"You only learn to be a better writer by actually writing." Doris Lessing
A Marketing Tool
According to Benedict Evans, a media and technology analyst, Amazon sells 50% of physical books and 75% of ebooks in the United States. When readers search for a book on Amazon, they are often ready to buy. How do authors attract these potential customers? The main ways are categories and keywords. Amazon's algorithm prioritizes books that rank high in Amazon categories. Authors can choose up to ten detailed categories for their books. Readers find books by typing keywords and keyword phrases into the search bar and Amazon uses its algorithm to suggest books. Amazon gives authors seven keyword categories which each hold up to 50 characters. Using the right combination of categories and keywords will help readers find your books. More on the specifics of these in upcoming issues.
Craft Tip
What if you started with your query letter, then wrote a great book that matched it? A good query letter shares critical information about the character, the conflict, and what's at stake. It's written to entice the reader, and if done well, promises a great read. For your next book, start with the query then write the book that matches that pitch. This idea comes from Sarah Penner, a debut author whose book The Lost Apothecary has spent seven weeks as a New York Times bestseller.
Photo Inspiration - There's a Story Here: Carlsbad, California 2021
What story would you write about this photo?
Next Step Book Coach - If you're ready to start your novel, are stuck in the middle, or have finished and need to know what to do next - we can help.