The most overlooked step in the novel writing process (and why you shouldn’t skip it)

You’ve done the hard part—you wrote and published your novel—but unless you know how to sell it, your story might never reach the readers it deserves. This post kicks off a new blog series on the sixth and final step of the novel writing process: selling your book. Whether you’ve chosen the independent route or you’re still weighing your publishing options, understanding how books reach readers is a crucial part of your author journey.

In previous posts, I’ve covered everything from brainstorming and drafting to revision and publishing. I’ve also discussed the pros and cons of both traditional and independent publishing. But when it comes to book sales, the reality is this: traditional publishing handles much of the marketing behind the scenes (and how much promotion your book receives can vary widely). Since I don’t have firsthand experience with traditional publishing—and because those strategies are often dictated by the publisher—this series will focus on what I do know from experience: selling an independently published novel.

That said, many of the strategies I’ll be sharing—like building your author brand, setting up a website, growing your mailing list, and engaging with readers on social media—are just as useful for traditionally published authors. If you’re planning to take an active role in your book’s success, no matter how you published, this series is for you.

Here’s what you can expect in the coming posts:

• Proven strategies for selling your independently published novel
• Tips for building your author brand so readers know what to expect from you
• How to write an author bio that engages and sells
• Setting up a mailing list (and why it’s still one of your best tools)
• Making the most of your website, social media, and author profiles so your book can sell without your constant presence
• Using Goodreads to connect with readers and build visibility
• Hand-selling your book: how to talk about your novel in real life without feeling awkward
• Sending publication slips to bookstores and libraries to let them know your books exist
• Collaborating with other authors to expand your reach

Selling your book isn’t just a final task to check off—it’s the start of your relationship with readers. And the good news? You don’t need to be a marketing expert to do it well. You just need to understand your tools and approach it with the same creativity and persistence that got you through the writing process.

Want to learn more about the steps of the novel writing process? Start at the beginning of this series HERE.

Now available in print and on Kindle!

Now that Jack has been forced to reflect on everything he has to lose, he resolves to do better. He’s determined to spend more time at home with his family and repair the relationships that have suffered over the years while he’s been so focused on work. But as Callie’s behavior becomes increasingly bizarre, Jack realizes he has a lot more room to improve than he realized – and it might be too late to save his daughter after all.

For fans of We Need to Talk About Kevin, The Push, and Baby Teeth.