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ENCOURAGE READER
FEEDBACK by Dan Poynter
Writing and publishing your book is not the
end of your literary involvement. When readers have questions, authors have a
responsibility to respond by email, mail, telephone and in person at book
signings and other events.
Use these opportunities to gather material
for the book’s revision or your next book. Maybe you were not clear enough
in your writing or perhaps the customer is interested in an important area you
did not cover.
Bernard (Bear) Kamoroff, CPA, of Bell Springs
Publishing, displays at book fairs and other industry events for the express
purpose of gathering user feedback for Small Time Operator (23 revised editions
and 53 printings in 21 years). At one fair, a woman said the business book was
not for her because she was self-employed. So, Kamoroff added to the cover:
“For All Small Businesses, Self-Employed Individuals, Employers,
Professionals, Independent Contractors, and Home-Based Businesses.” Also,
due to customer feedback, he has increased the index from three pages to seven.
Oh—I listen more and talk less. You can't learn anything when
you're talking. —Bing Crosby (1904-1977), American singer and film
actor.
If people are asking questions, they like your work. Note
their questions and your responses in a “correction copy” of your
most recent edition and keep it on your shelf so you will be able to easily
find the updates when the inventory runs low. Put the new information in your
next revised edition—and sell the book to them again.
Listen to
your readers. Your best customer is one you have sold to previously.
Dan Poynter does not want you to die with a book still inside you. You
have the ingredients and he has your recipe. Dan has written more than 100
books since 1969 including Writing Nonfiction and The Self- Publishing Manual.
For more help on book writing, see http://ParaPub.com. © 2003
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