So you've written a book, had it published and you are now facing the dreaded book signing or book launch. Your palms sweat at the thought of facing droves of people and actually having to talk to them. You are a writer, not a salesperson, right? Wrong! If you do not have the guts and determination to sell your own work, then why should anyone else do it for you?

Book signings are your lifeline, your best friends.

Article posted by Nina Davies with the permission of Cheryl Kaye Tardif.

For any great novelist, defining your cast of intriguing characters is the key to the success of your story. So how do you maintain the image of your characters -- both their physical attributes and their personality? It's easy! Build a Character Wall, paper by paper.

Article posted by Nina Davies with the permission of Cheryl Kaye Tardif.

October to December is usually the busiest season for anyone wishing to promote their books. This is the time to schedule book signings at bookstores, readings at libraries and cafes, and it's also the time to fork out advertising dollars. Books don't sell themselves! Well, not unless you're Michael Crichton, Stephen King or J.K. Rowling. For the rest of us, we have to rely on smooth selling styles, setting up tables in our local bookstores, and finding unique and cost effective ways to advertise our books.

Affordable advertising can be difficult to come by for a self-published author. But there are ways around it. There is one thing you can do that will help to bring attention to you and your books. And that is to create an "internet identity".

Article posted by Nina Davies with the permission of Cheryl Kaye Tardif.

During a recent discussion in one of my writer's groups, the topic of book signings, marketing, shyness and belief came up. Some authors expressed that they find signings or sales to be difficult, 'embarrassing', nerve wracking experiences. They don't like them or don't want to do them. Others felt it was a necessary part of a writer's life.

This was my reply:

Article posted by Nina Davies with the permission of Cheryl Kaye Tardif.

A Murder Wall is a vital tool for crime novelists. Imagine trying to write a story without knowing your suspects or their possible motives. For any great crime novelist, your job is to treat your novel like a police investigation, following the clues and the evidence until it reaches the outcome or climactic resolution. If you watch most great crime dramas such as Law & Order and Without a Trace, you will notice that investigators often use visuals on a wall to keep each case organized. This is a Murder Wall.

Article posted by Nina Davies with the permission of Cheryl Kaye Tardif.

Fiction is made up of two main structural elements: narrative and dialogue. Narrative is the description of what’s happening--the describing of characters, settings, moods and actions. Dialogue is either spoken or thought.

This article, like all on this site, has been posted with the permission of the author.