The 7 things authors do before book launch day
Authors lead odd lives. Most of what people know of us we control through blog posts and books. Behind the scenes things are different. As I wait for Wednesday’s launch of The Ghost of My Father, my sixth book, it’s a strange and taxing experience.
Psychologically this is the hardest time. I have years invested in this project, but before launch there are no rewards. Right now is the widest gap between the effort I put in and any response (which don’t exist yet). It’s also clear now how writing and marketing are different things, but a successful book demands strength in both.
If you wonder what authors do during this period here’s a list.
The 7 things authors do before their book launches:
- Exchanging limbs / future offspring to journalists and bloggers in exchange for reviews of the book
- Offering of secondary organs to places that will let me speak about topics from the book
- Spending most waking hours in email pitching people, or answering interview questions, about said book
- Running up bar tabs larger than many 3rd world economies (there are reasons many authors have signature drinks)
- Figuring out how to ask for marketing help from friends and colleagues without being “annoying author friend”
- Making backup plans for changing identity via the Author Protection Program (APP), similar to the Witness Protection Program, but for writers of criminally bad works.
- And the best, but hardest, answer: Start work on the next book. Nothing can ever really stop a writer from writing.
I hope that satisfies your curiosity. Ask a question and I’ll answer.
Are you an author? What did you do during this odd period of time? Leave a comment.
[Post updated 10/20/14]