Friday, December 19, 2008

The Dreaded Media Kit

Drum roll, please! And again.

Yep, this is it. I've finally done it. Despite knee-knocking fears, and backpedaling from the very idea, I have tackled the media kit.

For those of you novices (I was one until a couple of minutes ago), a media kit is not to be confused with a news release, press release, or anything along that line that you may have heard of. I am told there is no longer such a thing as a press or news release - it is a media release. Woe to the poor writer who shows their ignorance for sending an editor a news release.

I can't say that I'm all done. Partly because the media kit's very essence is evolving, as one has more reviews to post, a different synopsis to add, more writing credits, and so forth.

What I've done is tackle it with my usual organizational efficiency (where has it been hiding these past couple of weeks?), and made a list of the contents of said kit. Synopsis. Check. Author bio. Check. Sell sheet. Check. Of course that's not all, but it is a beginning. I am slowly building each page.

I am fortunate to have printed out about three different media kits, and am using them as templates. Where they overlap, I'll be sure and create my own version. When I become more comfortable with the whole idea of a media kit, I think it will be easier to finish, or add to, what I've already begun.

I've borrowed mother hen's (read: Lea Schizas) wet noodle, and will liberally flog you with it if you're like I was until today: staring at a media kit and not taking that first step.

7 comments:

Vivian Zabel said...

Glad you've started on your media kit.

elysabeth said...

I think it's great you finally took the first step. It really isn't as difficult as it seems, and like you said, tackling it with some organization and one step at a time, you can accomplish everything. Before you know it, you will be an old pro and giving others advice on what is needed. Good job - E :)

Lea Schizas - Author/Editor said...

Way to go, Katie. Loving your blog. Adding it to the monthly links newsetter and help spread the word.

Anonymous said...

Katie,
I was lured to this post, becuz I'm working up my media release and media kit. Ugggh!
This is not my idea of a good time. While creating mine, I'm making a pdf for my website on how to make a media release. I'm not finding any info on media releases for books.
If you've found any, please share.
J.Aday Kennedy
http://jadaykennedy.blogspot.com/

Vivian Zabel said...

I think I'll add my info as to how to do a media kit on http://vivianzabel.blogspot Monday.

Vivian

Deb Hockenberry said...

Hi Katie,
Great blog! What all goes into a media kit? They sound kind of intimidating. Congrats for being brave enough to tackle it!
Deb :-)

elysabeth said...

Katie, see what you have started - lol. Now everyone is going to have to do a media kit and they are finding out about them from you. Good job on bringig the awareness out about media kits.

Jessica, media kits aren't as daunting as some folks make them to be. The hardest part for me was writing my bio. Everyone's media kit will be different based on experience. Vivian's contains a "writing resume". Mine doesn't. What I do have in mine is a cover letter introducig my media kit, my bio, a synopsis of my series, three reviews, an interview, a fact sheet and a sell sheet (or sometimes called a one sheet - for the purpose of distinguishing a fact sheet and a sell sheet - the sell sheet has a mini bio and a short synopsis along with contact information where as a fact sheet is specific to the book and only gives you the specifics of that book - the product information that is posted on amazon.com (in a block called product information) and nothing else).

So you see media kits aren't that bad. Vivian will have more posted on her blog Monday and that should help too.

Lea, I hope you have my blogs in the monthly links newsletter too. But if not, I'll understand. I hardly comment on my fav blogs any more - lol. I do agree that Katie's blog is coming along and that it is looking rather fabulous (speaking of which, Katie, check out my posting on my JGDS blog as you've been nominated for a fabulous blog award). See you all in the postings - E ;)