A Bookstore Stroll
February 15th, 2010
What can you learn by walking through a bookstore? Whether you’re a novice or a seasoned writer, an author needs to constantly update his knowledge of the book industry.
I have met authors who had no idea that audio books existed or who didn’t know the best format for their books. The knowledge gleaned from strolling through a bookstore will greatly increase the understanding of your business. After all, writing is a business.
What can you learn?
-See your competition. What unfilled niche can you fill?
-See how books in your genre are formatted (size, inside text, covers, etc.)
-What book covers are eye-catching?
-What ancillary products are offered (journals, writing kits, etc.)?
-In what new formats are books being offered (audio books, playaways, Kindles, etc.)?
After you see what’s on the market, you can decide the best way to present your product so it stands out from the crowd. Remember, we can always learn something about the ever-changing world of literature. Have a great stroll!
-Gioya McRae
©2010 Mocha Mind Communications
You don’t start out writing good stuff. You start out writing crap and thinking it’s good stuff, and then gradually you get better at it. That’s why I say one of the most valuable traits is persistence.
Writers Conferences & Centers is conducting its annual competition to provide scholarships for writers who wish to attend a writers’conference, center, retreat, or residency. The scholarships will be applied to fees to attend any of the over 100 members of WC&C, an association of outstanding conferences, centers, retreats, and festivals for writers.




