I see it all the time: writers who ask for support for their books, but aren’t willing to give that same support in return. Personally, I’m not going to do something unless my whole heart’s in it. I don’t do or give things and expect something in return. I think for most people, this is probably true. Still, we also have to acknowledge that we’re all human. And the way our brains work, we are going to feel more inclined to help someone out, if they’ve done the same for us. It’s not only good karma, but it’s pretty much the concept of community. If we all supported each other, do you know how far we’d go? I’m a firm believer in that.
So first, don’t ask others to do for you what you’re not willing to do for them. As a writer and even if you’re just a reader, how can you pay it forward? How can you help other writers succeed? I’ve got X tips that you can use to pay it forward to other writers.
1. Actually read their work.
That’s right, actually reading the book is a start. That’s why we’re all writing, right? We want to reach people on a different level. We want to tell our stories and we want people to read them. Reading the work will also help you with the other tips I’m about to give you.
2. Talk about it.
I mean put it all the way on blast. Word of mouth has always been one of the number one ways for things to catch on and grow in general. Spread the word about your favorite books and your favorite authors. That’s going to help them tremendously. You never know what opportunities it may bring them. It’s also helpful to talk about the book on social platforms. We live in a digital world, and we should be utilizing that! Another way to talk about a book more specifically would be to pass it on to a friend. You know your friends better than anyone, right? You are probably one of the best people to know their tastes in reading, so if you come across a book you think they might like, let them know. On that same note, you should tell your favorite authors how much you loved their book. Nothing is more thrilling to an author than to have a reader say they first, read the book, and second, loved it. Bonus points if you can tell them what about it you loved.
3. Review, review, review.
Reviewing your favorite books are like social proof for your favorite authors. It lets other people know, hey, I liked this book, maybe you might too. Aside from that, it also helps with things like Amazon ranking and can possibly increase visibility. BUT to do those things, an author has to have enough reviews. So log onto Goodreads and Amazon and leave those reviews. Bonus points if you write reviews on your personal websites and blogs.
4. Buy the book.
Now, this may sound very similar to number one, but I promise you it isn’t the same thing. You might be able to borrow the book or find it at the library, etc. I won’t complain about this because you’re still reading the book. (Yay!) That’s a good thing overall. But you have to think about book margins. There are costs associated with printing and producing books in general. And if the book is traditionally published, the author receives a VERY small percentage of sales (I’m talking 5-20%, depending on the publisher.) And they only get that once they earn out their advance (if they had one). And thinking about this a step further, sales can affect whether a publisher publishes future books by authors. For a self-published author, they often have to front costs (editing, formatting, cover design, marketing). If they don’t earn out what they fronted, they may not be able to produce another book for a while. So think about that. The book business isn’t always easy. Purchasing books is going to be more beneficial to the author, hands down. This part is actually critical for authors.
5. Speaking of libraries…
I mentioned reading the book from libraries earlier. How about making sure that the book is part of your library system? You can do this a lot of the time by checking with a local librarian and requesting the book if it isn’t part of the library system. For YA books, it can be taken a step further. How about requesting them in school libraries? You could always donate a copy of your favorite book to libraries and schools as well. The school I teach for has a public bookshelf where students, faculty, and visitors can take and drop off books. How about leaving a copy of that favorite author’s book on one of those shelves? There are also those little free libraries around town. What if you left a copy of your favorite book there? The idea here is to basically be a book fairy. I am a firm believer that if we talked about each other’s books more and we shared information, then each of us would be much more successful.
So there you have it. Five tips that can help you pay it forward. Remember we learn best by exchanging information, not withholding it. If you have a favorite book, shout it from the rooftops! I’d love to know in the comments below what some of your favorite books are. I’m sure there are tons of creative ways not covered in this blog post.
