“Remember that the happiest people are not those getting more, but those giving more.”
H. Jackson Brown Jr.
Here are 3 ways to support your fellow authors, this holiday season and throughout the year.
Like and Comment on Author Posts
When you’re scrolling through your social media feed and see a post from an author, even if you don’t know them personally, stop scrolling. If the person needs encouragement, give it to them. If they’re looking for a resource, think of someone you can tag who might be able to help them. (When in doubt, tag me and I promise to help in some way!) If they’re celebrating a win in their writing, celebrate with them. It takes less than a minute to slow your scroll and offer up support! Think of all the other things that make you stop scrolling. Isn’t it worth it to take a moment to lift up, help, or high five a fellow author?
Leave Reviews
This one’s pretty self explanatory but I know I need to remind myself to do it: Leave reviews for the books you read, no matter how big and well established the author. Reviews are gold to an author – every author. For less high profile and independently published authors, you might take it a step further, especially if you REALLY enjoyed their book. Snap a pic of yourself with the book and post on Instagram or other social media, tagging them and talking about how much you enjoyed their book. How much would this brighten your day if a reader did this for you?
Holiday Shopping Shout Outs
Support your fellow authors by publicizing their books! With the holidays coming up, why not create a post asking who in your social media network is a published author with a book (or books) for sale? How many books by authors you know, can you match with readers on your holiday shopping list as well as your friends’ lists this year?
By promoting books from authors in your network, you’ll also be doing the publishing version of “buying local.” Remember that the vast majority of authors on Amazon are small businesses unto themselves and Amazon is often the only place where their books are available. As big of a corporate behemoth as Amazon is, remember that most of the folks selling their wares on the website are truly “Main Street” small.
Can you imagine the ripple effect, or ocean swell of support that we could create, if as authors we took these 3 actions on a regular basis? Let’s give it a try and find out!
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