Carma Spence's Blog, page 95
February 17, 2022
6 Ways Authors Can Be Kind to Their Readers
To celebrate Random Acts of Kindness Day, and in honor of 2022 being the Year of the Reader, I came up with six ways authors can be kind to their readers. Can you think of any others? Please share!
1. Be gracious: When someone tells you they like your book, say, "Thank you."
2. Be open: Share tidbits from your life in interviews, your blog, social media. Readers love it!
3. Fun freebies: When at a book signing event, offer creative, out-of-the-box gifts.
4. Appreciate: Host appreciation events that are free of charge and offer value.
5. Diversify: Offer your books in multiply formats so readers can choose the ones they prefer.
6. Geek out: Fly your geek flag high! Let your readers know it’s OK to be unique.
1. Be gracious: When someone tells you they like your book, say, "Thank you."
2. Be open: Share tidbits from your life in interviews, your blog, social media. Readers love it!
3. Fun freebies: When at a book signing event, offer creative, out-of-the-box gifts.
4. Appreciate: Host appreciation events that are free of charge and offer value.
5. Diversify: Offer your books in multiply formats so readers can choose the ones they prefer.
6. Geek out: Fly your geek flag high! Let your readers know it’s OK to be unique.
February 16, 2022
Happy Birthday LeVar Burton!
LeVar Burton once said, “I fly my geek flag proudly. Absolutely.” Well, now I’m going to fly mine. Today’s is LeVar’s birthday, and though I know him primarily as Geordie LaForge from ST:TNG, today I want to recognize him for his championship of reading. In 1983, he was the host and executive producer of Reading Rainbow, which became a phenomenon in children’s education. The series ran for 23 seasons, and when it went off the air, Burton and his business partner purchased the global rights and formed a new media company for children. Burton’s passion for reading and children’s education is inspiring. Happy Birthday, LeVar!
February 15, 2022
The blank page
Shaun Hick, author of the young adult novel "The Ghost and Its Shadow," once said, "Nothing listens as well as a blank page." If you've spent any time as a writer, you know exactly what he means. It listens and listens, and at some point, even seems to mock you. But then, it relents and fills up with words. Sometimes they are crappy words. But the beauty of writing is that you can follow up with editing, molding, and taming those words into something meaningful, wonderful, and magical. So don't give up when the blank page listens. We've all been there, and more than likely will be there once again.
February 14, 2022
Author Marketing Tutorial - Building a Platform
Building an author platform is a simple process, although it may be a time-consuming one and, at times, a challenging one. However, if you can keep your eyes on the prize, as they say, you will get there, and as your platform grows, so will your book sales. Check out more detailed tips in this blog post: https://bookmarketingclub.com/author-...
February 11, 2022
Where does it all start?
Every book marketing strategy needs sales, that goes without saying. But what creates those sales?
Marketing.
And what supports the marketing?
Branding.
And what creates the branding?
The author.
All book marketing strategy starts with the author and what he or she brings to the table.
Ergo, you need to be clear on who you are, and where you want to go with your brand before you can develop a strong, sustainable book marketing strategy.
Marketing.
And what supports the marketing?
Branding.
And what creates the branding?
The author.
All book marketing strategy starts with the author and what he or she brings to the table.
Ergo, you need to be clear on who you are, and where you want to go with your brand before you can develop a strong, sustainable book marketing strategy.
February 10, 2022
Your Authorneer's Journey Is Unique
There are a lot of well-meaning (and not so well-meaning) gurus selling their “author business in a box” solutions out there. But don’t be lured in by the easy success they promise. For one, success is rarely easy. For another, success is very individual and what works for one, does not necessarily work for another. I’m not saying their solutions don’t work. What I’m saying is that it may – or will probably – not work as well for you as it did for the person who created the program.
Your Authorneer’s Journey is as unique as you are, and therefore your success needs to be based on who you are, what you bring to the table, and how all that intersects with what your ideal audience is looking to read. It’s not a clean, put-it-in-a-box process. But there is a code, a system you can follow to make it work for you.
Your Authorneer’s Journey is as unique as you are, and therefore your success needs to be based on who you are, what you bring to the table, and how all that intersects with what your ideal audience is looking to read. It’s not a clean, put-it-in-a-box process. But there is a code, a system you can follow to make it work for you.
February 9, 2022
#ReadInTheBathtubDay
Happy Read in the Bathtub Day! Ah, come on … you know you’ve done it. Closed the door, soaked in the warm water, and lost yourself in a good book until the cooling water started to chill you and your toes wrinkled up. Admit it! #ReadInTheBathtubDay
February 8, 2022
Do you *really* have a why?
Leo Rosten said:
"The only reason for being a professional writer is that you just can't help it."
When I saw this quote, I totally got it. How many times have I sat in a class where we were told to contemplate our “why” and get it down in writing? When it comes to my writing, I’ve failed every time. I write because I write. I just can’t help myself. Ideas, stories, messages come to me unbidden, and I must write them and get them out into the world. They blaze inside me and won’t set me free until they are.
Not all writers feel that way, so if you can’t relate, that’s OK. But if you can, don’t feel bad the next time some guru asks you what your why is and you can’t articulate it, either. Sometimes, there isn’t one to articulate in the first place because our why is an integral part of our existence. It would make no more sense than to ask us, “Why do you breathe?”
"The only reason for being a professional writer is that you just can't help it."
When I saw this quote, I totally got it. How many times have I sat in a class where we were told to contemplate our “why” and get it down in writing? When it comes to my writing, I’ve failed every time. I write because I write. I just can’t help myself. Ideas, stories, messages come to me unbidden, and I must write them and get them out into the world. They blaze inside me and won’t set me free until they are.
Not all writers feel that way, so if you can’t relate, that’s OK. But if you can, don’t feel bad the next time some guru asks you what your why is and you can’t articulate it, either. Sometimes, there isn’t one to articulate in the first place because our why is an integral part of our existence. It would make no more sense than to ask us, “Why do you breathe?”
February 7, 2022
Minimally viable author website
Your website doesn’t have to have *everything* ready to go to be effective, but it does have to have a few key elements. That’s what I call a minimally viable author website. Learn what those elements are in this article: https://bookmarketingclub.com/4-simpl...
February 4, 2022
Do you follow the code?
There’s a code you can follow if you want to build a successful author-based business. This code is built around you: Your skills, your values, your way of doing things. That’s why no two author-based businesses necessarily look alike, and cookie-cutter “author-business-in-a-box” programs rarely work. Follow your code, your Authorneer’s journey, and you’ll find your version of success.
