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HOW CAN I PROMOTE MY BOOK?

By Arthur Zulu

Why, you may ask, must I promote my book? I will tell you reason with a pitiful picture I saw in an aquarium exhibit. An imprisoned young rainbow trout was looking out embarrassingly through open mouth of an Alaskan northern pike! Pity small fish in belly of big fish!

And that is situation in life. The human tritons are swallowing up human minnows!

It is no wonder then that any where you look, 20% of people are getting 80% of best things in life. Or put another way, 80% of all good things belong to 20% of people. Or, one person succeeds out of five! So, 80% of all best – sellers today are written by 20% of writers. And, out of about five writers, only one have written a best – seller. Where are other four?

William Blake said: “Better strangle an infant in its cradle than act unacted desires” Out of five writers that thought of writing, only one wrote. Out of five people that wrote, only one got published. And out of five that got published, only one became a best – seller. That is principle of life: Only those who back their desire with action, succeed. For nobody has “ power to curse darkness” someone says, “unless he has courage to light a candle”,

So, if you have written a best – seller, and you fail to promote your book, it will die. You will become a minnow in belly of triton. We shall now discuss ways to promote and market your book for best results.

1.Keep Writing Yes, because that was what gave you fame and fortune in first place. This will help you keep in touch with your readers.

You have to write and publish articles, reply critics and answer your readers’ mails. It is not easy. But now you are a man (or woman) of world. And you have to maintain your status symbol.

What about writing a new book? Of course, your tight schedule does not prevent you from writing another book –- another best-seller. You see, that’s problem with best-selling authors.

If you have written a best – seller, your readers will be eagerly waiting for another, perhaps a sequel to first. And it must not be any less interesting than first. So, you have to beat your own record! No mean task. But not to worry. If you did one, you will do another.

By Arthur Zulu

Now you know you must introduce yourself -- your work. This is first point in your outline.

But introducing yourself in creative writing, isn’t same as announcing your arrival at a cock- tail or dinner party. You don’t have to give yourself away –- name, status and all; just like that!

In story writing, you have to tantalize your reader, you have to make him keep holding on to your book, even when his house – boy suddenly walks into his study, to announce discovery of anthrax, in his bedroom!

Making a Good Introseries of questions. Remember that these questions should point to subject or topic of your work. And remember also that in course of your writing, you will need to answer these questions.

Fifth. You may begin with a quotation. The quotation must relate to, or support your work; and help your reader to visualize what follows. Do you have a book of quotations?

Sixth. You may introduce a problem that is connected to your writing. Let your reader know that this problem needs solution. Then proceed to solve problem you have created with your story.