| Ever wonder how trends get started? As much | | | | time feeling confident about her work. She's trying |
| as we'd like to think that all trends are Madison | | | | to get up the courage to submit a manuscript to |
| Avenue creations propagated by the media, many | | | | agents and publishers but, as I said to her, "How |
| times a movement is sparked by the action of a | | | | can someone get behind publishing your book if |
| few. Then word of mouth makes it spread. | | | | you can't get behind it yourself?" |
| Author Malcolm Gladwell examines this | | | | People are attracted to a person who stands for |
| phenomenon in his 2000 book "The Tipping Point". | | | | something, who believes in what they're doing. If |
| There's a chapter where he describes how this | | | | you can be that person, people will want to buy |
| kind of movement by a few groups powered | | | | your book. They'll know you have something to |
| Rebecca Wells's 1996 novel, "Divine Secrets of | | | | say. If you're dealing with low confidence, know |
| the Ya-Ya Sisterhood", to surprising success. | | | | that working on improving it is just as important |
| When I read that I sat up and took notice. I | | | | as improving your craft as a writer. After all, no |
| realized I could use the same concepts to market | | | | one is going to champion your book the way that |
| my first novel, "All I Need to Get By". You can | | | | you can. |
| too! Here's how. | | | | 3.) Use Small Groups To Spark Your Big |
| 1.) Write Your Book So It's "Sticky" | | | | "Epidemic" |
| Don't compromise your artistic integrity, but do | | | | In the fertile soil of small groups, word of mouth |
| ask yourself the hard question: how much will | | | | grows. That's what happened with "Divine Secrets |
| your story appeal to others? When a book is | | | | of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood". It became a favorite |
| "sticky", it's easy to remember. The story stays | | | | for book groups, especially mother-daughter book |
| with people and they want to talk about it and tell | | | | groups. Those groups sparked a word of mouth |
| others to read it. "Bridget Jones's Diary" is | | | | wave that spread like wildfire. As Mr. Gladwell |
| definitely sticky. So is practically everything that | | | | points out, "small, close-knit groups have the |
| Stephen King ever wrote and all of the Harry | | | | power to magnify the epidemic potential of a |
| Potter books. The topic doesn't have to be | | | | message or idea". I explored this concept with |
| upbeat either. Truman Capote's "In Cold Blood" | | | | some success by contacting book groups across |
| was a sensation when it was published despite its | | | | the country and offering to visit them if they |
| grim subject matter. Since I was writing about a | | | | read my novel. What groups can you reach out |
| family with a powerful father figure I knew a lot | | | | to in order to harness the power of those circles? |
| of people would connect and see themselves in | | | | And how can you fan the flame of your message |
| the characters. What aspect of your book will | | | | so it will spread? |
| draw people in? | | | | One Last Note: Why is all this important? Well, if |
| 2.) Be a Salesman | | | | you've gone through all the trouble to write and |
| Yes, be a salesman, but not in the way you might | | | | publish a book, your efforts won't stand up if you |
| think. I'm not talking about being "in your face" like | | | | don't tell people the book is out there. And the |
| the stereotype of a used car salesman. As Mr. | | | | concepts offered by Mr. Gladwell are so simple |
| Gladwell points out in his book, it's the little things | | | | and organic that you may find the whole |
| that can persuade others. For a writer, that "little | | | | marketing pill easier to swallow. So take it--it's |
| thing" is confidence and a strong belief in one's | | | | good medicine. |
| work. I recently spoke to a writer having a hard | | | | |