Week 84

I haven't been getting the exposure I had hoped for on BritWriters web page. There appears to be a problem with the rotation of the "New Author" section resulting in W2H not being featured. However, as of today, they have now featured me in their main post on the Home page which is very prominent. So we shall see if anything comes of that.
I shall start pushing Kindle on FaceBook over the next few days.
Cassidy Webb has asked for a copy of W2H manuscript - so let's hope she will be able to review it on her web site.
Had two more results from short story competitions - zilch! Still I shall keep trying. I'm getting feedback wherever I can so hopefully I am improving.

Week 77

Brit Writers have altered the front page pic and it's now ok, although I have queried the amount of exposure it's getting on their web site.  I have decided not to push W2H on FaceBook yet. I want to see if the BW web site promotes any sales on its own. (I can monitor this on-line.) Also I feel any promotion BW is able to offer as part of their package should be coordinated with any efforts I may make.
I've had a response from an un-published writer via the BW web site and I am more than happy to swap experiences with anyone who contacts me. (Go to BW web site - link on Week 73 of this blog)
My mind keeps returning to sun and snow - Must stop doing that!! No more skiing for a year.

Week 76

Just come back from a week of sun and snow to find that my insert on Brit Writers web site has gone live. The front cover pic needs a slight alteration but everything else seems ok. I can now start to try and raise my profile on Amazon. I have also changed my status on Amazon so that they hold my book in stock.

Week 73

Its been sometime since the last post and there is a fair amount to report. I must admit I've been a bit lax on blogging. In the early stages there was something to report each week and the blog became a regular event. However during the last few months the pace has slowed and I have got out of the habit.
I'm going to try and place an entry at least once a month - if nothing else it's a trigger for me to push the marketing.
Writing and publishing the book now seems easy - it's the marketing that's hard. The minute you stop pushing, the book sales dry up.
Late last year Brit Writers announced their new scheme for promoting new authors and I am pleased to say that I am now working with them. Go to http://www.britwriters.com/getting-published and have a look under the "New Author" section. It should be live soon.
Hopefully they will be able to raise my profile and introduce me to agents/publishers.
I have asked Cassidy Webb if she could review my book on her web site. If she does it will hopefully give me more exposure in North America.
To date I have not been able to persuade anyone to review the book. This I feel is a key objective to any possible success.
I've entered more short story competitions - but no prizes yet.
Slowly but surely I think my writing is improving - so perhaps I may get short listed one day.
When Brit Writers is live I am going to do a Facebook push to encourage more sales and for those who have read the book to go on to Amazon and give me a review.
I going to ask friends and family to support me by buying the Kindle version in an attempt to raise my standing in the Amazon listings. It is only £2.58!
I am enjoying writing but enthusiasm for marketing comes in fits and starts. Hopefully Brit Writers will inject something new into the mix.

Week 41

A self employed author in the USA, Cassidy Webb, contacted me through Facebook and has placed a kindle version link of W2H on her web site "Twisted Webb". So I might get some exposure in the USA. I had already sold a few books over there but not many. I also placed a link to my web site on the SFX 'Pimp my book" forum. I will continue to look at other ways to push on line as I'm sure this is the future for new authors.
It's also about time for another push on Facebook and via email.

Week 40

Back from holiday - welcome to reality!! Really got going on the sequel in the last week of the holiday and knocked out several chapters - wish I could have stayed on for a couple of months, I reckon I could have broken the back of it. Ho Hum!
Sitting by the pool overlooking the Provencal countryside with the sun shining and drinking the occasional cold beer is definitely the way to free the mind.
I've entered 'The Picture' for the Bridport prize and put in an entry for 'Just Back' in the Telegraph - we shall see - I'm forever hopeful.
I've got to start thinking about marketing W2H again so that's next on the agenda.

Week 39

I'm back on line a week earlier than I said I would be. I'm currently in Provence basking in the sun and the relaxed atmosphere has got me wanting to write again. I've completed my second short story - I'm much happier with it than I was with the first one. 'The House' was bleak to say the least, but 'The Picture', which has a similar theme, is not so dark. I shall enter it for the Bridport Prize as well so we shall see what happens.
The Telegraph has a travel writing competition called 'Just Back' so I've written a piece on our arrival and will submit it on my return.
I'm enjoying writing short stories and you never know one of them may win something eventually. I'll keep writing and keep entering competitions. Eventually I will have enough for an anthology and will publish them on line.
Meanwhile, however, I'm in the mood for continuing with the sequel for W2H and after six months lay off I am going to get back to it. I have the plot and characters mapped out in my head but I am only on the fourth chapter - so a long way to go.
I must admit I'm more interested in the writing than I am in the marketing but when I get back from holiday I must get at it again.