Some authors have a hundred events scheduled each year. That's not me. Some go on book tours scheduled by their publisher. That's not me (though I have been sent to many conferences by Reycraft Books). But I do have a number of author events each year.
A year or two ago I was teaching at a writing conference. For this particular workshop, I was talking about author events. (It was either Build Your Own Book Launch or Beyond Book Signings.) I shared a screenshot of my public schedule. (You can see my current event schedule here.)
A published attendee said, "I wish my schedule looked like that! How do you do it?"
That question was the perfect set up for the rest of my workshop! (And later I added the slide below to my workshop.) I want to share with you a few ways you might increase your author events.
Before I get into some advice on getting more events in your author event schedule, I want you to know a few important things.
1. My first book published in 2016.
That's a decade of being a published author. And before that I had a handful of magazine articles published.
2. I now have over thirty books traditionally published for children.
That's thirty books of content I can talk about. But really, I don't have a presentation for every book or even series.
3. I was presenting to children before 2016!
When I first realized I wanted to write books for children, I knew platform would be relevant. I added all public speaking events to my site's schedule. Eventually, I was asked to do some presentations with children, too. I do think authors who want to do events should add it to their websites and social media.
1. My first book published in 2016.
That's a decade of being a published author. And before that I had a handful of magazine articles published.
2. I now have over thirty books traditionally published for children.
That's thirty books of content I can talk about. But really, I don't have a presentation for every book or even series.
3. I was presenting to children before 2016!
When I first realized I wanted to write books for children, I knew platform would be relevant. I added all public speaking events to my site's schedule. Eventually, I was asked to do some presentations with children, too. I do think authors who want to do events should add it to their websites and social media.
Please keep in mind this is what has worked for me to have more events on my schedule. We are all different.
Event Goal: NOT Book Sales
My goal of an event is to connect with others. I may be promoting my books. I may ask questions and show interesting props to make a person curious about something (including my books), but the main goal is to connect and engage with people. That engagement often leads to sales. Other times it leads to recommendations.
Years ago I was at a small event. I engaged with a mom and her child for perhaps 5-10 minutes. There was no sale, and I had no regrets. A few days later, the mom recommended me to fill a spot as a vendor at an orchard's grand opening...free of charge.
Flexible & Varied Programs
Long ago, a library wanted to host me for my first book, but they knew their community wouldn't likely turn up for a book signing. She wanted to invite someone else to come and do a presentation to better engage the community. I offered to create a presentation--and it became a school and community favorite.
If you're an author, consider what you can provide for different events. A school visit needs to meet the needs of teachers while engaging students. A family literacy program at a school won't be the same as what you do during the day--it's for families! A community event can be--and in my opinion should be--quite different than a school event. Yet all of these provide value to the audience!
Quality Presentations
Whether you are just starting out or a seasoned presenter, a volunteer or a highly-paid presenter, your goal should be to provide a high-quality presentation. I recommend using student involvement/interaction and questions to engage the audience. (Actually, there's loads more to it, but those articles can get you started.)
Meet the Audience's Needs
Who is your audience? You won't talk to second graders the same way you talk to 6th graders. And teens are not just a younger version of adults. Learn more about your audience and how to interact with them. A free writing workshop at the library will not have the same vibe as a writing workshop at a writing conference.
Pitch Yourself (But Not...)
If you see a connection between you and a business, introduce yourself. Show them your awesome book. Let them know how partnering with you would benefit their business. (Author Jessica Whipple--a friend, not a relative--teaches about this when contacting bookstores. Take one of her workshops if you can!)
If you write for children, you might want to send emails or post cards to every school within a three-hour radius. I highly recommend that you do not do this. Why? It's rarely effective. (I say this based on others' experience as well as my own.) If you want to connect with schools, I suggest you attend teacher and librarian conferences. You might go as a vendor, but even better is if you can teach at a conference. One big tip: Start with your region!
The first time I taught at a literacy conference was my regional (a couple of counties) conference. It was wonderful--even though only a few people attended my workshop. But a couple of the attendees encouraged me to teach at the state level, too. So I did! Honestly, for several years now, most of my author visit connections have come from conferences or personal recommendations.
Conferences aren't just for children's writers. Consider your book (fiction or nonfiction) themes and topics. Who would it resonate with? Find conferences for mushroom lovers, skydivers, Revolutionary War buffs, triathletes, and more!
Know Your Worth
Not all agree with me, but once you are confident you can provide a high-quality program, make sure you're charging a fee if applicable. Libraries sometimes have a budget. Schools typically have a budget (though they may choose to use it on other speakers). Bookstores do not typically pay authors for events, but they're worth doing!
I do provide discounts but as my schedule for spring has gotten quite busy, I've learned to limit discounted events for slow months. I also volunteer a limited number of programs for hosts with a connection to me. I definitely work with bookstores when I can--for free. I do not charge my kids' school. I may volunteer a library program for my library--but not four in a year.
Ask for Referrals
During or after an event, if the event organizer offers words of praise, I thank them and let them know I'd appreciate if they'd share my name with others for similar events. If words of praise aren't offered, you might let them know you'd appreciate their recommendations "...if they are comfortable doing so."
Know Yourself
I have a family. I volunteer in my community. I have deadlines (sometimes). I can't parallel park. I am an introvert. (This doesn't mean I am shy or that I dislike people. It means I get my energy from quiet. I love people...I just need to recharge after being with them!) I often get headaches after events. So after an event I may need a day to recover. Know what you need and take care of yourself!
All of the items listed above can impact events. I learned the hard way that not all schools have a parking lot...
School Visit Resources
Want to visit schools? Or do community events with kids? I highly recommend this book. Even experienced presenters learn a lot from Kim Norman's book called Sell Books and Get PAID Doing Author School Visits. (Affiliate link at no additional cost to you.)
You may also be interested in previous articles I've written at my site. Just use the label "author visits." Click on "more" to see all of them.
You may be interested in a personal consultation. If so, I'm happy to help. You might want to brainstorm opportunities beyond schools and bookstores. Or perhaps conferences for your topic. Some authors want advice about presenting assembly-style instead of just small groups. Others seek advice about their presentation, flyer, or fees. How can I serve you?
No comments