You write fiction. You are seeking readers. A zillion other authors are just like you, clamoring to find some new way to reach readers other than giving books away for free. Why not consider nonfiction as one of your tools? Every piece of reading material that crosses a reader’s path that isn’t fiction is nonfiction. Put yourself out there on those arenas, too.
So what does writing nonfiction mean?
The best way to demonstrate is to list a few options, and that should prompt your brain to start thinking outside of the fiction box to sell your fiction works.
- Freelance in magazines. More people will read your article in a magazine in a week, than will read your book in a year. Any serious writer in any genre can pen a magazine feature. You have to learn how to pitch and get accepted, but once you make it past the front door of a magazine, chances are you can acquire return engagements.
- Guest post on blogs. A book release needs lot of attention, and by offering to write guest posts on one or two dozen blogs helps again to put your name in front of people. The post can be just about anything, but the bio and pics clearly show your book release. To promote my newest release, Newberry Sin, I wrote thirty guest blogs, each one marrying the premise or theme of the blog, most of which had little to do with writing. However, I accepted the challenge to pen a piece that served the blog owner’s purpose while allowing me to mention my newest mystery release.
- Submit to anthologies. They have themes, and even if the theme isn’t about books, they can offer you a chance to write a memoir or creative nonfiction piece that shows your power as a writer or even spins off an experience writing your books. And then you insert the links and bios that lead folks to your books.
- Self-pub an ebook. Whether educating or entertaining, create an ebook that will remain on sale on Amazon for the long term. If you write mystery, do a how-to about plotting, or marketing, or dissecting the evils of a villain. If you write romance, talk about how you compose the best heart-throbbing stories, or talk about the research that does into an historical romance. Create a bible for your sci-fi series. Or teach other writers. Recipes, travel hints, and insights on unusual professions. I have an ebook on mastering dialogue due out later in the year.
What to write about?
- How-to articles. Go through your novel and list interesting subjects. What do your characters do in your book? What are their interests? What unique ideas, crafts, cooking, did they run into? You can talk about it in a how-to method. How to cook a Southern lasagna in a cast iron skillet. How to paint on antique wood. How to clean a rifle. How to train dogs. How to write. Or, what you know on your own that might not even be in the book, but your bio will mention your book. Just compartmentalize and think how-to and connect it to your stories.
- Travel pieces. All books have settings. Is yours unique enough to merit attention to the locale? And don’t just think travel magazines. Regional magazines, family magazines, even children’s magazines. The Carolina Slade series has been featured for its setting in Newberry Living Magazine and Columbia’s Free Times. The Edisto Island Mystery series has appeared in features in Explore Edisto Magazine.
- Personal essays. These are wide open for any aspect of your life, not limited to writing a book. The goal is to pen an interesting story and be allowed to have your book release mentioned in the bio. You just need to write an appealing essay that relates to people. These are often called front of the book pieces, back of the book pieces, or essays in anthologies. They’re also titled vignettes, snippets of life, or motivational experiences.
It’s factual writing versus fiction. Come back to the real world and think about what your characters know, where they live, what you know, and where you live. You’re creative, and your wordsmithing skill isn’t limited to make-believe.
Author Bio:
C. Hope Clark’s newest release is Newberry Sin, set in an idyllic small Southern town where blackmail and sex are hush-hush until they become murder. The fourth in the Carolina Slade Mysteries. Hope speaks to conferences, libraries, and book clubs across the country, is a regular podcaster for Writer’s Digest, and adores connecting with others. She is also founder of FundsforWriters.com, an award-winning site and newsletter service for writers. She lives on the banks of Lake Murray in central South Carolina with her federal agent husband where they spin mysteries just for fun. www.chopeclark.com. Check out the short video of the Newberry Sin blog tour.
Links to Book:
Amazon link https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07BYD5T4P/
Kobo link https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/newberry-sin
B&N link https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/newberry-sin-c-hope-clark/1128369562
Google link https://play.google.com/store/books/details/C_Hope_Clark_Newberry_Sin
Apple link https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/newberry-sin/
Review Link (Amazon) https://www.amazon.com/review/create-review/ref=?ie=UTF8&asin=B07BYD5T4P#
