Self Publishing Cliches: Book marketing food for thought

An interesting definition of the word cliché from Wikipedia:

“a saying, expression, idea, or element of an artistic work which has been overused to the point of losing its original meaning or effect rendering it a stereotype, especially when at some earlier time it was considered meaningful or novel. The term is frequently used in modern culture for an action or idea which is expected or predictable, based on a prior event. It is likely to be used pejoratively.”

How many of us where taught to avoid cliché in our writing at all cost? One creative writing professor I know and studied under focuses an entire week on the subject.

In print, the French derived word, cliché, came to denote a printing plate used as a cast in moveable type. Commonly used words and phrases were cast into a single mold. The idea was to take a novelty and replicate it easily and inexpensively. The overuse of such came to take on a negative connotation.

But cliché can work for the self-published author in marketing your book.

What do words and phrases like these bring to mind?

Change we can believe in
All for one…
Don’t leave home without it…
Even the simple misspelling of the word, Google

Even if these are terms you don’t buy into, or even agree with, they are indelible. Think of them as the cast plate of the new digital work that come in the form of key-words, tags, Twitter handles, etc. The can become the brand for your book. And the best part is they are free.

Whether you’re published or just finishing the 1st chapter of your book, start thinking about what makes your work unique, and how cliché may become a key component in your book marketing campaign.


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Self Published Book Review of the Week: Vineyard Days

Vineyard Days

by Gene Pisasale

This self-published book was recently reviewed by www.midwestbookreview.com:

There are worse things to lose than one’s money. “Vineyard Days” is the story of murder in Martha’s Vineyard set in the frenzy of last year’s market collapse. But Jim and Martha soon find out there are those who have lost more than their fortune when a grisly double murder is found on a nearby yacht. Not how they expected to spend their vacation, they find themselves entwined in the investigation. “Vineyard Days” is a fine and well crafted story that uses recent events as creative fuel for the fire.

For more information or to order the book, visit the author’s webpage: www.outskirtspress.com/vineyarddays


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Self Published Book Review of the Week: A Complete Guide to Public Speaking

A Complete Guide to Public Speaking

by Joseph A. Grippo

This self-published book was recently reviewed by www.midwestbookreview.com:

This is a great resource for anyone who is not accustomed to making a public speech. The author gives many tricks to get over stage fright to make a decent speech. You do not need to have taken a speech course to learn the different simple things one can learn.

For more information or to order the book, visit the author’s webpage: www.outskirtspress.com/acompleteguidetopublicspeaking


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Self-publishing – know your market and have a plan.

The reason books sell has little to do with content quality. At least initially. Just like any other product on the retail market, books sell because readers know about them.

Some books have the advantage of author platform, or industry applicability, and can hit strong out of the gate. The more nebulous quality of fiction can result in a slower start, but a much longer shelf-life.

The point is this, know your market and leverage your resources to meet those potential readers. Outline a marketing plan with your self-publisher that takes advantage of internet marketing and retail resources like Amazon who has pre-qualified readers based on profiles and virtual book pairings.

Work smarter. Work harder. Become a successful self-published author.


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self-published

Self-publishing Driven Book Selling

Self-publishing has seen some solid press over the past couple of weeks.

Once predominately considered vanity publishing, self-publishing 1.0 generally meant books were, produced, printed, and then sold to authors to sit in their garages or basements.

But with new information technology, distribution methods, and integrated marketing support self-publishing is rapidly finding its place in the industry with even newly pressed self-publishing authors finding write-ups in the New York Times.

Readers and consumers, publishers, and retailers are adapting. Now even brick and mortar bookstores are changing the way the see self-published books as a value to their customers. From our friends at Self-publishing Review came this cool new program at the legendary Boulder Book Store:

At the 20,000-square-foot Boulder Bookstore in Boulder Colorado, Arsen Kashkashian said self-published books are “definitely a growth market for us.” After getting “inundated” with local authors looking to sell their self-published books, the bookstore instituted a policy and fee structure loosely modeled on publishers’ co-op policies. Self-published books are taken on consignment, and authors are charged a basic one-time stocking fee of $25. The fee goes up from there for a book’s newsletter placement, website promotion, etc. There is also a fee for participation at events, which usually feature several authors who divide the cost. As long as the book looks professionally bound, Boulder Bookstore will accept it on consignment. By the end of the year, Boulder will stock about 100 self-published titles on its shelves.

Regardless of where you may be in the writing and publishing process, self-publishing is barreling ahead full steam. Research, know your options, and become as successful published author as you can be.


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