Write Nonfiction in November

Happy Thanksgiving! It’s November 25th, and Write Nonfiction in November has just five more days left before the challenge ends. Blog readers have been busy reading, but I’ve heard little from writers. I hope that means you’ve been busy writing. I did notice, however, that many of the article on marketing and promotion garner less readers than others. I’m not surprised.

When I speak to nonfiction writers I’m always surprised at how few want to take on these tasks. In fact, many don’t realize they have to be their own best self and book marketer both before and after their book comes out.  Still others just refuse to take on this job.

I started a discussion once on LinkedIn in a group for writers and editors asking what online methods they found worked best to promote themselves, and the majority of writers flat out said they felt their writing provided the best marketing tool possible. They said they only needed to be good writers; they didn’t need to do anything else. I got the distinct impression that they thought less of me and any other writers spending time on marketing and promotion as a way of getting noticed by editors and publishers or getting our books published. I was more than a little bit amazed. (A few writers, agents and publishers in the group did chime in to say that marketing and promotion were, indeed, necessary.)

So, on this Thanksgiving Day I’m here — yes, just me today — to tell all you nonfiction writers to get your heads out of the mashed potatoes and stare the Turkey down. The turkey represents the actual business of getting your work published and selling your books. That takes marketing skill. That takes promotional efforts. And no one is going to do that for you or like you can.

I’m also here to tell you that reasons exist for you to actually be thankful for this job being yours and for making the effort to promote yourself as a writer and to promote your work as well. (Yes, you can offer up gratitude on Thanksgiving that this job is yours–and, basically, yours alone.) Let me explain why.

Remember what I said on November 1: Even though the business of writing takes you away from writing, it does not represent wasted time. By marketing yourself and your writing, you develop a readership for your work — and ultimately all writers want readers. What’s the use of writing if no one ever reads what you’ve written?  Many nonfiction writers write to help others (via self-help, spiritual, body-mind-spirit, religious books), but if their writing never reaches a reader, they help no one.

I’m not poo-pooing the need for good writing. Assuming your goal involves a published nonfiction book (and not articles), it’s a given that to sell your manuscript to a traditional publisher or your self-publish book to readers, you must have (1) a marketable idea, and (2) good writing skills. If you don’t have a good idea, no one will buy your book. If you aren’t a good writer, you can hire a good editor to make it look like you are a good writer. (If you need a good editor, contact me at cpywrtcom@aol.com or visit www.copywrightcommunications.com!) After that, you will need to market yourself and your writing, first, to develop a platform — develop readers (buyers), and, second, to sell books.

That said, if you, like most writers, cringe at the thought of becoming your own marketing expert, let me assure you there are ways in which to make this job less daunting and more fun. You can also make it fulfilling. I know this, because I took on the job and now actually enjoy it.

If you accept that fact that in today’s publishing world you will be asked by your publisher to do at least one thing every day to promote your book, you’ll realize that you might as well resign yourself to beginning this practice now. You’ll have to do more if you self-publish your book, because you’ll have no help from a publisher at all; even small publishers might offer an author a little bit of help promoting the book…even if that simply means getting it into some stores and helping set up some speaking gigs. So, find 1-5 activities you might enjoy doing and make them part of your daily to-do list.

Here are some I enjoy and in which I find some personal value. (Notice that many of them involve writing.)

Blogging: Blogging gives me a presence online and drives traffic to my website. It also gives me a steady stream of readers–both new and regular readers. Later, when my book is published, I can tell these readers and, hopefully, a percentage of them will buy the book, because they’ve grown to trust me as a writer, blogger and “friend” online. Plus, I get personal value out of this activity, because it provides me with another way to express myself through my writing. It’s a writing exercise for me. When I’m bogged down editing for clients or producing articles unrelated to my books, I can write about something that matters to me or that is related to my personal work. And, by doing so, I gain readers every day. I find it very satisfying to look at my stats and discover that 100 people read my blog on a particular day or to receive a comment from a reader who said my post made a difference in his or her life.

Providing Free Content to Directories: I try to write at least one article every month on a topic related to my books and post this to an article distribution service. This places my article in a variety of online directories, where it then becomes available for use in blogs, newsletters, websites, etc. In other words, anyone looking for content and willing to pay one of the directories for my article can purchase it and use it. Each article contains a resource box with a short bio and contact information. This sends them to my website, where they hopefully become regular visitors or blog readers or sign up for my newsletter. I pay for this service.  I love finding my articles in all sorts of obscure newsletters and blogs. Sometimes I just do a Google search of my name and spend an hour trying to find my articles. Or I’ll put a Google Alert out on some of the key words and see where the article landed. It’s really satisfying to know so many people find my articles worth publishing (even if they don’t pay me). And it’s satisfying to see my website traffic spike.

Writing News Releases that I Post to the Media: I maintain a yearly membership with ExpertClick.com, and there I am able to post news releases that go out to the media. I can tell them what I am doing. I can rewrite my articles and post them. In general, I can let them know that I am the expert on the subjects about which I am writing in my book(s). This way, they will think of me when something comes up in the news that relates to my upcoming books. This also provides me with the ability to comment on news that pertains to my book’s subject matter, making me a socially relevant expert. This activity feel personally valuable when I get a call from the media, which doesn’t happen too often. But when it does, I know my efforts have paid off. I did land a monthly podcasting job from this site, and that has paid off in numerous ways. In particular, I now speak ever month to a huge audience. (The podcast has 110,000 listeners in 90 different countries each month.) This site also gives me excellent Google ranking. (If you are interested in signing up for ExpertClick.com, use my link for a discount: www.ExpertClick.com/discount/Nina_Amir.)

Commenting on Blog Posts and Articles: I have Google Alerts set up for words related to the topics of the books I am writing. When I get an alert and see that someone has written a blog post or an article related to these topics, I click on the link, read what they have written, and, if I have something to add or feel they have written something worth noting, I leave a comment. These comments always provide a link to my website. This brings more traffic to my website, thus increasing my chances of more unique visitors (those who come back more than once), more blog readers, and more people signing up for my newsletter, thus increasing my the list of people to whom I can promote a new book. This activity seems worthwhile to me when I actually develop relationships with the website, blogger or writer. We may set up reciprocal links or begin sharing leads. This is when I know what I offer has value to someone writing about a similar topic or that someone feels their readers benefit from what I have to offer as well as from what they offer their readers. I also learn a great deal from those writing on similar topics, and I might not normally spend the time online finding these blogs or articles.

Frequenting Social Networking Sites: Since I work at home alone most of the time, only having contact with other people when I need to interview someone from my books or for an article, I have found that I really enjoy social networking. I most enjoy Facebook and Twitter.  It’s fun to find real friends there who follow you because they enjoy what you post or “tweet” not just to gain more followers.  When you show up at Twitter, for instance, and “tweeple’” are happy you are there, converse with you and “retweet” what you post, it feels good. And it’s just plain enjoyable.

Writing Articles for Ezines: I write for ezines related to my topics. Some of these pay and some of these don’t. Many writers refuse to write for free. I prefer to get paid, but if I can post an article on a site that get’s 5,000 visitors per day and is willing to run my bio with links to my website, I’m happy for the opportunity to promote myself and to attempt to gain more readers and more people on my mailing list. As usual, it feels great to have my writing read as well.

Speaking or Teaching: I do try to schedule at least a few speaking gigs per year. Sometimes these are local, and sometimes they are in other areas of the country. I must admit, they give me the jitters, but once there I enjoy myself. I like doing workshops or offering classes; then you get to talk to people one on one. This develops stronger relationships. I find it easiest to offer teleseminars. I can do this from the comfort of my home and potentially reach the most people possible. I enjoy testing out my ideas on people and having them give instant feedback; it’s a bit like test marketing your book, especially if you are doing it prior to having a published book. Plus, each time I speak or teach before an audience, I feel more prepared to be a published author. That gives this activity added value.

Writing for Traditional Print Publications: I send out queries or essays to a variety of print publications on topics related to my books. This tends to be hit or miss, since they have to accept my ideas or essays. However, when they do, I typically get paid and get a short bio and possibly a link to my website. As a magazine journalist by trade, I find this most satisfying. I love having my work published in magazines and newspapers and getting paid for my writing. The fact that people are reading my work, I’m getting paid for that work, I’m building my platform,and I’m gaining “fans” at the same time fulfills many of my goals in one fell swoop.

Additionally, I have gotten involved in a few organizations that give me some promotional advantages while also allowing me to pursue my interests or support causes in which I believe. This is why you’ll find me as director of public relations of CyberJudaism.org, for instance.

I’d like to leave you with the same information I offered on WNFiN Day #1: These efforts have helped me grow my “author” website (www.purespiritcreations.com) to 10,000 visitors per month and the related blog, called “As the Spirit Moves Me” (www.purespiritcreations.com/wordpress), to an average of 3,000 readers per month. To some these numbers may seem huge; to others they will seem small. Remember, I have only self-published a handful of booklets and many, many articles. I am not a well-known speaker.

I will admit that my “opt in” efforts have not been as good, and my mailing list has not grown tremendously over the years. That’s my next task–to get more people to actually opt in to my newsletter so my list grows.

On Facebook, my followers are not huge (over 360), but people tend to be more careful about who they “friend” on that site. On Twitter, though,  in about nine months I’ve gained over 760 “tweeple.” Every day that number increases.

Overall, I’m struck by the personal value I’ve found through my marketing efforts. Although I have bemoaned the fact that I have yet to receive the coveted traditional publishing contract, I have found my writing in ezines, newsletters and blogs all over the world. More people read my writing each day than I ever thought possible–possibly more than would read a published nonfiction book of mine unless it was on the New York Times best seller list or the next Harry Potter of nonfiction. When I think about the fact that I have yet to sell one of my book manuscripts to a traditional publisher, I remember that because of my marketing efforts I actually am reaching–and helping–an enormous number of readers. That fact, however, will likely help me reach my goal of landing a traditional publishing contract. In the meantime, I’m having some fun, finding personal value in my marketing efforts and feeling fulfilled as a writer.

No, I’m not making much money off these efforts–well, I make money off a few of them. However, if I wanted to self-publish a book or push my self-published booklets harder on my website, I could. When I want to market my teleseminars or workshops, I can. And when I do have a traditionally published book in hand, I can tell all these “friends,” “followers,” “visitors,” “readers,” and “tweeple” about it, and hopefully they will buy the book…and tell their “friends,” “followers,” “visitors,” “readers,” and “tweeple” to do the same.

In the meantime, I’m being read and listened to, and more and more people know who I am and what I do. I get feedback as well. All of this I find personally valuable. That makes my job as Nina Amir’s marketing director a bit easier to stomach. Actually, most days, the job “tastes” pretty good.

On that note, I think I’ll dig into my mashed potatoes and eat a bit of turkey before it get’s cold.

About the Author

Nina Amir is a seasoned journalist, nonfiction editor, author, consultant, and writing coach with more than 30 years of experience in the publishing field. She has edited or written for 45+ local, national and international magazines, newspapers, e-zines, and newsletters on a full-time or freelance basis. Her essays have been published in five anthologies and can be found in numerous e-zines and Internet article directories. An award-winning journalist, she also has a proven track record as a book editor; one of her client’s books was self-published and then purchased and re-released verbatim by Simon & Schuster (Fireside) and another won the 1998 Writer’s Digest Self-Published Book Award (Inspirational category), received a contract from William Morrow but remained self-published and went on to sell over 115,000 copies. Another of her client’s books recently was purchased by O-Books, a fast-growing British publisher.

Nina also is an inspirational speaker, spiritual and conscious creation coach, teacher, and the regular holiday and spirituality expert on Conversations with Mrs. Claus, a weekly podcast heard in more than 90 countries and downloaded by 110,000 listeners per month (www.thefamilyyak.com). Through her writing and speaking, Amir offers human potential, personal growth and practical spiritual tools from a Jewish perspective, although her work spans religious lines and is pertinent to people of all faiths and spiritual traditions.

Additionally, Amir has written and self-published several booklets and workbooks, including :

• Using the Internet to Build Your Platform One Article at a Time, 8 Tips for Getting Publicity, Exposure and Expert Status by Providing Free Copy Online
• The Priestess Practice: 4 Steps to Creating Sacred Space and Inviting the Divine to Dwell Within It
• The Kabbalah of Conscious Creation: How to Mystically Manifesting Your Physical and Spiritual Desires
• From Empty Practice to Meaning-Full and Spirit-Full Prayers and Rituals…in Seven Simple Steps
• Navigating the Narrow Bridge: 7 Steps for Moving Forward Courageously Even When Life Seems Most Precarious

Currently Amir is writing four books; she also compiled a Jewish celebrity cookbook for which she is seeking a publisher.

To learn how to use the Internet to build your platform one article at a time, why every author needs a platform or how to enhance your expert status by posting articles online, go to:  http://www.copywrightcommunications.com/Teleseminars.html orhttp://www.copywrightcommunications.com/Products.html

Nina Amir
CopyWright Communications
cpywrtcom@aol.com

www.copywrightcommunications.com
www.purespiritcreations.com

http://www.facebook.com/people/Nina-Amir/1180528530
http://www.linkedin.com/pub/nina-amir/6/460/134
http://twitter.com/ninaamir

www.mysoncandance.wordpress.com
www.purespiritcreations.com/wordpress
http://www.examiner.com/x-7363-San-Jose-Jewish-Examiner

Help writers find the wonderful information and resources at Write Nonfiction in November all year:
Vote  WNFIN One of Writer’s Digest’s Annual 101 Best Internet Sites for Writers

Please visit www.copywrightcommunications.com and sign up for the free newsletter to receive a gift at the end of the Write Nonfiction in November challenge!

Don’t forget to sign into the WNFiN social networking and chat room and tell us what you are writing about or start a discussion.
http://writenonfictioninnovember.ning.com/

Yesterday’s WNFiN blog post discussed tips for building platform and becoming an expert by becoming a socially relevant writer so the media will seek you out often. However, many nonfiction writers find speaking to the media intimidating. In fact, speaking to the media — radio and television show hosts, internet radio show hosts and journalists of all sorts — takes a bit of getting used to for most people, not just writers. And, as mentioned, in yesterday’s post, it’s useful–if not necessary, to get some media training.

WNFiN can’t provide you with a full course in media training, but I can provide you with a great expert blogger, media coach and marketing strategist Susan Harrow, who can offer you a few media coaching tips to help you avoid some pitfalls when you get that first (or 100th) chance to speak to the media about your writing project. Also, check out WNFiN’s blog posts in the media, speaking and platform categories.

Media Coaching Tips:
5 Mistakes to Avoid When Promoting Your Book on Radio or TV
By Susan Harrow

I just heard a very skilled radio guest make several gaffs that made me not want to listen to him. Even though he was clearly lively and entertaining, his attitude was condescending and a bit snooty. Tone is more important than words. If we’re turned off by your attitude or tone, most likely we’re not going to buy your book or become one of your loyal fans.

Today, nonfiction writers must make media appearances. This exposure builds readership,  or book buyers. Here are five mistakes to avoid when promoting your book with the media, so you don’t turn potential readers away.

1. Don’t be repetitive.

Be fresh. Even if you’ve told your story or shared your information thousands of times, it should still sound like you’re telling it for the first time. Certainly, don’t tip your audience off that you’ve said the same words before. In the interview to which I referred earlier, the expert said a number of times, “I like to say…” or “I’ve often said…” We don’t want to hear what you’ve often said, we want you to speak directly to us as a shared intimacy, a secret, a special something just for us.

2. Don’t say, “In my book.”

Who cares what’s in your book? This expert kept saying, “In my book this..” and “In my book that…” Does this make me want to read it? No. Also, I don’t even know the title! So, I couldn’t read it if I wanted to. We want to be enticed to read the information in your book. Instead, mention the title in the course of sharing a delicious tidbit, naturally, as part of the conversation.

3. Don’t quote statistics without a source.

It’s not effective to say, “A study shows that…” Instead say, “A 2009 Harvard study on aging showed that…” You’ll be considered more credible. Plus, we’ll see that you’ve done your homework and respect you for that.

4. Don’t consider anyone a competitor.

Do give credit to other authors and experts in the spirit of generosity and to give your own information greater depth. When you mention other people’s work, studies, products, and information, you show that you’re knowledgeable in your field. Also it shows confidence that you don’t see anyone as a threat. Everyone has a piece of the puzzle, and giving them credit expands our world.

5. Don’t disparage call-in listeners.

This expert made light of a listener’s call-in comment and question. We know that you—the except—know more than we do; that’s why we’re listening. It should go without saying that you should be respectful of those people looking to learn from you. Of course, you should correct an inaccuracy but with kindness. Never mirror a call-in listener’s bad attitude, anger or ineptitude. Maintain your own equanimity, be direct and tell us something that will enlighten or delight us in response.

About the Author

Susan Harrow, CEO of http://www.prsecrets.com is a top media coach and marketing expert, and author of the books, Sell Yourself without Selling Your Soul, The Ultimate Guide to Getting Booked on Oprah, Get Into O Magazine, and Get a 6 Figure Book Advance.

Her clients have appeared on Oprah, 60 minutes, CNN, CBS, Good Morning America, Larry King Live and in the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, Forbes, Parade, People, O, Time, and the most respected print publications and radio shows nationwide.

For the past 20 years she has consulted with Fortune 500 CEOs, top coaches, successful entrepreneurs and best-selling authors. More than 10 of her clients have gotten 6 figure book advances. If you’d like to join them go here: http://www.webmarketingmagic.com/app/?Clk=3329231

http://www.prsecrets.com
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/susan-harrow
http://www.examiner.com/x-977-SF-Marketing–PR-Examiner
http://www.linkedin.com/in/susanharrow
http://twitter.com/soundbitesiren
http://www.facebook.com/SusanHarrow
http://thecosmicmendingkit.ning.com

Help writers find the wonderful information and resources at Write Nonfiction in November all year:
Vote  WNFIN One of Writer’s Digest’s Annual 101 Best Internet Sites for Writers

Please visit www.copywrightcommunications.com and sign up for the free newsletter to receive a gift at the end of the Write Nonfiction in November challenge!

Don’t forget to sign into the WNFiN social networking and chat room and tell us what you are writing about or start a discussion. http://writenonfictioninnovember.ning.com/

Now that we are more than halfway through the month, it’s time to get really serious about platform building and promoting ourselves as writers.  We must also take a hard look at how to promote our writing work. (That’s next…)

Part of building platform involves becoming a socially relevant author/speaker and achieving expert status. This means removing yourself from the simply box that says “writer” and instead becoming something else—something (someone) with much more far-reaching impact. You must become someone the media wants to contact for radio, television and print stories on the topic about which you write.

National media strategist and publicist Annie Jennings of Annie Jennings PR has returned to WNFiN again this year to offer eight publicity tips guaranteed to help any nonfiction author build their platform and achieve expert status. These tips will seem extremely useful to those nonfiction authors who are writing about a true area of expertise or who are writing a book to help bring in clients and build their businesses.

8 Publicity Tips to Build Your Platform and Achieve Expert Status
By Annie Jennings

Publicity Tip #1: Actively Build Your Book Author and Expert Platform. A Platform is everything that you bring to the table such as your accomplishments, education, businesses awards and successes, your reputation, your contribution to your industry and what you stand for, that is, your mission statement, and lots more. A platform showcases you and allows people to understand who you are and how you can help them. A platform is similar to the spokes in a wheel; each spoke is separate, yet each one is important to the whole. The more powerful the spokes, the more powerful the wheel—the more powerful your ability to get the “six-figure book advance,” get the “account” or “close the deal.”

Publicity Tip #2: Create a Media Friendly Book. Be sure to include lots of topics that are timely and news worthy. It’s a great idea to include talking points at the end of each chapter that summarize the essential elements presented in the chapter. This way, a producer or journalist quickly can capture a segment or story idea. You will want to think about the publicity aspect of your book while you are writing your book, so you can create a segment-rich book (a book with a variety of segment ideas).

Publicity Tip #3: Become A Socially Relevant Book Author and Expert. Learn how to tie you and your book’s messages into the news of the day. Expand yourself as an author, and apply your knowledge and wisdom to the issues of interest to society today. Start blogging on timely news events or other stories that you find being covered in the major media and our newsmaker websites such as Foxnews.com, MSN.com etc. This way, you will get lots of practice applying your message to socially relevant issues that matter to your audience.

Publicity Tip #4: When You Are Speaking with a Journalist or Producer, Be Concise and Confident. As an intelligent book author and expert in your field, be sure to answer journalists’ questions directly. Professionals do not ramble or go in another direction from the initial topic under discussion. The journalist or producer has an end result they would like to achieve when speaking with you, and you can help them by being concise while presenting valuable information they can use. Whether the conversation is either a pre-interview for a TV or radio segment or an interview for an article in a magazine, newspaper or on the internet, be sure to give them the information they want. This helps them move their agenda forward and increases you chances of getting booked.

Publicity Tip #5: Be Everywhere At All Times. Being visible is the sign of a success book author and expert. That’s right, stay in front of your target marketing by appearing on local, regional and national TV shows, radio shows, and appearing in newspapers and magazines as the quoted author or expert as much as you can. Keep in mind that your client’s love that they are working with a celebrity who’s making it into the headlines! The expert they see on TV is their expert.

Publicity Tip #6: Achieve National Expert Status. Lead your field to new levels of success by creating a powerful, new thought and strategy that moves your industry forward. Feel free to share your newest and cutting edge creations with your industry so everyone can perform better. Your clients will quickly identify you as an industry leader and naturally be drawn to you.

Publicity Tip #7: Don’t Forget to Blog! Having a blog where you apply your knowledge to the issues important in your area of expertise helps you become a top-notch expert. A blog format is conversational in nature and this is exactly the format that the media like—thoughtful, concise commentary presented in a conversational tone. If you are blogging on the top news stories and developments you will learn the skill set that you’ll need to be successful on radio shows and on TV shows. Important: Be a force, know your stuff and be content rich; you will be judged on appearance, style, charisma (and, yes, charisma can be created), and, most of all, content.

Publicity Tip #8: Get Media Training So You Are Ready To Go. Learn how to make the most of each and every media opportunity and appearance. You’ll need to practice plus get feedback to become your own personal best. This way, when the media calls to book you, you’ll know just what to do. Media training teaches you how to be conversational and engaging while providing lots of essential information—all characteristics of a great guest.

About the Author

National media strategist and publicist Annie Jennings, of the National public relations firm Annie Jennings PR, creator of the famous Platform Strategy consider an industry standard, develops client messages, strategizes branding programs, and promotes authors and experts to radio shows, TV, newspaper, magazines and internet media.  Her commitment to excellence has forever changed publicity as she has created the most advanced publicity tools and strategies used in PR today.  Annie’s mission is to help everyone share their messages all over the world for the betterment of all as well as to achieve their optimal levels of success.  

www.anniejenningspr.com
908-281-6201

Help writers find the wonderful information and resources at Write Nonfiction in November all year:
Vote  WNFIN One of Writer’s Digest’s Annual 101 Best Internet Sites for Writers

Please visit www.copywrightcommunications.com and sign up for the free newsletter to receive a gift at the end of the Write Nonfiction in November challenge!

Don’t forget to sign into the WNFiN social networking and chat room and tell us what you are writing about or start a discussion. http://writenonfictioninnovember.ning.com/

Okay, Write Nonfiction in November readers, I’m going to ask you this month to stop working on whatever nonfiction projects you have and make time to do something a bit different. Here’s why: If you don’t do it now, you’re likely not to do it at all. Plus, according to PR expert Annie Jennings, who was my guest blogger twice in November during the challenge, I’d be remiss not to advise you to take on this project.

She said I must encourage you to create a bio that tells the media what they need to know about you – author – in a nutshell. Whether you are building your platform by trying to land radio, TV or print interviews or trying to do the same to publicize your book, you need a media bio that does its job well.  (If you don’t know what a platform is, look under the category by this name for posts on this topic.)

If you don’t remember Annie, let me refresh your memory: Annie serves as a national publicist through her company Annie Jennings PR, and she is known as “America’s leading publicity intelligence expert.” Annie’s vision and insight has revolutionized the publicity industry as many of the publicity techniques, tools and strategies in widespread use throughout the industry today have been developed by Annie Jennings PR.  Today, Annie will teach us all how to create a media bio that can help us get a media placement.

How to Create an Outstanding Media Bio

By Annie Jennings

National Publicist

The purpose of a professional bio for use in the media is to give them a snapshot of your expertise and your platform so they can determine if you qualify as the expert for the segment or article they have in mind. Follow these simple steps to creating a powerful media bio designed to get you booked on the media of your dreams.

1. Your bio should always begin with your credentials, academic achievements, professional and academic affiliations.
2. If you are the author of books, papers, and/or studies, note those next along with the names of the papers and studies and where they appeared, etc., so the media can document them.
3. List your areas of expertise.
4. List the years you have been active in these areas and your fields.
5. List any involvement in any association, achievements or awards you have received in your field.
6. List media appearances – TV or radio and quotes in magazines or in newspapers.
7. Information has to be absolutely accurate, up to date, and easily verifiable as the media has resources to check out your information.
8. Be sure the bio on your website is exactly the same and consistent with the bio that you are presenting to the media. You can always offer an expanded version on your website. However, you should not be inconsistent with your bio. You can certainly have other info on your website, but the bio must remain consistent with the one you present to the media.

Do not include the following items in your media bio:

Your personal family history, personal triumphs or tragedies unless they are tied into your area of expertise, or your birth place. You can include the location where you currently reside or practice, as this can be important if the media would like to book you for a radio or TV segment.

Other things to have ready for the media:

In addition to the bio, have a professional .jpg (photo) of yourself in your professional capacity and .jpg of your book cover ready to email to the media upon request.

Demo tapes are requested by the media. Have professional quality tapes ready to be sent to the media and, of course, better yet, include a video link on your site so the media can check you out without waiting for your demo to be sent overnight. As you send your demo out to the media, be sure to restock. The media moves fast and needs the information immediately and cannot wait for copies to be made or compiled, etc.

Create a media website packed with your publicity information:

You are encouraged to develop a separate website for the media (see yesterday’s Write Nonfiction in November post). This website should have contact info, your bio, your picture, your book (but not presented in a sales way), articles you have written, developed segment ideas that include talking points and a list of questions you would like to be asked along with an introduction the media can use. 

About Annie Jennings and Annie Jennings PR

The National PR firm Annie Jennings PR specializes in promoting authors and experts to the media and boasts of having over 35,000 author experts as clients. Annie Jennings has been an invited guest lecturer for NYU’s Publishing Program and for the American Society Of Journalists & Authors. Annie Jennings PR has provided over 500 smash hit publicity teleseminars for consistent standing room audiences, reaching hundreds of thousands of author and experts. Annie is the premier publicity expert in the country with her knowledge sought out by professionals and organizations everywhere. Annie created the concepts of media websites and online press kits, defined how to create a powerful platform, and developed the most advanced branding concepts known to the industry, created the HOT 35! & HOT 50! Radio campaigns where you are only booked on top shows in major big city markets and on regional and nationally syndicated shows and crafted the revolutionary Pay For Placement Publicity Program that has helped thousands of authors and experts build powerful platforms and land six-figure book advances. Annie has made it her practice to freely share her publicity strategies with authors and experts so everyone can have access to PR strategies, both the basics and advanced PR thought, so they can share their messages with millions for the betterment of all.

For more information, contact Annie at:

Annie Jennings PR

http://www.anniejenningspr.com/

908-281-6201

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“Branding” has become quite a catch word these days. As nonfiction writers, we, too, need to “brand” ourselves and our work. We even need to go so far as to become a “media brand.” In the process, however, we can make our writing more marketable to publishers, and, ultimately, to readers.

What exactly is a media brand and how do we as writers go about accomplishing the creation of our own media brand? Back today to tell us is entertainment professional and consultant Philippa Burgess of creative convergence. I’ve heard her speak about this topic, and I’ve always found what she has to say fascinating. I know that by applying the principle of branding to myself and to what I write, I can not only make myself more-marketable as a writer, but that I can help myself build a platform across all media – all of which will make my books sell better as well.

So, today, take of your writers hat and put on your marketing hat. Or, better yet, wear them both. That, I think, is the idea.

I promised to tell you about my writer’s identity crisis. I’m not sure that fiction writers suffer from this affliction, but I’m fairly sure that many nonfiction writers suffer along with me.

All indicators point to me being a writer, but some days I’m not sure that is who I am.

I have a literary agent – two actually, since my agent’s husband is also an agent. That must mean I’m a writer, right? Actually, I had three agents representing three book projects of mine at the Book Expo America this past year. So, I must be a writer.

I don’t have any books published by publishing houses, but I did have one book contract for about a year, but the book never was published. (That’s a long story not worth going into here…) I have several short books, or booklets, that I’ve self-published. So, I must be a writer.

As I’ve already shared, I have a degree in magazine journalism, and I’ve written for more than 40 different magazines, newsletters and newspapers. I’ve also written for a variety of e-zines, and I’ve had three essays published in three anthologies. So, I must be a writer.

I also work as a freelance non-fiction book editor and coach. I guess that makes me an editor more so than a writer, but it at least shows that I know something about writing. I’ve had several jobs as a magazine editor as well.

So, what’s the problem, you ask? It’s obvious that I’m a writer, you say? Why am I having an identity crisis? Because I spend about 75 percent of my time, if not more, peddling myself as an expert speaker and a teacher or writing news releases and press releases (free articles) and posting them on line or sending them out to the media promoting myself as an expert. These days, I spend very little time, if any writing articles for pay or writing books. (No wonder I wanted to start the Write Nonfiction in November challenge. I needed the challenge myself so I would actually WRITE something.)

Why? Because to become a published author – to have a publisher actually accept one of my book proposals and offer me a contract – I have to have a “platform.” No, not a wooden box or stage to stand on, but a speaking platform from which I can sell my books. I have to be perceived as the expert in my “field,” and I have to become well-known to many people. I have to be able to help market my books through “back of the room sales” at lectures, workshops and talks that are attended by hundreds, if not thousands, of attendees. I have to become a regular guest on radio and television talk shows, so I get lots of media exposure and can tell lots of people about my book. I have to be featured in national magazines or in magazines that pertain to my field of expertise. I have to find creative ways to build a big mailing list or e-mail list to which I can market my book, thus helping sell them over time.

If you still harbor the belief that a publishing house will market and publicize your book for you, think again. While they might do so on a small scale, in today’s publishing world, this job has fallen onto the nonfiction writer’s shoulders.

Today’s publishing environment demands that we nonfiction writers become expert marketers and publicists — of ourselves and of our books. If we can’t prove to publishing houses that we can wear these hats as well as our writer’s hats, we can kiss our dreams of that publishing contract goodbye. (Here’s where some of us might want to consider moving over to the fiction side of writing, where none of this platform business applies…)

So, am I a writer or am a marketing and publicity pro? Am I a writer or an expert speaker and media source? Am I a writer or a PR wiz? Mostly these days, I’m the latter in all cases. And that doesn’t leave me feeling much like a writer.

But…I am determined to be a writer. A nonfiction writer. I set out to help people through my writing, and my writing serves no one if it goes unread. Therefore, I will write, and I will publish. Where once I said I would never self-publish (although I have on a small scale), I will if necessary.

There are so many publishing avenues available to writers today, no reason exists for us to wait around for someone to tell us we’ve proven we can be something other than a writer so they’ll publish our work. Our writing should speak for itself and be published on its own merits. I, for one, am tired of waiting around for someone to decide that my platform is big enough rather than that my book idea or my writing is good enough. I’m tired of being told to be someone I’m not. I’m off to write…because writer’s write. Surely in the process my identity crisis will come to an end, and I’ll feel like a writer once again. I’ll remember who I am — a nonfiction writer.