If you're a writer with dreams of getting a major book deal or a new author with a book that you want to promote, what can you do to stand out from the rest of the pack? You already know that getting media exposure to sell yourself and your work can be challenging at best. Is there a way to spread the word about you and your talents?

With more than 50,000 new books published every year, the market is glutted with authors trying to make their work stand out in the media. And if your goal is to get that first book deal, you face a daunting task: getting enough media coverage to make your platform outstanding enough for a prospective agent or publisher to take notice.

So what's the answer? Publicity - and lots of it - will pull you ahead of the others in the writing success game. Strategic publicity will help you to become a known entity, opening doors to book deals and book sales. Without publicity, you simply are one more new author or struggling writer trying to get the world to pay attention to what you have to offer.

You have two choices when it comes to garnering publicity: you can opt to do it yourself, or pay an agency for their publicity services. Publicity agencies can be costly, but are worth it if you don't have the time, energy, or know-how to do it yourself. Publicity is a full time job if you want to do it right.

If you decide to do your own publicity, make sure you do your research and get the appropriate materials in order to make your efforts more successful. You'll need media contact information, excellent phone skills, and a lot of creativity and patience every step of the way.

A publicity plan can take many months to show results. Having said that, a professional publicist could work wonders for you due to his or her media expertise and ready list of contacts.

Whether you go it alone or use the services of a professional, make sure you have a publicity campaign in motion. You can bet that the most successful authors are using publicity to build their careers. Why not you?

Whether or not you are a published author, you need a publicity campaign. A writer with aspirations towards a publishing contract can use basic publicity methods to build a platform high enough to make her stand out above the rest of the crowd.

Author M. J. Rose did just that, by self-publishing her first novel and becoming known as the poster child for ebook success. It took Rose about six months to build her platform, and the rest is history. Persistence and many hours of self-promotion garnered Rose a following for her books and a sound basis for future print and ebook sales.

Any undertaking, especially publicity, requires more effort at the outset than it does after the momentum has begun. Once you gain a foothold with the media, the media are more likely to call you for repeat coverage. Therefore, be prepared for the highest energy expenditure when you are still an unknown writer or first-time author.

© 2004 Kathy Sanborn