How to Enjoy Promoting Your Book Before It's Published

For many authors, the word “marketing” conjures up feelings of dread, anxiety, and even boredom. You might be thinking, “I’m a writer, not a marketer!” But what if I told you that book marketing doesn’t have to feel like a chore? In fact, it can be one of the most creative and enjoyable parts of your journey as an author.

Marketing is all about storytelling—something you’re already good at! The key is to think of it as an extension of your book’s narrative and as an opportunity to connect with future readers. So instead of waiting until your book is finished (or dreading the thought of marketing altogether), let’s talk about how to make book marketing fun—and why it’s important to start promoting your book before it’s published.

Here are some ways you can enjoy marketing your book while you're still writing and why embracing this process early will make your entire author journey more exciting.

1. Share Behind-the-Scenes Moments

One of the easiest and most enjoyable ways to start marketing your book early is by sharing behind-the-scenes moments from your writing process. Readers love feeling like they’re getting an exclusive peek into your world. Whether it’s a photo of your writing space, a snapshot of your handwritten notes, or a quick video update about how your book is coming along, these little moments help build a connection with your audience.

Think of these behind-the-scenes glimpses as small stories in themselves. You’re giving readers a taste of your creative process, and in doing so, you’re making them feel like they’re part of the journey. It’s also a great way to humanize yourself as an author—your readers get to see that writing a book isn’t always glamorous, but it’s a rewarding adventure.

Make it fun: Consider creating a recurring theme, like “Writing Wednesdays” or “Sneak Peek Sundays,” where you share something fun about your book each week. You can even ask your audience for input, like voting on character names or giving feedback on cover design ideas.

2. Engage Readers with Interactive Content

Marketing doesn’t have to be one-sided. In fact, some of the most effective and enjoyable marketing strategies involve interacting directly with your audience. One way to do this is by creating engaging content that encourages your readers to participate.

For example, you can host a poll on social media asking your audience to vote on their favorite potential book cover. Or, you could share a snippet of your writing and ask readers to guess what happens next. The key is to create fun and interactive experiences that allow your audience to feel like they’re involved in your book’s creation.

Make it fun: If you enjoy video content, consider hosting a live Q&A session where your readers can ask you questions about your writing process, characters, or plot. You can even read an excerpt from your book during the live session to build excitement and suspense. This not only boosts engagement but also gives your audience a chance to connect with you personally.

3. Create a “Book Mood Board” to Share the Vibe

Another way to have fun with marketing is by creating a mood board or aesthetic that reflects the tone and atmosphere of your book. Whether your book is a cozy romance, a thrilling mystery, or an epic fantasy, a mood board helps convey the essence of your story visually.

You can create a mood board using platforms like Pinterest or Canva, pulling together images that represent your book’s setting, characters, and themes. Once your mood board is complete, share it with your audience! It’s a great way to get readers excited about the world you’re creating and give them a taste of what’s to come.

Make it fun: You can make this process interactive by inviting your readers to contribute ideas or images that they think would fit your book’s aesthetic. Or, you can create multiple mood boards for different elements of your book—one for the characters, one for the setting, and one for the emotional journey of the plot.

4. Host Fun Contests or Giveaways

Who doesn’t love a good giveaway? Contests and giveaways are a fantastic way to get your audience excited about your book while you’re still writing it. You can create simple, low-cost contests that engage readers while helping you grow your audience.

For example, you could host a contest where readers have to come up with a title for one of your chapters, or you could run a giveaway for a small prize (like a gift card or a signed bookmark) to anyone who shares your book updates on social media.

These fun and engaging activities not only help you promote your book but also foster a sense of community among your readers. And the best part? You get to have fun interacting with your future audience!

Make it fun: You can tie the contest or giveaway to a specific milestone in your writing process, like “I just finished Chapter 10—let’s celebrate with a giveaway!” This adds a celebratory aspect to your marketing and makes it feel more like a shared experience between you and your readers.

5. Share Your Book’s Journey Through Storytelling

Remember, marketing is just another form of storytelling. So why not share the story of your book’s creation with your audience? Whether it’s through blog posts, newsletters, or social media updates, sharing your personal journey as an author makes your marketing feel more authentic and enjoyable.

Talk about what inspired you to write the book, the challenges you’ve faced along the way, and the victories (big or small) that you’ve achieved during the writing process. When readers feel like they’re following along with your journey, they become emotionally invested in your success—and that’s what makes marketing fun!

Make it fun: Use storytelling as a way to invite your audience into your world. You can even turn moments from your writing process into mini-stories—like the day you finally figured out a plot twist or how you came up with your book’s title. These personal stories not only engage your audience but also keep you motivated as you write.

Embrace the Fun in Marketing Your Book Early

Marketing your book doesn’t have to be something you dread. In fact, it can be one of the most enjoyable aspects of your author journey if you approach it with the right mindset. By sharing behind-the-scenes moments, engaging your readers with interactive content, creating mood boards, hosting contests, and telling the story of your book’s creation, you’ll find that marketing becomes a natural extension of your creativity.

And the best part? When you start promoting your book before it’s published, you’re not just selling a product—you’re building relationships with readers who are eager to support you when your book finally hits the shelves.

So don’t wait until your book is finished to start marketing. Have fun with it now, and watch how the excitement builds long before your book is released.