Things to do BEFORE the Conference
Below are just three tips on what to do BEFORE the Conference, and I'd really like to see everyone's suggestions on things they have tried or seen others do that made the difference.
Publicity. The Book 'Em North Carolina Publicity Committee is releasing periodic press releases about the event, as well as posting regularly on Twitter (@bookemnc) and Facebook (Book 'Em NC Writers Conference), blogging on this site and sending out ezines. Our first ezine is posted here. Authors can also send press releases to their local media announcing their involvement in the event, such as this sample:
Madame Author has announced she will join 75 other authors at Book 'Em North Carolina in Lumberton, NC on February 25, 2012 to show her support of the need to increase literacy rates in communities. She's generously agreed to donate a portion of her book sales at the event for literacy campaigns targeting school-age children as well as adults of all ages. "If you can write well and you can read well," Madame Author says, "your chances of a brighter economic future are greatly increased." For more information, visit www.madameauthor.net.
Just substitute those items underlined with your own information - or create your own.
Then tweet, post information on Facebook, and blog about your upcoming appearance. Be sure to friend us and follow us, and retweet or share our messages.
Networking. If you haven't been to our website in awhile, it's worth another visit. We've been steadily adding authors. We originally intended the cut-off date for author registrations to be December 31, 2011, but we've had such tremendous response that we'll be cutting off registrations by September.
Take a look at other author's profiles. If you know others listed, contact them to let them know you'll be participating. Join their Facebook pages, their blogs, or follow them on Twitter. Don't look at other authors as competition; how many times have you seen someone stand in a book store and ponder which of two books to purchase? Readers will generally leave with both books. Instead, begin dialogues with them and see where you can successfully network. It will also help to smooth the way when you arrive at the conference. Whether you're a novice or a seasoned professional, there is always something to be learned from each author you meet.
Find Out How You Can Help. Conferences are always looking for extra hands to help in various areas. For example, L. Diane Wolfe has volunteered to spearhead the Short Story Contests in schools, and she's assembled a team of authors who have agreed to serve as judges: Pamela June Kimmell, Elizabeth Spann Craig, Dr. Edna Ellison, Valerie Connelly, Judy Walter, and Dirk Robertson.
There may be other areas in which you can volunteer, which will also raise your profile even before you get to the conference. One way you can help: volunteer to blog on this website, and we'll publicize it for you. The theme leading up to the start of the school contests is: how has reading or writing impacted your life?
What Not to Do: Don't spam other participants. Don't go through the list and accumulate email addresses, adding them to your mailing list without the authors' permission. It's one thing to send them a polite email, letting them know you will also be participating in the same conference, and adding your website or blogspot. If they want to subscribe, follow you or friend you, they will. But if you're adding other authors' names to your e-list without permission, you have a flaw in your marketing plan.
What Tips Do You Have for Other Authors, Focusing on BEFORE the Conference Begins?
The tips above are from p.m.terrell, the co-founder (along with Waynesboro Police Officer Mark Kearney) of The Book 'Em Foundation. She's the author of Take the Mystery out of Promoting Your Book, as well as an award-winning, internationally acclaimed author of historical and contemporary suspense/thrillers.
