Developing Writing & Marketing Strategies

Here is a crazy thing. As a writer I want to be writing. I told you it was crazy. Alas, I do not have the luxury of JUST writing if I want to be a successful Indie Author. There is editing, blogging, marketing and networking to be done. My goal for work and life in general for 2014 is to become more organized. My former self about ten years ago was organized, but that part of me died for a bit.



These are some things I am working on.

Marketing Plan
I have read some ebook marketing books, blogs and watched videos. They all pointed to one thing I need a marketing plan. This morning I created a marketing plan for all my books. I have already completed some of the steps. The plan includes entities such as creating a title of the book, using KDP free days, video blogging, blogging, connecting with authors, forum presence, etc.

A integral part of the plan is a COMPREHENSIVE RELEASE STRATEGY. Sounds fancy, right? So far, this is what it entails.

Comprehensive Release Strategy:

• Soft Release. (Releasing book without marketing.)
• Blog Tour.
• Write on Own Blog.
• Tweets.
• Obtain Reviews. (Free review sites, formal review requests, Betas)
• Low Cost Single Book or Short Story to Accompany.
• Great Cover Design.
• Public Speaking. (Not sure if going to do this at this point.)
• Create an Email List.
• Use of GoodReads.

Writing
My marketing plan is helping me choose where to focus my writing endeavors in the next few months. (Despite my internal feelings of wanting to JUST WRITE WHATEVER I WANT WHEN I WANT TO WRITE IT.) I am planning what to publish next based on what will be marketed best. For instance, I have a YA novel close to edit ready. I am choosing to hold off on that to get some more lesbian fiction writing published to take advantage of the success Love's Autograph is having.

Editing
Listening to my readers' feedback is important. A lot of the feedback points to my books needing better editing. First, along with using Beta Readers, I am looking for an editor. Yes, every author, publisher and editor article I have read has said, "Find a good editor. Don't skip the editing process. Edit, edit and edit." I believe them all BUT there was this thing called money and I did not have any of it. Now, I have some money coming in from Love's Autograph and I can filter it back into my book. Again, editing will take away from my writing time, but it is needed. I am running into a bit of a problem that a handful of editors who I have contacted read romances but not lesbian romances. One editor wrote "it goes against my beliefs." This is a larger discussion that involves my emotional mind, so I will hold-off on it for now.

What is on your marketing plan?
How have you organized your writing plan?
Do you have a good editor?