Marketing for Writers - Confused yet?

Where are you on your writing journey? Aspiring novelist? New author? Either way, when it comes to marketing, you might be a little confused.

Turn back the calendar three years - you'd find me carefree in fuzzy slippers typing away, throwing thoughts and life lessons painfully learned onto my blog or into articles.

Fast forward to present day, with a contract in hand, a coveted literary agent a phone call away, and only eight weeks before my book launch, I'm trudging through the marketing jungle and swatting at Twitter mosquitoes and Facebook flies.

A blogger recently emailed to ask if I'd post about the marketing side of publication. So, from one jungle dweller to another, I'll share what I've learned trudging through so far.

• Learn from the best. With the Internet at your fingertips, there's lots of great stuff out there. Some of my favorite sites for marketing tips: Rachelle Gardner, Michael Hyatt, Nathan Bransford, Jody Hedlund.
• Blog. Do you have one yet? Don't wait for a book contract before you start your own website. Now is the time. There are free and easy choices for new bloggers. Don't overthink it. Your blog will evolve alongside your writing career. Don't get stuck in analysis paralysis. Like Nike says, Just Do It!
• Facebook. Do you have a profile page yet? What are you waiting for? If you already have a book in the works, create a page instead. I wish I'd begun that way. Don't be afraid of high school friends. If you don't want to reconnect with them, don't. Connect with other writers, and your future readership.
• Twitter. Have I lost you here? I am a new believer in The Twitter. This form of social media has grown my blog traffic by leaps and bounds. Whenever I post to my blog, I post to my Twitter and Facebook pages.

Still uncomfortable promoting yourself? I have to agree with you there. Most writers would rather hide behind their words and stay far, far away from the spotlight. So, when we're told to shine that spotlight on ourselves it can be quite disturbing.

I am in the process of creating an author site with my name as the title. Very uncomfortable for me to do. I like my Blessed... header with a scripture verse below. When I shared my hesitation to make this change, a writer friend told me, "When your readers try to find you on the web, they won't be googling Blessed..., they will look for you by name. So, if you really want to share your love for God with others, you'd better be accessible." This means using your name. Ouch.

There is lots more to share about marketing your book, but for now, start with one of the three social media giants; Blogging, Facebook or Twitter. Pick your favorite and go with it.

Remember, how do you eat a gargantuan marketing-elephant but one small bite at a time.

My First Book Contract - Doorbell-Ditching is Not Allowed

When I was a little girl, I loved to doorbell-ditch. Quietly, I would creep up to the front door of an unsuspecting friend or neighbor's house, knock on their front door, or ring their doorbell and skedaddle. The object of the game was to get the person inside the house to open their front door and discover no one there.


To a ten-year old, this is loads of fun, to an adult not so much.


God’s Word says, "So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.” Luke 11:9-10 NIV


The Lord wants us to ask Him for things. He uses the analogy of knocking on His door, and then reminds us that when we do the knocking He does the opening.

Is there something you’ve been asking the Lord for? Does it feel like you’ve been asking forever? God’s time is not our time. When He puts something on our heart, our job is to ask, seek, and knock. When what we're asking lines up with His will, in His good and perfect time, He opens the door wide for us to walk through.

For years, I’ve been knocking on His door with my prayers. Lord, I have a desire to write a book for moms. I must be crazy to even ask you for this, since I don’t  know the difference between a hanging participle and a hanging plant. If this book is not what you have purposed for me to do, please take this desire away from me. But, if writing this book is in your will for my life, please open the door of publication wide open.


Have you ever asked the Lord for something, and the minute He gave you the green light and began to open doors, you ran? I can see Him opening a door for me and if I stopped to think about how I’m not qualified, or count all the reasons I am not worthy, I want to run too.


Except, I don’t want to doorbell-ditch God.


God has a plan and a purpose for each child He creates. Until the end of time, He has a job to do and invites His beloved children along to accomplish His plans. For those of us who feel unable for the task, that's OK. It’s exactly where we need to be, because when we are weak He is strong. When we know we can't do it ourselves it's God who gets all the glory, as it should be. 

This week, nestled inside the most beautiful FedEx envelope I've ever laid my eyes on, I received my very first publishing contract from Beacon Hill Press. After going over the details with my literary agent, Rachelle Gardner, it's official. A 50,000 word manuscript is due in the hands of their publishers in five months.

My nonfiction book, The Radical Sabbatical – How To Journey From Busy to Blessing is becoming a reality.


The Lord has flung a door wide open. Like that little girl who loved to doorbell-ditch, I want to bolt right off of God's front porch.

But, Lord, I don’t know how to write a book. I’m not sure exactly where to put commas or apostrophes. I don’t have a degree in English, remember? What was I thinking knocking on your door?


What if I allowed fear to hold me back? God’s plans will succeed with our without me. He doesn’t need me for this, He allows me to take part in a small sliver of His work on earth because He loves me. And you know what? I don't want to miss out on any of it, not one misplaced comma, not one apostrophe, or hanging plant!

 *******

And, still my heart races, while the Lord confidently smiles and reaches out His hand for mine. Taking deep breaths, I attempt to settle my rising and falling chest. He softly pulls me by my hand, up against His side, tucking me safely under His arm.

I squeeze my eyes shut and feel Him begin to move me forward. Taking small steps together, I walk blindly by His side. My other arm wrapped firmly around Him, He whispers, "Lean against me. You can do this because I can do this."

Clinging to His robe, we walk through the open door together.