Guerrilla Marketing for Writers : 100 Weapons to Help You Sell Your Work [Paperback]

Jay Conrad Levinson (Author), Rick Frishman (Author), Michael Larsen (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1, 2000

This manual shows writers 100s of low-cost ways to market their books, before and after they're published.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

There are writers who would be horrified at the tactics laid out in Guerrilla Marketing for Writers, perhaps because marketing oneself as one might a commodity is at odds with the artistic temperament. Alas, those writers are unlikely to find themselves at the helm of such publishing fleets as the Chicken Soup or, well, Guerrilla Marketing series.

HarperCollins publishes 1,200 books a year, according to the authors of Guerrilla Marketing for Writers. Is there a snowball's chance in hell that their publicity department can adequately promote all of them? Of course not. Don't let someone else's publicity department drop the ball when it comes to your book. Guerrilla Marketing's 100 weapons for selling your work range from creating media kits and promotional calendars to appearing at book-group discussions and fundraisers. Each "weapon" is rated by its monetary cost to the author, and well over half are free. While the authors advise that this book will help in the promotion of "any kind of book, from poetry to textbooks," most of its tactics seem best suited to nonfiction. The authors' overarching philosophy? Think like an entrepreneur. "Don't think like a writer who has something to say; think like an author who has a lifetime of books, products, and services to sell." --Jane Steinberg

Review

"Fortunately there is a Guerrilla Marketing book for the writer. Enlist now and requisition your weapons. Don't go into the publishing jungle unarmed." -- Dan Poynter, author of THE SELF-PUBLISHING MANUAL

"This book teaches the marketing tools every writer needs to know today." -- John Gray, Author of MEN ARE FROM MARS, WOMEN ARE FROM VENUS

"Writers create babies called books and then orphan them. Read this book and make your book a bestseller ... and that's the right idea!" -- Mark Victor Hansen

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Writer's Digest Books (November 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 089879983X
• ISBN-13: 978-0898799835
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6.5 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (59 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #953,088 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

35 of 38 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars You've been guerillaed. August 1, 2006

By W. davis

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

The introduction pretty well sums up the fatal flaw in this book: "But [this book] isn't a how-to book, it's a what-to book."

You have to ask: How much good is knowing what to do if you don't know how to do it? Go rebuild the engine in your car. I told you what to do; you will have to find out how to do it somewhere else. Save yourself the trouble and go somewhere else to begin with.

I bought this book to learn how to market my novels. I get: "In this respect [promotion] novelists are luckier than nonfiction writers. Not much is expected from them in the way of promotion.(page 87)" How much less? None? A little bit? Which ones of the 100 "weapons" should I use? Though I forced myself through the rest of the book and its interminably boring lists, I never found the answer.

I will have to say the authors practise what they preach. I would bet they have used all the gorilla (my spelling) weapons in this book, and then some, to sell every copy they can; including, I suspect, many of the glowing reviews on this page from members of their "network." You push my book and I will push yours.

It is a shame that American literature has come down to who is the best marketer. Maybe that is why many new novels, which used to keep me glued to my seat, now get slammed shut after the first few chapters. Maybe the next one will be better.

This book is cotton candy: real yummy but no substance: sugar air. The best part is the money-back guarantee, which the authors proudly proclaim, is a safe bet because most people won't take you up on it.

I have to give it some credit for the appendixes. Of course, you could get the same thing with a few simple internet searches, but I hate to be all negative.

If you buy this book, you may find yourself saying: "I've been guerillaed."

30 of 32 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Not as helpful as it may seem November 5, 2003

By John Otte

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

As a writer of fiction, I bought this book to help me sell my writing. Needless to say, I was disappointed when I realized that this book is geared for non-fiction, specifically self-help type writing. That isn't to say that this book can't help fiction writers, but the vast majority of these "weapons" are geared for people who can make a career of traveling to give talks. Tell me, how is a sci-fi writer supposed to do that? Perhaps it's a lack of imagination on my part, but if you're a fiction writer, save your money. Or, if you have some extra to burn, buy it, but keep in mind that most of these "weapons" come with the caveat, "This may not be helpful for fiction writers...." or "Fiction writers won't be able to use this...."
Just be aware.

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Guerilla Marketing For Writers December 8, 2000

By Anne B. Jones

Format:Paperback

Equip yourself with first-rate salemanship skills. Reading Guerilla Marketing For Writers is like taking a marketing course. The book is full of strategies for self-promotion. Beginning with an up-to-date assessment of publishing trends, Part I offers insight into all areas of the field. Included are "The Fifteen Most Important Marketing Secrets," and "The Guerilla Marketing Commandments". Part II explores your role as a marketer, and tactics for selling your books and gaining publicity. A section is devoted to setting goals and mapping a plan. Part III, "Weapons Galore To Help you Sell More," includes interview ideas, instructions for building a media kit, and information to include in a press reolease or bio. There are also suggested methods for evaluation and several pages devoted to articles and short stories. PartIV addresses professionalism and ways to market your identity. The book concludes with several useful tools, including a resource directory, subject appendix, and publicity questionnaire. I highly recommend this book. Few deal with marketing issues as creatively or clearly.