Marketing for Writers and Poets

Marketing has always been an important (if controversial) part of a writer's life. The WWW has become a very significant piece in the publishing jigsaw. If you are a best selling writer your publisher ( or a good friend) will probably take care of all of this for you. Writers Websites include:-

Simon Armitage

Harlan Coben

James Patterson

These websites keep the writer in the public eye through the regular newsletters, competitions and FAQs. They also direct potential buyers to the author's wares at their publishers website or book-selling sites such as amazon.com.

However, there is no reason why you can't do all this for yourself! A number of writers and poets have successfully used the WWW to promote their readings, their books and other activities. Good examples include:-

The Joy of Six Website (Note the books for sale)

Roger McGough Website (Note the mail order CD)

The WWW also provides new opportunities/hazards for writers - for example - the development of print-on-demand technology by companies like BookSurge Publishing means that publishers and book-sellers can promote the wares of an unknown author without having to take a risk on a print run. The advantage of this approach is that it is possible to market your print work to a small and widely-distributed readership. The disadvantage is that you, the author, will have to take responsibility for a lot of activities that are normally undertaken by publishers ( e.g. copy editing, jacket design, promotion). Is this the future? self-publishing? Vanity publishing in a digital jacket?

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Five Case Studies

Writers Using the WWW

 

Carole Matthews

links to:

http://www.carolematthews.com/

 

Ted Nelson

links to

http://www.xanadu.com.au/ted/

http://www.aus.xanadu.com/itimes/998

& http://ted.hyperland.com/

 

Mark Amerika

links to

http://www.markamerika.com/

http://www.grammatron.com/

& http://www.altx.com/

 

Kate Pullinger

links to

http://www.katepullinger.com

http://trace.ntu.ac.uk/frame/branded/index.html

& http://www.katepullinger.com/studio/webtaster/index.htm

 

Rob Bevan & Tim Wright

links to

http://timwright.typepad.com/

http://www.nesta.org.uk/ourawardees/profiles/2077/

http://www.oldton.com/

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/1904902170/026-5859290-7632448

& http://www.internetnews.com/bus-news/print.php/306721

 

The Labels

 

Writer/Philosopher Guru

Writer/Self-Marketing Whiz

Writer/Entrepreneur

Writer/Visionary Academic

Writer/Publicly-funded Artist

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  Copyright © Gavin Stewart 2005