Promo Duties
Tuesday, March 6, 2012 So a few of you guys asked what makes the lead up to a book release so busy, so I thought I'd answer.
It actually made me evaluate how I've spent my time this past week, and this is what I've realized: it's not that it's ALL promotion all the time, it's that the time that I spend on promotion stuff is time I'd spend on things like blogs, vegging out, turning my brain off and ancillary items like returning non-urgent emails.
This is what I mean: here's a snapshot of my day yesterday:
1) Took son to the doctor, then ran him up to school.
2) Got home around 10ish, ate quick breakfast.
3) Started working feverishly on a screenplay that I've been hired to write. Have set a goal for myself of a certain amount of pages a day to reach my (somewhat self-imposed) deadline, so I try not to waver from that.
4) Took a break for a workout/lunch around 12:30.
5) Back at my desk by 2pm - worked on screenplay until 4:00pm.
6) At this point, I looked at my to-do list and realized that I had a lot of smaller items to deal with: I had to transcribe a celeb interview that was due in two days (ack!), I had three outstanding Q/As for my publicist to manage, I had an interview that I'd done for a blogger that I was asked to read and approve, and I had to pick my daughter up at 5:45 at a tea party.
So...this is where the promotional stuff takes up your time. For the launch of The One That I Want, for example, I probably did about 40-50 Q/As or guests posts or essays (I think I wrote a few essays in one day when they were asked of me)....I write each one of them individually, and that time adds up. Additionally, you have an increase in emails/phone calls with your agent or publicist or editor, and when you have other things to attend to - like the screenplay (I'm actually working on two, so I'm really drowing/juggling) or celebrity interviews (I have four due this month), this extra time means that you can't find a moment of downtime. Not to mention, once the book goes out, you'll spend time traveling or speaking or doing radio interview or, for example, writing a key note address at an event I've been asked to helm.
So that's really where the busy-ness comes in. It's not that you're spending 24/7 on the book promo, it's that the other work doesn't stop in order for you to due that exlusively. Make sense?
Reader Comments (6)
Thanks for sharing that, Allison! Interesting stuff!
Phew....that's alot!
Okay, I'm exhausted. When is the release date? I'm tired of waiting!!!
Good luck, Allison! I'm cheering you on and I've already pre-ordered my copy... can't wait to read THE SONG REMAINS THE SAME. I've heard such wonderful things!
I think your new nickname should be Energizer Bunny - you just keep going and going!
Cannot wait to read the book next month! :)
I have just discovered your blog and love it - I've been sitting here for over an hour and then some, reading old posts (when I should be writing/blogging myself) and have found it most helpful. I'm a new author - I've been signed with an agent and am working with a professional editor on my debut novel, editing and revising. I have found all of your posts informative and I do have a question of my own. My agent suggested I should be blogging 3 times a week as well, which I find challenging. Since I don't consider myself qualified to be giving anyone writing (or any other type of) advice, I've been blogging about my experience thus far. Aside from close friends, blood relatives, and few old office colleagues who are bored out of their minds, I can't see that this is going to widen my "platform" or be too interesting to anyone else. The thought of posting what I'm cooking for dinner has me, well, running for Starbucks in creative avoidance mode (and/or perusing other blogs for any ounce of inspiration - which is how I landed on yours!) Help!! Any suggestions would be wholly appreciated. This afternoon's distraction was definitely worthwhile though and I'll be following your blog regularly. It's the most worthwhile advice I've seen to date about negotiating one's way around this very complicated and sometimes baffling industry!! Many, many thanks for your insights.