Marketing Me

Written By Julie Kolb

Exactly how to market has change in the ten years since I first started. Back then it was called self publishing. It was looked down upon and considered the only option for writers who couldn’t get a contract with a publisher.

Now the popular term is indie writer. Sounds better, and to be honest the term self published always made me think the term was coined by the brick and mortar to make the work of a writer who wanted to go their own way less credible.

Costs in resent years have gone from overhead, the cost of making or providing the good or service to others, plus income, the amount of money necessary to provide food, clothing and shelter to those who are making or doing the service, to now include the almighty profit. The bonus money that the upper management and business owner want to live the lifestyle they want to live.

That is my two bit opinion for the day.

This website can have a paywall much like the Patreon account and a store to sell my ebooks. But this website costs money, as would these additional features. These are and would be my overhead.

Once I determine how to create my own print versions or contract once more with a print on demand service or decide to go with a brick and mortar publisher (this would require pre-selling books to cover the cost of the print run, something like a kickstarter). I would be able to sell print copies on my website as well as other mass book sellers that deal with indie authors.

These are all ways to make available to readers my stories and cover the cost of doing so.

In 2014 when I published the first of two current children’s stories, I had been blogging for over two years successfully. My blogging began back in 2002, so that is ten years worth of time and effort spent cultivating a brief readable entry. I had tried several websites, and had posted stories on sites that promoted fiction, like Wattpad.

Now, I have an association with Medium and Patreon. I have various social media and am working on determining where both my children and adult fiction marketing efforts should be made. My numbers due dropped off after 2018. It was frustrating. Stories were still in the works, but not ready to publish.

This year was intended to be the publication of a story that was written in my blog 500 Days to 50. It is the story in revision process. I will have at least one beta read through, the first after the new year. (If you are interested in this please fill out the website form on the contact link page at the top right.) I fully expect this beta read to initiate another round of revision. And then a content/continuity edit followed by a copy edit (spelling, grammar, production prep). If all that can be done in 2026, then it will be published at the end of 2026 or beginning of 2027.

So. How can you help?

  • Write and post reviews on your social media, or sites like Goodreads.

Thank you for your support.

Julie Kolb
Previous

Best Week Of December

Next

Falling Leaves