I don’t know how to market. I don’t know what to do to broaden my reach, to have folks give my book a chance, I’m not a groundbreaking writer. But I’m not terrible, either (I think). My stories are decent. I honestly think that if people gave them a chance, they’d perform pretty well. I need to figure out a way to get my work out there, get people reading it, talking about it (word of mouth is the best marketing, after all).
Acknowledging that I was partly to blame, instead of cursing my terrible luck (listen, I’ve never been particularly lucky), I bought myself a book to begin trying to teach myself how to market ... without being a pain in the arse. There’s nothing I hate more than the feeling that someone is trying to sell me something, and I didn’t and don’t want to be that person, you know?
Anyway, I have taken my time with this one, as there are three other books I’m currently reading - one about metaphysics and the occult (it’s fascinating to me) and the other being fiction. I’ve actually finished a fiction book already and I’m onto my second. More about that later, as I have some thoughts on it. As it stands, I have had this book for a month and I’ve only just now finished the first section.
It talked about having a professional author headshot.
I don’t have one.
I have a couple of photos of me, which I’ve been using, but they aren’t professional headshots. They’re just random photos.
I do so hate photos of myself. But I did promise I’d do what I could to give my writing the best chance possible. I decided that I would follow the recommendations in this book to a T as long as they made sense to me. So, professional headshots it is.
As it happens, I don’t know where to look for that, or even what I’d want for a professional shot. I’d want it to reflect me, obviously. It is considered unprofessional to have a photo with one of my swords, covered in paint and surrounded by books? Because that is pretty much me in a nutshell.
*sigh*
While I contemplate the kind of headshot I want, I’m putting out feelers for a photographer. I am, of course, absolutely going to pay - work and skill has value, and I have a weird compulsion to ensure that value is recognised and paid, but though I’m working and have some income, not a lot of it is disposable. So I’m looking for someone at a reasonable price in the Ottawa area.
If you’re a photographer specialising in headshots, or you know of one, drop your details/recommendations in the comments, and I’ll add you/them to my research list.
Thanks for your help. I’m off to start researching photographers and price lists.
Ciao!