Today’s Writing Tip

To build on yesterday’s post about author networking, another thing author support groups can provide includes a variety of benefits. Many offer classes, some free or at a reduced rate; tweet groups; review opportunities; online writing conferences; blog tours; interviews; and vetted author service providers.

There are two specific groups with whom I’ve had good experiences. There are many more, but these have been helpful for me. These are ASMSG (Author Social Media Support Group) and RRBC (Rave Reviews Book Club). Through my membership in both I have learned a lot and met some awesome authors who have also become great friends. If you’d like more information, leave a comment and I’ll provide contact information.

Today’s Writing Tip

Yesterday I mentioned networking and how important it is. There are numerous author groups which have a variety of excellent benefits. These are where you can find authors with whom you can do a beta swap or provide editorial reviews.

Just about every community will have a writers group. Sometimes these work and sometimes they don’t. It often depends on how serious you are about your writing. If you’re brand new and at this point it’s mostly a hobby, this is a good place to start. However, if you’re really serious about becoming a professional, you may eventually outgrow a local group unless there are others there who are publishing and actively pursuing a writing career.

One place you can start if a local group doesn’t fill the bill is a platform such as LinkedIn. They have several groups for writers and that is where I got my first connections. I’m still in contact with some of the authors I initially met in that forum.

Today’s Writing Tip

Networking with other authors is a must. This has more benefits than I could possibly go into in this short blog. Maybe established authors of best sellers can go it alone, but most of us don’t have that luxury of avid fans salivating for our next work to hit the stands, or Amazon, as the case may be.

It’s especially helpful to network with other authors who write in the same or similar genre as you do. See them as allies, not competition. How many readers stick to books written by only one author? No one I know. However, readers do tend to lean toward certain favorite genres.

Thus, you can help each other through sharing on each other’s social media, blogs, etc. as well as marketing tips and locations that work or, conversely, don’t work. Most of us have paid out a huge chunk of money for advertising that brought no results, which a fellow author probably could have warned us about.

Today’s Writing Tip

Beginning writers can usually benefit greatly by joining a local writer’s group. You may eventually outgrow it and move on, but it’s a great way to make friends, find beta readers, and learn local outlets. LinkedIn offers a similar advantage when you’re starting out, but nothing beats personalized contact.

I don’t know what percentage of people out there are writers, but chances are you’re the only one on your block. Chatting, commiserating, learning, and interacting with other writers builds your confidence and can provide tidbits of information you won’t find anywhere else.

Today’s Writing Tip

There are numerous author groups which have a variety of excellent benefits. These are where you can find authors with whom you can do a beta swap or provide editorial reviews. There may be one in your local area where you can get together face-to-face with other authors. If not, there are several options online. One place to start is Linked-In, which has several author groups. Facebook has some as well. Make sure that any other groups of which you are a member, even if they don’t relate to writing, know that you are an author.

Today’s Writing Tip

Networking with other authors is a must, especially with those who write in the same or similar genre. See them as allies, not competition. How many readers stick to books from only one author? However, they do tend toward certain genres. Your fans will appreciate learning about authors who write stories similar to your own.

Beta exchanges, promoting each other on your respective blogs, retweeting, Facebook posts, sharing marketing ideas, etc. are a few ways where you can help each other.

Today’s Writing Tip

If you’re a new author, don’t expect readers to find your book as soon as it’s released. There are literally millions of books out there and you need to take action if you want anyone to find it. Think of it as being in a huge stadium, such as at the Super Bowl, and trying to get everyone to notice you. Then multiply this by a hundred or more!

This is where networking and book promotion is essential. You can start drawing attention to your work before its release by posting excerpts or updates on your progress to build reader anticipation. Once you have an established fan base it’s a lot easier.