Left Coast Voices takes great pride in championing the poor, the downtrodden and the exploited. We try and keep it positive by emphasizing organizations and individual who are trying to make a difference and help create a better world.
This post is not one of them. But since it is the season of good will and many of us are considering what gifts we want to buy friends and how to put some good out in to the world, I am going to allow myself a mild dose of narcissism. Actually, I would like you to consider helping a struggling author. It doesn’t have to be me, but if you insist…
Here are 10 ways to help a struggling author:
1. Post a review of their book on Amazon.com. This is very important and influential. Add some helpful tags or add them to your listamania.
2. Buy their book, if not for yourself, then as a gift for a friend’s birthday, or instead of a bottle of wine next time you’re invited for dinner. Maybe as a Xmas/Chanukah/Kwanzaa present. Did you know that you can buy an e-book as a gift and send it to your friend’s e-Reader?
3. Mention the author’s website or blog on whatever social networking sites you are active. Spotlight them on your blog.
4. Go to the public library. If their book isn’t there, request it. If it is there, take it out. Even better – reserve it. Why? Libraries track book movement. If a book is in demand in Northern California, the libraries in Southern California etc. might order some copies.
5. Mention their book on Goodreads.
6. Know someone who is in a book club? Suggest that they nominate your friend’s book for the group to read.
7. Donate a copy of their book in a fundraising raffle or silent auction as a prize. It is great exposure.
8. Attend their book readings. Ask questions that make them look good and/or authoritative. Answering questions from someone you know helps the author relax and build confidence.
9. Link your website and their website. Subscribe to their blog.
10. Hug an author. It won’t propel them into the New York Times Bestseller list, but it means a lot.
This list took me less than 10 minutes. I’m sure there are many other ways that I haven’t thought of. If you can think of any, please add them in the comments below. This is all about win:win. In the middle of a recession, and a ruthless industry that is in involuntary transformation, win:win is something we could all do with in the season of good will.
——————————————————————————————————
Alon Shalev is the author of The Accidental Activist and A Gardener’s Tale. He is the Executive Director of the San Francisco Hillel Foundation, a non-profit that provides spiritual and social justice opportunities to Jewish students in the Bay Area. More on Alon Shalev at http://www.alonshalev.com/ and on Twitter (#alonshalevsf).
Like this:
Like Loading...
Posted in
e-books,
General: Me - A Left Coast Author and tagged
A Gardener's Tale,
Alon Shalev,
Amazon.com,
Chanukah,
Christmas,
e-book,
e-reader,
Godreads,
Hanukah,
Kindle,
Kwanzaa,
Left Coast Voices,
listamania,
New York Times Bestseller,
public library,
struggling author,
The Accidental Activist,
Xmas
Left Coast Voices 