Uploading the Download Back into Space - the Launch Reality

Launching with Purpose: Insights and Ideas

In this episode of The Download Podcast from Wise Woman and Wordsmith, host Jill Marshall introduces the concept of 'launches' and explores their true purpose and often misunderstood nature. Drawing from her own experience, Jill discusses the differences between real-world launches and their glamorised portrayals in TV and film. Through anecdotes, she highlights the celebratory aspect of launches, focusing on the process, the people involved, and the meaningful acknowledgment of one's creative journey. Jill concludes by expressing gratitude for the support that led to the creation of this podcast and encourages listeners to celebrate their own milestones while understanding the realistic outcomes of any launch.

00:00 Welcome to The Download

00:26 The Reality of Launches

01:43 Personal Experiences with Book Launches

02:41 Misconceptions from TV and Film

04:15 A Memorable Launch Event

06:41 The True Purpose of a Launch

07:35 Closing Thoughts and Gratitude 

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Wisewoman&Wordsmith.com

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JillMarshallBooks

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Transcript

0:01

Hello and welcome to The Download from Wise Woman and Wordsmith, where insight meets inspiration. A space for visionaries, ready to spark new ideas, ignite purpose, and reimagine possibilities. Here we share downloads of wisdom, stories, and strategies to help you thrive in your creative journey. I'm your host, Jill Marshall. Tune in, connect, and let the magic unfold. You're you tomorrow. So as I'm launching this podcast, I'm going to talk about launches in general, rather than downloads. I'm going to talk about what they do, what they don't do, how they're not like they are on TV and in film, and what the real purpose of The launch is. I'm now 26, 27 books in, so I've done many book launches myself, and I've run and attended many for other writers. I've also attended many for businesses, films, animation, or other podcasts. These days, of course, they can be live events or online. In fact, there are whole chunks of the internet now devoted to how to do your mainly online launch, your formula, email links, lead magnets, websites, whole gurus, YouTube channels devoted to the launch. Of course, these days, what you're also trying to do, or perhaps mainly trying to do, is to tap into an algorithm, which is the purpose of all those formulae, and so on. Launching a new podcast is no different. You do want maximum likes and downloads, subscriptions, thumbs up, reviews, comments, all at once, ideally, to get traction and big numbers in a very short time, which means you can then top a bestseller list and mark it on that basis. For me, of course, most of my experience is in book launches. I'm now two dozen books down and counting. So most of my launches are just kind of, ah, here's another one, kind of announcement. And that's fine for me. My main purpose for launching a new book is more to thank the people who've helped me co create it, to honour whatever inspired it, and to let people know if it adds to or concludes a series. And this relates to that topic of what they do and don't do. They do honour your process and your people. They don't necessarily, although they can, instigate massive sales to strangers and a best selling status. Of course, publishers and people with non fiction books particularly related to their subject matter, will aim for and may achieve this, but many, many don't, and many new creatives end up, well, a bit disappointed, sometimes a lot disappointed. Now, I personally blame TV and film for that disappointment. There tend to be two types of book launch on TV or in film. One is the cosy reading in a community bookshop to dozens of readers who then instantly buy the book and clamor for more. I've noticed the author is always reading a whole chapter, and that's something I learned very early not to do. Snippets yes, whole chapters no. These readings are very unrealistic. One film that I just saw had a brand new author reading from her promoted book, ten days after the publisher had taken it on. Now, honestly, they'd barely have finished reading it and sharing it with the sales team by 10 days in. And of course, it instantly charted. It forced her to do more unlikely launches in unlikely places and it charted still further. This is not the usual run of the mill way of the launch. The other type of launch in films and TV is the glamorous evening launch. The Carrie Bradshaw type of launch. Champagne flows, often in a champagne fountain. Literary luminary circle, clinking glasses and exchanging witty comments. Now, these do happen. But they are usually for the publisher's very best sellers. Publishers and booksellers have long been wise to the fact that you may not actually sell many books at your first live launch. So they will celebrate you, but often on a much smaller scale. The film director who's already read your book and loves it enough to turn it into a film is very unlikely to show up at this first event. That said, I did have that happen at one of my launches for Jane Blonde I was lucky enough to have a publisher sponsored launch in my hometown and another homegrown one at the bookshop I worked at. A film writer and producer had read the book before then. He did show up at my event and he did say he wanted to turn it into film or TV. True to his word, he took it straight to Disney. For various reasons, that didn't transpire. But he and I became great friends. our families have hung out in Hollywood together, and he and I are good friends to this day. So the dream TV style launch nearly did pay off, And the publisher was incredibly supportive in the UK, in New Zealand and more. However, much of the arranging was done by me, family and friends. And much of the cost was down to me, family and friends. For instance, When it came to launching a new series about Doghead, Jack BC, and my picture book, Cave Tina Rocks, which both came out at the same time, I went all out on the historical themes and hired out the local museum. I had roaming dinosaurs, treasure trails galore, and a band for the kids to rock out to. National treasures from the acting profession read aloud from each book. A PR exec from the publishing industry told me it was the best, the best launch he'd ever been to and that I should do this professionally. And I was kind of thinking I'll do the writing professionally. I'd rather leave the launches to a real professional. So everybody had a great time, but did it sell books? Did it make either of these titles chart as a bestseller? And why? Well, mainly because there were no press there at my event. No journalists. We tried to get the press there, but not even the publisher, who published us both, had mentioned that there was another author doing another junket in town. And that author was Diana Gabaldon, of Outlander fame. So every journo in town was there, instead of rocking out to dinosaur sounds in the museum. It truly was the best party, and honestly, the best launch I've ever been to, as well as arranging myself. But in terms of what it achieved, it didn't move the needle on book sales, and it made a very large dent in my bank account. Did I regret it? Absolutely not. It was wonderful. A great event, and I got to honour all the marvellous people who'd helped in the co creation of not one, but two new series. But if that hadn't been an outcome, I might have been Disappointed indeed. Of course, now I'm dozens of books down, my launches are much more likely to be a here you go announcement linked to a free copy offer. I send copies to the people who've helped me birth this new creation because I truly appreciate what a team effort it is. Because I now think that's what a launch really is. It's a celebration. a christening if you like. It's a chance to thank all those people who've supported you along the way, either directly or indirectly, and it is an opportunity to acknowledge that even if you're new, fill in the gaps. Podcast, book, film isn't a bestseller, or instantly turned into merch, or gathers you legions of followers. You've done something many people set out to do and never actually achieve. You finished what you started and put it out into the world. It's a boat launch with champagne bottles. And in that spirit of celebrating a new birth, I'd like to thank everyone who encouraged shaped and helped me to make this podcast a reality. It's a baby and like all babies, I love it because it exists full of love and light and laughter. I don't know where it will go on its journey as it floats out of the harbour, but here's hoping it's a lot of fun. So thanks for checking in. I'll see you in the next episode. With love, light and laughter. Bye for now. Thanks for tuning in to The Download Podcast. Feel free to like, comment, and share and all of that good stuff. And for more about my books, coaching, or business services, please check out wisewomanandwordsmith. com. Also, I'd love to hear more about your own intuitive hits and downloads. So do find us on Facebook, YouTube, and more.