It's a long time since I've posted, though I'm not much convinced that anyone cares. Nevertheless, I have plenty of time now that I'm unemployed, so methinks I will get back into the habit.
I'd like to start a discussion about marketing one's poetry books in this age of small presses and Print on Demand (POD). I've been researching the issue and welcome your first-person experiences.
No one is under the illusion that the publication of a book of poetry is going to result in fame, fortune, best-sellerdom, or even a ripple in the zeitgeist. Nevertheless, making some personal effort to stir the waters is bound to be better than nothing, as far as getting the book out there. And we all want the book out there, don't we?
Sure, this post and any comments that ensue will be self-serving, as my book, Conjugated Visits, will be out soon. But there's no reason why what I learn can't also serve you. In a sense, we're all in this together.
This Just In …
Conjugated Visits is now available from Dream Horse Press, Barnes and Noble, Amazon, and Powell's. Or send me your address (dianekmartin [at] sbcglobal [dot] net) and $15 to get a signed copy.
:: Upcoming Events ::
Reading: September 11, 2011
Booksmith
Time: 4:00 pm
Location: 1644 Haight Street, San Francisco, CA 94117
Reading with 13 Ways poetry group
Reading: October 2, 2011
Corte Madera
Time: 4:00 pm
Group reading
Reading: November 9
Sunset Poetry by the Bay
333 Caledonia Street, Sausalito
Time: 7:00–9:00 pm
Reading with Robert Thomas and Susan Kolodny
Blogs I Read
4 comments:
I attended a lecture recently by the Writers League of Texas about, along with some of my Austin Writer Grrrls group. We've been implementing some of the things we learned; namely to become very active online to develop your platform as a writer through social media like Twitter, facebook, blogs. To be a personality, to comment on top blogs in your area of expertise, to follow and participate top writers on Twitter, keep your own blog and actively post to it and interact with your commenters, and become a voice in the community. This is how to gain followers and a readership community who will want to read your work.
So sorry about the unfinished bits in my comment! My 5 year old interrupted me just as I was proofing and I don't see a way to edit. I attended a lecture "about this topic".... to "follow and participate actively with top writers on Twitter".
And I apologize for taking ages to get back. Not much of a conversation if I leave comments hanging, and, to your point, it's necessary to actively post and enter the discussion; otherwise why bother?
I'm not so sure how to use Twitter to put the word out there about one's book. It may be a generational thing, but I'm not yet comfortable with it.
I am currently working on getting readings in my own city (San Francisco). Don't know much about getting readings in other cities. I suppose Twitter or FB could be used for that purpose? I did have a thought — partnering with someone from another area. In that way, I could connect them with likely venues in my area and ask them who to approach in their neck of the woods.
You write: "No one is under the illusion that the publication of a book of poetry is going to result in fame, fortune, best-sellerdom, or even a ripple in the zeitgeist."
I was.
Boy, was I stupid.
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