More things you shouldn’t do as an author

Hi, kids–quickie here.

Caught this article on HuffPo a couple days ago: “11 Things Not to Do Before Your Book Launch,” by M.J. Rose.

Most of these tips are pragmatic, like the first 2:

1. Don’t assume everyone will wake up the day your book comes out and rush out to buy it . (No one can buy a book they have never heard of.)

2. Don’t spend more than 10% of your marketing/pr budget on a trailer. Trailers have to be marketed too. So far too many authors wind up marketing their trailers instead of their books.

A couple deal with making sure you don’t trip over your ego, like number 5:

5. Don’t be in awe of your own talent, book, brilliance, success or transcendental prose. It’s better to have someone other than you, the author, praise the book.

I’d say those tips can apply to after the launch, as well, and should be things you’re thinking about anyway, in conjunction with every book you write and your overall writing arc. That is, where you want to go with your projects, both long-term and short-term goals.

And some tips about etiquette for authors I posted a while back, just as a refresher. Go here and here, if you wanna see.

Happy reading, happy writing!