Our writing group
2024 is going to be a big year for our small writing group of six. We’ve had two books come out already, with a further two not far away and another partly written. Along with her imminent release, one member has written a trilogy, with the other two books not far away either, while a former member, who died six years ago, had a completed manuscript, which her family is nearly ready to publish.
Whilst my children’s book was printed at the end of November last year, it wasn’t really out there until this year, so I am including this as part of this year’s releases.
We have all been plodding away at our work over the last few years, sharing chapters as we go, and helping each other with our critiques, whether that be in positive comments or areas where we could improve.
But there is something about 2024, that is bringing all these books out at once. Perhaps one’s success spurs the next one and so on.
What we have all realised is that writing is the fun and easy part. There is a tremendous amount of work that follows a completed manuscript. First there is the editing, both by the author and usually a second person, then the formatting, cover, proofing and printing, with decisions needed along each step. We have all chosen different routes, with different printing companies, editors, and cover designers. However, I am sure there won’t be too much difference to an outsider picking up the end product.
Our genres are all different as well, with a memoir, a sci-fi, a travel fiction, a historical novel, while mine was a children’s book. And I am sure I will be corrected on a couple of these classifications too as they fall outside the norm.
We are fortunate, in that within our group, we have a woman who is incredibly talented in the technical side of things and has been assisting us. She created my website and has helped another with her website and placing her book on Amazon along with other marketing strategies. Which brings me to the next issue – marketing.
That, to me, is harder than all the other processes involved in putting a book out. With my first two books, I am learning that I need to find my audience, which seems to be amongst the spiritual people at the Mind, Body, Soul events. I am yet to learn how to market my children’s book but I have set a target for this year, of selling a further hundred books, across all three titles. Whilst we all might dream about having thousands of buyers, I am afraid my reality is in the tens, working to achieve each sale. I have completed a further children’s book and my niece is working on the illustrations. That publication will depend on her completing these, so could be some time away.
In the meantime, there is more marketing to do and I am so looking forward to the rest of the book launches coming up this year. Well done team.