12 Easy Ways to Support Your Favorite Writers
You know what I love about the writing community? It is full of people who are incredibly supportive. And, because writing is an incredibly vulnerable and terrifying profession, this supportiveness makes all of the difference.
One of my absolute favorite things is when a fellow reader or writer asks: "How can I help?"
I love this question because it shows how much they truly care. They take the time to ask how they can help in the most worth-while way possible. It's helped my writing journey in numerous ways and I know it has helped others, too. So, whether you are a reader or writer, if you've ever wondered how you can support your favorite writers (published or unpublished), here are some ideas:
1. Ask. Seriously. Ask the person if there is anything specific you can help them with. Sometimes the person will have suggestions. Sometimes they won't. Maybe because they're too overwhelmed or shy or because they aren't sure what it is that you'd be good at doing. In that case....
2. Encourage. Whenever you get the chance, offer genuine encouragement. Remind them that their writing is important. Tell them that you're cheering them on. Send them happy gifs, funny pictures, or randomly email them to tell them something you really like about their writing. You can even screenshot a 5-star review they received months ago and send it to them just to remind them that other people like their writing, too. It's simple, but it means a lot. We writers are in our heads too much and can sometimes lose sight of why we're writing (or we'll talk ourselves into believing that our writing sucks), so this encouragement means the world to us.
3. Buy and read their stuff. If your writer is published, buy and read their stuff. Don't ask for a free copy (that's rude and discouraging). The money and time is appreciated.
4. Offer to beta read. If you read a lot within their genre, offer to read their story before publication to give feedback. Beta readers are SO important to writers and it's always nice to know that somebody thinks enough about us that they want to read our writing and give feedback. Not sure what beta reading is? Read the first part of this article.
5. Offer to edit. This is a time commitment and requires a specific skill set, but if you happen to have the time and knowledge? Go for it! Developmental editing is appreciated by all authors and line editing is especially appreciated by indie authors. Editing can be grueling, so knowing that we have somebody in our corner can be a huge stress reliever.
6. Review. Leave a review of their book. It doesn't have to be long or complex (though it can be). Be sure to leave the review everywhere: Goodreads, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and wherever else the book may be. That being said, if you're planning to leave a 1 star review, just....don't. This post is about ways to support your writer, not whack them over the head with a giant bat labeled "I hate you and everything you do," which is basically what a 1 star review is.
7. Add favorite quotes to Goodreads. All those sentences and passages you loved in their latest book? Add them to Goodreads so that others can be in awe of them, too. It's easy (instructions are here) and really helps the author with marketing...and will also make them smile to see which parts of their book you loved enough to quote.
8. Create fanart or quote graphics. Have artistic skills? Draw some of their characters or animals or settings. Or create a pretty quote graphic to show off their pretty writing. This is a cool, personal way to help your published writers with marketing. And it's also a really sweet way to encourage and motivate your unpublished writers. It can help them visualize their story and will also make them grin.
9. Buy copies of their stories for friends (and tell the writer about it). There's nothing cooler than hearing that somebody liked our stories so much that they felt the need to go out and share them with friends. Not only is this super encouraging to your writer, but it also boosts their sales and helps them with marketing. Win win.
10. Set up a giveaway of their book(s). Set up an Amazon giveaway of their book or ebook. Again, this boosts sales and helps with marketing. And is also just super thoughtful.
11. Buy them books in their genre. Writers draw inspiration from other books. Going out and buying us a book or two in the genre that we write is like providing us with fuel. In buying us books in our genre, you have given us the means for new ideas, helped us keep up with the current market, saved our wallets, and told us that you care. All that by buying a book? #WorthIt.
12. Use your platform to boost theirs. Do you have a blog? A large following on Pinterest or Twitter or Instagram? A Youtube channel? Use those platforms to give your writer a shout-out! Tell your followers how awesome they are. If they have a published book, find a way to tell your people to buy it. If you don't have a natural way to do so, consider working it into your own platform. That was the entire thought process behind the #ChatWithIndieAuthor podcast. And the logic behind the creation of #AuthorBookClub. This concept also led to the creation of Phoenix Fiction Writers, a website where some of us indie authors come together to help each other with writing/marketing, review other authors books, promote others by having them on as guest posters and podcasters, and more. There are so many cool ways you can use your platform to boost your writers blog or books or social media. Speaking of which...
*smoothly segues into promoting a favorite indie author* This Saturday (06/16/2018) at 9 AM PST I will be hosting a Youtube livestream with E.B. Dawson to discuss her upcoming sci-fi novel, Under the Skin. Yep. I may or may not have written this entire post just to have a (somewhat?) natural way to plug this fun event. Look at me, following tip 12. Be proud of me.
Anyway, the info for this event is here:
Be there or be square! Not really sure what that's supposed to mean, but yeah. Show up. You can find the Youtube page here.
Have any other fun ways to support writers? I'd love to hear them! Please leave all of your ideas below!
Not going to be able to make the livestream with E.B. Dawson? No worries! If you have any questions about Under the Skin or her Creation of Jack series in general, just leave them below and I'll be sure to ask them during the stream.
Have writing, reading, or writer's life questions? Use the hashtag #ChatWithHannah below or on social media to have them answered on my Youtube channel!
Related articles:
Inside the Creative's Mind: 9 Things You Should Know12 Ridiculous Questions Non-Writers Ask Writers (And 12 Ways to Respond to Them)7 Tips for Balancing Your Writing with the Rest of Life
Enjoy this post? Take a look around. If you like what you see, please don't forget to subscribe by email for a new post every Friday!
Some links are Amazon affiliate. Thank you for your support!
One of my absolute favorite things is when a fellow reader or writer asks: "How can I help?"
I love this question because it shows how much they truly care. They take the time to ask how they can help in the most worth-while way possible. It's helped my writing journey in numerous ways and I know it has helped others, too. So, whether you are a reader or writer, if you've ever wondered how you can support your favorite writers (published or unpublished), here are some ideas:
1. Ask. Seriously. Ask the person if there is anything specific you can help them with. Sometimes the person will have suggestions. Sometimes they won't. Maybe because they're too overwhelmed or shy or because they aren't sure what it is that you'd be good at doing. In that case....
2. Encourage. Whenever you get the chance, offer genuine encouragement. Remind them that their writing is important. Tell them that you're cheering them on. Send them happy gifs, funny pictures, or randomly email them to tell them something you really like about their writing. You can even screenshot a 5-star review they received months ago and send it to them just to remind them that other people like their writing, too. It's simple, but it means a lot. We writers are in our heads too much and can sometimes lose sight of why we're writing (or we'll talk ourselves into believing that our writing sucks), so this encouragement means the world to us.
3. Buy and read their stuff. If your writer is published, buy and read their stuff. Don't ask for a free copy (that's rude and discouraging). The money and time is appreciated.
4. Offer to beta read. If you read a lot within their genre, offer to read their story before publication to give feedback. Beta readers are SO important to writers and it's always nice to know that somebody thinks enough about us that they want to read our writing and give feedback. Not sure what beta reading is? Read the first part of this article.
5. Offer to edit. This is a time commitment and requires a specific skill set, but if you happen to have the time and knowledge? Go for it! Developmental editing is appreciated by all authors and line editing is especially appreciated by indie authors. Editing can be grueling, so knowing that we have somebody in our corner can be a huge stress reliever.
6. Review. Leave a review of their book. It doesn't have to be long or complex (though it can be). Be sure to leave the review everywhere: Goodreads, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and wherever else the book may be. That being said, if you're planning to leave a 1 star review, just....don't. This post is about ways to support your writer, not whack them over the head with a giant bat labeled "I hate you and everything you do," which is basically what a 1 star review is.
7. Add favorite quotes to Goodreads. All those sentences and passages you loved in their latest book? Add them to Goodreads so that others can be in awe of them, too. It's easy (instructions are here) and really helps the author with marketing...and will also make them smile to see which parts of their book you loved enough to quote.
8. Create fanart or quote graphics. Have artistic skills? Draw some of their characters or animals or settings. Or create a pretty quote graphic to show off their pretty writing. This is a cool, personal way to help your published writers with marketing. And it's also a really sweet way to encourage and motivate your unpublished writers. It can help them visualize their story and will also make them grin.
9. Buy copies of their stories for friends (and tell the writer about it). There's nothing cooler than hearing that somebody liked our stories so much that they felt the need to go out and share them with friends. Not only is this super encouraging to your writer, but it also boosts their sales and helps them with marketing. Win win.
10. Set up a giveaway of their book(s). Set up an Amazon giveaway of their book or ebook. Again, this boosts sales and helps with marketing. And is also just super thoughtful.
11. Buy them books in their genre. Writers draw inspiration from other books. Going out and buying us a book or two in the genre that we write is like providing us with fuel. In buying us books in our genre, you have given us the means for new ideas, helped us keep up with the current market, saved our wallets, and told us that you care. All that by buying a book? #WorthIt.
12. Use your platform to boost theirs. Do you have a blog? A large following on Pinterest or Twitter or Instagram? A Youtube channel? Use those platforms to give your writer a shout-out! Tell your followers how awesome they are. If they have a published book, find a way to tell your people to buy it. If you don't have a natural way to do so, consider working it into your own platform. That was the entire thought process behind the #ChatWithIndieAuthor podcast. And the logic behind the creation of #AuthorBookClub. This concept also led to the creation of Phoenix Fiction Writers, a website where some of us indie authors come together to help each other with writing/marketing, review other authors books, promote others by having them on as guest posters and podcasters, and more. There are so many cool ways you can use your platform to boost your writers blog or books or social media. Speaking of which...
*smoothly segues into promoting a favorite indie author* This Saturday (06/16/2018) at 9 AM PST I will be hosting a Youtube livestream with E.B. Dawson to discuss her upcoming sci-fi novel, Under the Skin. Yep. I may or may not have written this entire post just to have a (somewhat?) natural way to plug this fun event. Look at me, following tip 12. Be proud of me.
Anyway, the info for this event is here:
Be there or be square! Not really sure what that's supposed to mean, but yeah. Show up. You can find the Youtube page here.
Have any other fun ways to support writers? I'd love to hear them! Please leave all of your ideas below!
Not going to be able to make the livestream with E.B. Dawson? No worries! If you have any questions about Under the Skin or her Creation of Jack series in general, just leave them below and I'll be sure to ask them during the stream.
Have writing, reading, or writer's life questions? Use the hashtag #ChatWithHannah below or on social media to have them answered on my Youtube channel!
Related articles:
Inside the Creative's Mind: 9 Things You Should Know12 Ridiculous Questions Non-Writers Ask Writers (And 12 Ways to Respond to Them)7 Tips for Balancing Your Writing with the Rest of Life
Enjoy this post? Take a look around. If you like what you see, please don't forget to subscribe by email for a new post every Friday!
Some links are Amazon affiliate. Thank you for your support!
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