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1/ You know what I wish we saw more of in SFF? Writers with press kits. I've seen press kits in other entertainment industries but they don't seem to have caught on in publishing. (a thread)
2/ What do I mean by press kits? A document that has all the info and/or art that readers and critics would need to engage with your work. This could be anything from a page on your website to a dedicated zip drive in the cloud.
But why would you need one? Good question.
But why would you need one? Good question.
3/ Press kits help people talk about and review your work. They help event organizers get the info they need. They help people find high-res images of you & your work in various dimensions. You can list multiple bios so you're introduced how you'd like, regardless of length!
4/ As an interviewer, it makes my life easier when authors list past interviews on their website. It lets me be prepared, and it prevents the same three questions from being asked in every interview. @SAChakrabooks's site does this well https://www.sachakraborty.com/events--interviews.html
5/ It's even more helpful if you include key information about your books! As an audiobook listener, spelling character names is tough and often requires some creative Google-fu.
6/ And if I've procrastinated on my review, a quick refresher of setting/plot can be the extra nudge that gets a review written.
7/ Time for some examples of effective press kits! @KA_Doore provides a list of queer rep in her books, selected critical praise, and short catchy blurbs reviewers can use (Queer assassins save the day!) https://kadoore.com/press-kit/
8/ Dyrk Ashton ( @UnDyrk) has a full PDF/DOCX/ZIP press kit package that goes into depth about himself and his work. He also has a comprehensive list of all his blog reviews, interviews, and guest posts. https://www.paternusbooks.com/press
9/ Look how @KateElliottSFF has contact info for her publicists, sorted by which books they represent. This is a gold mine for requesting review copies! She also has high res cover art for all her work in one place. http://www.kateelliott.com/index.php?pageID=46
10/ You can even take a different approach and have book club kits to help readers discuss your book! Simon Jimenez does this excellently for his novel The Vanished Birds. http://www.simonjimenezauthor.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/JIMENEZ_VanishedBirds_bkc.pdf
11/ Another benefit to press kits is they lead people to your website! Having this information in one place means fans and critics have more reason to stop by your site... which should also have purchase links to your work!
12/ All of this applies to audio dramas / audio fiction as well, though the brilliant Wil Williams ( @wilw_writes) and Elena Fernández Collins ( @ShoMarq)
have already covered that better than I could hope to. https://bellocollective.com/press-play-on-a-podcast-press-kit-c729befb15fd
have already covered that better than I could hope to. https://bellocollective.com/press-play-on-a-podcast-press-kit-c729befb15fd
13/13 This thread has already gone on for long enough, so I'll close with this: writers of SFF, *please* consider a press kit! Your readers will thank you and I suspect you'll find it a valuable investment.
