GUIDE FOR PARTICIPANTS

When you decide you want to become part of the Network, join the Groups.io group. 

Handy tip: If you want to avoid a cluttered inbox, when you sign up to the group set your 'Message Delivery' option to 'Daily Digest'. 

Once you've signed up to our group, enter the 'Files' section. There's a PDF containing easy-to-follow instructions create an author 'one sheet for yourself. When you've created yours, upload it to the folder called, 0 Author One-sheets (for Book Clubs, Meet the Author events etc.).

Some events require your one-sheet, either for promotional purposes, or because the people hosting an event wish to choose who takes part themselves. If your one-sheet is too big, incorrectly named, or uploaded in the wrong place, it won't get passed on to an event host, even if you put your name forward.  

Feel free to organize an event yourself (see Guide for coordinators). If you don't want to do that yet, keep an eye on the Group message board for word of a potential event.

In the meantime, PROMOTE! PROMOTE! PROMOTE!
Chances are, you know other New Jersey Authors (or know someone who knows them).  Spread the word. After all, a multi-author event helps everyone, right? 

In the Files section of the io group, you'll find a copy of the NJAN icon. Use that to put a link to the Network from your own website.
Talk it up on your blog and add a link there too.   If you regularly post on another writer's blog - even if they haven't yet got a book to sell, or live out of state - ask them to put a link too. 

Any time you meet a writer, ask if they know any New Jersey authors. 

If you're a member of a writing group, ask your fellow-members to promote it too. 

Reality check: Most people will help you if you ask, but don't expect them to volunteer.  You have to make the first move.  

If you're interested in taking part in an event someone proposes, let them know via the message board. 
Please be aware: the coordinator has the last word on who takes part. 

Coordinators are the focal point.  Make their job easier by doing your part. Give them your cell-phone number. They will do most of the work, but offer to help.  

If you take on a task, keep the coordinators up-to-date with your progress.  In particular, make sure you keep them informed about any contact you have with the library/bookstore that will host the signing.  

It's human nature to want to take the easiest path.  In the case of multi-author signings, that can sometimes mean sitting back and letting the other participating authors do their bit, while you come up with reasons why you can't do yours. 
The trouble is, if everyone did that, the event would be a waste of time.  That's why it's so important to try to get people to attend.  

 Start by posting details of the event on your website/blog, but  your work doesn't stop there.

Reality check: An email or post on facebook/twitter etc. is easy to do, but it's the online equivalent to handing out leaflets at the mall. 

 See (also), notes on 'Your talk' below.
The coordinator will send you panel questions in advance.
Reality check: If you aren’t used to speaking in public and/or with a microphone, there's a good chance that when you stand up to give your talk, your mind will sit right back down again.

Be prepared. Have bullet points on cards.  If you find yourself drying up, or worse, drifting off topic or waffling, stop talking. When it comes to calming your nerves before a 'performance', there's no substitute for knowing that you've practiced a lot.

Handy tip:  Imagining the audience naked won't help (and can be quite off-putting if you have older relatives attending the event).

Don’t assume the coordinator is doing everything. You might know something they don’t. Are there any writing groups, or book-reading clubs in the area? Check with the library. Keep an eye on the local press, they might advertise in there. By all means produce some leaflets; at the very least you or the coordinator should have some put in the library a week or two beforehand, but make sure they look professional. 

See (also), notes on 'Your talk' below.
The coordinator will send you panel questions in advance.
Reality check: If you aren’t used to speaking in public and/or with a microphone, there's a good chance that when you stand up to give your talk, your mind will sit right back down again.

Be prepared. Have bullet points on cards.  If you find yourself drying up, or worse, drifting off topic or waffling, stop talking. When it comes to calming your nerves before a 'performance', there's no substitute for knowing that you've practiced a lot.

Handy tip:  Imagining the audience naked won't help (and can be quite off-putting if you have older relatives attending the event).

Don’t assume the coordinator is doing everything. You might know something they don’t. Are there any writing groups, or book-reading clubs in the area? Check with the library. Keep an eye on the local press, they might advertise in there. By all means produce some leaflets; at the very least you or the coordinator should have some put in the library a week or two beforehand, but make sure they look professional. 

 Regardless of what we were told at school, people really do judge a book by its cover.  Wear your writer’s uniform  If you don’t have a deliberate image that you want to portray, dress smart-casual.

The coordinator will have a 'Thank you' card for the venue's host, please sign it before the event starts.  

When the event starts, the coordinator/moderator will welcome the audience, thank the host, and give a quick explanation about NJAN, after which he/she will invite the panel members to introduce themselves to the audience eg: 'My name is Jon Gibbs. I live in Manalapan, Monmouth County, and I write middle-grade fiction.'

Please note: This is not the moment to pitch your book.

Next, if it's appropriate to the panel topic, the moderator may invite each author to give a brief description of his/her path to publication.

Again, please note, this needs to be brief, especially if there are four panelists.

The moderator will ask each member to answer a series of relevant questions on the chosen topic.

Afterwards, the moderator hosts the Q&A session. Be patient when the questions start. If one isn’t pitched to a specific author, let the moderator choose who answers. He/she’ll make sure everyone gets their fair turn.

Keep your answers short and to the point.

When your turn comes, be confident.  Grab the audience's attention straight away.  If you're not sure how to start, a joke is always good for breaking the tension: Now I know how those poor suckers auditioning for American Idol must feel, or Don’t worry, I’m not going to sing etc.

If your mind goes totally blank, or you find yourself in a panic, ask the audience for empathy - 'I can’t believe how nerve-wracking this is.' – they’ll give it to you.

Be friendly. Smile.  You'll have more fun and people will like you better.

Talk to the audience not your crib-cards.  Look at people, especially those who came for you.

Please don’t hog the mike. Take the hint if the moderator gives it.

When the other writers are giving their answers, be attentive, study their technique. You might learn something new.
After the moderator takes a last question, he/she will invite each panel member to pitch ONE of their books to the audience

Introduce your book as you might do in a query letter.  My friend, Gary Frank, has a brilliant one for his novel, Forever Will You Suffer: 'A three hundred year love story gone horribly wrong'.

Pitch the genre too.  ‘If you know someone who reads [insert genre] they’d like this book because…'

Unless it’s a memoir, talk about your book as if YOU didn’t write it. Pitch it to the audience as if it’s your best friend’s book and you want them to read it.

Is there something they thought went particularly well (or badly)?  Pass the feedback on to the coordinator.