I get my Christmas shopping done early. I’m ready. I avoid the long lines. I get first pick of what’s in the stores—what’s new for the season.

In contrast, there are the procrastinators. They wait until the last minute, braving the crowds and getting amazing deals.

Often, the very items I bought two months before those shoppers ever showed their faces in the malls, are sometimes 50-70% off a few days before Christmas!

The procrastinators are getting rewarded!

Now, if you are one of them, don’t think I am having negative thoughts about you.

Quite the contrary.

I am in awe of you. And, next year, I am joining you.

Why not?  I’ve watched the trend for the last five years and I don’t see that it is going to be any different next season.

So…watch out. Next Christmas Eve (or perhaps just a day or two prior) I will be out there with the best of you, raking in those last-minute bargains…laughing all the way home!

But, as an author, I cannot recommend procrastinating. In fact, just the opposite.

Writers need to be organized and just one-step-ahead in order to get our product out there—and thus, into shoppers’ hands in time for gift-giving.

This year, I started seeing some books marketed for Christmas as early as August. That means, by the latest, an author needs to be wrapping up the editing process, cover selection, and started on pre-marketing by mid-summer.

So, you see, the winter/spring months should really be ones filled with hard work, if you are thinking about targeting the Christmas market. To be sure, though, December isn’t the only month that is profitable. Valentine’s, Easter, and Mother’s Day are times when lots of sales can be made. So, they are great markets to focus on, also. In fact, the summer season is also hot (ha!-I didn’t see that one coming, really…) Think about all of those beachy reads…

In the past, I have just written and published when a book was ready, giving no heed to seasons, holidays, and trends. But in 2018, I’m going to give this aspect of book marketing some serious consideration–perhaps even write something with a Christmas theme…

If that idea doesn’t appeal to you, an easier route would be to simply make a boxed set of your books, or tie a virtual ribbon around your existing series and market it at a special price.

Marketing is the hardest, most time-consuming aspect of writing for me. If it is for you, too, stay tuned. I will be sending tips your way in 2018. As I learn, I will be passing ideas along, in hopes that you will share those that you have found helpful, too.

Let’s make 2018 an amazing year of getting things done.

No procrastinating!