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| (Photo credit: bernat...) |
It's the same wherever you look. Diversification seems to be the saviour of retailers, manufacturers, publishers, and authors. In nature, whole species benefit from a tiny change in diet or colouration.
Doing something differently, using different tools, or coming at something from a different angle seems to do the trick to liven life up a little.
That's what I want right now - a bit of a difference to liven up my readership. This was the primary reason behind publication of my novella The Latin Cushion. Inventing a whole new character for a new series of detective mysteries based in Perth was a challenge, but I did it - and interest from my readers means I must continue!
Diversifying focus seems to refresh an author - and diversification of outlets also puts a fresh face on one's following. A brand new kind of reader seems to be discovering my fiction - and we all know that discoverability is the new buzz word in publishing.
Placing books in different places is also something that works. I find that Kobo is improving its search algorithms, extending its reach with Kobo Readers, and gaining ground in the UK... all good news for an author like me.
It just takes a few simple and inexpensive changes to make one's titles more noticeable, with surprising results.
If you are a reader, tell me what changes you intend to make in 2013.
If you are a writer: which changes have you found most useful?
Reading variety seems to help me diversify as I find a lot of interesting techniques if I move beyond my comfort zone and try reading things I wouldn't normally go for. Very nice article, Rosanne.
ReplyDeleteYes, Maureen, I agree - what a great deal there is to discover by moving slightly out of one's comfort zone!
ReplyDeleteI'm curious. When did you write 'Latin Cushion'? Did you toss it off inbetween all the myriad recent crises of your life, or find it lost under a bed or in a drawer? As for me, I intend to diversify next year, opening a new page on my website dedicated to romance. There's just the wee extra step of writing them first; or bringing them up to standard. Margaret S
ReplyDeleteLOL, Margaret. Yes - I always feel I'm stealing minutes here and there for writing. One day, it'll be all I have to do. Can't wait.
ReplyDeleteI've been feeling a need to diversify myself, Rosanne. Thank you for letting me see I'm not the only one.
ReplyDeleteAs for not having to do anything but write...let me know if that ever happens! I've been an alleged full-time writer since 1985, but once my son got me to learn to use the internet, I found less and less time to write!
Good article. Guess I've always tended to diversify by writing fiction, poetry,and children's fiction and poetry.Like the cover on Latin Cushion Rosanne.
ReplyDeleteNorma - going into semi-retirement in a few years will do it. I'll let you know how it feels.
ReplyDeleteDale, thanks. I simply love cover design and have just finished an absolutely beautiful one for a client.
As for diversification - I'll try anything once!
Good ideas, as always, Rosanne. Here is my strategy for my new book, "Retirement: A Memoir and Guide:" I have made it exclusive with Amazon for awhile because I sell 5 times as many Kindle books as I do paperbacks, and I have found Kindle Select (which requires the author to sell ebooks exclusively on Kindle) helps sell books, especially their borrowing program (which is free for the reader and makes the author a couple of bucks per borrow) and their giveaway program; I always get a spike in sales after the giveaway is over, and I only have the giveaway for two days at a time. My strategy is that after two or three months I will leave the Kindle Select program and make my ebooks widely available in all formats, because in the end I agree with you that it makes sense to make our work available as widely as possible.
ReplyDeleteBoyd - your steady progress is excellent and to be admired. It is truly the sign of someone who learns from experience, as your memoirs truly demonstrate. You are one of the ones who'll be there right to the end. See you on the other side, as Tim Minchin says.
ReplyDeleteRight on, Rosanne. See you there.
DeleteNice to see you back, Rosanne. As far as writing goes it's not been a good year, largely due to circumstances completely beyond my control, so - with a strong element of crossed fingers - the plan is to somehow claw back regular writing time instead of having to grab a few minutes whenever I can. This will also have to involve some sort of speech to writing software to cope with the beginnings of RSI. Wish me luck.
ReplyDeleteHelen! How nice to hear from you too! I have heard some good things about Dragon SRS http://australia.nuance.com/dragon/index.htm , which you will no doubt explore in your search. Good luck. sometimes buying a new writing chair is a good investment.
ReplyDeleteI've heard good things about Dragon Dictate so I will be following up on that.
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