The end of October is nigh, and November will be here in merely a week. You know what that means — NaNoWriMo prep scramble time! Earlier this month, Shannon gave you some tips for NaNoWriMo success in terms of writing, but I’m here to discuss things from a marketing angle.
The time to build up hype for your project is NOW, before the NaNoWriMo craziness begins and the words start flowing!
Blog about your idea, ask for feedback.
Authors are always looking for blog post ideas, and this is an easy one. Simply create a post outlining your NaNoWriMo plot bunny and ask for feedback from your readers. Their ideas might help you get past a sticking point or see a potential pitfall now, before you begin writing.
Search for other participants with the #NaNoWriMo hashtag.
When you’re spending a bit of time on Twitter, search for others participating in NaNoWriMo through the #NaNoWriMo hashtag. If you see someone who you think you could connect with, give them a shout! Everyone can use a friend — especially during the NaNoWriMo frenzy.
Send out a newsletter announcing your participation.
If you have a newsletter readers can subscribe to (and you really, really should), send out a special edition announcing your intent to participate in NaNoWriMo and give your readers a teaser of what to expect. Be sure to send out a followup after NaNoWriMo begins with a link to your work so they can follow along and leave feedback.
Crowdsource a character name or plot thread.
What better way to build up hype than to let your readers choose a character name or plot thread? Participating in a discussion post, Twitter conversation or poll automatically invests your readers in your project — and may help you make a decision you were unsure about!
Create a book cover.
Not only does creating a book cover give you consistent imagery to use whenever discussing your NaNoWriMo project, it also builds anticipation — on the part of both you AND your readers! Fire up your graphics editor or get in touch with your favorite designer and put together a cover that will give your project an intriguing face (and make it feel a little more like a “real” novel).
What do you think?
Those are just a few of the ways to build hype before November rolls around. If you’ve done any of the above (or have some ideas of your own), let us know in the comments! Also, be sure to vote in the poll to choose our official NaNoWriMo slogan!
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