Innovation - A-Z Challenge, Starting & Sustaining A Writing Career

Friday, April 10, 2015

In today's world, writers have to learn a thing or two about the business side of things. It takes concentrated effort to get the word out about a new book and calls for innovation each time. That introduction of new ideas, methods and products is not for the faint-hearted because what worked a month ago won't have the same results tomorrow.

Few are the writers who like to market and I'm in that camp, but with each publication, I try to do something different. Each approach yields varied results and when something works, I include another component to make it more interesting next time.

What is true is that it takes sustained effort to keep a book before readers' eyes and I admit I fall down where this is concerned. I get wrapped up in writing the next book and neglect the continued effort  needed to get the last novel on its way.

I've done blog tours, review tours, giveaways in different forms, blog hops, Thunderclap and advanced reader campaigns and a Facebook party. This list is not exhaustive, but these are among the more common things that writers do.

What innovative ideas have you tried lately?


Creativity is thinking up new things. Innovation is doing new things.
                                                            — Theodore Levitt

15 comments:

  1. Thanks for stopping by my blog. I like the quote at the end of your post. I think I fall into the creative camp : ) Enjoy your weekend!

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  2. I haven't had to do a huge marketing push for anything lately, but I made a list of tweetable blurbs for an anthology I was part of, and a book trailer, etc... the trick was getting people to help me create the buzz. ;)

    Thanks for stopping by my blog!

    Alex Hurst, A Fantasy Author in Kyoto
    A-Z Blogging in April Participant

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  3. I find myself in over my head with too many commitments and nothing ever gets finished. I need to back it down. Baby steps. Finish before starting. The idea of a new story or a new project is just too intoxicating for me to leave it alone.

    Bushman
    2015 A to Z Challenge Ambassador
    @jwb81074

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  4. I'm not sure I'll ever get the marketing part down...

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  5. I have always been with publishers that handled promotion, so I don't have a lot of practice with innovative marketing, other than seeking out reviewers. I should probably try more with the next book :)

    @TarkabarkaHolgy from
    Multicolored Diary - Epics from A to Z
    MopDog - 26 Ways to Die in Medieval Hungary

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  6. I hope to do a funny video. Don't know when.

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  7. My creativity in the promo area is rather "sucky." I'll let you know if I come up with something unique.

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  8. I love the marketing part. I'm gearing up to do lots of stuff this summer which includes appearances and such.

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  9. I am a complete failure at innovation in promotion. I wish there was a formula guaranteed to work.

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  10. The scavenger hunt for Mini-Alex seemed to be a big hit.

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  11. All of my innovative ideas lately have had to do with keeping focused and taking baby steps towards getting my writing habits in line.

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  12. I just tried Thunderclap for the first time. It's a good tool and I'm glad I found it. Like most writers, my marketing chops need work.

    ~Patricia Lynne aka Patricia Josephine~
    Member of C. Lee's Muffin Commando Squad
    Story Dam
    Patricia Lynne, Indie Author

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  13. I'm not at the point in my writing where I need to worry about this. However, whenever a decision directly involves my passion, my existance (i.e. writing, creating) I make a conscious choice. I think that all people who identify as creatives are strong people. :D That's just my two cents tho..

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  14. Hi! New visitor here. I'm trying to write a book right now and I am, as you put it, "falling down". You're not the only one.

    morgankatz505.blogspot.com

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  15. I like marketing on social media. Well, let's say I really enjoy social media and I refer to it as the marketing I do as a writer. Twitter has been especially fun for me lately, and of course I will always enjoy blogging. It's difficult to judge success based on book sales, and so I do what's enjoyable for me and try not to worry about results. The one innovative thing I tried with my latest novel was a professional blog tour done by Women on Writing. I really enjoyed it and felt it was well worth it. I'll definitely try it again for my next book.

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Don't be shy, I'd love to hear what you think.