While the telephone and e-mail may be sufficient for basic communications with these people once you've identified them, the Internet provides a wealth of other opportunities to meet and connect with other authors, agents, publishers, retailers, readers, and others who can help you throughout the lifecycle of your book. Here are some ideas and resources for all you authorpreneurs to help you find and maintain those long-distance relationships.
Before you even type the first keystroke of your book
The process of marketing your book starts before you even start writing it. You will also find that you will be wanting help and input regarding various aspects of the book-writing process. Some things you can use the Internet for before you start are:
- Market research—Who will be interested in this book, where can I find them, and how can I reach them?
- Competitive analysis—What other books exist on my topic, how are they marketing, and how are they doing?
- Education about the industry—Take teleclasses, meet other authors and publishers, and learn about the various choices and challenges involved in writing a book and getting it to market.
- Start building a network—Above all, start making those connections sooner, rather than later. If you just suddenly blast onto the scene when your book comes out, expecting everyone to greet you with open arms (and open little black books), forget it. Start building trusted relationships now, so that you will have the credibility and the support you need in 6-12-18-24 months when your book is done and when it gets published.
Very few books are truly written by one person with no other input. Non-fiction books need research for credibility and real-world stories for depth. Even fiction writers need brainstorming ideas, and just the general stimulation that comes from interacting with people. Some places you might want to spend time online during the writing process include:
- Writer's forums—Most cities have some sort of group for authors, and there are hundreds more online. Online, you'll be able to select the group by genre, rather than by geography.
- Topical online communities—You've done your market research and you know where your target audience hangs out... better start hanging out there yourself. Get to know the people—what motivates them? What are the hot, timely topics right now? Bounce ideas off of people you get to know and trust. Solicit stories and anecdotes for your book. That input will help you write a much better book.