Profwriting

Novelist Jane Jackson gives Jenny Hunt advice on how best to exploit the media for self-promotion.

• Do whatever you can to promote yourself and be prepared to put the effort in.

• Get to know your local radio presenters and ask them for advice on microphone technique. The trick is to speak slowly and clearly to project your voice. This is particularly relevant for women as the faster you speak, the more high pitched your voice becomes. But don’t worry, as a new writer inexperienced in giving interviews, you will often be recorded rather than appear in live interviews, so any mistakes or 'umming' and 'erring' can be edited out.

• Before being interviewed, have a good idea of what you want to say. Where possible, find out what sort of questions your interviewer intends to ask you so you can prepare your answers.

• Prepare some newsworthy snippets of information or extracts from your work so your interview will be memorable. It is always good to surprise your listeners/readers with interesting facts (relating to your book or subject matter) so they will remember you.

• Drink water rather than coffee before interviews. Coffee can clog up your throat.

• During an interview try to stay confident, professional and calm. The more interviews you give, the more confident you will become.

• Try to give talks in places such as the WI or local library to build a relationship with your readers. When you give talks treat every question with respect. Answer it with interest and enthusiasm even though you may have answered it a hundred times before.

• Ask your publisher's publicity department to print postcards and posters of your book cover to distribute to shops and libraries. They should be able to do this very cheaply but you must be prepared to go out and do some self-promotion. Most bookshops and libraries will be happy to display promotional material as long as you provide them with it.