DEBUNKING MYTHS
Anathema is in bookstores, friends! Let me know if you see it.
There's been some talk floating around lately about what sells novels. A few agents and editors are saying that even fiction writers need to have a "platform" before they're published. It's the biggest load of nonsense I've never heard. I've never once bought a novel written by a celebrity. NON FICTION I'd buy by a celebrity on a topic I thought they were experienced in, but for STORY I want someone who will carry me away to a land far, far away and immerse me in a story world.
Word of mouth is the only buzz that sells novels. I read a great story and tell my friends who tell their friends and so on. The only platform that helps is when the pubs team a top non fiction author with a fiction one and the TOPIC feeds back into the top non fiction author's expertise. Like an author known for marriage counseling teaming up to write novels that illustrate his teaching. But if I heard Oprah had written a novel, I'd just shake my head and turn away.
For anyone to recommend an unpublished writer build a platform is just insane. If they don't have a huge platform already, what kind of platform could they even build that would matter? Starting from scratch with blogging or whatever, how big of an audience could they possibly build that would even make a blip in possible sales? Even speaking only reaches a few thousand a year and only a fraction of them will buy the book. What I've discovered in speaking is that if I'm speaking ABOUT writing and my books, I'll sell a lot of books, percentage-wise. If I'm just speaking on other topics at church gatherings, etc. and mention that I'm a writer, not so many. So just being a speaker is not a sure fire way to sell books.
When I go browsing for a novel, I'm first attracted to the title, then the cover, then the backcover copy. I flip it open and read a bit of it sometimes too. The story has to hook me. There are certain authors who are automatic buys like Stephen King or Dean Koontz, but I'm always looking to discover a new author to love. We avid readers WANT to find someone new we can talk about. I want to find someone whose prose encourages me to do better myself, who makes me forget I'm reading a book.
So how do you pick which novels to buy if you're not buying a favorite author already?
Delicious
44 Comments:
Thanks for your encouraging words, Colleen! As one unpubbed in fiction but trying everyday to get that elusive contract, I've been frusrated by the platform talk. What you say make so much sense. My spheres of influence are there. Church, ACFW, friends, neighbors, community, and I do have certain topics I could address as a speaker, but I feel the bottom line is a well-written book that sucks the reader in from the first page until the last.
As for what I look for in purchasing a book? Word of mouth recommendations are high on my list, a great title and cover will grab my attention in a store, followed by back cover copy and then I read the first page. If by the time I read that first page and I'm still sucked in I will buy the book. I may skim the endorsements but rarely do they make a difference in my decision.
Guess, I'm no different than most readers :-) LOL, note I didn't say the author has a great platform haha.
I got my pre-order copy of Anathema a couple days ago, but I haven't been to any bookstores recently. As soon as I finish the Mark Mynheir series that currently has me hooked, it's next to read!
I'm not a writer, just a Girls Write Out groupie, so I am not understanding what you mean by platform. Do you mean a theme that runs throughout each book? Or a cause? If that's the case then I think Diann's platform is chocolate and Kristin's is fine leather hand bags...but I digress.
The reason I found y'all is because I had been in a large retail book store several years ago and was attracted to the cover of Kristin's "What a Girl Wants" (back in the day when the colors were bright pink and sketched). I hadn't heard of her yet, so I wanted to Google her first. The funny thing was that (before I remembered to Google Kristen) I was just scrolling through blogs and , literally, stumbled on this blog. At that time there was a picture of that pink book cover in your side bar! I decided it was God's providence that I read that book!
And since Kristen was blogging with the rest of you I decided to read Diane and Denise as well. (Colleen, I own Abomination, but I have been a bit scared to read it! I am the biggest chicken reader. Ever. But this summer, when I have time to read in the daytime I plan to read it! I know I will love your book just as much! I may never sleep again, but that's OK!)
So to wrap up this very long comment, I TOTALLY judge the book by it's cover (which I know is awful!). I also read the synopsis on the back of the book. If the cover is attractive and the story line sound interesting or fun, that's the book for me.
Also, I do think there is something to the word of mouth concept, because I read a lot of books that are recommended by friends.
I read to escape...it's all about the story. I love a good story. And the ability to read well written story. For me that is the bottom line!
I should have explained platform better, Kellie. A platform is usually a way that gives the writer media attention. Maybe speaking or being on TV a lot. It's most often thought to be speaking or a large internet following.
So interesting to hear how you found us! I don't think Abomination will scare you TOO much. . . LOL
Thanks for the information on platforms and marketing. I'm learning about the publishing industry, and when people mention speaking as a form of advertisement, I shrink back. Glad that other people's talking is the biggest promotion for good writing.
If my favorite authors don't have any recent releases, I research on Amazon or Christianbook.com. Find my favorite genre, skim the titles for interesting plots, read a few reviews, and finally read the first page. Usually if the first paragraph doesn't grab me, I click back and find another book.
I love bookstores, but it's rare that I pick up a book there unless it's on my list or someone's recommended it to me. Because I'm going there to purchase a novel, I want to make sure it's worth my time and money.
I read things people recommend to me.
I want to tell you how I found this blog: Someone gave me two of the Rock Harbor books. I googled you, Colleen, to find out what the third book was--and found this blog. After I read the comments you four wrote day after day, I wanted to read each person's books. So, between winning books off this blog (Thanks, ladies!) and having friends who were coming to Turkey bring me copies, I've read 3-6 books from each of you. :) If I lived in the States, I would have read even more!
So...was I influenced by your "platform" (Girlswriteout)? I guess so. :) Still, I agree with what you said, Colleen. It's usually word of mouth or an attractive cover that gets me to read.
So you found ME by reading my books, Pam, then found everyone else by our platform the blog? So both were at work in your case. Very interesting!
Kellie, you first found Kristin by the cover? Weren't those cute?
I have read Anathema! Very good! Once I got started, I HAD to finish it.
I am like most. I look at the cover, then the title, read the back and then a page or two if time. That is how I make a decision about an unknown author. Sometimes I am pleasantly surprised and others very disappointed. I have found there are several that I had thought had great potential and were a let down. I find myself thinking "I would have done this" and that would have made it better. Always a critic :)
Word of mouth is the best thing to influence me. I have a small circle of friends that love to read. We share and talk about which authors we like and don't. We share a bit about some of their stories without giving away the end. Just to give each other a feel for the book.
The other thing I do for unknown authors is go to cbd.com or amazon and read reviews.
I read so much that I need to find a way to keep track of what and who I've read. I know there are authors I've read and liked but the books are so far between that I forget who they are. I'm getting old!
Glad you liked Anathema, Andrea. You read it quickly! You say you read reviews on Amazon. do you put the up too? That always helps us. :-)
I think we all think, "I would have done it this way." LOL
I'm always a little leery of buying a book by an unknown author. I'm more likely to try something new if it's available at the library. Then I look at the cover, the publishing house, and read the back cover.
However, when I do get hooked on a new favorite author, I track down all their books. I just discovered Kristin's books back in February, and since I've almost exhausted them all, my next game plan is to move on to the other writers that blog here. As I am constantly reading, I'm always glad to find new authors to read. I found this blog by googling Kristin after I bought her first Ashley book as a gift for my sister, who read it in two days, and lent it to me.
So, I guess in a round-about way your "platform" on this blog has influenced my book purchases. But the great books probably came before the "platform." I never read fiction by someone who is known for doing something else. My assumption is that they probably don't know how to write, that's why it's not their regular job.
As a reader (and a writer), I love to get to know authors through their blogs. I will say that I followed the blogs of Robin Lee Hatcher and BJ Hoff for quite a while before I started buying their books. By then, they'd hooked me through the personality demonstrated on their blogs--a great platform for them.
The opposite happened with Lisa Samson. A friend of mine told me I would love her books. I read the first one before finding her blog and getting even MORE hooked than I would have been.
I will certainly buy novels based on plain old word-of-mouth, but it does NOT hurt to be able to google the author and find an online presence that gives me a sense of who the author is as a person.
Katy McKenna www.fallible.com
I look at lots of things. The first for me is the Title. If the title isn't worth my time, the rest of the story probably isn't either. The next thing is the back cover teaser. The cover art really has nothing to do with my choice. Neither does the name of the author. Granted, I am looking for the names of the GWO clan, but I don't buy for celebrity or lack thereof.
One of the books I have, I didn't really like, but I met the author, and have an autographed copy. I chided my Grandmother for having the book. "Why is this smut novel on your shelf?" She says, "how do you know it is smut?" I had to explain my bookstore adventure job.
Word of mouth is so much better for me. "Hey, have you read...?" gets me in faster than anything. I like reading the same things as my friends, so we can discuss the story, and get a deeper appreciation of the writing.
The next way I look for new books is to search by section. I have a love of Fantasy and SciFi, and I troll the Christian section for stories that happen where I am. I am not so fond of the stories of retired adults, I would rather see a young, but not too young, woman discovering something about God, and finding what she was looking for when it was right in front of her.
And I read the Dictionary for fun, so don't base your stats on me.
I definitely am attracted first by the cover and then I flip over to the back and read the blurb. I'm also really indecisive (cheap?) so if I'm so-so about a book, I'll drop it and perhaps do some research to find out more what it's about before I go back.
Mostly, though, I read books that friends recommend. You can find books to love together or you can hold it over their heads until...well, the Second Coming.
Remember that book...yeah.
See Colleen! I'm not the only one nervous about missing tongues in Abomination!! However, to Kellie, I am about a 4th of the way through and so far I haven't had nightmares... yet... I am a chicken reader too:-) I am such a wuss I closed my eyes through half of the movie Nancy Drew while we watched with our kids, if that gives you any idea!
I totally agree on the platform notion! I think it is good to create a presense and get your name out there, but there are alot of authors that write/sell alot of books that have very little platform (Lori Wick comes to mind, she has vertually no web presense that I can find but has tons of books that from the look of the bookstores, sell well!) I do think, though, it helps to have a website/blog and a presense that the reader can find if/when they do find your book and want to 'look' you up. I do that with my favorite authors, or ones that interest me. It is how I found this site!
What do I look for in a book? Hands down, cover first. Most of the time I like contemporary novels vs. historical, so that will give me a big clue right there. I also am a sucker for a good romance, and you can usually get a good clue from the cover. Second would be the title, unless it is a really good title and then I might notice that first (ahem... LOL...:-))and a far third would be the back story. (I most times briefly skim the back of a book, and many times just skip it all together. I like to be surprised!!)
Known authors always get my preference, if the title and cover are good. But I am always open to new authors as well. Example, Denise! I love the cover of The Convenient Groom, so last time I went to the bookstore I purchased Surrender Bay... (gotta read book 1before book two!). It was the first book I read by her... and I am now looking forward to many more!
Ooooh, Thanks, Krista! They did a fab job with that cover. Well, both of then really. That's what draws my eye as a reader as well.
Interesting post, Colleen. I like it.
I found your books by the content subject (Upper Peninsula of MI) attracting me via blip in CBD. I found Kristin's by word of mouth. I read Denise's because of this blog. And I am getting my first Diann book because of this blog.
Other than that, I usually test out a new author first by getting their book at the library and then if I'm sold on them, I'll buy them. I have a list of about 5 authors whose books I automatically order without even reading the subject, looking at hte title, or caring about the cover! :)
BTW, I'm 1/2way through Anathema!! I think you may have finally stumped me - I can't figure out the murderer.
I think networking/making friends is fabulous, but like Colleen said, a platform on your expertise on what? The topic in your story? doesn't always work.
I have worked so indepth with Christian authors and know (and have read) so many as a long time column book reviewer in magazines that I can't remember what it was like to just walk into a bookstore and not be familiar with an author. That was always part of the joy of finding a new author for me.(And I loved that.)
But I do have certain genres I look for now that I'm not reviewing everything. I'll definitely try a new author in a genre I love.
Great post, Colleen :)
Colleen good point, when i get to the city (Im sure they hear me coming) i head for Word and Koorong and check out the fiction isles as they are like in a library its often titles and author i know. but recently the tilte scrap everything got me and i checked it out and bought it and loved it.
i tend to look at titles and if i have heard the name but then check out the front and read the back. I have to say if i dont like the front sometimes i haven't gone any further and a recent release end of last year If i had seen it in the shop would have stayed there but as I won it I read it and its in my top 10 of the year so far.
Before i found blogs. which was only about august last year. it was catalogues that had info on books and if i liked the write up it would be added to my buy list. (which may explain around 250 unread books). Koorong always has a table of books discounted and i often think why didn't i wait to buy some of the books, here they are about a third of the price and i paid full price and still haven't read them!
Colleen I found Alaska twilight (I think i have the wrong title but the one in alaska on this table on my last trip in January. I have it to read and will at some stage.
I have found some great books on the bargin table.
But platforming wouldn't really make me buy a book by an unknown writer (if it was a cricket player talking about his new book I may). The blogs have helped me add some iwant to buy to my list and have also helped me work out what sorts of books I am not really into.
Its from the blogs I Have to get Surrender Bay (I thought someone was sending it to me but something happened) I Will get it on my next trip to the city in Oct. (dont go that often and our local book shop doesn't have alot of books.
One other way i bought a few was a sampler book of about 12 novels with just one chapter. (i think i bought 7 that day)
Incidentally, I'm not saying once an author has a book coming out that a platform isn't important. It's just that BEFORE a writer gets that first big sale, she can't possibly suddenly develop a platform that will be more than a blip of sales. But AFTER the sale, you definitely want that online presence--mostly to connect with your readers. This blog is one of our biggest joys in life--for all four of us. We LOVE our online community and the friends we have here. You are all really special to us.
Jaime, I can't believe I've stumped YOU!! Wow, I'm thrilled. LOL
We all seem to look for books in similar ways. When I'm in the mood for a novel, if one of my faves doesn't have a new book out, I look for genre first too. I forgot to mention that so thanks for pointing that out. I browse the suspense aisle for my fix of murder and mayhem. LOL
why is it we (me) can have a book shelf of unread books but cant find one to read!
I have a craving for histroical but on a series at present as i have a few to review and the one im reading is really good but its the wrong book for me to be reading right now.
Why is it the wrong book to be reading, Chelf?
I look at the same things you do when I pick a book. The cover plays a huge roll as does the title.
I am a beginning writer and I have wondered about the whole platform thing. Wondered how much it really helps.
But what I hear is that agents and editors are looking for that, so I guess I need to establish something to make them happy? But the main thing I need to spend my time doing is writing my book!
No, Colleen, the Dictionary is not the wrong book to be reading. In fact, I just got a new one: The Dictionary of Disagreeable English (A Curmudgeon's Compendium of Excruciatingly Correct Grammar) by Robert Hartwell Fiske, the Grumbling Grammarian.
I would also recommend a Thesaurus for a bit of educational fluff. I know it helps writers. *wink*
I am known among my friends as a Grammar Nazi, although it is more for the Spelling than Grammar. It helps my Scrabble game and with Word Jong on my Nintendo DS.
Is there a WRONG book?
Is there a RIGHT book?
I am addicted to book ownership, it is the largest part of my "stuff-itis", my collection of collections.
I believe it is important to be educated. One must be smart to be a smart alec.
Great post, Colleen.
My first reaction --whew!
I'm an unknown, debut author just praying people notice me because I don't yet have a recognizable platform.
How do I select a book? If I'm not looking for a favorite author, I first judge a book by the title, then the cover, back of the book blurb, and the number of pages. When I'm reading a book I love, I hate it when it ends too quickly. If I've narrowed down my choice to two books, I almost always choose the thicker one.
A prisoner of hope,
Megan
Too funny Chelf. Me too. I'm a book-a-holic. I love em.
The cover is what grabs me, then the title. I'll read a few pages first to see if I'm going to like it.
I tend to like bio's. Call me shallow. (Let me learn all I can about Cary Grant.) In his words or his girlfriends, wife...whatever.
Honestly, I pretty much stick with chick lit. I came across Kristin's Ashley series at Barnes & Noble. I picked it up and now have the collection (read of course!) on my book shelf. Then I went for others that she'd written.
I'm on to Diann now. I love the way she writes. It's like you were sitting with her and talking to her. (Kristin too.) And the laughter they both give me. Lightens up my day.
I'll get to the others on this blog at some point.
Can't have too many books!!
I'm always reading books by authors I haven't heard of or haven't read before. That's how I found out about Kristin Billerbeck. I read just about anything Karen Kingsbury puts out and also I love Siri L. Mitchell and Camy Tang.
I always judge a book by its cover. If it's got an old-fashioned 1800's looking cover I'll walk right past it. Same for a western. And most romances. I like the fun covers the best, bright, shiny...yeah, I'm easily amused too!
One I get hooked on an author though I'm loyal for life no matter what she writes about!
Does a title have to grab you first, friends? I'm finding more and more how important that is.
Ok well I generally choose a book by it's cover. And of course that is what they say NOT to do, but I can't help it!
If the cover looks tacky, I am less likely to turn it over and read the blurb.
In fact, it took me a good year to pick 'What a Girl Wants' off the shelf because the cover just didn't totally grab me. However, I kept seeing it and seeing it... and now, the Ashley books are about my fave chick lit books of all. :)
Colleen I only read your books because I found this blog, a couple of years ago now, via Kristin's site. And since then I've read pretty much all of your books, and I read my first book of Diann's last week. I haven't read any of Denise's (they don't stock them at our Christian bookstore, so I'll have to buy online... which I'm doing more and more often these days. In Australia, Christian books are ONLY found in Christian bookstores, Borders wouldn't have even heard of any of you!).
Another way I choose books is go for genres that I like: chick lit, mystery, thriller, romance, etc.
Yeah, I hope platform won't be too important. I buy based on covers, and recently, on nice judges. :-) Oh, after the cover of course I read the back!
I suppose the title has something to do with my decision to pick up a book. If it's something like, "Love will never die" or "Unbridled Legacy" I'll pass right by it.
The next thing I do is give it a quick flip through. If it has character names that I can't figure out how to pronounce I'll put it back. I have to know how to say the names right away!
I bought the book, Anathema last week (or maybe two weeks ago) in a Northwest Arkansas christian bookstore. Today I was in another christian bookstore in our area and they had it on display. I am still finishing a book I had on hold at the library, but I can't wait to read Anathema!
Often covers or titles will capture my attention, then I will read the back. If I'm hooked immediately, I'll usually buy the book. If I'm somewhat interested I will start reading the first chapter or write down the title/author and look on websites such as christian book distributors or amazon to read reviews. Good prices or promotions also capture interest.
I usually stick to my favorite authors but sometimes will try a new one. Abomination was kind of scary, but not too scary, just a little intense. I just read Adam by Ted Dekker.... (my first time to read a book by him) it was VERY scary. Lets say when I finished it later at night, I had to watch a movie to get my mind off of it before going to sleep!
yes sometimes the title does make me buy it like "scrap everything"
There are others too that the title got me. but even a good title with a not so nice cover will not make me have to have the book. There have been cases where the cover has put me off a book but the book itself was wonderful. I know we are not meant to judge a book by its cover but we often do.
Honestly, I don't think I pay much attention to titles. I probably couldn't even tell you the titles of some of my favorite books. A lot of them sound alike to me (you know, stuff like "An Undying Love" or "Another Springtime"). Those kind of titles tell me nothing about the book. Now "Anathema." Intriguing. I'm going to have to check that out.
Of course, if it's a title that makes me think this is not my kind of read, I might pass up a book because of the title. I make choices based more on the back of the book description. If I can guess how the book ends by reading the back cover, I'm not likely to buy it.
I discovered you all long before joining ACFW when I was attracted to the pink cover of What a Girl Wants (and just for the record, my wardrobe's not full of pink :) Anyway, I'd never even heard of blogging at the time, but I saw that Kristin had a website so I followed the rabbit trail to this blog, then learned about you all. This was a long while before I saw my own first book published
As for the books, you're all wonderful, but my mom has to read yours first Colleen, because I'm such a chicken, Lol...
Platform -- I just don't see how a platform helps sell fiction books for an unknown. I'm a nonfiction writer and platform is important for me, but I had a major publisher take a chance on platform-less me because they love the book subject and I covered them up with marketing ideas.
Now to your question, How do I pick my novels (other than by fav author)? I love a great cover -- if I'm looking for chick lit, then give me a cover that shouts FUN, if I'm looking for suspense, give me that spooky cover.
Once you have me with the cover, I'm going to read the first couple of pages and this is your chance to grab me -- make me laugh, make me quake in my boots, but make me do something!
another way I buy a new author is by recommendation from a trusted source and toss in a comparision and you can truly hook me --- like, If you like Colleen Coble, try XYZ author.
Platform for fiction? Not something I'm interested in -- in fact, it can truly turn me off.
Hi!
My name is Laura Laiklam. I found out about this blog from my Gramma,and writer,Jean Kincaid. You girls really inspire me. I have been going back in forth on whether I should start writing or not. I am only thirteen years old, but I just love telling stories to my brothers. I can think them up, but I can't seem to get them on paper. It is probably because I am so busy with school, homework, and piano lessons.
I have a blog and I would love to have one of you come and visit it and possibly sign it? It would make me so happy. It is carolinasweetheart.blogspot.com.
I love to get books from different authors also. I just won a book from Rhonda Gibson. Even though she is my friend.LOL
Thank you so much for your time,
Keep writing!!!
Laura
I'm drawn into new books by the cover- 95% of the time. I know they say "dont jusdge a book by its cover" but I've decided Why shouldnt I? I love books with good color combiniations and beautiful script. The title is also important- if it doesnt grab my attention in the 3 seconds it takes my eyes to sweep over it, i'm not going to pick it up. other than that, I choose books with interesting back covers as well as if the cover or first few pages contain recomendations by authors I already know.
I often pick based on the cover. And Carpenter's Son has a bunch of Anathema out. I just finished it this week -- and loved it! Look for a review soon :-)
OK, I'm way late here. I've been too busy reading.
I'm a book junkie, so I look for favorite authors, then scan for any words that jump out at me. Now that I think about it, typeface has something to do with it. I don't shop online much. Too much of an instant-gratification gal. So I'm usually looking at spines. If the title doesn't jump out at me, I'll overlook it.
I thought I was going to have to come to blows with the poor girl at the local Family Christian Store in order to buy Anathema. I went to the store on the release date, and it wasn't where it should be. So I did the proper thing: I asked. I then proceeded to spell Colleen Coble repeatedly. I finally had to get one of your early books to show her. "Oh, there are two e's in Colleen?" Then I find that they ordered only ONE copy. ONE. And it was shelved somewhere between Billerbeck and Carboni (at least, those were among the names that mattered).
But two nights later I had read Anathema and was a very happy camper. You helped me survive a road trip to West Virginia and a family reunion. That's a great thing indeed.
Melanie, you were determined! LOL Glad you enjoyed it, Mel and Cara!
Sounds like we all choose books pretty much the same way: recommendations, title, cover, back cover copy.
For me, the story is everything. I have bought many books based on the story and the author usually delivers what I expect. I have purchased books because people have said the author was great and I was disappointed. Platform helps the author develop a fan base, but if the author consistently writes stories that intrigue people, then it really shouldn’t matter.
I've been out of pocket with a funeral so I'm late to this post. . . .
I saw and bought Anathema last week. Can't wait to read it!
I too look for books by the title and what I can see on the outside. Sometimes I'll read the first paragraph to see how it grabs me. And the thicker the better! I also have become addicted to reading the forewords and acknowledgements. And sometimes I get a glimpse of another author there (such as when an author thanks another one for her input).
And now blogs have been great because authors I haven't necessarily read are becoming intriguing to me and I'm picking up their books. Like I'm a major Big Honkin' Chicken, but I've finally bought one of Brandilyn Collins' books. . .
Mrs. Coble,
Did your last name used to be reece?
If so, I am enjoying reading one of your books.
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