Lesson 49

Writing Class 101 by Rick Kurtis books
 
Lesson 49
Building a Market
 
Welcome back to another day. Through the year I think I gave you plenty of things to ponder. Sometimes I may have repeated myself from one class to the other, or maybe I have even forgotten to write a class that would really help. This, I have no control over. They were just random thoughts in my head that I wanted to share with other authors, so they could better themselves, and learn from my mistakes. This week is no different. It is again, just food for thought. Sooooooo, here we go.

If your book has something in it that could branch off into other sales, this is a good thing. It gives you another hat, so to speak. Now you are a creator of whatever you can think of. In a few of my books I created puzzles, board games, word searches, and card games that the characters played. They are children’s books of course, but like Star Trek, they invented three level chess, square or odd shaped drinking glasses, and a book on how to speak Klingon. They made toys, models, action figures, and Halloween costumes. Who doesn’t have a tribble? I think they are still on the market? YUP, they are. I just checked. Star Trek USS Enterprise model from $89 to $300. The same prices on the spaceship Voyager. Wow.
This is where I want your mind to go. Think outside the box on how your character, or your book can expand into other sales. I have tried to look for companies to help promote products that corresponds with my books. Puzzle factories, toy manufacturers, game-board creators, and calendar makers. A few women had a stuffed animal made that looked like their main characters. I use Vista-print to make little trinkets that help promote my books, such as pens, bookmarks, bumper stickers, T-shirts, coffee mugs, and a whole array of other products.
Think about all the movies, and their merchandise sales. Think about their posters, trailers, and commercials. Even though your book hasn’t achieved that status yet, think ahead, and start your own process, if possible.
Look at JK Rowlands, and Harry Potter. They have toys, figurines, and everything else you can think of. Even Disney built a theme park of Hogwarts. They cash in, and so does JK Rowlands. Hopefully, one day, we will get there. It only takes one book, one unique story like Avatar, Alien, or the Toy Story series. Some person’s imagination written down for people to read.
Every one of my books, I picture it as a movie. I can see an actor playing the part of my main character. If possible, send a free copy of your book to a celebrity for them to read, and say how you think they would be excellent as the main character. (Butter them up) They might see it too, and go to their agent, throw the book down on their desk, and say, “I want to play this roll. Find me a producer.” Or they might be rich enough to produce it themselves.
This is why you should also have it written as a screenplay in case they ask for one. Who cares if they change it seventeen times while filming? You have a contract, and you are making headlines. Book sales may soar.
There are so many options, and so many series on TV. That could be a possibility for your book. My children’s books could be a weekly cartoon series. My books, The Wild Boys series, I aged the boys in each book so the same actors could play the same rolls in each movie, being that each movie takes a year or two to make, and release. Children grow up way to fast.
So again, think ahead. Think outside the four corners of your book. Think; will you retire your character after one book, or will they continue onto a whole new adventure, mystery, or romance? Where do you want them to end up? Where do you want you to end up? It cost nothing to brainstorm about your future, and to put it out there. Boast about your book, and share your thoughts. A reader told me she wanted more. She wanted the Daniel Peters character to continue, and I told her another book is coming.
Happy writing, and think hard, and I will think, so I can give you more thoughts next week.
 
Bye from rickkurtisbooks.com