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Five Ways to Promote Yourself
by L. J. Bothell
You’ve been honing your craft and doing all the right things: generating solid work, placing your bio strategically in your cover letter, keeping the submissions going out, sending queries, etc. Maybe you’ve even been published numerous times, yet you haven’t achieved the next level. There’s so much competition, and while you know that being the best at what you do is supposed to be the key, it doesn’t always seem to work. Plus, it seems that adding another thing like marketing to your schedule will require an impossible amount of energy. How do you get ahead?
In addition to excelling at and sharing your writing, you must further your name recognition in constructive ways. The only way to do that is to combine your successes with networking and building contacts. Whatever method you choose, it will take time, possibly some resources, and consistency, all in addition to continually building your craft. Here are a few ways to go.
First, write columns and reviews for publications (which use them) in your favored genre, or in any of them. Yes, columns are hard to get, but you can work towards getting one and once you do, refer to it in your bio. You may also send a segment or copy of your column with query and proposal letters. Consider writing reviews for films, books, and periodicals and submitting them (non-simultaneously) far and wide, where appropriate. Keep them short and witty, because editors can often use pieces of under 500 words to fill gaps in an issue. Try to find publications which pay for these, but consider writing off a few pro-bonos as self-generated publicity, as long as you don’t take much time and energy away from your primary writing goals.
Second, go to conventions, book fairs, and other networking events. You can do more by meeting peers and pros in person than you can by only being a name on your submissions. This is a delicate area. Your work must stand by itself, but when a busy editor recognizes you from a positive personal meeting, she’ll be apt to read your manuscript before digging through those by unknown submitters. Events will also widen your perspective regarding your audience, help you become familiar with and to your peers, and provide you with ideas for other self-promotion activities. Finally, you’ll have loads of fun and begin to feel more like a vital part of the writing community.
Third, collaborate your efforts with someone else. Find someone in your genre or area of experience with similar values and style, and who has additional contacts. Together, you can make inroads with each others’ contacts that would otherwise be difficult. Start by communicating checking out writing newsgroups and local workshops, as well as networking at events. Consider setting up your own small writing cooperative or newsgroup where you can each post new resources weekly.
Fourth, check out/join an organization related with your area. Examples include The Mystery Writers of America, The Horror Writer’s Association, SFFWA (for sci-fi/fantasy writers), etc. If you’ve made a few pro sales, and need more networking opportunities, you should consider joining. Otherwise, check out services these and other organizations may have for new and developing writers. For instance, many cities will have a local chapter of the National Writer’s Association. Consider visiting with a peer workshop, and sharing resources.
Fifth, publish/edit/work on a publication of any kind. Yes, this used to be an option for the truly deranged, but now more semi-normal people are giving it a try. Becoming a publisher/editor/team member will give you new insights into the non-writing aspect of publication, will increase your own writing (or artistic) aptitude through viewing submissions. and will allow you to give something back to the industry. You can create a publication on paper, on the web, or combine the two and reach up to thousands. You can choose to be a first reader of submissions, copy-edit, or proofread the publication. You can participate on a team in an academic or trade related publication, or see if writing organizations have need of an editor. For this to work, however, you must be consistent, constructive, and work on a quality product. Also, be sure your writing time and energy doesn’t suffer, or your ability to benefit your writing career will be moot. Finally, promote your efforts on the publication in tandem with your writing talents so your expertise reaches further. However, by successfully involving yourself in the publishing business you can boost your name recognition immensely.
Name recognition from solid self-promotion will never replace fine-honed work and appropriate submission practices, but it will help you get that first reading at tough to reach publications and possibly help you be selected in favor of another writer of equal quality. It can help your work get nominated (or voted) for awards, solicited by publications, and pushed further by those who market products with you in them. Ask yourself how you can supplement your writing accomplishments with additional networking and go for it. Good luck!
FINIS
AGENTS & EDITORS
- Agents: Knowing When To Hold One and When To Fold
- Getting Offers from Multiple Literary Agents
- Literary Agents List
- Preditors and Editors
- Publishing, Writing Terms, Acronyms
- Tips for a Successful Editor Appointment
- Want More? Here’s How to Get It
- What NOT to Do When Beginning Your Novel
- Windup for the (Story) Pitch
- Write the Perfect Book Proposal
CALLS FOR SUBMISSION
- 2024 NOV Calls for Submission
- 2024 OCT Calls for Submission
- 2024 SEP Calls for Submission
- 2024 AUG Calls for Submission
- 2024 JUL Calls for Submission
- 2024 JUN Calls for Submission
- 2024 MAY Calls for Submission
- 2024 APR Calls for Submission
- 2024 MAR Calls for Submission
- 2024 FEB Calls for Submission
- 2024 JAN Calls for Submission
- 2023 DEC Calls for Submission
- 2023 NOV Calls for Submission
COMPUTER TIPS
- ASCII Characters
- Building Your Web Site and Doing It Right
- Don’t Be a Victim-Scams, Identity Theft, Urban Legends
- Don’t Spread Scams
- How to Annoy Your Website Visitors
- Internet Safety: Guide to Keep Your Information Safe Online
- Knowing Your Target Audience
- Stopping Viruses from Propagating Through Your Email
- The Top 10 Email Errors
- Word Processors Through Time: Before MS Word & Google Docs
FORMATTING & GRAMMAR
- Achieving 250 Words / 25 Lines Per Page
- And Sammy, too? Oh, No!
- Changing Double Hyphens to EM Dashes in Word
- Edit Easier
- High Hopes–Avoiding Common Mistakes
- Misused Words
- Navigating In Your Novel
- Proofreaders Marks
- Research Links
- Rules for Writers
- Slang and Jargon Souces
- Tightening Your Manuscript and Trimming the Word Count
INSPIRATION-MOTIVATION
- A Dream Realized
- Beyond the Basics
- Dumb Little Writing Tricks That Work
- Finding Time to Write
- Five Ways to Promote Yourself
- How Not to Procrastinate
- How to Quit Writing and End up on the Bestseller Lists
- Ideas Escape Me
- Keeping an Idea Book
- Love to Write: Here Is How You Can Build Your Career
- Making Time for Self-Care While Running a Business
- Moving Up the Rejection Ladder
- Pop Quiz: Who Are You?
- Rules for Writers
- The 8 Habits of Highly Successful Young-Adult Fiction Authors
- The Art of Being Rejected–475 Words
- The Juggling Act
- The Literary Food Chain
- Various Types of Writing for Young Writers
- Why Article Writing Should Be A Part Of Your Career Development Strategy
- Write Better Naked
- Writer’s Conferences Do You Really Need To Attend?
- Writing By Moonlight
MARKETS
- 35 Online Work Ideas to Earn Good Money Whilst Studying
- Agents: Knowing When To Hold One and When To Fold
- An Interview with Holly Ambrose
- Copyright Primer, Know Your Rights
- EBooks-Fears to Possibilities
- Finding Markets Fiction and Nonfiction
- Freelance Writing 101
- Getting Offers from Multiple Literary Agents
- How To Be a (Shiver) Reporter
- How To Market Your Book After You’ve Written It
- How to Write a Novel Synopsis
- How To Write Your Own Press Releases
- Love to Write: Here Is How You Can Build Your Career
- Magazine Links
- Making Money As a Corporate Freelancer
- Market News–All Genres
- Need a Clip? Open a Newspaper
- Newspaper Writing Resources
- Path to Self-Publishing Success
- Publishing, Writing Terms, Acronyms
- Science Writing Organizations
- Selling to Children’s Markets
- Submission Tracking
- Submitting to UK Markets
- Syndication 101
- To Specialize, or Not to Specialize?
- Ultimate Guide to Being a Freelancer 2023 Update
- What Are Your Chances of Getting Published?
- Why Article Writing Should Be A Part Of Your Career Development Strategy
- Why E-Books?
- Write the Perfect Book Proposal
- Write Your Way to $1000 a Month
- Writing Groups List
- Youth Writing Markets
ONLINE SAFETY
PUBLISHING
- Agents: Knowing When To Hold One and When To Fold
- Copyright Primer, Know Your Rights
- Getting Offers from Multiple Literary Agents
- How To Market Your Book After You’ve Written It
- How to Write a Novel Synopsis
- Love to Write: Here Is How You Can Build Your Career
- Making Money As a Corporate Freelancer
- Path to Self-Publishing Success
- Publisher’s Websites
- Publishing, Writing Terms, Acronyms
- Science Writing Organizations
- Submission Tracking
- Syndication 101
- The Great Limbo Mystery Question
- What Are Your Chances of Getting Published?
- Why Article Writing Should Be A Part Of Your Career Development Strategy
- Why E-Books?
- Write the Perfect Book Proposal
VIDEO & STREAMING LINKS
WRITING TOOLS - APPS
- And Sammy, too? Oh, No!
- Beyond the Basics
- Changing Double Hyphens to EM Dashes in Word
- Dumb Little Writing Tricks That Work
- Finding Your Writing Compass: A Guide to Freelance Adventures
- Free AI Tools That Can Be Used In Business Writing
- Helpful Books
- High Hopes–Avoiding Common Mistakes
- Ideas Escape Me
- Knowing Your Target Audience
- Magazine Links
- Misused Words
- Newspaper Writing Resources
- Path to Self-Publishing Success
- Reconsider Hand Writing
- Research Links
- Slang and Jargon Souces
- The 8 Habits of Highly Successful Young-Adult Fiction Authors
- Unblocking Your Muze
- Various Types of Writing for Young Writers
- What NOT to Do When Beginning Your Novel
- Why Article Writing Should Be A Part Of Your Career Development Strategy
- Word Processors Through Time: Before MS Word & Google Docs
- Working with a Critique Group
- Writing Groups List
- You Can Write A Short Story Part 1 The Story Idea
- You Can Write A Short Story: Part 2 The Meat of the Story
- You Can Write A Short Story: Part 3 The Climax
WRITER'S LIFE
- A Dream Realized
- A Writers Dream-The Home Office
- Affirm All You Want
- Finding Time to Write
- Finding Your Writing Compass: A Guide to Freelance Adventures
- How To Be a (Shiver) Reporter
- How To Write Your Own Press Releases
- Keep a Clipping File
- Keeping an Idea Book
- Love to Write: Here Is How You Can Build Your Career
- Making Time for Self-Care While Running a Business
- Mommy’s Muse
- Moving Mountains
- Mud Pies
- Teach Yourself to Write
- The 8 Habits of Highly Successful Young-Adult Fiction Authors
- The Art of Procrastination
- Various Types of Writing for Young Writers
- Working with a Critique Group
- Writer’s Conferences Do You Really Need To Attend?
- Writing Conferences-Educating and Inspiring
WRITING CONTESTS
WRITING CONTESTS
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• ALL WRITING CONTESTS
- 2024 NOV Writing Contests
- 2024 OCT Writing Contests
- 2024 SEP Writing Contests
- 2024 AUG Writing Contests
- 2024 JUL Writing Contests
- 2024 JUN Writing Contests
- 2024 MAY Writing Contests
- 2024 APR Writing Contests
- 2024 MAR Writing Contests
- 2024 FEB Writing Contests
- 2024 JAN Writing Contests
- 2023 DEC Contests, Workshops, Webinars
ABOUT WRITING CONTESTS