writes & Illustrates Picture Books
Also on: Substack
https://instagram.com/p/CewZuSdjUYM/
NYT Best Selling Author, Traditionally Published (UK/USA)
995k IG Followers
Writes Books, Scripts & Screenplays
Also on: Tumblr, Threads, his own blog, and has recently left Twitter for Bluesky.
https://instagram.com/p/C0DC0sdv8tp/
Share your reflections or questions about this part of the process below.
At some point you’ll probably need mockups for your book. These can be used to announce your cover design, take preorders, or for a visual during your crowdfunding campaign. There are free and paid options all over the internet, but Book Mockups at Envato is a good place to start. You may also want mockups for audiobooks and ebooks. (If this is outside of your skill set this is something else you can hire a professional for.)
You’ll want the best photographs of your book that you can manage. Whether this means leveling up your own skills, doing a service swap with a photographer, or hiring a professional. Remember your launch muse. Whoever takes the photos you’ll need to have a clear vision of what kind of photos you want of your book (minimal, styled, with people, etc.) Take a look at the author’s above if you need some ideas.
Your own website
Amazon or Barnes & Noble
Indiegogo or Kickstarter
Do release dates matter? by Kathleen Schmidt
Examples of preorder perks from traditionally published authors:
https://instagram.com/p/C9vGbCmx2Nk/
via Robin Sloan
Indiegogo (flexible goal)
Kickstarter (all of nothing)
If you want to fund your print run with crowdfunding you’ll want to check out my Crowdfunding 101 course. I decided to break the crowdfunding out as a separate process because this may be helpful to creators who are funding projects beyond books. But it is rooted in my experience with taking preorders through Indiegogo.
Find it here (along with links to all of my crowdfunding campaigns.)
The Crowdfunding 101 course includes a module about Launch Teams that is really applicable no matter how you take your preorders. You can skip to that here:
Share your reflections or questions about this part of the process below.
Do some journaling reflection and share some of your thoughts below.
What inspired you to write the book?
How long have you wanted to write it?
What gave you the impetus to get started?
Who did you have in mind when writing?
What is the book about?
Why is this book important?
Does the book teach or inform?
Does the book provide connection and community?
Does the book represent a marginalized experience?
Does the book provide inspiration or a window to imagining or understanding the world in a different way?
Does the book create beauty and sanctuary from the struggles of daily life?
What will readers take away from reading this book?
It’s important that you move into self publishing with the right mindset. If you feel that self publishing is “less than” traditional publishing that is going to come through.
I’d really recommend taking the time to read Coronate Yourself by my creative coach and their podcast Unpublished. Amie also has a free Journaling Compendium and offers creative coaching services that can help support mindset shifts.
Share your reflections or questions about this part of the process below.
You can see the inspiration of my book muse in these images:
https://instagram.com/p/CR5GAA5p920/
https://instagram.com/p/Ck01s5ppZBa/
https://instagram.com/p/CTkTGSNFgXj/
https://instagram.com/p/CkbMFi5u5km/
What do you want your launch to feel like?
Who might you choose for a book launch muse?
