Where Does One Begin in Creating a Media Kit?
By Donna McDine
Media Kit? Why would I need a media kit, I’m not even published yet? To be quite honest with you it’s never too soon to start. To begin now will make it much simpler to add to as you move forward in your writing career. The essential components in creating your media kit are:
About the Author or Writer (Bio): This one pager consists of your current bio, education, current work-in-progress, and contact information (email, blog and website addresses). After you become published update your bio to reflect each success.
Appearances: Appearances may include volunteer reader at your local library and/or school visits and later on as you become published you will be known as the local children’s author which then will open up doors to school visits.
Interviews (online and in-person): Before I became published - myself and fellow aspiring writers interviewed each other for our blogs to get our names out there. It’s fun and simple. Contact a fellow writer and exchange questions and there you have your first finished interview.
Awards and Publishing Credits: This may be blank for now, but create the page with this heading and you can fill in your information as you go along. Your publishing credits include no-pay, low-pay, and paying markets both online and print.
Media Releases: Even without publishing credits you can create a media release about upcoming interviews and book reviews on your blog and of course tying in with interviews make sure you write up a media release about your personal interviews. It’s important you send out your media release to your network and post on free media release sites such as www.prlog.com. For a more detailed list of the services I utilize visit: http://donnamcdine.com/dynamicmediareleases.html.
Book Reviews: Yes, even if you don’t have a book published yet do not forget this important part for when you do so you can place excerpts of book reviews for easy reference.
Some of your pages will be blank for now, but you will be surprised how quickly they will fill up. All of my pages started out blank and are now filling up. My book review page is still blank and I’m eagerly awaiting reviews to fill in below the title. The saying from the movie The Field of Dreams… “Build it and they will come” is true for your media kit too. The intention and creation of blank titled pages will bring it to fruition. Oh and yes, working at your writing craft is essential too.
If you have any questions I’d be happy to help. Feel free to email me privately at donna@donnamcdine.com. You may also view my media kit at http://donnamcdine.com/mediakit.html.
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Donna McDine is an award-winning children's author, Honorable Mention in the 77th and two Honorable Mentions in the 78th Annual Writer’s Digest Writing Competitions and Preditors & Editors Readers Poll 2010 – Top Ten - Children’s Books category – The Golden Pathway.
Her stories, articles, and book reviews have been published in over 100 print and online publications. Her interest in American History resulted in writing and publishing The Golden Pathway. Donna has two more books under contract with Guardian Angel Publishing, The Hockey Agony and Powder Monkey. She writes, moms and is the Editor-in-Chief for Guardian Angel Kids, Publicist for the Children’s Writers’ Coaching Club and owner of Dynamic Media Release Services from her home in the historical hamlet Tappan, NY. McDine is a member of the SCBWI and Musing Our Children.
The Golden Pathway ~ August 2010 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc. http://www.guardianangelpublishing.com/pathway.htm ~ Global e-Book Awards Nominee
Donna’s Website: http://www.donnamcdine.com/
Write What Inspires You Blog: http://www.donna-mcdine.blogspot.com/
The Golden Pathway Blog: http://www.thegoldenpathway.blogspot.com/
Write What Inspires You! FREE Newsletter: opt-in @ http://www.donnamcdine.com/ and receive FREE e-book “Write What Inspires You Author Interviews”
Don't have time to write and post your media releases? Contact: Dynamic Media Release Services: http://www.donnamcdine.com/dynamicmediareleases.html
20 comments:
Very useful and informative article, Donna! Great job!
Thought I should chime in here and mention that Donna is co-sponsoring this year's Muse Online Writers Conference, featuring her media release service for writers. And, yep, that's a good place to start--with the media release that often gets included in the kit. Exact instructions for creating a complete kit are in The Frugal Book Promoter (www.budurl.com/FrugalBkPromo) but if you feel you need help, Donna is a great one to hire for that.
Best,
Carolyn
Hi Nancy:
Thanks for taking the time out to visit and for your lovely comment.
Hi Carolyn:
Thank you too for your lovely comment and your promo plug for me, much appreciated!
Best regards,
Donna
Donna,
Thanks sooooooooo much for this great information. I need to create a media kit. You rock!
Nicole Weaver
Trilingual Children's Author
http://mysisterismybestfriend.blogspot.com
http://marieandherfriendtheseaturtle.blogspot.com
Lots of companies will create a kit for you, but the quality of presentation is so varied that ti makes the monetary outlay questionable.
You offer a DIY approach that's absolutely attainable. The best part is everything you learn as you go along, all the tech stuff and networking you do without really knowing it.
Great post!
What terrific information and advice, Donna! I will most definitely be heeding it in the near future.
Karin
Thanks for the terrific tips, Donna!
Thanks for the helpful pointers and checklist. When I had my website redone last year, the designers put together a media kit for me. But I'm not sure if it has everything you recommend, so now I'll go back and check. Thanks!
Great tips, Donna. You really know your stuff, mate.
I have Facebooked and Tweeted this - and Google +
Margot’s Magic Carpet
Books With a WOW Factor
http://perfectmagiccarpet.blogspot.com/
Fantastic advice Donna. Any author who doesn't have a media kit is missing out on an opportunity. Your own media kit is a good example for those who are uncertain of how to go about it, and I like the idea of incorporating press releases.
Excellent tips, Donna. Thanks.
Vital information! Thanks, Donna. Good luck with the Global ebook award!
Donna, thanks for the very informative post.
Thanks Donna! I'll get started right away. Very helpful.
Great information, Donna. Thanks for the tips.
Kevin
Donna, What great information.
I've taken advantage of Donna's media release service and she did an excellent job! I will definitely use Dynamic Media Release again.
Great information. Thanks!
Wonderful article, Donna. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you one and all for your interest and lovely comments. I appreciate it and your additional plugs and tweets! You are all wonderful!
Great information and just what I need for this week.
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