“Fiction writers who don’t identify a specific target audience beyond readers of their genres will have a greater challenge finding their audience.” ~~Jill Hedgecock
Book Marketing for Fiction Writers: Find Your Fan Base
by Jill Hedgecock
Whether you are traditionally published or an indie author, marketing is a critical part of the book publication process. I 
have attended numerous workshops and presentations on book marketing, only to have the speaker focus on how authors should promote their expertise on subject matter, which certainly is a great strategy for nonfiction writers. But what if you don’t have a Ph.D. in rocket science and your book topic is how to fly to the moon? As a fiction writer, I’ve gleaned useful tips from attending these functions, but I’ve often walked away without a concrete list of marketing ideas for my YA fiction books.
This might be because a one-size-fits-all approach for fiction writers doesn’t exist, and effective marketing methods for fiction writers may be as unique as the author’s book topic. Nonfiction writers, particularly those with a “how to” theme, usually have a readily identifiable target audience. For example, if their book is how to install plumbing, the author knows their customers are working in the field and have a pretty good idea where to find their customer. Memoirists may or may not struggle with the same marketing dilemma as a fiction writer.
Fiction writers who don’t identify a specific target audience beyond readers of their genres will have a greater challenge finding their audience. In a world flush with romance novels or World War II historical fiction books, how does an author stand out? It is critical for an author to understand who their target audience is. To do this, they may want to take a step back and ask themselves why they wrote the book. If they hope to raise awareness about a specific topic, this information might reveal who their target customer is. Authors should also consider if subplots might widen their target audience.
My four published books are all written for a young adult audience with crossover to a very specific adult customer, but these books have two very different target audiences. I wrote my two rhino/safari themed books (Rhino in the Room and newly released Queen of the Rhino) for a conservation-minded and animal-loving audience, and for travel buffs who want to get a glimpse of an African safari experience. My main character is a fashionista and clothing design aficionados are another target audience for these books. My two Doberman-inspired books (Between Shadow’s Eyes and From Shadow’s Perspective) targeted owners of this specific dog breed, and because the storyline has a paranormal element, fans of ghost stories are another audience.
After authors identify their target audience, they should explore social media to find potential readers and the best platforms. For my Doberman books, Instagram is filled with Doberman owners and there are Facebook groups for this breed. For the rhino books, Twitter, TikTok and, to some extent, Facebook groups provide a better platform.
Ideally, authors should identify their customer while writing their book. This gives them an opportunity to engage with potential readers on social media on their topic. For my Doberman books, I worked with an influencer to include his Doberman on my book covers. Today, the dog has 1.6 million TikTok followers, giving me exposure to a lot of Doberman owners.
Regardless of genre and when they key into their target audience, if an author gains a clear understanding of their customer, they can better leverage themselves for success.
Jill Hedgecock is the author of four novels and writes a monthly book review column for The Diablo Gazette. Her writing advice has appeared in multiple issues of Books ‘N Pieces Magazine.
“Here’s what not to say. (And yes, these are real lines from real-life pitches.” ~~ Paula Munier
I just found this terrific article called 10 Things Not to Say to an Agent When You Pitch Your Project , which was written by Paula Munier and published on Career Authors.
I wasn’t able to contact the site and I’m not familiar with it, but it looks great, and I hope you visit them. They have a lot to offer.
Some tips are obvious, like #3 which says, “I can’t find any comp titles.” But what if this is actually true? Do you really need comps? Yes, and Munier gives you a reason you may not have thought of.
#3
I can’t find any comparable titles.
Some of these lines may be obvious to you, but take a look at Munier’s reasoning. You just might learn something and find a better way to craft your query even if you didn’t make any of these mistakes. Check her out.
PAULA MUNIER is a literary agent and the USA TODAY bestselling author of the Mercy Carr mysteries.
