How to use non-fiction angles to promote your fiction book
It is often said that nonfiction is easier to promote than fiction, and I certainly don’t disagree. However, wherever there is a challenge, there is the opportunity for creativity and that’s exactly what today’s tip is all about!
Every piece of fiction has several non-fiction angles that can be used as marketing hooks and you can target readers that have an interest in those areas.
Here are your Action Steps
1. Grab a pen and jot down 5-10 “non-fiction angles” that your book has.
2. Think about location, character traits, struggles, illnesses, an unusual family set up, a career choice, the period of time the book is set in & so on.
3. Next brainstorm how you can use these angles. Does your main character love horses and own a riding school? Contact the riding schools and equestrian associations in your local area and see if you can set up a signing at their next event. Is your book set in the Victorian era? Find out if there is a Victorian club near you and get involved. Conduct a thorough Google search for niche sites that might focus on Victorian fashion, etiquette and so on.
Every book has an audience, you’ve just got to find out where they spend their time.
Pssst…! I like to use Google Docs to document my research. I write out the places/sites I want to contact, the contact name and email address, what I want to ask them, and the date on which I’m going to contact them. This forces me to turn this plan into action!
Thanks, Laura, for your tips for marketing fiction by thinking of promotion used with a non-fiction book. I’ve published two memoirs, Twenty- Eight Snow Angels: A Widow’s Story of Love, Loss and Renewal and also our family story, Miriam Daughter of Finnish Immigrants. I’ve promoted both books through numerous venues. Your suggestions are very timely, because I’m in the beginning stages of writing my first novel. I will keep the suggestions in my mind as I write!
np, Diane, glad it was helpful. I know from speaking with friends that making the transition from memoir writer to novel writer isn’t easy for many people. I wouldn’t suggest changing the heart of the story to include non-fiction angles for the purposes of promotions, obviously, but adding in real-life locations or topical themes can certainly make the promotions much easier! Best of luck :)
Great advice as always, Laura. Another great thing about exploring the non-fiction angle is that you can take some of that research and turn it into non-fiction articles to guest post on niche blogs. It’s just another great way to get even more coverage for the work you’ve already done on the novel.
Absolutely. Finding content for guest posts can be hard and I advise to stay away from talking about the writing process all the time. This is a wonderful solution and speaks to the right readers – not just other writers.