Time for our monthly meeting of the Insecure Writer's Support Group and the first one of 2024! Hosted as ever by Alex J. Cavanaugh, the aim of the group is to offer a safe space where writers can share doubts and insecurities without fear of being judged. This month's co-hosts are Joylene Nowell Butler, Olga Godim, Deidre Knight and Natalie Aguirre.
It's a brand new year, so there should be a lot to talk about. Chief among these is that I'm not going to miss any more IWSG postings if possible after skipping the last two. Life intervenes and all that, but I'm lucky not to get kicked off the list!
First, let's look at this month's IWSG question. I was a bit caught unawares by this one:
Do you follow back your readers on BookBub or do you only follow back other authors?
BookBub is one of the many things that I'm on, but I need to do more with. I hadn't even thought about it for some time, which I know is bad. Upon realising I did actually have an account, I found I had a grand total of ten followers and was only following one back. I quickly put that right and followed everyone else. Now, I just need to see what BookBub can do for me. I have always inferred that it's hard to get listed in promotions and such, but I need to have a poke around. But yes, I would always follow back readers as well as authors, as I would on any platform. Authors are great sources of support and will often read your book and shout about it too, but I want my book to reach as many people as possible and not just readers.
So, turning to thoughts of the new year... apart from cracking BookBub, what do I have in store? Well, I decided that this is the year I finally put myself out there in the form of real, live author events. Something that I've always shied away from or found an excuse not to do. But I do believe that a one-on-one connection between an author and audience is increasingly important in a world that's being digitised to death. I have recorded several podcasts and Facebook live events, so have dabbled in public speaking to an extent, but it's a different ball game when the people are right there in front of you. I'm going to have to do a lot of practice so I don't fall on my face, but I'm up for the challenge. I'll be starting off with a reading at Cymera SFF festival in Edinburgh in the summer, and then there's an indie book festival in the autumn that I hope to confirm this week.
Apart from that daunting prospect, I'm just going to keep doing what I'm doing, but more consistently... writing, marketing, newsletter, whatever else. I don't believe in making grand resolutions out of leftfield that will probably only last a couple of weeks. Instead, it's better to refine and improve what you already do. That said, I do want to get fitter this year. I'm also continuing with querying and of course will give updates on any positive news on that front if it comes.
I hope 2024 is a wonderful success for you whatever you have planned! To read other IWSG entries, as ever, check out the list here.
17 comments:
I don't make big goals in the new year either. Good luck with your live events. I'd have a hard time setting them up and attending them too.
I'll admit live events are not my thing but they are important.
Don't worry, many people today have stated they didn't even realize they had a BookBub account.
I think once you do one or two live events and feel the energy from the crowd you will become more used to it and they will become more enjoyable. Best wishes and Happy New Year, Nick.
Public speaking/ reading is my Kryptonite! As to BookBub, I can't even update my profile. The querying process is never ending, like proofreading and the rain in Michigan. Good luck!
Liza has a point: live events give you a jolt of feedback that you can get nowhere else. I just cannot do them due to my work at the blood center. Best of sales Nick!
There is a joy when meeting fans in person. I love live events. I think once you start doing them, you'll enjoy it, too.
I like your thoughts on grand resolutions. I like making goals, have fun creating vision boards, but most of the time, these are really just refined continuations of what I have been doing already.
Best of wishes for 2024!
Any day is a good day to start something new. Why wait for January 1st? Good luck with your plans.
Happy New Year, Nick!
As busy as you are, I'm not surprised you're not as involved as someone less successful - with more time to spare for promotional sites. Live appearances are much more effective.
Very best wishes!
Good luck with your live events this year! That would probably be my least favorite thing if I was a published author. I'm not very good with public speaking.
I haven't given BookBub much thought either and haven't been sure what it does outside of promo.
I wish I wasn't an ocean away. I would love to see you at your event. I'm also getting back to the in-person events. I have one lined up for February and one in May. Probably will do more later in the year.
I hope you have great success with the in-person events and find your groove quickly. Best of luck in the new year!
You are amazing, Nick! More power to you. All the luck with live events. Yes, I practice before my library events, too.
But you know what? I'm more afraid of podcasts and recorded events than live events. If I mess up at a live event, [hopefully] only those present know. It's not recorded for me to see myself making that mistake over and over again. It’s like theatre. You can’t cut and do it again like in the movies.
However, you are correct. Writers do need to make face-to-face connections with readers and other writers. People. We all need people to engage with. All the luck in 2024.
I think your plan sounds like a solid one! I also need to do more and do it more consistently.
BB is a great way to let your followers know when you have a new release. When people are unsubscribing from my newsletter, I give them the option to follow me on BB and only hear about new releases.
Hi Nick - all the best to you for 2024 - and lots of success with our publications ... cheers Hilary
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