S12E9 - Awards and Competitions

The dream of many writers is to become well-known and bestselling. Unfortunately, just writing the story isn't enough. In the world of self-publishing, it is up to the author to get their books to sell. Not an easy task when that author is also still trying to write more. This month is focused on marketing, that step just before and after publishing. Topics will include using social media, where to publish and sell, and creating interesting ads that will draw potential readers to a book.

Part of successful marketing boils down to having some author name recognition among a target audience. Breaking into the market is difficult, especially in the world of hundreds, if not thousands, of indie and self-publishing authors. One way to bolster an author reputation is to have what could be called bragging rights. In this episode, Ley and Leigh discuss how entering competitions and aiming for rewards - even for simple short stories - can help in the marketing process.

First aired July 30, 2020.