Marketing Your Book (While Raising Kids)

Once you hit publish, you still need to tell people about it

I’ve been spending the past week proofreading my final manuscript before Amazon’s deadline for the Kindle eBook release on April 24th, 2020 and contacting people to let them know I’ve written a book.

While caring for two kids under the age of four years old full-time on weekdays during a global pandemic.

You can read more about how I wrote the book around raising those kids over the past few years in my last post here.

In addition to the tips I mention in that post, I’ve been using a lot of:

• time blocking to try to accomplish one simple 15-30 minute task–or a small part of a larger task–each per day
• writing handwritten notes to myself of what I’ve done to track my progress and jog my memory
• path of least resistance tactics: write a social media post on my phone and then adapt it into a blog post or newsletter
• daily self-care to ensure I’m being nice to myself and looking after my needs during a time when I’m caring for others and launching something new

The act of creating something can be inspiring and energizing.

But the act of launching and promoting your creative work once it’s ‘ready’ over the long haul can be draining and daunting.

*They reckon you should market your book for the same amount of time it takes you to write it in the first place.

If you don’t feel comfortable talking about yourself, this can seem like a daunting task.

I find I work best if I break things down into more manageable pieces and chip away at them over time.

To separate myself from the work once it’s published, I make things into ‘tasks’ to take some of the emotion out of it for me.

I don’t have time to overthink things right now.

Add this to my task approach and you have a recipe for getting shit done in tiny windows of opportunity, without much thought or perfectionism.

To buy myself these little productivity breaks, I’ve brought an old bankers box full of recycled tissue paper upstairs to keep in our home office. The boys like to barrel in, giggling hysterically as they throw it everywhere, leaving a colourful mess.

It takes two minutes to clean up, which I try to make into a game and often end up doing alone, but it gives me 10 minutes of work time while they run through and rip it. Once it’s shredded we’ll use it as art supplies.

To keep me motivated, I’m also treating myself to small incentives like tea and chocolate as I work. Or putting on a certain piece of clothing, like my ‘writing jumper’.

I’ve had it more than four years, got it at Primark in Kilburn after having baby number one in London. The knit is extra cozy, with big pockets and wide sides to keep mom and bub warm while sporting a baby carrier.

It also marks the beginning of my parentpreneur journey in 2016, makes for an excellent writing uniform and is now my official author cardigan. It’s moved from England to Canada with us, been on vacay to Ireland and back and is still going strong.

I completed the final edits on my first book over the weekend and sent it off to the virtual presses at Amazon.

Despite having a foggy head and cold start to my Saturday morning, the weekend meant an extra pair of hands with the kids and more quiet (and writing) time for me.

I blow dried my hair, put on lipstick for the first time in over a month, donned my favourite wardrobe staple and felt better as the day went on.

I’m not great at selfies but my tea was still warm in the photo and I’m about to upload the final manuscript for my first self-published book…can you tell I’m excited!?

*the people who give you advice on the interwebs about writing, marketing and selling your book.

Startup Blogging: Validate A Business Idea and Build Your Audience is based on my journey as a blogger, writer, founder and parent to date.

It’s intended to help you solve real problems, for real people and focuses on:

• designing a blog around your values, interests and time commitments;
• creating content, sharing your ideas and seeking feedback; and
• defining what you offer, your ideal customer and launching your Minimum Viable Product (MVP).

It’s available from Amazon as an eBook, to be delivered on April 24, 2020. The eBook will remain at the special launch price of $2.99 USD* for one month, before going up on May 24, 2020 to $5.99 USD*.

It’s also available from Amazon as a paperback via their print on demand service at the price of $10.99 CAD or $9.99 USD elsewhere*, plus applicable taxes, shipping and handling.

*Amazon marketplace prices vary by your purchase location.

Feedback on Startup Blogging:

Part of the contents of this book were originally created and delivered by me as a conference workshop for an event in 2019.

The content has been carefully edited to focus on making it more digestible and actionable, encouraging you to startup blogging now and test your ideas over the coming months.

“I liked that the focus was on organic development of community and ideas instead of just social media marketing. I also like the periodic questions to consider what I wanted to do with the information.”

“Enjoyed the ideas for how to share your message or find out what resonates with people.”

“I love Amy’s generosity with sharing her knowledge and experience. Really great session.”

“Lots of useful ideas for starting and growing an audience.”

“(I enjoyed) the personal experiences of the presenter, interaction with audience, resource materials and focus on doing things for passion rather than just for money.”

“The topic is very interesting and well presented.”

“Very inspiring.”

Looking for more info about Flexible + Remote Work?

I’ve set a goal of doing more video/audio content this year, so stay tuned for quick episodes which will cover the intersection of parenthood, creativity and flexible work.

Subscribe to receive my free monthly Work + Life newsletter focused on travel, international family life, creativity and flexible work: http://bit.ly/AmyMaureenLynchNews

SHOP Products + Online Courses

• Mini Training – Mixing Babies And Business: 3 Ways To Make Remote Work More Productive For You (+ Your Family) [LEARN MORE]
• Book – Startup Blogging: Validate A Business Idea and Build Your Audience [LEARN MORE]
• Online Course – Based on the book Startup Blogging: Validate A Business Idea and Build Your Audience [JOIN THE WAITLIST]

FREE Digital Resources, Templates + Guides

• E-Course – Go Remote: 5 Steps To Transition To Flexible Work [LEARN MORE]
• Template – Remote Work (With Kids) Time Blocking Made Easy [LEARN MORE]
• Guide – Babies + Business Mini Guide To Navigating The Corporate Jungle (With Kids) [LEARN MORE]