Writing and Publishing a Trilogy
Tips and Resources
Early on in my life, I had visions and fantasies about writing books. I wondered what I’d write about and how my life would be when I’d published my work. I held that vision in the back of my mind, as I read every book I could get my hands on, with particular interests in the paranormal. Even as I studied computer technologies, and business management in college, I knew that one day… I’d write. A few years after landing a great job, my evenings were free to write, so I did.
Over the course of a few weeks, I thought of the Seventh Journey concept. Basing the main story off of some very cool ideas I’d come across in my own research, I started small and the story grew from there. The total landscape of the story spans across three books, with the possibility of others afterwards, or at least that’s the goal. I’ve currently published the first in the series, simply called Seventh Journey Book I. I published with iUniverse Inc., an assisted self-publisher out of Bloomington, Indiana, a subsidiary of Penguin Group.
My experience with iUniverse.com was great in my opinion, their services are wonderful, and their staff are warm and knowledgeable. I also recommend baby steps, and doing what’s right for you. Don’t rush anything, as it’s very easy to be swept away by fast talking promises that seem to come from all angles. On your road to becoming a well-known author, there are no short cuts. Anything that seems too good to be true, usually is, so watch out. But there are some very valuable things you should invest in to be successful. Here are a bunch:
- A frequently updated self hosted website – this brings not only traffic, but repeat fans and possible conversions to customers for your book.
- Branding materials – business cards, flyers, posters, banners, and don’t forget about bookmarks! These are promotional materials that help create interest, and ultimately sales.
- Press Releases – these can be sent out via news wires, websites, and twitter feeds. If it gets picked up by a major news outlet, that’s a tremendous boom of interest. Don’t forget to mention your website!
- Strategic Mass Marketing – if you’re going to invest your money, make sure you get the biggest bang for your buck. Posters in subways and public transportation usually pay off huge. Also good old fashioned newspapers. These options are expensive, but they work. If what you want are sales, then think about mass exposure.
- Time – you should always invest time in your dream. Little by little, every day you should think about it, talk about it, and work on your dream. Get a paragraph in, a sentence. Post an article, setup a twitter feed, whatever it is, create daily movement towards your goals. This takes time, so create some, you have more of it than you think.
Check out these powerful writing tips:
That’s my advice after about eight years of working towards my goal. With limited time on my hands, I can’t afford to waste it on things which aren’t effective. Even though I did quite a bit of promotions for Seventh Journey Book I, with book signings, appearing in Reader’s Digest, online magazines, charity public speaking engagements, live action movie trailers, radio interviews, and even hiring three publicists (2 media specialists, and 1 online specialist). Now I simply spend most of my time working on my next book, improving my website for visitors, or the occasional book signing.
Other strategies you might want to look into are:
- Key Word ranking strategies with Google.
- Website Optimization for Search Engines, known as “SEO.”
- Various Traffic generation techniques
- Also purchasing your own books, and selling them at book fairs, or through any other means you can.
- The more word of mouth you can get, the better. Be creative.
- Promotions and Interviews (Already have a book and want an interview? Click Here)
And remember… even if your goal is to reach the world stage as a bestselling author, it can be done. A recent author from iUniverse reached Canadian Best Selling status with her work. Not only that, other authors who have self-published have made a huge impression on the world, such as Wayne Dyer, Deepak Chopra, Eckhart Tolle, and others. If you’re looking to make movies, there are wonderful examples of authors who have had their visions make it to the silver screen, so remember, everything is possible.
Personally, the most important thing about this whole process is that I love it. I wouldn’t continue if I didn’t. I love to write, and capture my crazy dreams and imaginative stories on paper, working them into a larger canvas of my personality. That’s what thrills me, and I also know what I like to read, so I write much the same… engaging, action packed, and thought provoking. The marketing aspect of the business is really new to me, but over the last few years, I’ve learned a great deal. I also find it very exciting to try and figure out the best way to reach a wider audience, as it ties in with my technology background as well.
I recommend becoming an author to anyone who enjoys a challenge. As I’ve said before, I’ve gone out on a limb, stretched beyond my limits, and invested in some things that weren’t as effective as I would have liked. But that’s part of life. I’ve lived, learned, and enjoyed every minute of it. Now I know what works for me, and I continue down that path, and that’s my journey.