Making the most of your Facebook Groups

Anything you do, which relates to your book should be done professionally, constantly updated and you should try to interact with those who have taken the time to look at your work or join your ventures as this will only enhance your followers and increase your networking chances.

As a self publisher, if you are like me, everyday you are constantly thinking about what you need to do for your book!


Whether it's finishing a chapter, trying to keep up with your Tweets, updating your Facebook account or thinking of new ways to improve your marketing chances, it can get overwhelming.


I always wondered how people, who made these Facebook groups, got so many members and unlike Twitter (where it has been known that some individuals will go to the extend of buying people to ensure the 'Trends' they have created succeed!) it's quite simple:

• You need to post messages everyday, 

• Be interested in your group members and there work, 

• Make it slightly more personal by posting pictures and telling them about your highs and lows about your writing experiences, 

• Post helpful hints and tips you have come across, 

• If a member is posting something which offends or is going against the tone of your group then removed them, then post a message to ensure your group members understand what will not be acceptable in your group and;

• Make your group look professional by taking a few minutes to create a 'Cover Picture'. This picture should be in tone with the theme of your group, be eye catching and attract potential new group members and make the name of the group clear.

I created some cover photo's for my Facebook groups and although I will probably update them every few months, it shows that you are taking the effort to make your group succeed.

In Macromedia Fireworks, I created my cover picture by getting a nice background image and using a good font generator to create the title and this is the finished product:

This is my first group I started on Facebook. It allows authors to discuss there experiences of self publishing and offers the members a place to offer advice and helpful hints and tips based on there own experiences.


The Self Publish or Wait in Hope Group - http://www.facebook.com/groups/219185778188759/

This is the second group I created on Facebook. This group allows authors to have their say on how they have found these groups and give hints and tips on how to successfully use these websites to enhance your chances of success with the work you are publishing.


The CreateSpace? Lulu? Kindle? Group - http://www.facebook.com/groups/333302013385928/

This is the last group I created on Facebook and is probably the most dearest to me as it allows the members to discuss all things 'Chick Lit' and all there women's fiction experiences. This group has recently been revamped as I found myself spending more time on the other two groups as more members began to join.


The Chick Lit Group - http://www.facebook.com/groups/156066371136923/


All groups also allow authors to promote their own work as well as speaking to other members who maybe in the same genre as themselves.

It does take time out of your day to compete with similar groups as you are constantly updating the groups, replying to messages and doing the general up keep but just like most self publishing tasks, you have to put in the work yourself at first as you don't have an agent to do it all for you just yet!

Good luck xoxo

Monthly Deals from Self Publishing Websites

I love to ask questions!


Especially if I am parting with money!


I want to know it all before I agree to anything and many times when a deal seems too good to be true it usually is!


I am in the final stages of publishing my first book and although I have done my own marketing, I am at the final stages of proof reading it (even though someone else has done this but I'm a perfectionist! It's my flaw! lol) and have created my own website, I still need a little help with the front cover, so I contacted a self publishing website to see what they do for the price they quote on there website as it is quite expensive (I think).


So, I emailed them and the answers were quite vague, so after approx three to four emails, I found that the same woman who was providing me with the information had changed her tone in the emails.

In the beginning, when I told her I was very interested, her emails were upbeat, friendly and quite informative, whilst also giving my the sale speech.


However, the last two emails were quite diluted, they went back to being vague and in the beginning she used to send a reply straight away, however the second to last reply was a few days late and I am still waiting for my last reply.


I am slightly nervous to spend over £100 for someone to tweak my front and back cover as I have done most of the work myself and I am still unsure on how they justify there fees.


I am going to go onto their forums to speak to some other users of this site, however I have learnt that when they want your money and think your interested they are very quick to keep in contact and give you all the information about these fantastic deals they have, however, when you want to delve deeper it's slightly disturbing that they go quiet like there is something to hide.


Just a thought!

Literary Agent's Contradiction!

As a new writer, I find it unbelievable that every literary agency only advertises for experienced writers!


Like I was 15 yrs old looking for my first Saturday job, I got more and more frustrated being knocked back from each retailer due to having no experience.
However, when and how do you get the break? 

After many knock backs, I realised I needed a new approach and was advised to go down the 'Self Publishing' route.


Obviously, I would be much happier having an agent as I would receive a lot more publicity, the marketing would be taken away from me and I would be free, in general, to just concentrate on what I love...writing!


Researching a few 'Self Publishing Website's' I agree, these are great options for new writers to get their work published and out to the world, however, the free services compared to the 'small fee' services differ greatly.


I have realised that unless you have your own proof reader, a decent cover designer and have created a basics, marketing plan yourself (a website, blog, advertising in forums for your genre of book, on social networking site, etc.), these 'small fees' will add up to be huge fees and you need to think objectively to judge whether you think your work will make this money back in the time frame you want.