Introduction
When I talk to authors at conferences or on calls, many say they are working on long projects. They mention novels, non-fiction guides, and memoirs. Some will even mention a long series of books. They seem to dismiss smaller projects as less important than bigger projects.
Those small projects add up to a body of work. Thinking and acting beyond the book will make it more of a presence in the community. That doesn't mean devoting yourself to a million different projects. A couple of images and an hour of content are all you need. This blog post will help you create a body of work to support and expand your book's influence.
Understanding Your Core Message
It all starts with a message. Colleen McCubbin loves to say that you have a message before you have a book. I agree with her. A message is a simple statement you want to convey to your reader. It is at the heart of the project.
When you understand what your message is, you can focus your body of work on conveying it. Sometimes, this will be direct. Most of the time, it will be indirect.
There are dozens of ways to build a body of work. I'll show you four of my favourite methods. You don't need to do all of these. In fact, you don't need to do most of them. Experiment with what works for you.
Expanding Your Content Creation
1. Interactive Puzzles
Nicola MacCameron wrote the sci-fi series Leoshine as if it was a real world. One part of that was creating a language. She worked with Travis Williams to design a script to go with it: the Tassanara script.
The script let her design puzzles for fans of her books. The first one is about Canadian women, letting Nicola combine two passions. She also has hand-outs that she gives out at events with word puzzles and a sign encouraging readers to write their names in the font. It's a direct way to engage sci-fi fans and engage them in the world. You can see this part of Nicola's world here.
2. Launching a Podcast
Connie Inglis is working on a memoir about how faith helps caregivers for those with mental illness. It's based on her experiences taking care of her son. While she writes, she talks about her experience in the podcast Born on a Bridge.
The podcast lets her explore her feelings with a small audience. It lets her get feedback and opinions. She will be able to invite her viewers to buy her memoir is ready.
3. Writing a Second Book
Marcia Laycock has published many books. When she was working on her children's book, Merrigold's Very Best Home, she created a small doll of her main character. She brings it to markets and conferences. If you look at photographs of her at events, that doll is in the background.
She took photographs of the doll when she was promoting a crowdfunding campaign. The photographs became a second book: Wee Merrigold's Wee Wanderings. It is another way to interact with Merrigold's world. Children are inspired to experiment with crafts and photography.
4. Offering Classes or Workshops
Kelly Karius has been promoting the No Such Thing as a Bully system for years. She teaches her anti-bullying program in schools and community groups across Canada. When more people asked for help, she turned her lessons into a book.
That became No Such Thing as a Bully: Bullyproofing Protection for Parents and Children. She combines that with an online training program. They let her reach more people. Ultimately, she does more in the fight against bullying.
What's the Goal with a Body of Work?
Discuss strategies for marketing your supplementary content effectively.
Explore the various platforms for promotion, including social media, email newsletters, and author websites.
Link to courses and conferences
The ultimate goal when building a body of work is to create a community. Each piece of the body is a point of contact for audience members. They can come from places you already are. If you're going to a course or a conference, you can bring a business card or a couple of copies of your book with you. If you're on social media, taking photos of your book and talking about its content can make people interested in you.
This is a part of marketing as hospitality. Greet your audience with love and they will love you in return. Staying active and present will let your book reach people you might never have known.
Conclusion
A diverse body of work can help you connect with readers and make more sales. This can start at any time. You could even start before you have a book. Each component will help you grow.
That's only one part of your book plan. To learn more about the rest of it, check out our offers page. We offer free, no-pressure discovery calls.
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