WinWin

WinWin

Yay, you almost finished your book and you’re ready to start on marketing. Here’s some good news: you have already started! You’ve told a few people about your book, maybe even shown off your cover. What next? Organize.

Gather Marketing Materials:

1. Book Cover:

Ensure you have a high-resolution image of your book cover for print and digital use. This is often the first impression potential readers will have, so it should be eye-catching and professional.

2. Press Kit:

Press Release: Write a compelling press release announcing your book's launch. Include key details like the book's title, genre, release date, a brief synopsis, and your background as an author.

Author Bio: Create a concise biography that highlights your writing credentials, background, and any relevant experience. Tailor it to resonate with your target audience.

Book Synopsis: Write a short and engaging synopsis of your book, emphasizing its unique aspects, themes, and what readers can expect.

Images: Include high-resolution images of the book cover, your author photo, and any relevant graphics (e.g., book trailer stills, event posters).

3. Sample Chapters or Excerpts:

Prepare the first chapter or a compelling excerpt that showcases your writing style and hooks the reader's interest. This is useful for book bloggers, reviewers, and as a teaser for potential readers.

4. Quotes and Endorsements:

Gather notable quotes from your book that highlight its themes or engage potential readers. If you have endorsements or reviews from beta readers, writers, or industry figures, include those as well.

5. FAQ Document:

Create a Frequently Asked Questions document addressing common inquiries about your book, such as its themes, inspiration, target audience, and writing process.

6. Promotional Items:

Consider creating promotional items such as bookmarks, postcards, or stickers featuring your book cover. These can be distributed at events or included with purchases.

8. Social Media Graphics:

Develop a set of graphics for social media platforms, including shareable quotes from your book, promotional graphics, or teaser images to keep your audience engaged.

9. Email Templates:

Prepare email templates for reaching out to bloggers, reviewers, and your mailing list. These should be friendly and professional, clearly explaining who you are and what you're offering.

10. Print Materials:

If attending events or signings, consider printing business cards or flyers that highlight your book and provide relevant details, along with links to your website and social media.

I know you don’t want to do this, but start slowly. Make a checklist. Do what you can. Find an accountability buddy and do it together. Organized marketing materials will boost your book promotion and didn’t you have to use many of these skills to write your book? You’ve got this.

---

WinWin (a continuing story)

By Liz Dubelman

When Betty turned on the TV the next morning, the news of the hot assassin greeted her. Usually, the news was repulsive and made her sad about the state of the world. Today’s news didn’t make her sad. It seemed like no one was that sad, and yet a man had been killed. Not a dictator or politician or a wanted criminal, but the CEO of a health insurance company. It wasn’t that he himself was necessarily a bad man, but he represented many things that were just plain wrong. The young man that killed him had a certain je ne sais quoi and Betty always had an eye for boys.

As the steam rolled off her Chai Latte, she remembered something one of the crazy MAGA candidates said during the recent campaign: “Some people need killing.” When she first heard it, she thought the guy who said it was a Nazi, but now, looked at from another angle, she saw the truth in it. Seconds later, she recognized her life’s mission. She needed to create a Grindr-type app that linked dying individuals with nothing to lose with people whose loss would contribute to a better society. A digital marketplace for death, where the dying could offer their lives for a chance at redemption and, in the process, fulfill society’s need for change.

Betty quickly opened her laptop, her mind buzzing with ideas for this unusual matchmaking app. She began jotting down notes, sketching out the concept and considering the logistics. The more she thought about it, the more she saw the potential for a revolutionary service that could rid the world of those causing harm while honoring those who did the ridding.

As she delved deeper into her brainstorming session, Betty couldn't shake off the excitement coursing through her veins. This idea was unlike anything she had ever come up with before – maybe anyone had ever come up with before – and she relished the thrill of creating something truly groundbreaking.

Hours passed in a blur as Betty lost herself in designing the app's interface, contemplating its ethical implications, and envisioning the impact it could have. She had to take into consideration how close the users were to the end of life. Where were they located? Who needed elimination? How to anonymize and encrypt everything? She knew there would be challenges ahead, but she felt a sense of determination like never before. This could be her manifesto.

She started on branding. She needed a name or a slogan:

BucketListr – Swipe right for one last hurrah.

KillSwitch – Connecting the desperate with the expendable.

YOLOmate – For those who really only live once.

Gone4Good – Making your exit count.

SnapExit – The app for impactful goodbyes.

ByeFelicia – Helping society, one farewell at a time.

PlotTwist – How to make society better off without you

Six Feet Tinder – Where good intentions meet the grave.

DeadsApp – Last words, first steps toward change.

Undertakr – For when you’re done but not dusted.

The weight of what she was embarking on hit her in waves, but she pushed through, fueled by a strange mix of excitement and apprehension. After much deliberation, Betty settled on a name that felt right in its simplicity and impact: "WinWin." It was catchy, memorable, and even slightly uplifting in its ironically morbid way.

With the name decided, Betty dove back into her planning with renewed vigor. She spent every spare moment over the next two weeks mapping out the user experience, considering every step from sign-up to matchmaking to the actual killing and escape. Each detail was meticulously thought out, and every potential scenario was anticipated and addressed. Betty knew she was treading into uncharted territory, but she also understood this app's potential. The one problem was she had never created an app before. She needed help and that was likely going to cost her money that she clearly didn’t have.