How Authors Can Harness the Power of Collaboration & Collective Promotion was originally published on DanSoule.com.
In the competitive world of publishing, authors often face numerous challenges when it comes to marketing and promoting their work. It’s hard to get heard. There are so many new books coming out every week. Then there are the old classics on a TBR list a mile high. Ads can be expensive for indie authors, and traditional authors don’t control their marketing budget. Social media cliques seem random and hard to become a part of. However, there is something we can do, and do together. By fostering a supportive network among fellow authors, both self-published and traditionally published authors can harness the power of collaboration and collective promotion.
In this blog post, we will explore various ideas and strategies to genuinely support and uplift other authors, with the ultimate goal of building a strong marketing network.
1. Recommending fellow authors to your mailing list
One powerful way to support fellow authors is by recommending them to your mailing list. Sharing their work with your dedicated fanbase can introduce new readers to their books and create a mutually beneficial relationship. By showcasing authors whose work you admire, you not only strengthen their visibility but also position yourself as a trusted source of recommendations.
2. Recommending fellow authors to podcasts
Podcasts have become a popular medium for book discussions, author interviews, and literary conversations. A meaningful gesture of support is reaching out to podcast hosts and suggesting fellow authors as potential guests. Through direct messages or introductions, you can help expand their reach and provide them with an opportunity to share their stories, insights, and expertise with a new audience.
3. Interviewing fellow authors for your platform
Extend a helping hand by interviewing fellow authors on your blog, website, or social media platforms. By giving them a platform to share their experiences and ideas, you not only provide valuable exposure but also foster a sense of camaraderie among authors. These interviews can generate engaging content for your readers and allow them to discover new voices within the writing community.
4. Writing reviews for popular blogs
Another way to support authors is by writing reviews for popular blogs or literary websites. By sharing your thoughts on their books, you contribute to their visibility and help potential readers make informed choices. Positive reviews can lead to increased sales and exposure, benefiting the authors’ careers. Additionally, your participation in the wider literary conversation enhances the overall credibility of the writing community.
5. Writing reviews on platforms like Amazon
Beyond blog reviews, consider leaving honest and thoughtful reviews on platforms such as Amazon, Goodreads, or other online bookstores. Positive reviews help boost authors’ visibility and encourage potential readers to explore their work. Remember, your words have the power to influence readers’ purchasing decisions, so provide genuine feedback and highlight the strengths of their books.
6. Reading manuscripts and offering feedback
Offering to read and provide constructive feedback on manuscripts can be an invaluable contribution to fellow authors. This gesture not only helps them refine their work but also shows that you genuinely care about their success. Constructive criticism and thoughtful suggestions can lead to improvements and further development of their writing skills. By actively engaging with their work, you build strong connections and foster a culture of support within the writing community. This is time consuming but the potential reward in terms of fostering trusted relationships with a handful of authors could prove invaluable in the long run.
7. Blurb books
When you come across exceptional books that resonate with you, consider offering to provide a blurb for the author. Blurb endorsements from respected authors can significantly impact readers’ perception and generate interest in a book. However, it is essential to be honest and only offer a blurb when you genuinely believe in the quality of the work. Authentic blurbs create trust among readers and maintain the integrity of the writing community. Traditional authors also consider doing this for indie authors. You won’t catch the plague and indies often tap into audiences neglected by big publishing houses. Plus, they have some of the best books going. On the flip side don’t blurb books with high praise that don’t deserve it just for the back scratch. You sully the pool for everyone and undermine the trust of readers.
8. Zoom meetings to share advice and experiences
Connecting with fellow authors through Zoom meetings or online forums allows for valuable discussions, idea sharing, and mutual support. These interactions create a sense of community and enable authors to exchange marketing strategies, promotion ideas, and writing tips. By openly sharing experiences, successes, and challenges, authors can learn from one another and collectively navigate the ever-evolving publishing landscape.
9. Genuinely celebrate fellow authors on social media
Beyond the usual likes and retweets, take the time to genuinely celebrate fellow authors on your social media platforms. Share their achievements, book releases, and accolades with your audience. By amplifying their successes, you not only show your support but also introduce your followers to new authors and their work. Remember, a rising tide lifts all boats, and celebrating the achievements of others creates a positive and supportive environment within the writing community.
10. Create connections between authors
Act as a bridge between authors by introducing them to one another. Connect authors with complementary writing styles or genres, fostering potential collaborations, joint marketing efforts, or even mentorship relationships. By facilitating these connections, you contribute to a stronger network and a culture of collaboration rather than competition. Sharing resources, advice, and experiences can empower authors and foster a sense of camaraderie that benefits all involved.
11. Purchase fellow authors’ books
Support fellow authors by purchasing their books. This not only provides direct financial support but also helps boost their sales rankings, visibility, and overall success. Actively engage with their work, leave reviews, and recommend their books to friends, family, and book clubs. Your genuine support and endorsement can lead to increased exposure and a wider reader base for fellow authors.
12. Collaborate on creative projects
Consider collaborating with fellow authorson creative projects such as short stories, anthologies, or even co-writing a novel. Collaborations provide a platform for cross-promotion, where each author can tap into the other’s audience and expand their reach. Moreover, collaborative projects foster creativity, spark new ideas, and allow authors to learn from one another’s writing styles and perspectives. The combined efforts of multiple authors can create unique and captivating works that resonate with a broader audience.
13. Cross-promote releases across platforms
When you or a fellow author have a new book release, seize the opportunity to cross-promote across platforms. Share information about the release on your website, social media channels, and newsletter, giving a proper mention rather than just sharing a link. By leveraging your established audience, you help generate buzz and increase visibility for both yourself and fellow authors. Remember to approach cross-promotion with a spirit of collaboration and reciprocity, as mutually beneficial partnerships can lead to wider exposure and increased success for everyone involved.
14. Recommend fellow author’s books to local bookstores
Reach out to local bookstores and recommend books written by fellow authors. Many independent bookstores value recommendations from members of the writing community and are often open to showcasing local talent. By advocating for your peers, you not only support their sales but also contribute to a thriving literary ecosystem within your community.
15. Recommend fellow author’s books to local libraries
Libraries are vital hubs for book lovers and readers of all ages. Suggesting books by fellow authors to your local library can help increase their circulation and introduce new readers to their work. Libraries often welcome recommendations and appreciate community involvement. By promoting fellow authors in this way, you contribute to their visibility and enable more people to discover their writing.
16. Recommend fellow author’s books to book clubs
Book clubs provide a unique platform for discussion and discovery. Recommend books by fellow authors to book clubs, either in your local community or online. Sharing titles and authors that have resonated with you can spark engaging conversations and expand the readership for your peers. Book club recommendations also have the potential to generate word-of-mouth buzz and lead to increased sales and exposure.
Conclusion Building a supportive marketing network among authors is an investment in both individual success and the collective growth of the writing community. By genuinely supporting and promoting fellow authors, we create a culture of collaboration, encouragement, and mutual empowerment. Through actions such as recommending authors to our mailing lists, sharing their work on podcasts, and writing reviews, we expand their reach and introduce their talent to new audiences. Engaging in activities like manuscript readings, collaborations, and cross-promotion allows us to forge meaningful connections and strengthen our ties within the writing community. Celebrating fellow authors on social media, connecting them with one another, and advocating for their books in local bookstores, libraries, and book clubs further amplify their voices and contributions. By investing our time, resources, and expertise in the success of others, we foster an environment where all authors can thrive. Together, we can create a vibrant and supportive ecosystem that benefits each member and showcases the power of unity in the world of literature.
So, if you are looking to try out some of these ideas, this post is sponsored by my novel Witchopper. Maybe you could show it some love?
If you see her, then you’re dead…
All Rob wanted to do was fit in at his new school after being torn from London so his parents could fix their marriage. But when Rob’s journalist father dragged him along to investigate the legend of the Witchopper for the local paper, her curse became their reality.
She was priestess to the pagan god of the wild wood, hanged by a rabid mob for her unspeakable crimes. Now, something far worse than the hell of high school is after Rob and his dad…
Unlock the Magical Creator Within – A Workshop for Fiction Writers with Joseph Sale
Unlock The Magical Creator Within is a workshop designed to help unleash your full creative potential using a mixture of psychological, spiritual, and most importantly practical techniques.
In this session you will explore the history of the “Muse”, the divine source of inspiration, and the first principles of establishing contact with the Muse; going back to early childhood experiences of beauty and how we can harness this in the now; practical exercises from yogic mudras (hand positions) to breathing techniques that centre the mind and open the channels of creative thought; and much much more.
Unlock The Magical Creator Within is your ticket to writing your best-ever story, one that is not only entertaining but also healing.
Your instructor: Joseph Sale
Joseph Sale is an editor and writing coach who’s published more than 30 books, including the acclaimed novel Dark Hilarity, the epic poem Virtue’s End, as well as ghost-written best-selling autobiographies and non-fiction books. As an editor, his clients have been nominated for the Bram Stoker and Splatterpunk Awards, been finalists in the National Indie Excellence and Eric Hoffer Awards, and even submitted to the Pulitzers.
Now, Joseph Sale is on a quest to manifest the beautiful and divine in the world, and wants to show other creators, editors, and writers how to do just that. This workshop is based on his new release, THE DIVINE: Unlocking the magical creator within.
Workshop Includes:
Free Paperback or eBook copy of The Divine: Unlocking the Magical Creator Within(Paperback options depend on Amazon shipping options to participant’s location. Shipping is free.)
A seat at the live Zoom Class on Monday, October 3rd, 2022
Unlimited access to replay and workshop follow-up notes
Access to instructor for private questions
Workshop Outline:
0. First Principle of the Muse
An overview of what the Muse is and why we need the Muse.
1. Early Experiences of Beauty
Why is Beauty important how does it influence us?
2. Invoking The Muse
Practical exercises to draw down the dew of inspiration.
3. The Cave of Ideas & Wonder
Journey into the hidden depths of your subconscious and find your cave of ideas and wonder.
4. The Shadow Self
Learn how to harness your Shadow Self to produce greater art.
5. Becoming Magical
Changing your creative practice will change you.
Details
Zoom link will be sent via email on day of event
Access to replays will be sent after the event
Books will be sent out upon registration. An email will be sent within 24 hours to confirm shipping details. (Shipping is free)
If paperback book cannot be delivered to participant within one week of the class, the eBook format will be sent.
Do you feel stuck and unsure as a writer? Are you not getting acceptances, not making sales, not writing to your full potential? How can you break through the self-doubt and noise to start carving out your unique space in the world of fiction?
Ross Jeffery is joining us for a Live ZOOM chat this Thursday to talk about his experience.
Ross is the Executive Director of STORGY literary magazine and its Head of Books. He is also the Bram Stoker Award Nominated Author of Tome, Juniper, and Tethered.
It’s hard to believe that Ross had given up on writing for seven years. Yes, 7 years! Now he is exploding in the dark fiction scene, and he is going to join us on Zoom to talk about how to break through as a writer.
What You’ll Learn – How to Break Through as a Writer with Ross Jeffery
Why Ross gave up writing for so long and what made him start again
What drives his dark, disturbing stories
The breakthrough moment in his writing career that got his momentum going
How writers can approach other authors for blurbs
How writers can position themselves to be nominated for awards
Ross’ advice for all those writers who have given up, are thinking of given up, or haven’t even started
Every other Monday, we introduce you to a writer from the Writers’ Mastermind. Today we are excited to present Christie Adams. She is a storyteller, blogger, podcaster and videographer who writes short stories, children’s books, mysteries, thrillers, YA novels, and even erotica.
Learn how Christie left the rat race to pursue a life she loves and why she says that mid-life is anything but a crisis.
1. Tell us a little bit about yourself. Where are you from? Where are you now? What has your life been like?
I’m a Yorkshire woman, over 50, rebellious grandmother and global online entrepreneur. Storyteller, blogger, podcaster, videographer, motivational and creativity coach, eco advocate, travel addict (on hold right now) and multi-passionate ‘squirrel.’
Whilst bringing up my family, as a single mum, and working full time, I completed a BA Hons in Literature. I didn’t want to settle for something I knew wouldn’t be fulfilling or rewarding, but leaving the rat race was a hard decision. Since age 13 I’d always had a pay slip, a regular income. There’s been tears, doubts, rebellion even anger. I’ve come out the other side and I’ve never been happier!
History… In my teens… left home, joined the army and then left again to start buying my first home. I worked two jobs, and spent Saturday nights from 2am until 8am at the cinema watching Kung Fu films. In my 20s… worked hard, partied hard – well maybe a little. Moved from my first apartment to a house with a garden and had no idea what I wanted to do when I grew up. In my 30s… moved house again, became a single parent to my awesome daughter. Adopted a dog, a big dog! Faced redundancy, a few times, got promoted, and still didn’t know what I wanted to do when I grew up. Volunteered for the YHA, painted hostels, worked with teenagers. I read to nursery children each week. My first official taste of giving back in the community. Promotion and redundancy and led to numerous pivots in direction. In my 40s… realised my career wasn’t what I wanted to do ‘when I grew up’ so I went back into education, still working full time to afford the fees. After 6 years of deadlines and assignments I completed my Bachelor of Arts in Literature, oh and trained as a swimming teacher. Adopted a dog, a different loopy dog, and volunteered as a mentor for teenagers and students. In my 50s… having gone through yet more pivots and changes. I got married. Became a grandmother. Moved to another town, co-incidentally ending up back where I was born. I was yet again offered a change in role. You may notice a theme here! This time I decided to take the redundancy offer. I took a gap year, travelled, wrote fiction and had family time. Some of my life’s changes were my choice, some certainly came out of the blue and were well beyond my control. I’ve been there, done it, acquired quite a few t-shirts but I’ll tell you now it certainly wasn’t all plain sailing. Sometimes it was downright scary. Anyway, I’m super proud to tell you I’ve learned to embrace change and now move forward with optimism and confidence. In my 60s… Watch this space!
I write short stories, children’s books, mystery, thriller and YA novels, and even erotica.
3. What sets you apart from other writers in your space?
I believe passionately that everyone should use their voice. Mine is no better than another but is unique. We bring our own experiences, culture, perceptions, imagination and opinions to all our work. The more I write, the more I’m confident to allow my own voice be heard.
4. What drives your writing? What do you mean to accomplish with your stories?
My ‘Why’ is to support my family. I’d love to buy my daughter a home, it’s so difficult to get on the property ladder in the UK. I have always been a book addict, so writing them was a natural development.
My grand-babies love being part of the process too, and I’m thrilled to have instilled a love of books in them too. If I get a chance to mention my beloved Yorkshire I will. So far, I’ve written ‘escapism’ books to allow people to enjoy a fictional world. I am working on various non-fiction books.
My book ‘Well Really, Fairy Rose, by Ruby and Angelica Brave’ was the most ‘important’ book for me on a personal level. I want all children to see themselves in books. I commissioned an artist to base the main character on photographs of my mixed-race grandbaby. Diversity in books is improving but still a long way to go. WRFR encourages care for the planet and nature without being ‘preachy.’
5. Who are you favourite writers and books? What are your other creative influences?
I studied literature and over the years have read so many I can’t pick one favourite. I do love The Color Purple, Jane Eyre and other classics.
The recent books that have blown my mind are Sapiens and Homo Deus by Yuval Noah Harari. I will at some point read his others, but they are truly life changing.
Peter James writes great detective novels. I’ve just discovered Gregg Hurwitz who is a genius at page-turning thrillers. Stieg Larsson books are dark but inspire me to embrace a darker story.
6. Do you write in silence? Background noise? Or music? What kind?
Depends on what I’m writing. I can’t write fiction is anything with lyrics is playing. If I play music, classical, instrumental, even whale music I cut off anyway and don’t hear it as I’m deep inside the world of my characters. If I’m doing admin etc I listen to podcasts.
7. What is your favourite thing to do when you are not writing?
Toddler wrangling, board games, Top Trumps or drawing on Procreate with my grandbabies. We also have a great game of storytelling. We each get a couple of sentences and then take turns to build a story. I hope it’s helping them know it’s OK to have fun with words. We also watch Tiktok together. I love that they know their Nannan works on social media, so they see a positive side.
Helping my daughter as she builds her new business. Knitting, sewing, rock painting, creative stuff. TV, addicted to real crime, NCIS, Law & Order etc.
8. Who is your current celebrity crush?
Along with the other 5 million, @taylor_thatdancer on Tiktok.
It’s important to remember that fiction is not desire or ambition. The darkest fiction is often written by the most generous and settled writers. By allowing our shadow side to be indulged in our writing, we release from our ‘real’ world.
9. Why do you think it’s important to write fiction?
It’s important to remember that fiction is not desire or ambition. The darkest fiction is often written by the most generous and settled writers. By allowing our shadow side to be indulged in our writing, we release from our ‘real’ world.
Books have power. It can be a way to give a political or revolutionary thought. Story can be life changing or life affirming. It can also just be a good read. It doesn’t always have to be ‘important.’
I have no idea why I love it, but I will always make things up.
10. Who would be the best writer, alive or dead, to tell the story of your life?
Great question. Stephen Fry does ridiculously well researched books and makes the facts easily understandable. I guess me, coz there’s so much that others don’t know. Lately I have been thinking of writing a bio. Kafka, too dark. Attwood, I’m too humble. Dickens would be fun, just to show he can write good women after all.
11. What are you working on right now?
Lol! Erotica, as it’s bringing some money in. Editing (ugh) my next thriller. A business planning book. A children’s book. I’ve also got a book that I’m writing twice. No idea if it’ll work, but I’m toning it down to a YA book, and making it extremely dark as a post-apocalyptic horror.
Ashes – A Jezzabelle Jones Mystery
A warehouse fire leaves a homeless military veteran dead. In his pocket a dog-eared birthday card, and a faded photograph of a young girl.
Jezzabelle ‘Belle’ Jones, insurance investigator, is surprised when she’s trusted with the case. It could finally lead to her long-awaited promotion. Her instincts tell her this fire wasn’t an accident.
When her boss comes under pressure from the wealthy warehouse owner, she’s told to close the case quickly. She knows she should follow the rules, but Belle’s never liked doing as she’s told.
She calls on Barnaby ‘Mac’ St John, a reclusive ex-firefighter, to help her work out what happened. The little girl in the photograph deserves answers.
Then there’s another fatal fire… Can Belle keep her job long enough to catch the arsonist? How many more people will die before she solves the case?
This first Jezzabelle Jones murder mystery is set in Yorkshire, England. If you love crime solving duos, this new pairing will not disappoint.
June 2021 – This version is a rewrite and edit. It is the same story, but the book has been improved overall for the reader’s enjoyment. Link: https://books2read.com/ashesmystery
Every other Monday, we introduce you to a writer from the Writers’ Mastermind. Today we are excited to have Patty Lesser. She has backpacked the world, plays Texas hold ’em, and writes everything from murder mysteries to scifi to dark paranormal fantasy and beyond.
Tell us a little bit about yourself. Where are you from? Where are you now? What has your life been like?
Four years ago, I moved to Brantford, starting over. I knew no one here or anything. Everything was new, but I made a life for myself along with four volunteer positions and playing in a local poker league. I grew up in Hamilton, Ontario, but when I was 19, I left Canada to backpack around the world for 25 years.
When I came back to Canada, I settled in Toronto before moving back to Hamilton. I moved around a lot before settling here. I love my new life.
2. What kind of stories do you write?
I think of a plot, work it around in my head, thinking of ideas for a story. If it works out, I write it down and start the novel. Then I think about the genre, so I end up writing various genres like mystery, fantasy, sci fi, adventure, thriller, etc.
3. What sets you apart from other writers in your space?
I write from A directly to B. My writing is direct and somewhat simple, and my stories are completely my imagination, so I find it hard to compare my books with other authors.
4. What drives your writing? What do you mean to accomplish with your stories?
I’m a storyteller. I like to tell stories that I want others to read to escape from reality for a while and enjoy someone else’s saga and my imagination.
5. Who are your favourite writers and books? What are your other creative influences?
My favourite authors and their books are: Ayn Rand’s Atlas Shrugged, Alexandre Dumas’ Count of Monte Crisco, and Thomas Hardy’s The Mayor of Casterbridge. When I need inspiration, I go back and read stuff I’ve written.
6. Do you write in silence? Background noise? What kind?
I always write with a movie playing on the TV. It’s always a movie I’ve seen many times, so I don’t have to watch. I can look up from time to time and just listen when I need a break from the writing.
7. What is your favourite thing to do when you are not writing?
I play tournament Texas hold’em no limit poker. I play in a local league, but of course we’ve been closed down because of Covid. I have been playing online for money since 2005.
8. Who is your current celebrity crush?
John de Lancie otherwise known as Q on Star Trek: The Next Generation. He’s an Australian actor.
9. Why do you think it’s important to write fiction?
People have been writing fiction since the beginning of time. The Bible is made up of fictional stories that someone put together in an anthology. Fiction is important to take us away from reality.
10. Who would be the best writer, alive or dead, to tell the story of your life?
Samuel Clemens/Mark Twain. I love the way he wrote his autobiography. He’s a great storyteller.
11. What are you working on right now?
I’m working on a murder mystery that takes place in a community centre. The subplot is all about the importance of volunteering. The interesting thing is I don’t know who the murderer is, but I guess I’ll just find out when the readers do. I volunteered at a community centre for 4 years, and my story mirrors this one. I was also the Volunteer Reporter and I wrote all the volunteers’ profiles, so I’ve got lots to draw from. I want people to read my book and then say, I should volunteer somewhere.
Devouring Time: A Race Against the Clock to Expose Shocking Secrets, Shameless Greed, and Murder
Marcus Tate doesn’t understand the odd request: leave London to deliver a small, carefully-wrapped box to a family in Canada? But his mentor, mother figure, and friend, Cathy Edwards, insists that Marcus is precisely the right person to deliver the important package that she has held onto for many long years.
Little does Marcus realize that his world is about to be turned upside down. In less than one day, Marcus learns not only the shocking truth about his mother, but also the real reason Cathy forged such a strong bond with him. And despite Marcus’s attempt to make a quick delivery and leave, the eccentric Blackbourne family insists that he stay to learn more about the contents of the mysterious box.
The Blackbournes can’t wait for Lillian, the family matriarch, to peel the brown paper wrapping from the package. To each family member, the package represents the promise of an even richer life. More money. Financial independence. Power. Freedom to travel the world.
But to the family’s surprise, the package is only one small piece of a much larger labyrinth of lies and betrayal, leading to the discovery of family secrets . . . and murder.
Time ticks away as the family attempts to solve the mystery of Lillian’s murder, all while trying to make sense of their past. Through it all, the Blackbournes and Marcus can’t help but wonder if the murderer is still lurking among them.
Join Marcus and the entire Blackbourne family on a whirlwind twenty-four hour adventure, through a world of insatiable greed, family secrets, forbidden love, and murder!
