PUBLICITY
http://www.writers-online.co.uk APRIL 2020^13Anything which gets a conversation going
can really help to boost your profile online.
My secret ingredient for writing The
Editor was... wait for it...
Waitrose All Butter Belgian White
Chocolate Chunk Cookies.
(And believe me, they are as good as
they sound.)
Whenever I felt my energy waning, it
was time for a cup of tea and one of those
excellent biscuits,
and the combination
seldom failed to work.
Ask other writers
what the secret
ingredient which
powered their book
was, and you can
get a buzz going
on social media which can only help to
interest potential readers in your work.
6 Offer events
The Editor is set in Cambridge, with some
well-known locations featuring.
One of the most important is a
business incubator, The Eagle Labs, so
I mentioned to the manager that the
offices had helped to inspire me.
Part of the reason was that the boss of
the incubator is a character in the book,
and a bit of a wally. So I didn’t want the
real life manager to take offence, as I like
him a lot.
Fortunately, he took the book in such
good spirit that he promoted it in the
incubator’s newsletter, and even invited
me to sell copies in a lecture I did there on
good communications.
If your book is set in a real town or city,
why not offer a reading or a talk at a place
which features?
Or if it’s set fictitious location, how
about doing an event at a café, pub, or
somewhere else you often went when you
needed a break from the writing of your
book, and which helped you along in
your journey?
You’d be surprised how enthusiastic
some businesses can be.
In a first for the company, I was
asked by Stagecoach to become a Writer
in Residence on their buses around
Cambridge, talking to travellers about
The Editor, and pointing out places which
featured in the book.
7 Strange stories
Every book has strange stories which lie
behind the writing.
What are yours? (And are you
comfortable sharing them?!)
If so, they can be another powerful way
of promoting your work on social media.
These are just the sort of posts which
encourage others to contribute their own
stories, and so help spread the word of
your book.
One of my strange experiences was
having to hang around Cambridge
Police Station, noting when officers
came and went, and looking at potential
places to ambush someone who emerged
from the doors.
Just such a trap forms an important
scene in The Editor, so I wanted to make
sure I had the details right.
In these security-
sensitive days, I felt
more than a little self
conscious, doing my
unorthodox research.
But happily, despite
the risks, no police officer
stopped me to ask what I was doing, as
I was worried my explanation might not
have convinced them.8 Behind the scenes
A glimpse of the reality of a writer’s life
is always interesting, both for those in
the trade and readers too.
How about a tour of your study, paying
particular attention to the important
companions you simply can’t do without
when you’re writing.
You could do this as a video, or a
blog, and then promote it on social
media. It’s bound to spark comments
and interactions.
For my part, my desk is an utter mess,
but surrounded by wonderful memories
and supporters in the writing process.
There’s my hedgehog, Bert, who’s
now thirty years old, and goes with
me everywhere. I can’t write a word
without him, for reasons I’ve never
quite understood.
(Don’t worry, he’s not as grumpy as
he looks.)
There are also photos of some of the
writing events I’ve done, and covers of my
previous books.
All those are great comforts when the
words are failing to come, and sharing
such insights can entertain, amuse, and
help to attract people to your writing.9 Alternative dedications
The Editor is dedicated to Cambridge,
where I moved two and a half years ago in
a major life change.I wanted to thank the city, and
its wonderful residents, for making me
so welcome.
But there was an alternative dedication
which came to mind. It was rather strange,
but tempting nonetheless.
Every writer has their distractions,
don’t they? No matter how much it might
annoy their publisher.
(I can just sense you nodding your
head here.)
As for me, I’m lucky enough that
my garden has a lovely hedge running
along it, which is home to a gang of
effervescent sparrows.
I often put down food for
them, and, in moments when
I needed inspiration, watched
them hopping, fluttering and
chirping their maelstrom of a
way around the garden.
Featuring your alternative
dedications on social media is a
good way to prompt a conversation,
and so help to spread word of your book.10 Take your book on holiday
I don’t just mean any old holiday here, no
matter how much your book might deserve it.
I’m talking about writing holidays, like the
wonderful Swanwick Writers’ Summer School,
or the Writers’ Weekend in Winchester.
There are lots of such gatherings across
the country.
Apart from being great fun, and an
opportunity to share your passion for
writing with like-minded souls, they also
offer you the chance to promote your work.
Many festivals are interested in writers
giving talks, or holding workshops.
If that’s something you fancy, it can
really help you grow in yourself, and also
has the added advantage of raising your
profile, not to mention that of your book.
Most have their own book rooms, where
your pride and joy can happily be on sale.
As I said at the start of this article, the
number of ways to promote your work is
only limited by your imagination.
And the good news is that, as you’re a
writer, that means it’s limitless.
These are just a few unusual ways you
might consider.
I look forward to hearing about some
of your own cunningly creative schemes
to help make the world aware of your
excellent work. Tag #writingmagazine
on Twitter @SimonHallNews or
contact me through the website http://www.
thetvdetective.com (you can also order
copies of The Editor!).them, and, in moments when
I needed inspiration, watched
them hopping, fluttering and
chirping their maelstrom of a
way around the garden.dedications on social media is aAnything which gets a conversation going
can really help to boost your profile online.
My secret ingredient for writing
Waitrose All Butter Belgian White
Chocolate Chunk Cookies.
(And believe me, they are as good as
they sound.)
Whenever I felt my energy waning, it
was time for a cup of tea and one of those
excellent biscuits,
and the combination
seldom failed to work.
what the secret
ingredient which
powered their book
was, and you can
get a buzz going