Improbable Press Blog — Atlin Merrick

By Atlin Merrick I like labels. No, that's wrong, I like labels which help. Lots start out that way, but some labels are turned, used to marginalize, belittle, other. The ones that help though? Oh, the clarity they can bring, the community they can create. This is why I like the #OwnVoices label, a hashtag which popped up on Twitter a few years ago. At its simplest Own Voices means that if your main character identifies as part of a minority group, you the writer are also part of that group. If an author identifies their story as Own Voices,...

By Atlin Merrick Just like 5 Ways for Shy People to Promote Their Book, this title is misleading. These are ways everyone can promote their book, but they do favor the extrovert. If you're shy you can still do any or all of these, only you might start small. Super small. You-and-your-writing-group small. For those more inclined to leap, the following six ideas may be great ways for you to promote your book! Promoting Your Book:Cons/conferences | Book parties | Radio | Contests | Libraries/Bookshops | Collateral Conventions and conferences Wrote a mystery novel? A supernatural tale? A romance? There's...

By Atlin Merrick I was editing an anthology some years ago and the book needed one more story to round it out, but needed it fast. I reached out to a writer I knew through their online writing and asked if they wanted to write a short story for us quick. They said yes, so I told them the parameters – theme, length, due date. Then something happened. A rare thing. A good thing. The writer sent us exactly what we asked for. The theme, the length, on the date it was due. The publisher bought the story and do...

By Atlin Merrick First, that title is a little misleading – these are easy ways for everyone to promote their book, but they do favor the shy. If you're ever, ever not clear on how to move forward with self-promotion know that you can talk to your publisher. They can't read minds and they really want to help you because it helps them. Producing a book – ebook or paperback – is a pricey endeavor; publishers want to make their money back and share your great words with the world. So talk to them! Promoting Your Book:Social media | Newspapers...

By Atlin Merrick "Any usual advice you can give on doing PR for my book?" Yes! And also no! I was asked this question by a writer the other day, and I've got a lot of yes for them (which follows), and a certain amount of no, because there's nothing really 'usual' about promoting a book. Each writer has their own way of engaging with the world, so their usual may not be yours. That said, the first thing you want to do is know, down deep in your bones, that you are vital to your book's success. Writing is...