Questions about PR for Poets and more

Q &A for PR for Poets

Whew! Back from getting two (!!) crowns yesterday, and it’s been too rainy and cold for flower pics (but check out this local stream at flood stage) but I’ve done two events for PR for Poets so far and I noticed some repeated questions in the Q&A and thought I would address them. (And thank you to everyone who’s bought the book so far!)

(Also, Writer’s Digest has made my Podcast, “PR for Poets,” available as a fee-based tutorial – and you also get it free if you buy Poet’s Market 2018, which is a great resource for beginning and intermediate poets! Here’s the tutorial link: https://tutorials.writersdigest.com/courses/pr-for-poets)

At both the speaking event at Open Books and during my Twitter talk, there were lots of angsty questions about how to do travel and readings!

Q: Do I have to do a book tour? Is it cost-effective?
A: Good question! Most poetry publishers aren’t funding a big book tour, so yes, these are usually money-losing propositions for poets unless you’re staying with friends and family or a university or festival is paying your way. I have a fee that is my minimum for travel (because I have MS, travel’s a little harder for me these days) but I always offer to Skype in if they can’t afford the fee.

Q: Readings make me anxious – how many do I have to do?
A: I say in the book PR for Poets that many poets sell most of their books through readings, and though that’s true, there are plenty of other options that I outline in the book for you to sell books, including sending out an e-mail newsletter, book postcards, or talking to professors about teaching your book. Every book is unique, and every poet is unique. Some people are extroverted and confident public speakers – those people should do lots of readings as long as it makes them happy. But if they’re torture for you, do one or two readings in places you know you have lots of support and see how it goes from there.

Q: Should I pay a fee to a bookstore to book a reading?
A: This is a fairly new practice that I think is not good business for the author, so I would find a venue that won’t charge you. Even a coffee shop can work, or a friend’s house, for a great reading!

Q: I’m in a small town and can’t afford to travel. I’m stressed out!
A: The good news is, the internet has made the world much smaller, and you CAN get the word out about your book even if you’re in a small town. In this case, just like with those who can’t travel due to budget or health concerns, make sure you have a solid author web site, a social media presence (on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram…wherever you feel most comfortable.)

There’s way more info in the book, but I hope this will be helpful for those of you curious about the process of promoting a book! I’ll try to post some more Q&A as I field more questions about the book and the process of marketing a book of poetry.

And a special thanks to Rita Maria Martinez, who wrote the very first Amazon (and Goodreads) review! She’s also a fantastic example of someone who did a great job marketing to the special audience (esp. Jane Eyre fans) for her book of poetry, The Jane and Bertha In Me!

“I have long admired Jeannine Hall Gailey’s poetry, but I have also admired her media savvy and online presence. I have followed her blog closely over the last couple of years, and I was very excited to receive this book in the mail. PR for Poets does not disappoint. Gailey guides the reader by the hand through what can be a sometimes daunting and stressful process: promoting one’s poetry. As poets, we often focus so much on craft and fail to take the necessary steps to properly promote the fruits of our labor— poetry collections which have required precious time, sweat, and dedication. These are some of the topics Gailey covers: PR kits and sell sheets, pitch letters, social media, book prizes, reviews, readings, launch parties, and book tours. I also like that she interviews editors, poets, and industry experts throughout the book. They don’t necessarily teach all this stuff in graduate school. Much of it is learned through trial and error. Gailey’s mission is to help writers avoid some of those errors and pitfalls. I wish this book had been around when my first full-length poetry collection was accepted for publication. PR for Poets is a must-read for every poet who wants to reach as many readers as possible.”