SINGING THE PRAISES OF CRITIQUE GROUPS (Part 1 of 3)

Source: Alan Levine, https://www.flickr.com/photos/cogdog/14279306964/

Does the thought of handing your writing over to a writing group to critique make you sweat with fear? Or maybe you’d like to join a writing group but you are nervous about what to say to your group-mates? If you are serious about your writing, you have surely heard that giving and receiving feedback is an important part of the process. 

It is true that feedback from others helps you to make your writing stronger. But it can be difficult. Letting others read your work, especially if you are not sure about its quality, can be a nerve-wracking experience. And if that’s not enough, when you join a critique group or attend a feedback session, you will be expected to deliver constructive criticism on others’ work as well. You may wonder what you have to offer others when you are still receiving help on your own work. The answer is a lot.

Unless you are in a writing group with Stephen King, Tom Clancy, or some other multi-national best-selling author, everyone in the group is in the same place (and I suspect even the famous authors receive some degree of working feedback). Whether you’ve written one book or six dozen, it is always valuable to know how readers see your writing and to listen to what works and what could be improved. Similarly, if you are interested enough in books and writing to be participating in a writing group, you have plenty to offer. 

The key is to join a group with people with whom you are comfortable and feel a connection to, whether online or off. Make sure everyone knows the group "rules" and that they come from a place of encouragement and support. Being in the right group and following the advice I will offer over my next two blog posts will help to ensure a more helpful, fulfilling experience.

REFOCUS TO REFRESH YOUR MARKETING

Source: Mark Hunter, https://www.flickr.com/photos/toolstop/4546017269/

So, your book is published and out in the world. Congratulations! If it's your first book and you're like many other first-time authors (like I was), you had high hopes that readers would be banging down your door ordering copy after copy after copy. But, instead, you got crickets. Maybe you even sent yourself test emails to make sure your server was up (new school) or checked your dial tone or doorbell to make sure it was working (old school).

Of course, lack of or low book sales can be caused by any of dozens of factors, but one you can start to fix right now is your focus on your target reader. I'm sure your book would be enjoyed by anyone and everyone on the planet, but, unfortunately being so inclusive in this situation can hurt you rather than help you. Instead of thinking about all possible readers, think about your ideal reader - that one person or small group of people for whom your book would be perfect.

If it's a children's book, think about the ideal age range. Is it too wide? On Amazon, board books are listed as good for babies to 2 years old, picture books for ages 3 to 5, and chapter books for ages 6 to 8. Is it truly best suited for both genders or could you focus on one or the other? Think about the book's price and where you've previously focused on trying to promote it. Are you reaching people who are unlikely to be able to afford or see value in the price you're charging? How about geographic area? Is your book place-centered so it might appeal more to people located in a certain city or geographic region? Is there a certain profession, hobby, club, or other group that might feel a particular affinity for your book's subject matter?

Generally, authors think of their target market too broadly and they need to narrow it so they have a clearer direction on where and how to promote their books. But it's possible you started with a very narrow market, sold to all of the people in that group who you could sell to, and now you need to expand your focus (but be careful, make small expansions). The key is figuring out who your ideal readers are, finding them, and figuring out what to say to them to get them interested in your book.

So if your sales have slowed or never took off, take a close, hard look at the qualities of readers you've been promoting and marketing to thus far and narrow or expand it as appropriate. Just don't give up!