I was invited to a small writer group, Chalk the Sun run by the very lovely Ardella Jones yesterday. The purpose was to share my experience of self publishing and although in the past I have been known to look like I am about to haemorrhage when I have to speak in front of others, this was actually fun.

There was wine, yes, but mostly it was just chatting about the ins and outs of getting your book out there. Tops tips…hmm?

1. Write something everyday- It doesn’t matter what. If I’m not actually mid book, which recently is rare, but if I’m not, I will do a blog post, a long post on my reader group or a letter. Just to get some words down.

That was pretty much the nub. I mean there was a great many questions regarding the nuts and bolts of what I actually ‘do’ outside of writing to get my name out there,  with social media, relationship building, promotion, street teams, advertising, covers, formatting blah blah etc. Honestly, most of the information you can get from a decent Guide to…book, that’s certainly where I got most of my knowledge, well that, and at the cliff face.

I think I might’ve frightened them a little with how much work I put in outside of writing, but I have a marketing background and this is my business, my brand and my passion. So it isn’t a chore, it’s what gets me out of bed in the morning.

I did think that had I sat in a room full of extremely intelligent and talented people before I published I might not have put pen to paper in the first place. Crippling insecurity and self doubt would have hindered for sure, but thats just me…or is it?

I think the best advice is “Just keep writing”. Get it finished, get it our there and ALWAYS get professional help before you press publish.

Oh…and be nice. It’s costs nothing and means everything.

xdee