Claire started by quoting a comment her editor gave her when she started writing. \u201cCongratulations, you\u2019ve written a book \u2026 you\u2019re a third of the way there!\u201d There are three parts to becoming an author, she says: 1) Writing the book, 2) Publishing the book, and 3) Marketing the book.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Writing the Book: While you\u2019re researching and writing:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

• Where do you go Online: digital books and archives, online blogs, specialized organizations\/communities<\/li>
• Where do you go Offline: living history exhibits, special collections, libraries, museums, immersion research adventures<\/li>
• What to take with you: cellphone, business cards, notebook. Keep careful track of` people who help you \u2013 send thank-you notes! \u2013 keep names\/addresses\/emails\/etc. for acknowledgements, book promotions, etc.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n

  Writing the Book: Building a network:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  • Blog about your research\/topic of interest \u2013 \u201cfun facts to know and tell\u201d \u2013 be sure to use hashtags\/tags to get posts seen by others who like the same things<\/li>
  • Social media<\/li>
  • Support other authors in the same genre \u2013 write reviews, post interviews<\/li>
  • Reach out to experts, both online and in the field, and support them in return \u2013 read and review their books, interview them, blog about them, etc.<\/li>
  • Scope out your reading audience \u2013 get acquainted with readers who share your interests<\/li>
  • Meet other writers\/authors via writing groups, attending events, etc.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n

    Publishing the Book:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    • Write articles for publications, ezines, etc. <\/li>
    • Stay present on social media<\/li>
    • Become a go-to resource\/authority for followers\/subscribers via newsletter<\/li>
    • Gather blurbs\/testimonials from well-known authors\/experts (and have them vet your manuscript)<\/li>
    • Continue to build your email list<\/li>
    • Consider your niche \u2013 what venues would be most interested in your book\/subject? Historical societies, rotary clubs, universities, women\u2019s groups, etc.<\/li>
    • Keep track of people to thank and acknowledge<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n

      Selling the Book:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      • You are now an author!<\/li>
      • For press releases, radio, and TV interviews, mine you book for controversial \u201ctalking points\u201d<\/li>
      • The book launch is your coming out party. Involve the community and be a storyteller
        • Hold at a venue that syncs with the era\/setting of your book<\/li><\/ul>
          • Dress in costumes of the period or fantasy world and ask your friends to do the same<\/li><\/ul>
            • Create an atmosphere that evokes the book with food and drink and decorations<\/li><\/ul>
              • Offer themed mementos<\/li><\/ul><\/li>
              • Create a compelling PowerPoint to accompany your book talks. You can do that more readily since you took your camera everywhere while writing the book!<\/li>
              • Use your research to add value to a reader\u2019s book purchase, with insights, education, recipes, and story presentations as you make appearances, and on your blog<\/li>
              • Make use of social media and book-selling websites to increase visibility as an author\/authority
                • Goodreads<\/li><\/ul>
                  • Amazon Author Page<\/li><\/ul>
                    • #Bookstagram and @EpicReads on Instagram<\/li><\/ul><\/li>
                    • Consider additional book topics \u2013fiction and\/or nonfiction \u2013 arising from the research you\u2019ve done<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n

                      Congratulations: you\u2019re on your way! Enjoy the journey.<\/p>\n

                      \n\t\t\t\t\tTweet<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

                      I\u2019m still (yes! I told you it was a great conference) watching HNS webinars and videos. Today I\u2019ll share \u201cAll is Not Lost: Making the Most of Your Research\u201d by […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[21,25],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2879","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-onwriting","category-yourplatform","clearfix"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.jeshays.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2879","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.jeshays.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.jeshays.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.jeshays.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.jeshays.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2879"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"http:\/\/www.jeshays.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2879\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2880,"href":"http:\/\/www.jeshays.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2879\/revisions\/2880"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.jeshays.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2879"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.jeshays.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2879"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.jeshays.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2879"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}