How to Use Pinterest to Market a Book

I never realized how difficult it would be to market my book Maggie and the Summer Vacation Show-and-Tell.  It's been promoted in bookstores and on Facebook and Twitter. Sales at bookstores were reasonable, but the online strategy wasn't working. 

A writer friend suggested that I look into Pinterest.  I couldn't understand how this platform could be beneficial. Reluctantly, I opened an account and found that in just a few months, Pinterest worked very well in promoting a book. 

Why?  With Pinterest, you have the opportunity to create marketing pins that will attract people who will repin your pins to their boards. This process keeps multiplying and results in having your pins seen by thousands of people.  

I spent hours and hours researching how to use Pinterest.  That does not make me an expert, but I have learned a thing or two.  The following tips may help you promote your book.

• Follow at least 5 people a day and pin at least 5 pins a day
• Sign up for Pinpinterest for a trial period and get more followers
• Sign up for Tailwind for a trial period and let it help schedule your pins at peak times
• Pin with take away value in mind
• Create a Pinterest board with tips from your blog  
• Link your pins to your blog and website
• Study other pinner's boards to get ideas on the use of color and graphics  
• Use key words in board descriptions
• Join group boards (this requires you to send an email request)
• Create a pin of an illustration from your book that evokes emotion 
• Make sure your graphics have a font size of least 20 
• Use an attractive cover for your Pinterest boards
• Pin pages from your book with a link to Amazon
• Upload photos from your book signing
• Upload photos of people reading your book
• Create an inspirational quote with an image of your main character 
• Create a board that ties into the theme of your book
• Take a picture of your book with a cute pet, upload it and pin to a board
• See which of your pins get the most impressions, clicks and saves and develop similar pins  
• Use the analytics page to find out about your followers interests and create pins that address those interests 

After joining Pinterest and Pinpinterest, I have lots more pageviews and visitors to my website www.randilynnmrvos.com and blogs 

The Maggie Project www.themaggieproject.blogspot.com and 

Children's Writer's World www.childrenswritersworld.blogspot.com 

One of the drawbacks to Pinterest is it requires time to figure out and develop pins which will inspire people to repin them.  But when you get the hang of it, pinning will get easier and faster.  So, what are you waiting for?  Give Pinterest a try.  See how well it will help you spread the word about your blog, your website, and your book. 

I'd ♥ to hear from you.  Be sure to leave a comment.

12 Ways to Avoid Rejection

Why was your children’s story (the one you loved and slaved over) rejected by a magazine editor? Maybe the editor wrote:  it's not right for us or I'll have to pass. These replies make matters worse because you have no clue as to what (if anything) was wrong with your work and you don't have any idea how to revise it. 

But here are some tips to help you avoid rejection:

• Create a main character that the audience cares about and can connect with.
• Create a true conflict that pulls at the heart of the main character.
• Place the conflict early on in the story.
• Establish a good flow (no stumbling over words when read out loud).
• Have the main character solve the problem.
• Close with a satisfying ending that is not predictable.

 And a few more tips:

• Give your story a unique plot.
• Make sure your story is not preachy.
• Shy away from scary when writing for younger kids.
• Keep the vocabulary at the grade level of the intended audience. 
• Check for spelling and grammar.   
• Aim to stay within the expected word count. 

Judging a story is subjective and there can be many reasons why an editor rejects fiction.  Some things are out of your control.  Maybe the editor has published or has a similar piece on hand.  Maybe she has a particular vision for what she likes to publish and thinks your story wasn’t a good fit for the magazine’s audience.  Or maybe, she was just feeling grouchy and rejected everything that came her way that day.  Who knows? 

So read over the tips again.  Did you find the reason for your rejection?  If so, revise your work.  But, if your story passes the check list, then simply submit it again to another publication.  What are you waiting for?  You love your story. Find out if a different editor will love it, too.   

I'd ♥ to hear from you.  Be sure to leave a comment.

Going from Magazine Story to Picture Book

When I work with writers, some tell me that they want to take their published magazine story and submit it to a book publisher.  To accomplish that, they think all they need to do is to cut words.  In truth, a magazine story needs to be re-thought and revised if the writer envisions it as a book.

Both picture books and magazine stories center around a theme and have takeaway value.  They have engaging plots, strong characterization, a specific setting, and lively language.  

However, when it comes to magazine stories, there can be more character and setting description and more conversational dialogue.  In addition, magazine stories can be understood without illustrations and usually cover one scene.

For picture books, the focus is on one character, his want, and the conflict that results.  Writers must consider pace and page turns.  Less description is needed because the details are expressed through illustration.  Everything is about word choice—word play, rhythm, things like alliteration, and metaphor because picture books are generally 500 words.  Dialogue is shorter and snappier.  

A short story is usually read just once.   A picture book resonates with kids, parents, and teachers and is meant to be read again and again.  

I'm all for those who want to pursue writing a book based on a magazine story.  Writers can use the same protagonist, setting and conflict, but the story has to be told more succinctly as a picture book.  It takes time, patience, and dedication to make that transition.  It takes reading books on the craft of writing and studying published picture books to understand what is required of the genre.  Because going from story to book takes a lot more than just cutting words.  

Advice on Planning an Author Event

Last fall, a new book store opened in my hometown, Lexington, Kentucky.  I went to the grand opening and was totally impressed.  Brier Books is located in a convenient area close to downtown.  When you go inside, you feel like you've found a special place for books.  The interior is warm and bright and the layout of the building invites you from room to room.

At the grand opening, the co-owner and I chatted about the possibility of having an author event.  She was interested!  Several months later we met to discuss the details. After an hour, we had laid the groundwork for "Happy Tails Craft and Story Time."

Listed below are suggestions that can help you plan an author event, too.

• Meet with the owner at the bookstore or for coffee.
• Wait on business chat. Get to know the owner.
• Get down to business. Chose a date and time.
• Come up with a catchy title for the event.
• Partner with a nonprofit organization and donate part of the proceeds.
• Communicate with the manager of non-profit to decide her role.
• Discuss an advertising plan.
• Design an eye-catching invitation for social media and an email list.
• Discuss book ordering.
• Determine the percentage of proceeds that will be donated.
• Find out about the space and set-up arrangements.
• Plan the details of the event (reading, signing, games, craft)

Begin working on your plan several months in advance.  Gather art materials and have them prepped in such as way as to help kids do the craft easily.  Purchase wipes for clean-up, pens for signing your book, and have bookmarks or other giveaways.

When you plan in advance and spread the word, you should have a significant turn-out.  The most important thing to know is, this event is for the book store, the non-profit, and for kids.  It's not about how many books you can sell (though that's always on an author's mind).  Put your effort and heart into meeting your fans.  Allow them to get to know you and your book and your author event will be an amazing success.

All the Noise, Noise, Noise, Noise*

I like to write in the study during the day when it’s peaceful and quiet.  Most of the time, I’m surrounded by silence.  The only sound is the clicking of my fingers on the keyboard or the purring of Ozzie, our cat.  Throughout the day there may be a few noises—the ticking of a clock or the humming of the clothes dryer.  But these sounds don’t interfere with my writing.  It’s the outside noises that put my writing to the test.    

For every season there is a noise.  During the fall, leaf blowers blast leaves into piles. In winter, snow plows rumble down the street.  When spring arrives, spray-cleaners drone on and on, driving dirt from decks and house siding.  Throughout the summer, lawn mowers roar and children scream.  

So you say, lighten up.  You're too sensitive.  Deal with it!

But noise distracts me.  My brain stops working.  My fingers freeze.  My muse packs up, taking inspiration and ideas along with her.  There’s no other choice.  I’ve got to stop writing until the outside world calms down.

I long for peace and quiet, but the fact is I can’t change my neighbors’ habits.   Noise happens.  (I just wish it didn’t happen while I write).  Meanwhile, my picture book manuscript stares at me.  I can almost hear it whisper, “Come back.”     

But it's useless.  I consider turning off the computer.  Maybe writing isn’t for me.  With a sigh of resignation, I gaze out the window at kids riding bikes up and down the sidewalk.  Then, I glance around the study and look upward.  The ceiling fan catches my eye.  The study is stuffy, so with a flick of a switch I turn it on.  

Suddenly, the fan begins to drown out the noise.  A gentle calmness washes over me.  I am able to return to my manuscript, to the sentences that need revising.  The words are powerful.  Like magic, they cast spell over me, and I am writing because writing IS for me.  My fingers click on the keyboard, Ozzie purrs, and the outside noises get dim and slowly fade away.

Check out Ozzie's cute video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jLvQ5cCVQPw&t=5s

* How the Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Suess

All the Noise, Noise, Noise, Noise previously published in the Creativity Connection, 2005.

Get to Know KIT

Most of my followers know that I’m the editor of Kid’s Imagination Train.  I am fortunate to have people on the staff who understand the vision and value of KIT.  

Book reviewer Donna Smith, voiceover talent Sharon Blumberg, and illustrator Shelley Dieterich donate their talents to produce Kid's Imagination Train. Regina Montana recently joined the staff as our marketing promoter. Because Shelley and Donna will be pursuing other interests next year, Anjali Amit will become our new book reviewer and illustrator Denise Woodward will be creating art for KIT.

KIT began as a blog in 2013.  Oh my goodness, how we have grown!  In a couple of years we earned a little income to purchase a domain.  Not long after, we found Youblisher, a website which generates free page-turning flipbooks.  We also have an audio page where children may listen to their favorite features. 

There are two reasons why Kid’s Imagination Train was created:  one, to give writers a place to get published since the children’s magazine market was shrinking, and two, to inspire children to learn by giving them the opportunity to illustrate a story or an article and have their pictures published online.  Over four years, KIT has given children educational and entertaining features which can be read in the classroom or at home.  It has also given writers a way to build their bios.

KIT is a free online magazine.  It's a small publication that is funded through donations and advertising.  

Since the inception of our little magazine, no one on our staff earns a salary.  Not many people are willing to work for free for so long. I admire the talents of Shelley, Donna, and Sharon, and welcome Regina, Anjali, and Denise.  I'm so proud of our staff.  These special people are dedicated and believe in the value of KIT.   

Turning Down a Nice Submission

The other day I received a nice submission for KIT.  The author had a remarkable 

bibliography, so I could tell the article was well-researched.  But there were multiple 

reasons why this piece was turned down.  

• The manuscript was not formatted correctly and the contact information was missing.  Contact information must be present on the first page of a manuscript.  This is fairly standard for any magazine.  

• The word count exceeded our limit.  We state in our guidelines that we'd like articles to run about 500 words.  Kids are more engaged with shorter pieces.  Going fifty words over the limit is not egregious, but 200 words is simply too long. 

• The Flesh Kincaid readability tool measured the piece at seventh grade level.  The range of our audience is from first to six grade.  To achieve a readability score more suitable to KIT, writers can reduce the number of compound sentences, explain complex concepts in simple terms, and use grade-appropriate vocabulary. 

• The subject of the article was too mature for young readers.  This is where writers have to put themselves in the shoes of kids and figure out what they would like to read and know.  For instance, we believe an article that discusses animal reproduction is  not appropriate for our magazine.   

It's very possible if this writer had taken a look at our guidelines, a rejection could have been avoided.  

But, all is not lost for this writer.  In this case, we provided reasons for the rejection, not the typical "the piece is not a good fit for us."  And this writer has the opportunity to submit again.  KIT believes that every writer deserves a second chance.  We promote writers and encourage them to perfect their submissions.  It is our mission to help writers succeed in reaching their publication dreams.