5 Ways to Support Your Local Indie Author (without spending A CENT!)
Did you know that supporting your local indie is easier than you imagine? AND it is totally free! All it takes is a little time and know-how to show you care and value someone's creative efforts. Today I'll show you 5 Ways to Support Your Local Indie, without spending a cent!
This one is probably the most important, so I'll talk about it first. Yes, providing you've read their book, this is the imperative second step in assisting your Local Indie Author in achieving their dream. Reviews are the lifeblood of independently published books. We don't have a publishing company shoving our stories down the public's throats - we have to do that on our own! Or with help from good friends like you. Leaving a review is definitely the most effective way to help us with this goal, and the next best thing after reading the book itself. Reviews don't need to be long, or even 5 stars to be helpful. The more reviews, the more our book will be noticed in the swell of other books out there, so if you've read someone's book but haven't left a review, what are you waiting for?
psst! you can review The Sorceress and the Squid on Amazon or on Goodreads. ;)
If you're following an indie author on their online platforms, just know that we love every single one of you who likes, comments, or shares our book-related posts. Similar to reviews, our platform (author presence in the online community) is an essential part of reaching a wider audience. So if you know a local indie, follow their socials and interact! If they're as awesome as you think they are, other people deserve to know, right!? Also, it takes ZERO effort on your part to like a post, and only a teeny bit of effort to share it, and just a teenier bit more still to comment - and best of all, it's free!
This is one guaranteed to make our hearts melt and eyes well up with proud/happy tears. To hear that someone recommended or shared my book with someone else? What a priceless feeling (and literally priceless for you because it costs nothing, haha)! Recommending a book, whether in person, by sharing the book on social media, or forcing the story into someone's brain through your incoherent gushing will always be awesome for an author, and always be super supportive.
This one's a bit more specific, but it's an excellent way to get said book into more people's hands. Sometimes, us authors are busy creatures. It's a lot of work to write, plot, revise, edit, cry ourselves to sleep at night, and suffer the emotional distress of hundreds of imaginary people on the daily. A great way to help us out is to request our book on new shelves and your local library is a great place to start! Not only are you supporting us then, but also the library, and the library always needs our support!
Of course all the above things are really encouraging for us writers, but if you take time out of your day to speak to us face-to-face or send us a heartfelt message just to say:
Or anything along those lines that even faintly resembles a compliment, you can bet we will be treasuring that up in our hearts for all of eternity. I distinctly remember everyone who spoke to me as a fan of my book, who encouraged me in my story, and I think about those things when I'm down and out and losing my motivation. Encouragement is important for everyone, including writers!
And there you go! Five Ways to Support Your Local Indie Author - absolutely free! Are there other things you would add to this list? If you're an independent creative, what's the most encouraging thing someone has done to support you? Do you have a favorite independently produced work? Let me know in the comments below!
LEAVE A REVIEW!
This one is probably the most important, so I'll talk about it first. Yes, providing you've read their book, this is the imperative second step in assisting your Local Indie Author in achieving their dream. Reviews are the lifeblood of independently published books. We don't have a publishing company shoving our stories down the public's throats - we have to do that on our own! Or with help from good friends like you. Leaving a review is definitely the most effective way to help us with this goal, and the next best thing after reading the book itself. Reviews don't need to be long, or even 5 stars to be helpful. The more reviews, the more our book will be noticed in the swell of other books out there, so if you've read someone's book but haven't left a review, what are you waiting for?
psst! you can review The Sorceress and the Squid on Amazon or on Goodreads. ;)
LIKE AND SHARE THEIR SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS!
If you're following an indie author on their online platforms, just know that we love every single one of you who likes, comments, or shares our book-related posts. Similar to reviews, our platform (author presence in the online community) is an essential part of reaching a wider audience. So if you know a local indie, follow their socials and interact! If they're as awesome as you think they are, other people deserve to know, right!? Also, it takes ZERO effort on your part to like a post, and only a teeny bit of effort to share it, and just a teenier bit more still to comment - and best of all, it's free!
RECOMMEND THEIR BOOK!
This is one guaranteed to make our hearts melt and eyes well up with proud/happy tears. To hear that someone recommended or shared my book with someone else? What a priceless feeling (and literally priceless for you because it costs nothing, haha)! Recommending a book, whether in person, by sharing the book on social media, or forcing the story into someone's brain through your incoherent gushing will always be awesome for an author, and always be super supportive.
REQUEST THEIR BOOK AT YOUR LOCAL LIBRARY!
This one's a bit more specific, but it's an excellent way to get said book into more people's hands. Sometimes, us authors are busy creatures. It's a lot of work to write, plot, revise, edit, cry ourselves to sleep at night, and suffer the emotional distress of hundreds of imaginary people on the daily. A great way to help us out is to request our book on new shelves and your local library is a great place to start! Not only are you supporting us then, but also the library, and the library always needs our support!
ENCOURAGE THEM!
Of course all the above things are really encouraging for us writers, but if you take time out of your day to speak to us face-to-face or send us a heartfelt message just to say:
"Hey, you're doing awesome!"
"I so appreciate your story."
"This aspect of your book really resonated with me."
"The world needs your voice, keep writing!"
Or anything along those lines that even faintly resembles a compliment, you can bet we will be treasuring that up in our hearts for all of eternity. I distinctly remember everyone who spoke to me as a fan of my book, who encouraged me in my story, and I think about those things when I'm down and out and losing my motivation. Encouragement is important for everyone, including writers!
And there you go! Five Ways to Support Your Local Indie Author - absolutely free! Are there other things you would add to this list? If you're an independent creative, what's the most encouraging thing someone has done to support you? Do you have a favorite independently produced work? Let me know in the comments below!
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