In spite of many classes, emails and speaking personally with agents and publishers, this area of publishing is still a little undefined for me.
The very first conference I attended, an author told me her publisher did absolutely no marketing for her--she had to do it all herself. She made school visits, spoke at conferences, hired someone to do a book trailer for her...it all sounded time-consuming and exhausting. As a result, she threw out a number somewhere between ten and twenty thousand copies sold.
This was all very depressing for me. I hadn't anticipated that much work AFTER all I'd finished my book. I assumed the publisher took over that part for me.
This summer, I had the priviledge of speaking with the editorial director of Little Brown books. She told me that for their authors, they have two marketing people that tackle each book: one works with libraries, the other with book stores. They come up with a plan and budget for each book. Of course, I loved the sound of that.
Where do most authors fall? Somewhere in between? Most seem reluctant to give specifics.
When it comes down to the wire on a contract (if I ever get there), I'll fight for every marketing dollar I can get, and I'll want a specific plan to be communicated to me. (I'm have a business background and will make it work for me)
Are you willing to sacrifice a marketing clause in your contract (i.e. no marketing budget) to get published? Leave us a comment and let us know.
I think the smaller publishing houses pretty much all require the author do his/her own marketing. If you're lucky enough to land a major publishing house, then they will help with the marketing, but it still is suggested the author do what he/she can. The larger houses only take on projects they know have good sales potential, therefore they are willing to put out money for marketing.
ReplyDeleteI agree. Some of the larger houses, though, are very strict with what they allow the author to do. My friend published with scholastic and they sent her a 2-inch thick set of rules on marketing.
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