100 Days of Book Promotion

Time to spread the word about my new novel! 😵‍💫

Well, this is the part where we want to move on and do something else. Who loves promoting their work? Raise your hand.

I thought so - rare is the person who is super excited about ‘getting the word out there’ about your book, art, or business offers.

But I didn’t invest so much of myself into this book to just move on to the next thing. I’ve committed myself to a year of making sure that everyone who needs to read Her Lisbon Colors has access to it.

Honestly, my workflow for promoting the novel has been somewhat random and chaotic. I’ve discovered through my coaching that without structure, the hard emotional labor of making and sharing our work is a painful slog. All our hopes and fears crowd thrive in chaos and indecision. Most of us need a way to focus, get structure and accountability to make the tough things like pitching and making requests happen.

On a much-needed outing last Friday, I discovered a way to make promoting Her Lisbon Colors for the rest of the year feel doable and even fun.

A guided journal I love

Now that the launch pad dust has settled, I have been looking for a way to get myself a bit more organized. I reached the end of my Do Something That Matters Journal by Michael Bungay Stanier. This is an 18-week guided journal¹ that I was surprised to find myself loving.

DSMJ asks the following questions, Monday-Friday:

1. What do you notice?

2. What do you want?

3. What’s the one thing?

4. What’s the best thing that happened?

There are also weekly check-ins that help develop the bigger picture of your life. At the beginning of the journal, you choose your main area of focus. Mine was finishing and publishing the book.

I enjoyed this process so much, I ordered another one. In my brand new DSMJ, I decided to focus on promoting my novel. Starting on July 7, my journal process will be focused on novel promotion. This rallied me and helped me get organized. I compiled random lists into a Notion page. Categories include:

• podcast² guesting

• IRL promotion

• contests

• giveaways

• social media

• writing

• misc

I thought it would be useful for other indie authors to see the process of promoting. And helpful for me to have this kind of focus and social accountability.

Mapping along the calendar

Eighteen weeks of five days’ work is 90 days. Throwing in ten days while traveling for things I will be doing, I’m calling this my 100-day project.

Every week, I will share with you the five things I have done, plus any news or insights I’ve gleaned about the process of promoting a novel in this era.

The dates are July 7 - December 5. I’ll take a break September 22 - October 17 for my trip to Lisbon and Paris, when I will most certainly be promoting the book but not necessarily posting about it.

At the end of this 100-day experiment, I will assess how it’s going with Stumbling Toward Genius. It may be time to wrap it up.

I’ve lowered subscription prices to reflect these changes. Because I am only committing to half a year, the annual subscription is now $30. The monthly fee is $7.00.

Join me! If you don’t want to pay to subscribe, would you help me out by buying my novel, and telling your friends about it? You can still get your paperback copy directly from me, the author. Buying from me means I actually earn some income from the book, instead of most of the $ going to a billionaire.³

Does this sound exciting to you? Drop a comment or a heart to egg me on!

1. I typically do not resonate with guided journals. But as a fan of Michael Bungay Stanier, when this came out, I pre-ordered it. It’s a GORGEOUS object and has enhanced my morning journal practice.

2. Do you host a podcast whose listeners would love a discussion about creativity as a way to know ourselves, midlife reinvention, and travel as transformation? Invite me on!

3. Inspired by the slogan of Salted Books in Lisbon: Buy books from bookshops. Not a billionaire.