Back at the start of the year, I hired book marketing specialist Brian Feinblum to strengthen my ability to promote and sell my writing. Over a three-month period, we held seven phone conferences, each focused on a different component of book marketing. From those conferences, I composed a to-do list of measures that, over the long run, should lead me to greater success as a writer. Here are the seven items on the “Feinblum List” and the progress I’ve made on each one.  

1. Start a weekly blog (but not a new website) separate from my current multipurpose blog and focused exclusively on writing-related topics. This new blog should have an accompanying picture and should be a free showcase for my writing. It could have links to posts in the old blog that relate to writing. However, no piece from the old blog should be moved word-for-word to the new one. It should close with a two-sentence statement about myself and my writing. The writing-related blog, Write Well Now, is underway, with this current post being the fifth. Not many people know about it, however. I’m trying to change that by notifying the members of my various writing groups.
2. Aim to join 60 Facebook groups with interests that relate to my YA books. Those would include Robotics, Softball, Bullying, and High School Romances/Friendships. Periodically, ask a question in the “write something” box. Don’t make the question self-promoting. It could be something general such as “What is the key to writing a successful YA book?” See who responds. I’ve joined about 20 such groups. There aren’t as many of them as one might think. Some of these groups are YA book-focused but others are focused on fiction writing in general. I’ve joined some similar groups on Twitter, too. I haven’t posed any questions yet.
3. Orchestrate a buying campaign focused on one particular book for a one-hour block on one particular day. The goal is to put the book on a recognized bestseller list. A campaign to raise The Bullybuster to best-selling status could succeed if it were linked to an anti-bullying charity organization. This would start with a message (or letter) to the group’s leaders offering to donate a certain percentage of my royalties to them, if they would let their members and donors know about my campaign. I haven’t taken any action on such a campaign yet. I wonder if it might be better to do this with my next book rather than The Bullybuster.
4. Make presentations at libraries and bookstores. Contact them one-by-one, preferably by a phone call to the staff member who schedules events. (E-mail is acceptable if a phone call can’t be made.) Be straightforward in identifying myself as a local author and (1) provide background on myself as a writer, (2) explain what my book is about. (Focus on a specific book rather than two or three.), and (3) Explain how the topic of my presentation will be relevant to a YA audience. It’s okay to mention the high ranking The Bullybuster received on Amazon late last year, and any positive reviews from reputable sources. I have made two such presentations since receiving this advice — one at the Columbus Arts Festival and one to the local author book club of the Wagnalls Memorial Library in Lithopolis. I also took part in the local author book fair in Jeffersonville.
5. Write a proposal for being a featured guest on a podcast or some similar media outlet. I should highlight my books and mention my website. I should establish my credentials, but be economical with my words. Two or three sentences should be enough. Depending on to whom I am making a proposal, my credentials could include being a parent or grandparent, having done research on bullying, having been an instructor at a community college. Be ready to answer the question: Why should we listen to you? I haven’t done this yet.
6. Revise my Website: (1) Clarify that Fast-Pitch Love and The Bullybuster are YA novels, (2) Add excerpts of positive reviews and complimentary testimonials from people who’ve read one or both books, (3) Include sample, downloadable chapters, (4) Expand the description of The Bullybuster, emphasizing how it addresses the unintended consequences of technology, the long-term harm of bullying, and the innocent people who often suffer when revenge is taken, (5) Include other downloadable written items from me (unpublished short stories). When Diary of a Girl in Trouble comes out, the #metoo focus should be stressed. I haven’t done this yet.
7. Seek out online writers’ groups especially those focused on YA writing. Two to consider: Ohiowriters.org and Ohioauthors@orrt.org. Also try to get featured on Book Bub. I’m already a member of Write-to-Publish Critique Group. I tried, at least once in the past, to have a book (Fast-Pitch Love, I believe) featured on Book Bub, but didn’t succeed.

I’ll provide future updates on my progress with the “Feinblum List.” One challenge will be to not spend so much time working on this list that I neglect work on my third YA novel.

Clay Cormany is the author of two YA books. The first, Fast-Pitch Love (Clean Reads, 2014), combines the angst and thrill of teenage romance with softball competition. His second book, The Bullybuster (Kindle Direct Publishing, 2019), examines not only the harm of bullying but also the consequences of revenge.