Monday, August 19, 2019

Ten Ways to Support Other Authors

At the core of this group, it’s all about support. Writers and authors face rejection at every turn and we need someone in our corner. Sharing our writing with the world is scary. Terrifying! It helps to know others have our back.

Here’s ten ways you can support your author friends:

1. Be a critique partner. We all need help polishing our manuscripts. As a critique partner, we also learn a lot about our own writing in the process.

2. Mark the book as ‘Want to Read’ on Goodreads. That helps it get noticed more. Plus vote for it if it appears on a Goodreads list.

3. Offer to host the author on your blog during his virtual tour. Either ask for a guest post or send interview questions. Even just a feature on release day helps spread the word.

4. Sign up to be on the author’s street team. You’ll promote on multiple platforms and get all sorts of cool bonus goodies.

5. Promote it on Facebook. Post notifications of the book’s upcoming release or host a Facebook party.

6. Promote the book on Twitter. Send out Tweets about the book – with an image. Retweet the author’s book tweets.

7. Promote the book on Instagram. If you have a review copy, take pictures of it. Same with Pinterest.

8. On release day, announce the book to your followers, friends, family, and fans, whether online or in the real world. Let them know they need to buy this book. Tell your local library and bookstore to order it. Hound them if you have to!

9. Buy the author’s book! Even if you got a free review copy. Years ago, Carolyn Howard Johnson said that was the number one thing you could do to support an author.

10. Review the book. Goodreads-Amazon-iTunes-Barnes and Noble – wherever! Just leave a review or at the very least a star rating. The book will get more notice with more reviews. Just make sure it’s an honest but not overly negative review. (If you’re out to slam other authors, you are in the wrong line of work.)

We all need to support each other and celebrate one another’s accomplishments.

And something else cool happens as a result – others will support us when we have a book release.

What other ways can you think of to support an author?

33 comments:

nashvillecats2 said...

Very good post on how to give other writers encouragement and support. I would like to take this opportunity to thank both your good self and Arlee Bird who over the years have been most supportive in my publications.

Yvonne.

Cathrina Constantine said...

Great Advice and Post! All Authors need support and all your suggestions are top-notch!! Thank you, Alex!

Elizabeth Spann Craig said...

Great topic, Alex! Support is so important and helps so much.

DMS said...

Great advice! I have tried to do almost all of these things for other authors. I admit- I hadn't thought of asking my local bookstore (which is a chain) to order it- though I have often ordered my copies through them, so maybe that a step in the right direction.

The list reminds me of things I can do to help out. I definitely need to go add some books to my Want to Read list on Goodreads- I do tend to fall behind in that area.

Thanks for the reminders and tips for ways to help fellow authors.
~Jess

Juneta key said...

Great list of tips.

Elizabeth Seckman said...

As soon as I started blogging, buying blogger friends books was one of my favorite things. I have them on kindle and my absolute prizes are my bookshelf full of autographed books.

Beverly Stowe McClure said...

Great advice. I try to do all of that. It's really fun, and I read some super stories.

L. Diane Wolfe said...

Those are all wonderful ways to support a fellow author.

The Cynical Sailor said...

A wonderful list! So important to be a support and encouragement to fellow authors.

Pat Hatt said...

A great list indeed, although sometimes I find with social media things get lost in the shuffle rather quickly, especially Twitter.

Anonymous said...

All great ideas to help fellow authors.

Botanist said...

Good list, Alex. Particularly asking library/bookstores to stock it, and leaving ratings/reviews.

Jemi Fraser said...

This is a great list!
I have a ton of talented author buddies and that makes it so easy to help support them! :)

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

Doing reviews for books you've read is huge. I try to do that, especially for indie and small press authors.

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Thanks, everyone! Glad I hit upon some new ideas for some of you.

T. Powell Coltrin said...

These are so good and ones I have never thought of.

Teresa

Mirka Breen said...

Support is why I come here. I hope some of you will visit my blog, also. All welcome!

diedre Knight said...

These are some fantastic tips, Captain! I hadn't even thought about Goodreads, but guess where I'm going next? I love the idea of promoting at the local library since that's my favorite haunt ;-) Good people don't give bad reviews (thankfully) and critiques don't have to be brutal, though as you mentioned, Honesty is what we all want and need. Always happy to oblige!

Ingmar Albizu said...

Never underestimate the power of word of mouth. Some of my most beloved books and authors I discovered through friends' recommendations.
Indeed, when I love a book (truly love) I become its most forceful advocate.
There are authors I cannot praise enough--like Anne Leckie, Tim Pratt, Alastair Reynolds, Naomi Novik, Madeline Miller, and Beckie Chambers.
Another way to help an author is to beta read.
And please, yes, buy the book. Say no to piracy.

~Ingmar Albizu

Powdered Toast Man said...

Give it to Oprah to put on her list of books to read.

Raimey Gallant said...

Great tips, Alex!

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi Alex - that's a fantastic marketing/promotional list for us all to follow. I'd add ask your library to order it in ... thanks for these helpful ideas - cheers Hilary

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Thanks, everyone!

Denise Covey said...

Excellent points Alex. I think the best one is to buy the book! And ask Oprah to highlight it!

Ronel Janse van Vuuren said...

Great tips!

Mark Koopmans said...

Agree with everyone else - a great list and a personal refresher for me as I've been "away" for so long. Cheers!

Susan Flett Swiderski said...

Thanks for the super list of tips for helping other writers. No one should have to go it alone.

Tonja Drecker said...

Your list hits it right on the nose! Supporting each other is so important (and enjoyable too!)

Fundy Blue said...

Great suggestions, Alex!

Mark Koopmans said...

Love these 10 tips - and I've been thinking alot about foreshadowing, so this post has, I think, pushed me over the edge :)

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Thanks, guys!

Nilanjana Bose said...

No. 9 is my favourite and I've been doing that to authors since my teens :)

Sherry Ellis said...

Good post! I didn't know putting a book on a "want to read" list on Goodreads was helpful. I'll have to start doing that.