It took four years to distribute my print and digital chapter books beyond Amazon. Why fly beyond Amazon's big nest? 
 
My library refused to carry my Amazon/Create Space (CS) book because it didn’t have an author name and title printed on the spine.  However at 48 pages long, Sweet T and the North Wind didn’t meet CS’s minimum 101-page length for spine printing.  

Then my indie bookstore refused to carry anything associated with Amazon.  

After months of researching and self-study, I took the plunge. Here are five tools and tricks I used to publish kid lit tales outside of Amazon.  I hope they help you, too.

1.  Bowker and ISBNs:
Gotta have 'em

I needed several ISBNs (International Standard Book Number), those 13-digit strings of numerals serving as universal identifiers.  Required by most retailers, they also register a book’s publisher. 

Since ISBNs were required for each distributor AND format, that meant upfront expenses for the three e-books and two print distributions slated for 2017 - five separate ISBNs.  I purchased a set of 10 through Bowker, the official US identifier, for $295.  It hurt to come up with that amount, but it was more cost-effective than paying $125 for a single ISBN.

My biggest take-away
No, you can’t chip in with another author to split costs. Whoever buys the ISBN is named as publisher on Bowker’s official registry. Period. Non-transferable.  btw....if you live in Canada, your ISBN is free!

LEARN MORE:
Bowker's US ISBN prices HERE
ISBN FAQs from Joel Friedlander, the Book Designer HERE 

​

2. i-Books Author:
interactive digital books exclusive to i-Tunes

This avid Apple user <yes, admitting bias here> couldn't wait to explore Apple’s iBooks Author (IBA), a FREE e-book authoring software. This online program creates and publishes only to i-Tunes but was totally worth the effort to get my books in Apple's eco-system.  Plus, I didn't need to hire a software guru to code my chapter book's fixed layout.  I could do it myself!

After playing with IBA's intuitive drag-and-drop tools, I selected a standard 9x6 template and whipped out two illustrated chapter books for i-Tunes in 2017, The Magical Aquarium and Sweet T and the Turtle Team. ​

​It was a snap to add video, interactive comprehension questions, and photo galleries alongside text copied and pasted from an MS word file. The fixed layout and watercolors by Irene A. Jahns sizzled on the screen, and my young beta readers loved the touch features that brought content to life.

I won’t go into the steps to do business or publish with i-Tunes. Suffice to say Apple’s IBA support was beyond-amazing when I got stuck.  With my first book, I spent hours on the phone talking with  patient customer care reps to resolve glitches (caused mostly by my inexperience and on-the-job learning).  My second i-book was a breeze.

My biggest take-away
I LOVE i-Books Author and its brilliant digital books for i-Pad.  Apple’s user-friendly creation and publication eco-system had me doing the happy dance.
*BUT*
I have not yet gained traction on i-Tunes. Apple curates and promotes content in its own mysterious way, and I am still trying to figure that out.  (I also offered my books via Kindle  since  readers requested that format - see discovery #3 next).

I-Tunes generously gave me 250 free coupon codes to encourage early reviews; however, early readers sometimes couldn't download coupons or post reviews on i-Tunes.  It was a vicious cycle: books didn't get ratings unless several reviews were written; people couldn't post reviews; and around it went.

btw....If you have marketing strategies for i-Tunes (and especially if any lovely Apple folk are reading this from their lovely new Cupertino HQ,) pretty-pretty-please share in the comment section.

LEARN MORE
Apples i-books author software HERE:

3.  Vellum:
Kindle, Nook, and More

Like IBA, Vellum is a user-friendly *FREE* software program for Apple OS e-book authoring and publishing across multiple platforms. (Some PC friends use Scrivener, but I believe Vellum is better and easier, especially for fixed layout and illustrations.)

Vellum was another quick drag-and-drop of an MS word or Pages file to create chapters and add style, embellishments, formats, or illustrations. ​I could also view my layout as it appeared on different readers, like Nook, Kindle Fire, PaperWhite, Kobo, i-Pad, etc.

​
Vellum's turnkey formatting converted files to mobi (kindle), epub (platforms excluding Kindle, such as Nook and i-Tunes) and pdf for desktop reading with the click of a button.  Again, no need to hire specialists to format my fixed layout.

Vellum asked a reasonable charge for its mouse-click conversion.  I purchased a single e-book plan for my first e-book but went with an unlimited e-book bundle next because the software was PAINLESS and BRILLIANT. 
​
btw…Vellum just added the ability to generate files for print publishing.  Currently, it does not offer color for printing publishing beyond covers, so that could limit use for picture book authors.

My biggest take-away
Most of my book sales come via Kindle, so Vellum proved its worth creating my mobi files. Oh, and Vellum rocks with its custom pdf function for creating sample chapters and free pages.

While I could've used Vellum for i-Tunes, I preferred i-Books Author for posting there because of IBA's touch and interactivity.  

LEARN MORE
Vellum website HERE 
The Creative Penn: Beautiful Ebook Formatting with Brad Andalman from Vellum HERE

4. IngramSpark:
Print-On-Demand Distributors for Libraries, Retailers

I tried IngramSpark because it was one of the biggest distributors of print books to libraries and retailers. Yes!  IS spine-printed my 48-page book, so I can offer it to my library!  The print is teeny, but it’s there.  Wahoo!
 
It took weeks to format and edit one print book for IS and CS, even with the help of my graphic designer, who used InDesign.   IS book covers also required the more advanced software for layout and spine print.  We tackled Ingram first, since it was new to us both. 

So, yes, doing two print-on-demand houses was intense, with double editing and layout.  Fortunately, interior formats of IS and CS were similar, requiring only minor adjustments.  It was a simple copy and paste of the IS InDesign-generated file into CS for the second required pdf upload. Best, I am seeing sales for my IS-printed soft covers.

 IS had average tech support, and its online chat was best for getting quick answers. 

Dreaded Duplicate Book Debacle

Mercy, I needed those fast answers when I hit a wall with IngramSpark distribution channels -  my biggest headache on this quest.   I still feel the pain of ping-ponging back and forth between IS and Create Space to fix my issue.  Here's what happened:

IngramSpark Ping-Ponging
Based on my research, I was confident I selected IS distribution channels that EXCLUDED my IS book on Amazon.  After all, my  IngramSpark goal was for distribution to  libraries and retailers. Never intended for Amazon.

WRONG! 

My print version of Sweet T and the Turtle Team was on Amazon twice - once from CS and a second time, with the exact IS-printed book.
​
After days scouring online forums and pleading with both POD's tech support, my worst fear was confirmed: neither IngramSpark nor Amazon would (could?) remove the duplicate IS book from Amazon.

I found out the hard way:
​IS had an all-or-nothing print distribution channel.  

No choice, the nice IS chat rep told me.
​
The rule for IS print is to distribute across all channels, including Amazon.
​

Amazon Ping Ponging
Back at Amazon, Vendor Central responded quickly to my plea to remove the IS book, but it could not help because “the ASIN does not belong to the primary email email ID...”

Huh?

Wasn’t I the primary email ID contact?!? And I didn’t want to remove an Amazon ASIN book ….just the ISBN IS book!  Was Amazon getting my Kindle ebook confused with my print book from Create Space?!?!?

Also, I started my vendor affiliation with Amazon four years ago through an email account that had been hacked and deleted. Could that be the problem?  But I could not switch accounts since I deleted the old one.  

Vendor Central further advised to “contact the publisher for the desired changes” because “we can only make changes if the request comes from the owner of the title.” <ping-poing, ping-poing>  Wasn’t the publisher moi?!?

I also begged Amazon's Customer Care (a separate entity from Vendor Central) for help.  The rep was sympathetic, but there was nothing he could do because removing the IS book rested with Vendor Central <ping-poing, ping-poing>.

Some relief came when Amazon's Customer Care combined reviews from both the IS and CS books, so readers wouldn’t be totally confused.  Like I was.  Still am.  Sigh. 

​At some point, I'll  unravel this knot.  In the meantime, I hope YOU won’t run into the same issue.

​My biggest take-away

In addition to the Dreaded Duplicate Book Debacle, the IS website and publishing processes were challenging.  Like reading a book with cotton gauze over your face.  For instance, I found required information faster by googling it rather than searching the website where IS directed me. Even simple tasks, like ordering advance print copies, were confusing. 
​
A writerly pal asked if IS had superior print quality over CS.  I found no difference; however, I used an inexpensive IS paper grade.  Perhaps if I splurged for premium paper, I’d see an edge. 
​


On the other hand, a modest splurge to advertise in the IS catalogue distributed to libraries and retailers already brought in a few sales.

I also decided against a hard cover book with IS at this time. The minimum price for my 77-page, full-color book was nearly $20, and I felt that was too high.

Learn More: 
There are tons of articles about the differences between Amazon and IngramSpark.  Here are two that helped me:

• indiesunlimited: Choices for Publishing HERE​
• newshelves.com: Why you need IS and CSHERE​

5. Time and Patience:
​

​It took huge chunks of time to learn each platform’s idiosyncrasies and work through a million bits of minutiae for publisher information, book codes, multiple formats and edits, ad infinitum, but it was right for me.  Keeping a master file of my work flow and meta data helped with copying and pasting information across PODs.  It will also be a solid road map for future endeavors because there is much to remember.   

My only regret was the Dreaded Duplicate Book Debacle. I may have erred in my understanding and execution using two print-on-demand channels …

SO until I unravel that mess  …

I’ll restrict my soft cover print books to Amazon for now. 

My indie publishing journey continues going wide in 2018 with a fourth book offered as:

• e-book on Kindle and i-Tunes
• soft cover on Amazon
• (maybe) hard cover for libraries, etc., through IS

I'm exploring my local North Carolina-based POD, Lulu, that also offers POD services. 

Stay tuned!
 
Your turn:
What’s your experience publishing on multiple platforms and print-on-demand services?  Or are you at the start of your writing journey?  What strategies worked best for you/might you try? Have you cracked i-Tunes or other markets?  Additional questions or insights?  Please share in the comment section.

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Launching a book in today's crowded market is like trying to climb Mt. Everest with a blindfold. Seven of my YA and Kid Lit writerly friends stop by to reveal their proven strategies for launching books to help you make it to the top.  
​

​Whether you publish in digital or print, rely on social media, or target brick-and-mortar venues, these talented creatives share ideas to fill your book launch tool kit.  Be sure to scroll to the end for a resource list with even more ideas from wise publishing folk.  

AJ Cosmo
http://www.ajcosmo.com

Author and illustrator AJ Cosmo  has published more than 30 children’s books and earned thousands of five-star reviews.  Active on Twitter, social media and his local writers’ groups, AJ engages followers through his weekly newsletter, where he often offers limited free e-book downloads to subscribers. 
​

​​Get people involved:  

• AJ turns over much of his book launch to others. He believes that the more people feel as if they had a hand in  your work, the more likely they'll be to take your work personally and promote it to friends and family.
• He involves readers by asking for opinions and makes changes before launch to reflect people's feedback. AJ also includes early supporters in a dedication page. He creates a special edition of the book just for select readers- whatever he can do to personalize it.

 
Get Day One reviews:  

• AJ suggests getting at least 30 people to agree to review a book and post reviews on launch day. He creates an event and gives something away in exchange for reviewers' effort (such as the book itself, a chance to win a prize, or a special thank you letter).
• He understands people get busy and finds half of those he invites will forget; the other half will post a review. He cautions not to take this personally; it's just how life is. Having at least 15 reviews makes a book stand out against a sea of few reviews. Reviews also encourage more reviews and can help get books on best-sellers lists, hot new releases, or eligible for special promotional consideration.

Hannah Heath
http://hannahheath-writer.blogspot.com
 
Hannah Heath, author of YA Christian fantasy, believes in the power of words and works to use them in ways to encourage and inspire her readers.  Her debut novel, Skies of Dripping Gold, is a dystopian tale about a young man’s fight to save his sister’s life and rescue his own soul.  Hannah is supreme at building her author platform months before publishing and attracting readers through her unique blog that combines reading and bookish recipes. (That's how I discovered her!)
​

​
​Build a following early: 

• Hannah hooks readers long before publishing her book.  She finds this it the best way to build a strong author platform and attract readers. 
• She grows a following by being personable, encouraging, and fun on social media.    

 
Create lots of promotional material: 

• Hannah plasters launch teasers all over the Internet: taglines, loglines, character profiles, cover reveals, back jacket blurbs, scenery collages, book quotes.
• She designs material in visual formats and trickles them out on blogs, Pinterest, Twitter, etc. 

Lise Chase
https://www.facebook.com/WallyandWarren/
 
Author, illustrator Lise Chase hit Amazon’s best-seller list in her genre with more than 1,000 downloads of one of her Adventures of Wally and Warren Series picture books.  Three of her books ranked in Amazon's top 100 at the same time.  Yep, her download numbers caught Amazon’s attention. She reaches such numbers by visiting local pre-school and elementary schools, reading her books and bringing literacy activities to children.  During the past three years, Lise has read to more than 10,000 children in her home community.
​

​Hold school readings, contests:   

• Using her personal network to gain entry into classrooms, she visits with custom-made  stuffed animals of her characters to engage kids.  She also holds school-wide coloring contests, where the winner earns a gift basket stuffed with books and goodies related to her tales.  As word spread,  her visits snowballed.  As a result,  schools and parents often buy her books and character plush toys.

 
Use Amazon promotions:  

• Lise finds Amazon is an advertising powerhouse once authors hit the top three spots in their category. Lise takes advantage of Amazon’s promotions for its full-price books once all three of her books made the top-seller list, nestled between the Berenstain Bear books.
  
• She also offers free Amazon downloads: The Dinosaur Hunt was #767 out of all books on Amazon, with more than 1,000 downloads in days.  Her books' rank on Amazon has also helped moved her books into Barnes and Noble and Walmart

Rosie Russell
http://booksbyrose.com
 
Picture book author, illustrator and former educator Rosie Russell engages Facebook followers during book launches that are heavy on charm and socializing; light on selling.

She launched three different picture book series on a shoestring budget.  Most important, Rosie established a loyal following by supporting her readers on social media.
​

​Facebook Launch:

• Rosie runs a Facebook launch party for five consecutive weekdays to cover all time zones. 
• She randomly selects a daily prizewinner from a pool who like, comment, and share her book post on social media. 
• She maintains daily interest by posting each winner’s name the next business day.

 
Giveaways:

• The Dollar Store is Rosie’s fave shopping spot to find affordable prizes relating to her books. For example, sales from her Maggie, Millie, and Merrie titles support art therapy programs, so she gives away art supplies.  
• CAVEAT: It’s costly to ship items outside the country.  Instead of tangible items, offer e-mailable gift cards to international winners.

Connect your launch to local themes, celebrations:

• Sandra uses her personal network to create in-person events and aligns them with local themes or interests.  For instance, she visited schools during the launch of her last book, Frazzled Freya, to coincide with Australia's National Book Week theme, "Australian Stories."  Her story about Outback animals graces shelves of her regional natural history museum and visitors' center.

 
Create in-person local launches 

• Sandra sends emails and posters to friends, family, and educators to help her promote author appearances.  She also creates posters for shop windows to advertise her appearances.  
• She designs craft activities and uses puppets to engage her young audience.  Building on their curiosity about the natural world, she draws them in by discussing her story's quirky characters or animals.  Food is a must in Sandra's face-to-face launches.

Carmela Dutra
http://www.CarmelaDutra.com
 
Author, illustrator, mom, and professional photographer Carmela Dutra pens two sets of picture books for beginning readers, Lorenzo the Bear and Little Katie.

​She uses her social network on Twitter and Facebook to introduce her books with launch parties and custom giveaways.

​
​Promote early for author e-events:

• Carmela promotes at least three weeks in advance for her Facebook event.  She creates photo-based and video teasers with images of her book and prizes on social media.
• She previews prizes ranging from free e-books and activity packages jammed with printables, crayons, pencils, and other kid-friendly goodies.

 
Engage followers with a range of opportunities:

• During her online launch, Carmela asks questions related to her STEAM book.  She also shares different activities every 30 minutes during the duration of her 3-4 hour launch to keep followers interested in coming back for more.
• She responds immediately to all comments and posting winners' names, with permission, on her social media sites.

C.L. Murphy
http://www.lovablelobo.com
 
C.L. Murphy has been creating with and for kids, for years.  She’s armed with crayons and not afraid to use or share them.  

​Her recent launch of the latest in her Lovable Lobo Series of picture books attracted more than 15,000 participants during its month-long blog tour. 
​

​Hold a book tour:

• ​C.L. recently created and led a 30-day virtual book tour with 23 bloggers to launch her newest release, Selfies in the Wild. She designed a smorgasbord of launch activities, from a video to nature photo contest for kids and a packet of custom book character printables. 
• She reached out to the nearly two dozen book bloggers,with whom she built a personal connection on social media, to host her book tour.
• Using Apple's native software i-Movie, C.L. produced a charming video as part of the material she provided for her tour. book...and you know how video is such a reader magnet!

​Leverage social media (NOT a buy-my-book approach):  

• C.L used her robust Twitter and Facebook platforms to promote her book.  However, she first socialized and supported others in cyberspace long before the launch, charming people with her funny posts.
• The $200 US gift card she offered through Rafflecopter was a huge draw, attracting nearly 15,000 participants by tour’s end.  But it was C.L’s stellar planning, implementation and follow-up with bloggers and readers that kept the momentum.
• ​Read more about C.L. Murphy’s giveaway on her blog, ​Hazardous Ways to Gain Attention for Your Newly Released Book​

LEARN MORE - A RESOURCE LIST
Find more ideas from the wise sources below.  Can't wait to hear about your amazing launch.  All the best!


Helpful Posts
How Book Launches Have Changed in the Digital Age
By Anne R. Allen
Oh yeah.  Loving that concept of a soft launch!  It eliminates the stress of doing EVERYTHING on ONE day.  Find out how a soft launch might work for you.

Indie Authors: Book Promotion Tools and Tips
By Sabrina
OK, it says, "Indie Authors," but this compilation helps trad-pub writers, too.


Free Book Promotions: Are They Worth It?
By Frances Caballo
Frances' insightful pros and cons of free e-book promo sites, including Kindle's Select program, point you in the right direction.

 
Promotion Services
There are a gazillion sites that manage blog tours or launch-day promotions free or for a small fee. 

I used many of the sources below to zoom my Sweet T and the North Wind e-book to the top of its Amazon category on launch week.  Site owners are responsive and helpful, and their process did not break my budget or my nerves. I plan to contact them when launching my Sweet T and the Turtle Team in spring 2017.


Blog Tours/Book Blasts
Beach Bound Books
Stacie Theis supports children's book authors with blog tours, book blasts and more.

7 top eBook Blog Tour Sites
By Greg Strandberg
Greg lists services I know about but have not tried.

KindlePreneur
If you're an Indie in the Amazon universe, Dave Chesson lists 79 sites to promote your e-book.

SCBWI Book Blast
The Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) has a focused effort each fall for its members to market their stories and art. Members pay a small fee for this service that leverages large group marketing.
 

Promotional Newsletters, Services
I used Fussy Librarian and Riffle Select with great success.  Caveat: you must have a certain number of positive reviews on Amazon in order to post, so read the requirements carefully before submitting, and start lining up those reviews!

Indies Unlimited
​IU promotes free and .$99 e-books in additional to monthly print books promotions.  I have not used IU, but check out its advert policy to see if it suits your goals.

Before you go....
...  What launch strategies might you consider?
... What techniques worked for you?
​ 
​Please share your ideas in the comment section.  
We'd love to hear what you think and appreciate tips you  share with others on this writing road.
​
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Part 2 of a two-part School Visit Series

One of the most rewarding parts of a Kid Lit writing career is visiting children in schools and libraries to get them excited about reading.  However, tackling such events can be daunting at first.
​
In this second of a two-part series about author visits, you'll meet educators and children’s authors who share their top tips to help you create THE perfect author event.  From Skype-ing to book signing, these pros have you covered.

In case you missed it, here's Part 1: 
​Follow These 6 Steps to Ace Your Next Kid Lit Author School Visit 

This is an updated version of my school visit series that first ran in 2014

Author, Illustrator
Facebook

• Customize accessories:

Lise commissioned a tote with screen-printed illustrations on both sides from her Wally and Warren book series. The bag looks professional and has lots of pockets to keep everything she needs at her fingertips when she steps into the classroom. 

• ​Develop kid-friendly toys:

To make her books come alive, Lise found plush toy animals that match characters from The Adventures of Wally and Warren Series.  Her stuffies are huge kid magnets.

• Run grade-wide coloring contests with printables based on your book: 

​Vetted by teachers, Lise selects one lucky student to win a gift basket containing her books and plush character animals.

Artist, Author 
Website 

• Search for author visits on YouTube to watch and learn from established writers, like Kate Dicamillo and Emily Gravett, as they interact with children.
• Engage kids using technology.  Nancy passes around a tablet for kids to add comments or ask questions real-time.  She also posts student letters on social media.

Author
Website 

• Contact the media specialist or librarian because they are typically the ones that make the visits happen
• Send pre-order forms with book information and prices to the school in advance (at least a week early).  In addition to seeking his books on site, Kentrell donates free books to schools, especially those serving low-income areas.
• Engage kids with interactive activities that reflect your book theme and  characters.  Kentrell's character, Shelly, uses sign language to communicate with her brother, so Kentrell teaches kids to sign.

Photographer, Author, Illustrator
Website

• Meet with teachers to customize your visit program and learn what works best for each class.
• Use activities to encourage creativity, like coloring pages with a partly completed story to encourage students to use their imagination and creativity to complete the story.  Ask children to brainstorm ideas for your next book.
• Take lots of pictures, but first check school policy for photographing children.  And check out tips from professional photographer Carmela for taking great photos of kids in schools HERE

Author, Illustrator
Website

• Be yourself:  Children can see straight through someone being fake.  Be honest and sincere with them and you will both walk away a winner
• Have something to offer:  Be it with presentations or freebies, have something for everyone, like coloring pages, bookmarks, flyers with author pictures and information. Plus, be flexible with your presentation.  It doesn’t always go as planned. So have a back up even for your back up.
• SMILE!

Former teacher, Author/Illustrator
Website

Hold a book signing: Meeting a REAL LIVE author is a big deal in the life of a kid!  You have an opportunity to create a  favorite school memory that children will cherish.

Have plenty of books on hand and schedule one-on-one time with your readers to sign and personalize your books. 

Find the Literacy Coach and engage the kids: The most important part of Rhonda's day was the excitement over her books, their characters, and the imaginary world in which the characters lived. She created custom printables and arrived dressed in costume on the school's pajama day.  She brought her characters to life with activities and engaged students as part of the adventure.  The school's literacy coach, Rhonda's contact person, helped Rhonda create the magic.

Author
​Website 

• Take questions. Kids come up with the best questions that can  keep you on your toes!  Use this valuable time to answer their questions and encourage them.
• Be a mentor. Ask students what interests them. What are they reading? Are they working on any writing projects? You can make a difference!
• Use Skype to reach virtual classrooms anywhere. 
  Kristen shows you how to use Skype in the classroom HERE

​

Educator, Professional Voice Actor
Website 

Author/Illustrator, Former Educator
Website 

• Avoid last-minute scrambling that can take a toll on nerves: determine the number of handouts and identify equipment you need ahead of time (table, flip chart, white board, etc.).
• Leave extra sets of material and giveaways for kids who were absent.  Drop off another set, plus your business card, in the teachers’ lounge.
• Wear comfortable clothes, shoes, and take water! 

Author, Artist, Educator
​Website

• Start small and focus on one grade or small group. 
• Practice narrating your book before your visit.  Use different voices to bring your characters to life. Make sure your voice is strong and projects well.  
• As you read aloud, make sure students can see your book and illustrations.  Consider projecting your book onto a big screen as you move to a larger group or assembly.

Lots to consider, but YOU​ CAN DO IT!  Most important: enjoy your time with young readers.  You'll be engaging young minds and getting kids excited about reading.  And you will be amazing!

In case you missed it, check out Part 1 of this author visit series where I share my success tips:
Follow These 6 Steps to Ace Your Next Kid Lit Author School Visit 

Your turn: 
What author visit strategies help you succeed?  Which tips will you add to your writerly tool kit?  As a teacher, parent or librarian, what do YOU want to see in a school visit?  Please share your thoughts in the comment section, so we can all learn and grow together.

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Get updates, special offers AND enjoy
 my free downloadable mini-tale for the young at heart:
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Part 1 of a two-part School Visit Series
​
Even with two decades behind chalkboards and podiums, I was nervous thinking about visiting elementary schools as a children’s book author.  But after meeting nearly 600 children in grades K-4 in two states and in three days, my confidence is restored.   

In this first of two posts about Kid Lit authors in the classroom, I share six steps to help you ace your visits.  Next week, my writing and teaching friends stop by to offer top tips for moving your school event to the head of the class.

This is an update to an original post 2014 September on authors in schools.

1.  FIND ‘EM
Network
It’s easier to do classroom visits if you have kids attending elementary or pre-school; more more challenging to get your foot in the door if you don’t.  And shy authors, take heart: it takes just one successful visit experience to spread the word about you to other schools and teachers. 
 
Personal connections open doors.  Ask everyone (family, friends, neighbors, work colleagues, clubs, church/synagogue, etc.) to share  school contacts, and get consent to use their name for introductions.  
 
If you can’t find contacts, do an Internet search to identify media specialists in a target school.  Media specialist is a term often used today for librarian, and you know how librarians love to promote literacy.

2.  BEFORE THE VISIT
Confirm expectations
Save angst by ensuring everyone understands who’s doing what, when and where before you step in the classroom.

• Send a pre-visit contract or letter to confirm details (especially if you charge a fee) and flesh out your presentation proposal
  • Ask teachers/librarians for feedback to customize your visit
  • Clarify school policies:
    • Visitor check in (At one school, I couldn't figure out how to buzz in using its sophisticated door lock technology!)
    • Photography
    • On-site book sales
    • Giveaways
  • Confirm student ages and numbers:
    ​Small classroom talk or assembly-sized presentations?  Wiggly little ones or older kids with longer attention spans?
• Offer a free copy of your book and ask teachers, librarians read the it aloud before your visit.  Older students can brainstorm a list of questions for your Q&A.
• Many authors have a dedicated webpage with visit information.  You’ve got one, too, right?  Here's my author visit page.

​Bling
Prepare plenty of fun, colorful freebies for each child, like bookmarks, rack cards or coloring pages.

Add your contact information on this material so parents and staff can find you once the day is done.  If it’s okay with school policy, I also draw names to give one a child in each grade a signed copy of my book.

3.  DURING THE VISIT

• Arrive early
  Have written directions AND GPS coordinates (because you will be nervous, stuck in traffic and/or lose bars), and check in at the front office.  Most schools have you sign in, wear a badge, and assign someone to show you around.
• Have extra copies of everything
  Bring EVERYTHING… books, business cards, pencils, bling, etc.  I triple back-up my pressie on a portable USB drive and cloud folder, plus I print 8x10 copies of my presentation in case of a tech glitch. I also keep a materials list of materials because travel trauma and adrenalin kick in, and I lose track of things.
• Check the Tech
  Whether you use yours or the school's equipment, be sure those gadgets work. I always run a tech check and request an on-site tech person to help me. 
• Seek the Library
  Librarians/Media Specialists love authors: be sure to meet them and donate a signed copy of your book to the library.

• Take Lots of Photos

​​Nothing beats a powerful image of an author in the classroom.  But be careful posting photos of kids you meet.  I don’t show children's faces on my sites unless I have a written okay from parents.  Some parents even deny permission to photograph their child, but teachers will identify those students for you.   

Instead of faces, shoot the tops and backs of those sweet heads or a close up of hands writing or drawing.   Be prepared for at least one lil darlin’ to turn around and face you as you click your perfect shot -- LOL!  

Arrange for school staff to snap you while you’re working with students, and bring an easy-to-use smart phone or point-and-shoot camera for them to use.  To add interest, capture building façades and iconic visuals like art projects, libraries, or bulletin boards.
​

​Congratulations!  

You finished your first round of visits.  Now sit back and relax. 

But don't rest too long.  It's already time to start planning your next  visit.  
 
Coming Next in this Blog Series 
PART 2: 10 Kid Lit Pros Share School Visit Secrets  
Next week, Kid Lit authors and elementary educators drop by to share school visit secrets that will move you to the head of the class.

But before you go, don't be shy.  What tips could you add to these steps?  And what's your take on charging a fee for author classroom visits? 

I love learning new things and am grateful to you for sharing ideas.

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Writing is a solitary experience, but it needn't be a lonely pursuit.  Writers use social media for discovery, support and inspiration.  First, however, they must learn to be RARE! and discover the unwritten ‘rules’ of virtual interaction.  Whether you’re an author, blogger or entrepreneur, read on for tips to help start or strengthen your online connections. 

Be sure to scroll down to the end of this post to find more community-building wisdom from some of my favorite social media gurus.

1.  START SLOW
Long before your first post, take time to think, explore and research. What are your goals for social media?  Of course, you want to find followers and be discovered.  Do you want support from others in your field?  Advice on marketing?  A forum for sharing ideas? You need to go slow now in order to get fast and smart. 

Your research will help you discover where your readers hang out on social media.  Linked In is great for non-fiction and business.  Books about food and decorating are Pinterest's most-popular board content for its pinners who are predominantly women between the ages of 25-44.  Goodreads and Facebook offer hundreds of genre and sub-genre interest communities.  Twitter is full of short, breezy messages about almost anything. 
 
To keep from being overwhelmed ....

​2.  ESTABLISH A PROFESSIONAL ACCOUNT
Set up a separate social media account to share information about your business (yes, writing IS a business!) in the social media channel you select.  Aunt Suzy will appreciate her vacation pictures staying private, and you can still boast about silly pet tricks to Cousin Ed without confusing your authorly persona.  


3. HONOR GROUND RULES
Most groups have guidelines in the 'about' section that summarize their purpose and define how they operate.  Some are devoted completely to book promotion.  Others share resources or tips, banning self-promotion completely.   Find out what they are, so you know how to tailor your comments.


4.  "ENGAGE!" – Star Trek
As research arms you with confidence and knowledge, follow Captain Picard’s advice: engage.  

Ask questions or comment on posts that appeal to you.  Get comfy and then jump in to write your own post.  I was so nervous about my first social media post!  I spent 10 minutes writing a draft.  It gets easier each time. Now, I whip ‘em out and  even use native tools and apps, like Hootsuite and Buffer, to write and schedule posts in advance.
 
Since you're building your brand, your actions should reflect genuine insights into you as a person and a professional.  I also make sure my choices reflect my genre.  While I read historical fiction and fantasy that have content beyond a PG-13 rating , I confine writerly endorsements from my professional account to topics aligning with my family-friendly books. 
​

5.   BE SOCIAL WITH CONTENT
There are many theories about what percent of content type to post. Here's the rule of thumb: social media is all about, well, being social.  It’s not about you and your books or product. The majority of posts should be sharing and commenting on others' content.  It's surprising how many people don't know that.

Unless running a promotion, my posts are roughly 10% about marketing my books, 60% sharing others' content, and 30% reflecting personal interests that shape my writing and that my readers will enjoy, too. 

Fast Company offers Gist.com’s 5-3-2 rule of social media sharing. It's based on a ratio for any group of 10 updates posted over a given time.

• 5 should be content from others;
• 3 should be content from you;
• 2 posts can be personal status updates.

​6.  OFFER VALUE; SHARE CREDIT
I see you shaking your head and thinking, What can I offer?  Yes, there are a gazillion people in cyberspace today, but no one is YOU (See #11, Being R*A*R*E!) Use your talents as differentiators to demonstrate how you'll add to the conversation.  

Research and subscribe to newsfeeds to be on top of your interest areas. You can pull newsfeeds together through tools like Feedly, Buffer and Hootsuite.   Then share those wise ideas to demonstrate your value.  

Generously credit others' ideas when you share.  That’s easy to do on Facebook and Twitter  Adding the @ sign in front of someone’s name automatically tags people and alerts them to your post.  

I discovered early on that the more I share, the more others respond to and support me.  How cool is that!
​

7. GET VISUAL
Studies show that posts with good visual images or videos get tons more clicks and likes than straight text.  Try uploading free-use photos  through Creative Commons, Pixabay, Morguefile, UnSplash or Photopin. Or use your own photos, if they’re good quality. 

send
​8.   REPLY WITH GRATITUDE
As people interact with you, respond graciously to them as soon as possible. Extra points for thanking people for their opinion, even though you disagree.

There's a timey-wimey aspect, too.  I don't hang out on social media all day or get those distracting instant comment notifications.  But I respond on a personal level, using the individual's name, within 24 hours or less. 
 
 
9.  EWWWWW…..GET OUT OF MY DIRECT MESSAGE BOX!
A final tip.....don't "direct message" in reply to a friend request or tweet with a plea to Buy my book! or Please like my-INSERT SOCIAL MEDIA LINK!  That’s the virtual equivalent of a plaid-suited salesperson hawking something selling for $19.99.  Huge turn off.  
​
 
10.  SLOW PROGRESS IS PROGRESS
Building your online presence is like building a wall.  The foundation must be firm, and the rest is assembled from there with care and precision.  Cutting corners could bring the whole structure crashing down.  

Sometimes, I feel like screaming because establishing an online community  takes so much time and effort.  When I started three years ago, it seemed like eons before I got traction, no matter how much time and sweat I put into it.  

​

11.  BE R*A*R*E!
People will follow you as they experience the RARE! online voice that is Y*O*U being ​respectful, authentic, reciprocal, and expert. 

​Good luck on your adventure in building community!  If we're not already, let's connect on social media.  I'd love to know how you’re progressing and learn what strategies work for you.  There is always much to share and learn!

​Building your online community won't happen over night. But it will happen.  Hang in there!  You can do it!

EXPLORE MORE
Find more ideas for crushing community building from these wise social media gurus.  

Anne R. Allen
 The 10 Commandments of Social Media Etiquette for Writers

Buffer Social 
Complete Social Media Checklist for Writing Winning Posts

Fast Company
The Art of Self-Promotion on Social Media:
Here’s how to walk the line between gaining a following and becoming sickeningly self-promotional

Frances Caballo
15 Tips for Posting on Social Media

Kevan Lee
The Science, Tools and Strategy of Creating Killer Images

Kissmetrics
The 10 Elements of a Successful Social Media Profile

Sandra Beckwith:
3 Social Media Mistakes Authors Must Stop Making Now

Please join the conversation in the comment section.
How could these tips work for you?
What other suggestions or resources can you offer?

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Subscribe below for monthly updates about my books and receive a free downloadable tale for the young at heart: 
Driving Down to Dillon: a Very Short Story of Love and New Beginnings.

Growing up in a family of athletes and coaches (high school), I don’t know how it was possible for me not to love organized sports.  But I do not. 

Sunday afternoons as a kid was all about squeezing into the dining room with extended family to laugh and talk over huge meals.  It also meant afterward enduring hours of sports being played on TV.  Hockey, basketball, baseball, football.  It didn’t matter the season.  There was always some kind of game being played somewhere.

While I rarely watch a game, I root for the home team when it comes to the championships.  That’s why I'm cheering for the Carolina Panthers in the Super Bowl.  I’m also drawn to the team’s mantra, a quote from their beloved colleague who battled cancer --- Keep pounding.

Stirred by the Panthers' quest to be the best, I found five pieces of advice from the world of football to inspire authors to produce their best, too, and keep pounding the keyboard.

​1.  It’s a Long-term Game
       Don’t give up at half time. Concentrate on winning the second half.
       ―Paul 'Bear' Bryant
​          Former American college football player and coach
​

​​Experts counsel it takes several years and publishing as many books to make it as an author.   

​This fact of writing life drives me crazy.  I am impatient.  I want success n*o*w.  Sigh.  I try to pace myself and enjoy the loonnnng writing ride.  Truth be told, there are days I want to scream and tear out my hair.  But I turn the crawl into a game and find something to laugh about.

​Expect and accept: the going is slow.  Don’t get upset if you don’t see the results you want, especially as you begin your writing journey. 

2.  The Field is Bumpy
       It's football season; anything can happen.
       ―Troy Brown 
          Former professional American football player 

You’re a writer, so anything and everything will happen.  Whether you’re searching for an agent, going the Indie route, or fighting tech gremlins that want to eat your manuscript, writing is fraught with literary curves and technology potholes.  

Keep the pitfalls in stride, and author onward.  ​Some of my most creative outputs came from finding work-arounds to problems that blind-sided me.

3.  Take Care of YOU
       It's not the load that breaks you down,
​it's the way you carry it.
      ― Lou Holtz 
          Former college football coach, College Football Hall of Fame

Like football, writing is an all-consuming passion.  At first, I worked at it for 10-hour days, seven days a week --- a sure formula for disaster.  I learned to pace myself, even unplugging for a few hours or a few days.
 
Give that elusive chapter or frustrating e-book format a rest.  Walk around the block, hug a puppy, or text a friend.  And if you find yourself close to burn out, allow yourself an off-season: take a few weeks or months away.  Find whatever you need to re-set your mind, and then get back to the laptop.  Guarantee the task will be there when you’re ready to tackle it.

4.  Celebrate Small Wins
       It’s the journey; not the destination.
       ―Tony Dungy
           former professional American football player and coach

Because writing is a long game (see #1), you gotta value every victory and see the glass being half full. I was bemoaning the omission of my website URL on a goofy Facebook video I impulsively shot of my icy trek to fetch the newspaper during a recent storm.  That video garnered nearly 9,000 views…that’s a ton for me.  Hello, Cat ...  9,000 views?  Shout, "Hallelujah!" 
 
I keep a Happy File --- paper and electronic copies of notes and images I receive about my books and blogs.  Like a screen shot of that 9,000-view video or reader Jessica’s message about how her daughter loves to read my Finding Fuzzy story at bedtime.  When I’m low (yep, I get down sometimes, despite being an optimist.), I dig into my Happy File to feel better.
 
I’m also jazzed when celebrating others’ successes, especially seeing hard-working authors soar.  There’s something lovely about sharing good news and stepping into that circle of gladness.  Your endorphins do the happy dance.

5.  Nourish the Soul

 Always have four things in life: Something to do.  Someone to love.                  Something to hope for.  Something to believe in.
―Lou Holtz
​Former college football coach,
Inductee in the College Football Hall of Fame
​

Connecting with family, friends, neighbors, and community feeds the creative soul.  Plus, you get to be with people instead of staying inside your head, pounding alone at the keyboard. It’s amazing how much more I accomplish after time with friends.  

​And I’m energized tackling other creative outlets, like photography and garden design. I love seeing their immediate results instead of waiting forever on writerly matters like publishing a book.

​More than being productive, research results demonstrate that people with active social connections are healthier and live longer.  These connections are especially important if you’re an introvert as many authors are, so get out there and mingle!  Then you can keep pounding.

Your thoughts?
How do these inspirations from football work for you? 
What other suggestions can you offer to keep creatives pounding away?

Thanks for stopping by.  ​Take a look around.  Like what you see?
Click below to receive this blog by RSS feed or email. 

​Would love to have you to sign up for my newsletter
Subscribe and receive my free downloadable tale for the young at heart:
Driving Down to Dillon:
A Very Short Story of Love and New Beginnings.

In the past months, a few of my author colleagues suddenly disappeared from social media.  No more tweets or likes, and little explanation beyond abrupt messages about wrestling with The Big Decision: a crisis of balancing work, writing and family.  Some decided to leave the writing life.  Others took extended sabbaticals. 

I feel their pain because I almost burned out this winter.  

Despite working 70-80 hours a week, the progress I wanted eluded me. Then I became ill with a nasty virus. And a malware virus attacked my hard drive. I chipped my tooth and needed a crown. The last straw: someone stole my personal information, hacked into my credit card account, and started charging on it.

Work piled up.  I was not up to tackling even simple tasks, and I was not having fun.  I considered throwing in the towel.  

Taking a cue from Disney's "Frozen," I let it go!  I shut down the office and stepped away.  

After rest and soul-searching, I'm back. Happier and more productive because of attitude adjustments and new ways of approaching work. Interestingly, I accomplish more by doing less.  Go figure! 

Please read on to find what worked for me and wise resources to keep you safe from author overwhelm.

1.  Set Realistic Expectations
    Enjoy the journey and avoid the pit of self-doubt. 

I now approach writing focused on what could be and not what what I think it should be. Instead of expecting results NOW, I accept that writing is a long journey, where going slow is the norm. (I hear you sighing at this truth.)

Most Kid Lit authors never earn big profits or see huge followings, despite hours of effort and oodles of talent.  And this Type-A personality is okay with that because I adjusted expectations.  Really!  I am content with my circle of faithful readers and hope to attract more as I publish more.  My books have a positive effect on kids.  I’m building presence in my community - way easier than trying to lasso the world all the time!

I recently read a social media post where a writer asked for help because she hadn’t accomplished what other authors had during the same period of time.  She wanted to know what was ‘wrong’ with her.  

There’s a real danger of falling into The Pit of Self-Doubt and Despair when comparing your accomplishments to others’.  If you craft a solid, well-edited story and are building your author presence, you are where you need to be.

Can you improve?  Sure, in time.  But don’t beat yourself up.  Don’t should on yourself. (see point 2).  Stay out of the Pit. 

2.   Manage Time (especially on social media!)
       Give yourself permission to accept there is only so much you can do.  

On weekends, I close the office door, stand down from social media, and focus on life.  Full disclosure: I still peek online with mobile, but I’m trying to stop.  A walk in the woods. A chat with neighbors. Cleaning out the attic (not fun but a great sense of achievement).  Ooooooh.  Maybe even cozying up with a lovely read!  

When I don’t have promotions or launches, I limit social media time to an hour that's spread throughout the day.  As much as I want to Comment, Like, Tweet, and Pin everything I read, I tell myself it’s okay if I cannot do it all.  

In fact, I won't feel guilty thinking I should accomplish more. I remove the word ‘should’ from my vocabulary.  Repeat after me, Lovely  Readers: "I will not should on myself!" (see pit of despair #1).

3.  Schedule Look-Forwards 
     Create fun, rewarding non-writing activities 

Writing is a lonely occupation, especially for this extrovert.  It’s even more challenging to feel part of a social unit since our nearest family member lives 300 miles away.  We don’t have that built-in support system.  Can’t pop over to visit Gramps or cheer Niece’s soccer games.

That’s why it’s extra-important for me to make human connections.  The more I plug into being with people, the better I feel.  While I adore virtual friends, it's imperative to head out of the office for my look-forwards.  Gal Pal jaunts, neighborhood book club, singing with the church choir, or volunteering at a senior center. Such activities get me out of my head and away from writing. They help me link with life.  

These things don’t happen unless I set aside time. I rigorously plan until my look-forwards blossom and self-perpetuate.  I get a shot of glad just seeing them scheduled on iCal!

4.   Identify Outlets to Nourish Body and Soul
       Find healthy pursuits that bring quick results

In addition to look-forwards with people, I’m invigorated by non-writerly activities that require physical effort and bring quick results.  

A daily walk or swim is a must for keeping me centered and healthy.  Hula-hooping to Charlie, Norah, and Gayle during the CBS Morning Show strips off stress and tightens the abs.  Designing pocket gardens in our small suburban yard is a major creative outlet and stress release.  (Nothing like hauling 50-pound bags of mushroom compost to feel strong and in charge!)  Experimenting with my new mirrorless camera is another low-stress pursuit I adore.  

5. Don't Go it Alone 
     It's smart to get help.

Depression and anxiety are serious health issues.  

If you or a loved one cannot shake off despair, please, please, please seek support from a family member or find a trusted professional who will help.  

BIG AH-HA: It’s  okay if the writing life is not for you.  You are NOT a failure if you decide on another path. Failing only comes when you're too afraid to try something new.
   
And you are trying!  Here's a standing ovation, just for YOU, no matter where you are in your writerly life.

Learn More: A Resource List
The wise writers and sources below offer moving insights for coping with author overwhelm. I hope you never need these resources; however, the writerly life is tough, and you never know when they might come in handy for you or a friend.  

1. Frazzled, Overwhelmed, Swamped? A Writer's Guide to Mental Health
    by Ruth Harris, from Anne R. Allen's Blog

• An honest look at author overwhelm along with realistic, do-able suggestions for de-stressing

2.  What I’ve Learned
      by Liz Pichon

• Myth-busting post about writing children's books as the author shares what she learned after two years of being a Kid Lit writer

3.  On Quitting Writing: "I Can't Go On. I'll Go On.”
      by Becky Tuch.

• A writer's journey about adjusting expectations, plus uplifting interviews with different authors who share how they turned the corner at their crossroads and kept writing

4.  Ten Things to Consider Before Jumping into Being a Full-time Writer
     from Writer's Digest

• Financial and practical realities to consider for someone thinking about a writing career

5.   Why You Should Believe in Your Book and Never Give Up 
      from Jennifer Margulis’ blog
      Guest Post by Alisa Bowman of Project Happily Ever After 

• The fantasy vs. the reality of being a writer  (HINT: Most authors never sell millions of copies or guest star on network talk shows.)

6.   When Days Are Dark
       by Lea Wait

• How a successful crime writer coped when six years of nothing followed her initial success

Please join the conversation in the comment section.
What suggestions or resources can you offer 
for avoiding author overwhelm?
Don't be shy...we've all been there.

Don’t miss a post
Click below to receive this blog by RSS feed or email.

Subscribe below to updates about my books and receive a free downloadable tale  penned for the young at heart: 
Driving Down to Dillon: a Very Short Story of Love and New Beginnings.

April 2016
I decided it was time to update my post from a year ago about Taming Twitter.  I've come a long way in 12 months.  Still learning and swatting those dazzling fireflies, though. - Cat

As a Kid Lit Indie author, I'm on social media for hours daily, but Twitter is the one platform that bedevils me.  

Being on Twitter feels like having a gazillion lovely fireflies buzzing around my head.  There are so many, I can't decide where to focus. And when I finally select one, it connects me to other fascinating fireflies.  If I’m not careful, an entire morning can vanish as Twitter pulls me into its evil time-suck vortex.

Then there's all those analytics to figure out about when to tweet and who to follow/unfollow daily.  I have a hard time feeling warm and fuzzy about a platform that pushes users 'unfollow' people and find the 'right' Tweeps to follow.  That feels downright unfriendly and exclusive to me.  

Despite all, I see Twitter's benefit as a fast way to reach large audiences.  This post shares my coping strategies for using micro-blogging and offers a resource list compiled from social media folk in the know.   Although aimed at writers, anyone on a Twitter journey can have a read and learn more.

What I Learned About Taming Twitter

1.  Start slow  

• Research best practices online.  
• Study influencers and others in your field by using key word searches on twitter.  For instance if you're a writer,  Expert Editor and Global English Editing highlights 50 Twitter Accounts All Writers Should Follow.  Those accounts, listed in no particular order, are broken down into five categories for easy reference with a brief description of each site's merits.
• Apps like Flipboard parse out tweets in a magazine format and are  much easier for me absorb.  Flipboard is also a great newsfeed for finding content.  
• Build an awesome Twitter profile page as outlined by CNET, and be sure to link your sell site and website.  I use a template from Canva, a free software design app, to create my Twitter profile.  Canva also has templates sized with exact dimensions for adding images to  tweets.  (You'll want to add images and video clips because they boost engagement and clicks., but you likely know that already, right?) 

2. Learn Twitter culture

• Because Twitter posts are fast and fleeting, use hashtags (#amwriting #amreading, etc.) to make it easy to follow topics and help others find yours.  But don't over-do hashtags.  Studies recommend 1-3 hashtags per tweet.  Any more and engagement drops.  Caitlin Muir has lists 44 Essential Twitter Hashtags Every Author Should Know
• Learn about trending topics by checking your Twitter profile page.  Then create content that relates to your interests around that topic.  For instance as a writer, it was spot on to tweet about how much I loved Harper Lee and was excited to read To Set A Watchman.
• Schedule your content to coincide with specialized Twitter days like Monday Blogs and Follow Fridays.
• Use direct messaging (DM) sparingly.  Initially, I thought DM was a great way to make personal connections. However, I learned few people check them and many considered DMs to be the online equivalent of rummaging through someone’s sock drawer.
• Pin your top tweet to your profile.  It showcases your most important tweets, and it's an easy way for Tweeps to find best  content to retweet. 
• Make the most of your 140 characters:
  * Learn and use Twitter acronmyns
  * Shorten links through a service like the Google url shortener.  I like Google's goo.gly because when you create an account, you can use its analytics to track the number of views from specific sites, their countries of origin, etc.  

3.  Set time limits

• Set specific times to be on Twitter and stick to those limits.  I’m on for 10 minutes daily during the work week.  I try stand down from social media on weekends to catch a breath and keep my sanity.
• Beware of excess participation in those cute pictures, tweep group hugs, and multi-person shout outs.  They’re fun, but they cut into work time.
• Instead of thanking individuals for retweets or likes, I reciprocate with retweeting a pinned posts from the home page (see #2 above) as a fast way of supporting important content and showing my appreciation.

4.  Work smarter with tech tools​

• Create Twitter lists to follow people by common interests. For me those are categories like Kid Lit, illustrators, readers, librarians, etc. You have the option of making these lists private or public.
• Use tools, like Tweet Deck, Hootsuite and Buffer, to schedule tweets in advance, segregate lists, follow trending topics, etc.
• Use scheduling tools, found on twitter management dashboards, to schedule tweets for the week. This is a huge timesaver.  Many writers sit down for an hour to 

5.  Support and share.  Limit 'buy my book' tweets.

• I don't have time to retweet everything I'd like to, but I do RT time-sensitive posts like promotions and giveaways, and I acknowledge milestones and successes whenever possible
• As with all social media, I limit self-promotion to 20% and balance my Tweets by supporting others and sharing personal or niche interests.

Learn More: A Resource List

The links below from savvy folk help me tame Twitter.  You’ll find time-saving tips to notch up your Tweets and find Tweeps.

6.  Mashable's Beginner's Guide to Twitter is a great starting point that walks you through the basics.  

7.  Sandra Beckworth, publicist and marketer, shares her resource list of Twitter Strategies for Authors.

8. Debbie Ridpath Ohi sets out a definite list of Twitter FAQs in her Twitter Guide for Writers and Illustrators Pick and choose from this smorgasbord of Twitter topics to find exactly what you need.

9.  Kristen Oliphant spells out a perfect daily structure for you to engage audiences on twitter in 15 minutes a day on Jane Friedman's blog.

10.  Computerhope.com posts a Top 10 Favorite Twitter Tips and Tricks to make Twitter more enjoyable and increase followers.  

11.  There are a gazillion free analytics to help you tweet more effectively.  Many make my eyes glaze over, as I a not a data person, so for me, a little bit of data goes a long way.  Check out Frances Caballo's Top 9 Twitter Tools and Apps ....she breaks them down for you.

12.   Molly Greene's twitterquette for authors -12 things NOT to do on Twitter - are tongue-in-cheek suggestions from a writer’s perspective.

13.  I love Buffer Social’s 7 Counter-intuitive Tips for Twitter, especially its list of the 20 most retweeted words (you, please and Twitter are its top three...who knew?!?!) and advice to retweet your top content just by changing up the format.

Good luck building your Twitter platform, you hard-working Tweeps.  It's a lot to learn at once, but you'll get there.  Please let me know how it goes.  You'll find me on Twitter at @catmichaelsbook I'm still learning my way and would love to connect with you  ....  #Gratitude!

Your turn......
What's your best tip for taming Twitter?

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I’m experimenting with posting simple polls on social media. 

Not the political or statistically perfect variety.  I’m talking quick-hit, kinda-fun options that help me know my followers better and build community.  This post shows how to set up a poll in 30-minutes or less on a blog or social media sites.

I became intrigued when I saw how polls attracted followers in one of my Facebook groups.  Plus, it was fun to weigh in and instantly see how my thoughts stacked up with others’.  For authors, polls can gather instant feedback on topics of interest to book lovers.  Which title is the best?  What’s the best book cover?  Select the best character name from this list.

Alas, Facebook's polling app wasn't available for my business page, so I searched for inexpensive, easy alternatives and discovered polldaddy.com. 

So far, I’m pleased using the app's free version.  Poll-embedded posts on my business Facebook page and blog scored positive feedback and increased reader engagement.   Here’s how I incorporated a simple question-and-response set on my social media sites.

1.     Log onto polldaddy.com

• Create an account through Wordpress and log in.  
  I don’t use Wordpress, but I created an account there and selected polldaddy's free plan to start.  You may also want to take the brief site tutorial.
• From the dashboard, select create new and then poll.
  

2.  Create the poll question and responses

• Write a strong question in the poll question box that appeals to your followers.
  
• Type responses below, adding more or using the delete button.
• Make public -- or not -- by checking the box under the poll question.  (As an author, I want my polls to be public, so I checked that option.)
• Consider uploading images (via media button) to draw visual interest.  Morguefile and Pixabay have oodles of free, creative commons photos you can use.

3.  Adjust Settings
Settings are at the bottom of the question screen, so scroll down to find them. I selected these free setting options:

• Allow multiple selections: people can select more than one response
• Allow users to enter their own comments (typically must be on polldaddy site)
  
  Advanced Poll Settings
• Poll closing:  Keep Open
• Sharing: Allow sharing …Please!
• Restrictions: all restrictions require paid accounts, so I didn’t use these
• Repeat voters: I picked block by cookie and expires in 1 week. I don’t mind if someone wants to return in 7 days to vote again.  This isn’t a giveaway or scientific poll that demands accuracy!
• Results: I selected show results to voters because I want everyone to easily see the results.

4.   Select style, size; Preview

• Pick a simple style in a medium size that’s easy on the eyes and good for general use @ 300px.
• Scroll down to preview  If your poll looks great, select save style setting  or return to settings to edit.
• Next, pick the language preference. Mine was English, but it’s nice to have options if you live in a multi-language culture.  I didn’t change any default language prompts.

5.    Publish Link, Embed Code
Almost done! From the dashboard, click collect votes to find links and embed codes for your social media platforms.  

• Copy the embed code for a website, Wordpress, or Tumbr 
• Post a link for IM, twitter 
• Send a poll via email
• While you can link Facebook to Polldaddy, Facebook won't link the app to a business page.  Instead, copy the hyperlink to post on a Facebook business/author page.
  

6.  View Results
Ahhhh… the fun part.  Sit back and watch your answers sort themselves out.  Enjoy a lovely pie chart or bar graph to share or use for future posts.

 I love adding polls to my writerly toolkit and hope you find them useful, too.  I want to test polls on Twitter next and create silly quizzes for kids about my books for my website and e-books. A final thought: my polls are neither scientific nor statistically significant AND, like all good things, are best used in moderation.

Please give the poll we just created a test drive, and let me know what you think in the comments section.  Happy polling!

We're all on this writing journey together.  
Please join the conversation in the comment section.
How might polls work for you? 
What additional suggestions or resources can you add?

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Tips for Kid Lit Author School Visits-
Part 4: Tips for Giveaways on a Shoestring Budget

PART 1:  The A to Zs of Classroom Visits
PART 2:  10 Kid Lit Pros Share Their Secrets
PART 3:  Five Tips for Taking Better Photos of Kids in the Classroom
PART 4:  Tips for Giveaways on a Shoestring Budget from 8 KidLit Pros

Have you ever had an amazing opportunity unexpectedly come your way?  And you have very little time to get ready for it?

That was my situation a few weeks ago.  I needed something fast and inexpensive to give away for school visits that popped up in two states over three consecutive days.  

Graphic designers came up with beautiful, two-sided color bookmarks.  However, those bookmarks required so many cuts per page ($2.00 per cut for eight cuts on a single sheet).  A  big box copy center quoted  $350 for 200 bookmarks.  Yikes.  I was frantic to find a Plan B.

So, I created quadrants of illustrations from my book in both PowerPoint and Word. Alas, the 1/4-inch white border all the way around the perimeters looked tacky.  On to Plan C (hoping I wouldn’t go through the entire alphabet). 

Super stressing. My school visits were hours away, and I couldn’t come up with an affordable giveaway.  Girlfriend Linda to the rescue!  She prints family albums all the time and recommended making 4x6 color prints of my book illustrations.  Bingo! 

I pulled up one of Irene Jahn’s watercolors, used my Macbook's photo editing to insert a book title and website url, and I was in business.  Only $.09 per copy for 150+ imprints at my local big box retailer.  Way more affordable and ready in a heartbeat.

Photo cards were a huge hit, but I still wanted to find affordable bookmarks.  KidLit colleagues to the rescue!

Below are suggestions from seven Kid Lit pros for finding inexpensive school visit giveaways.  Many favor 2"x6" bookmakers in full-color, double-sided, and pre-cut.  But you'll find other idea to make your marketing budget do the happy dance.

K. Lamb
Author: The Dani P. Mystery Series
Overnight Prints http://www.overnightprints.com/bookmarks    

“They are super cheap… always offering discounts.”

• 250 full color bookmarks--front and back---and (250) full color business cards--front and back---for only $56.75, including shipping.
  

Carmela Dutra 
Author, Illustrator:Lorenzo the Bear Series
Vista Prints:  http://www.vistaprint.com

“No joke; it was a great deal!’

•  250 bookmarks and rack cards for $10 +tax 

Neighbor Girl's Mom 
Marketing Advisor: Stanley and Katrina Series
NextDayFlyers http://www.nextdayflyers.com/

“[Bookmarks] are thick, glossy and look better than many that we've seen in the libraries.” 

•  $50 to get 500 bookmarks, with standard processing
  

• Check out the StanleyandKatrina blog for details about her experience with NextDayFlyers

K. Lamb
Author: The Dani P. Mysteries
Adopt a classroom

K.  selects a few classrooms and donates copies of her Dani P. Mystery books to students. 



Rosie Russell 
Author, illustrator: Books By Rose  
Hold a drawing

Rosie holds drawings for classes she visits.  Lucky students win packages of art supplies or baskets of kid-happy items relating to her book that Rosie selects from the Dollar Store.  The items aren't expensive or fancy.   But they are meaningful to the children.

Lise  Chase
Author, Illustrator: The Adventures of Wally and Warren Series
Run a coloring contest      

Lise distributes B&W 8x10 outlines of her book illustrations and runs coloring contests (500 students and 20 teachers recently participated). One lucky winner receives a Wally and Warren basket full of goodies.

She also uses Photoshop to make simple color-copied puzzles of her book characters to leave behind with  the children.

PJ LaRue
Author: Mystic Princesses
Distribute character coloring pages   

PJ LaRue knows that successful giveaways don't need to be complex. 

 Check out PJ's coloring pages on her website.

Kate Shearin
Illustrator graphic designer: 
Dogstar Creative Services
email @  dogcc@gsinet.net
Create stickers from book illustrations, covers
onlinelabels.com 

Stickers come in many styles and are a fun, low-cost solution to marketing. You can create and print your own, or ask someone like Kate to help you. 

There you have it: Giveaway ideas to add to your writerly toolkit from eight Kid Lit pros.  

Wishing you the best of success with your school visits and oodles of lovely giveaways on a shoestring budget.  

What's your take on school visit giveaways?
We're on this writing journey together.
Please join the conversation in the comment section.

• What ideas from this post might you consider?
• What other tips or resources can you offer?
  

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