It is a colourful jaunt into the invention of one of America’s signature childhood toys: In 1903, a man’s innovative invention appeared in homes in a bright green box – the Crayola crayons. In a world where children are given crayons almost as soon as they are born, where the smell of crayons is more recognizable than coffee and peanut butter, I wondered: what must it have been like to live at a time when crayons were a novelty?
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| Original box of 8 launched in 1903. Image from crayoncollecting.com |
Oooh, I'm so excited.
Last September, I went to the SCBWI Author Bootcamp to learn about how to market my book. I came away with lots of practical advice and a list in my notebook. But since then I have, well, hidden under my rock. I figured I had bags of time still.
Then last week my publisher sent me a marketing questionnaire.
Hmm, maybe I should crawl out from under my rock . . .
. . . and think about starting to do some, erm, Marketing.
It’s one of those words that, for me, is like when my mum used to announce something I didn't like to eat for dinner, like fried liver with apples. It made my stomach clench in anticipation.
When I got the questionnaire, I decided to see if I could come up with a marketing plan. And, um, maybe you can help?
1. Hide under my rock.
No, actually the Bootcamp list says: don't forget to work on the next book. Yes! I can do that. I’ve been researching and writing some more non-fiction picture books, because I want to keep up the momentum and actually get to have coffee and cake with my lovely new editor at some point soon.
But that's not really MARKETING . . . Right. The Bootcamp notes.
2. Blog. I like writing. Yes, I can do those. Blogs are my friend. I blog here and I have a new blog for the SCBWI’s Words & Pictures online magazine:
To do: Write a couple of blog posts about topics like how the book came about, a glimpse behind the scenes, and perhaps even with some updates on this plan. What else?
3. Website: I’ve already used jimdo.com to build one of those for my coaching and mentoring service. So, I grab nataschabiebow.com and start building an author website. But, what should it have on it? It’s a darned blank page!
I want to crawl back under my rock. No, come on, I coach myself. Chunk it down. Bring it back to writing.
Maybe I could share:
- some quirky info about me
Like this:
Whenever I go anywhere, I always have a book (or usually books) in my bag -- IN CASE. I think my greatest fear is being stuck somewhere without a book . . .
- the book cover (can’t wait to see that!), a blurb with THE CRAYON MAN hook and links to bookshops
- tips for readers and teachers about using the book in the classroom (I coach writers and illustrators, and I’m a Montessori teacher so that should be do-able), and maybe some useful non-fiction links and activity sheets.
- some info about school visits
- link to my blogs
Better get writing then and oooh, maybe do some colouring.
But when? I'm supposed to be writing a new book (and working to earn a living).
4. Create some freebies: postcards/bookmarks? Or someone suggested a fun rubberised stamp saying “I met an author today”. Design and print.
5. Dream up and plan a school visit gig: hmmm, this one sounds a tad big and overwhelming. How to start? Oooh, I know, PROPS! I could buy some rearlly, cool stationery, like:
- Slates and slate pencils
- Coloured chalk
- Lovely colourful Crayola crayons . . .
But I can't just colour with an assembly of 200 kids. The notes say I need a PRESENTATION. I need to brainstorm and plan out my visit. (Maybe I can work on this while walking the dog?!)
I need some ideas. I know: go and watch some seasoned authors perform.
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| Mo O'Hara enthralling school children. |
I wonder if I can come up with a party trick like Kes Gray did at my son's school where he flicked playing cards and biscuits across the school hall? Hmmm . . .
Practise my presentation performance in front of a mirror. (I guess all those years of drama club in high school may come in useful. Who knew?!) Next, find a guinea pig school to let me try it out. And maybe . . . book some school visits for when the book comes out?
6. Connect with reviewers, librarians and booksellers. Go into local bookshops and introduce myself. Leave postcards. Make new friends. Make a list of everyone I know so I can tell them about the book. For this one, I have to be brave and network. (That rock is looking quite tempting again right now).
7. Create an author profile on Amazon.com and amazon.co.uk and. And on Wikipedia, LinkedIn, Goodreads, Facebook etc. Maybe I can re-purpose some of the writing from building my website?
8. You Tube is big. Maybe I should make a book trailer. I can get my 8 year-old son to help me since he’s keen to be a photographer/videographer.
9. Get on Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram . . .
Um, here is where things go pear-shaped. I don’t like social media. What to do? Hire a coach?
10. Organize a launch – check in with the publisher, but also maybe do a blog tour?
Ouf, such a long list! How do busy authors have time for all this stuff? I think it’s time to go hide under my rock again. And take a long nap. At least till next Monday.
Have you got a book marketing tip? I’d love to swap and share!
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Natascha Biebow
Author, Editor and Mentor
Natascha is the author of The Crayon Man (coming in 2019), Elephants Never Forget and Is This My Nose?, editor of numerous award-winning children’s books, and Co-Regional Advisor (Co-Chair) of SCBWI British Isles. She runs
Blue Elephant Storyshaping, an editing, coaching and mentoring service aimed at empowering writers and illustrators to fine-tune their work pre-submission. Check out her Cook Up a Picture Book courses!