If you’ve been following along, I went off to Pax with a bag full of buttons, stickers and a couple books.
I decided that I’m horrible at marketing myself.
The buttons were easy. I gave them out left and right, left a few around the convention center, and then didn’t have enough to give away towards the end when they had a button exchange.
The stickers …. not so much. I gave out a couple, but I just balked.
This is just a case of me having absolutely no self confidence. I went to pull out the stickers and I started to worry… are they good enough? Are they going to be offended that I’m trying to tell them about my book? Do they think self-publishing isn’t ‘real’ publishing?
I did pull my book out and show a couple people that sounded interested in it. Showed them the cover, answered a couple questions. I even met a couple of fellow authors, and we discussed why we were self publishing instead of traditionally publishing.
I also sat in on a panel about having confidence in yourself to go pursue your dreams. A few were writers as well as their day job, and the question of “traditional vs self publishing” came up. They echoed what everyone else is seeing… A lot of traditionally published authors are jumping to self publishing because they see more of the money, and are just as instrumental in the marketing.
I know I shouldn’t have been so nervous to hand out the stickers. I could have put a sticky on the book and said “free book” and put it on a table. I could have had more confidence in myself. But I’m a work in progress.
Next year I’ll do better.
Till then… want some stickers?
Author Crissy Moss 
Nothing ventured, nothing gained. Marketing is the worst thing in publishing. I miss the old days where all I need to do is just write.
I think you did well. You’ll do even better next year.
Good luck with spreading your work 🙂
Yes, I’m chalking it up to a learning experience.
I know marketing is easier said than done, but I read Small Bites cover to cover and you’re an excellent writer. I’m guessing a lot of writers are introverts, so it’s tough, but we all need to “up” ourselves in public places, whether IRL or on the Internet.
Johnny and Sean are good examples. In their marketing they’re always excited/pumped/thrilled to tell us about their writing 🙂
Thank you, I really appreciate that vote of confidence.
It’s funny, while I was at Pax I met a woman who created this really awesome game called “Gravity Ghost”, and I really enjoyed it. But she was kind of timid. There she was in a room filled with thousands of people showing off her game, and looking a bit awkward making conversation. And I was awkward too, so that didn’t help. (Two awkward turtles walk into a bar….)
But I bought her game because it was awesome.
I should have more confidence in myself, too. I should get excited about my work. I’m working on it.
Just imagine everyone is John. You are way more aggressive and forward when responded to his taunts.
Thanks for sharing this. Proud of you for putting yourself out there Crissy. Next year will be even better, maybe I will come with you!
: )
LOL, I’m only aggressive with John cause I know him, and he hasn’t run away screaming yet. I’m far more demure with people I don’t know.
I’m currently doing a lot of research on hiring a publicist. I want to take Realm Keepers out of my hands and put it in the care of someone else—even though I’ll have to pay that someone else.
If you figure it out let me know. I suck at self promotion.