Writers Tricks of the Trade SPRING 2017 ISSUE 2, VOLUME 7 | Page 27

A FEW WORDS ABOUT MEDIA
RELEASES
M ORE G REAT R EFERENCE
B OOKS
It is becoming more and more important to find ways to get the word out on
our books. One of the ways is to develop media releases. Even there, the
competition is stiff so what are a few “tried and true” things that should be
considered and implemented?
W HAT
ABOUT LENGTH ? Remember, space is a premium, so short and sweet
media releases appear to work best! If a particular reporter or paper picks it up
and has interest in doing a longer piece, they will contact you, but don’t hold
your breath.
L EAVE
REPORTERS WANTING MORE - The point of a media release is to get
reporters interested in your story. You want your media release to pique their
interest so they contact you to learn more about your story. Remember, less is
more—you don't need to include every single detail related to your story in your
media release. Include just enough to give them the main story while leaving
them asking for more.
T IMING
IS EVERYTHING - If it is compelling and starts a buzz, issuing it in the
morning gives people all day to talk about the story. Issuing it in the middle of
the week helps ensure it will have a few days of life before the weekend arrives.
Does it relate to an appearance, book signing or something with a time
frame attached. Don’t release it too soon. People forget. Aim for a few days
before the event is scheduled.
Y OUR NEWS SHOULD GET
PEOPLE TALKING - While you might never have news
that gets as much attention as a celebrity’s divorce, the idea is that you should
always strive to issue stories that get people talking. If no one outside of your
friends and family cares about your story, you probably don't need to issue a
media release about it, particularly if you choose a paid option.
W RITERS ’ T RICKS OF THE T RADE
P AGE 19
S PRING 2017