It's the time of year to LAUNCH!
Ways to support other writers
New books are released in the fall and spring. Fall tends to be favoured, and October can be a busy time for invites. With so many events being Zoom-ed, you can attend launches all over the country.
Note that for Oct. 20, I’ve posted writer and friend, Barbara Nickel’s launch on The Unschool for Writers Facebook page (do you know we have this? Here’s the link. Do sign up!) And here is the registration link for the launch.
Barbara’s work, this time, is historical middle-grade fiction. She has published works for all ages of readers, and is also a poet. Her recent poetry collection, Essential Tremor, is her third collection. Do check it out, too! It’s one of those slim wonders: I pick it up, read, mull for some days, read another…
Writing and reading
Sometimes, I have to pause in the midst of my busy-ness, my own writing, my work here with The Unschool, and all that life asks… and remember how it felt to be a bookworm kid who got lost in words daily; surely one of the best feelings in the world.
I hope to end my days back in that place, frankly, even if I can no longer see, and am doing the audio book thing in the old folks’ home!
I want literature and stories to be in our world. It is primal need for human beings to draw ’round a fireside, and tell and listen to stories.
And if we want to write, we need to sustain this.
Thoughts on “sustaining”
Let’s start with the book launch.
Options (and realities):
— you can’t go — you had other plans made ages go, and can’t change them!
*But note that 13-digit number code on the back of every book. That is the ISBN, and it makes it SO easy to call or email your local bookstore and order a book.
— you can show up at the bookstore a few days later. Ask for a copy!
(And this is the option for Zoom events! ORDER!)
In my experience, bookstores sometimes clean out any remaining copies of a recently launched book. I don’t know why, but they do. (Ouch.) So turning up a few days later will actually serve a purpose: you’ll be keeping the book on their radar (or putting it on their radar). Well done!
— you go to the launch, and meet some nice people. You will count in the number of bodies at the launch, and the writer can feel good about that, and tell the publisher, “Yes! Eight people showed up!” and then mumble something about why only two copies of the book sold.
— you go, and you buy the book, and get it signed (in the list of options this is honourable mention for sure…
But first place—podium and medal!—goes to…
— you go, you invite friends to come with you, volunteer to pick them up if they don’t have a means of transport, then buy multiple copies of the book — for friends who could not make it, or for that sister-in-law who is so difficult to buy for and you always get her name in the Christmas gift exchange thingey… Yes!
Local Independent
And of course, this takes place at your local independent bookstore. Why? Because your local independent bookstore is owned by your neighbor and/or friend, and because you write, too, and you want to become familiar with these people who will be selling your book someday in the not distant future.
And mostly because Jeff Bezos does NOT need your hard-earned money.
A note on discount book-stores
Ever bought a book with an angry-looking black felt-pen slash across the bottom edge of pages? This means it is a remaindered book. This also means that the writer sees no payment for this. To think about…
Post-launch and still wondering what else you can do to help promote?
Before you go to the launch, you let everyone on Facebook know exactly where you are going, and when. And Insta and Twitter and wherever else. And after, back at home, you’ll let them know how much fun you had, or what insight you stumbled over while there, and what they’ve missed, and post a link to the book, with a few words… which you can do again, AFTER you’ve read it, when you’re in the throes of blood-bubbling enthusiasm!
After the read
You can post reviews on Amazon (hoping that people know to go to their local—maybe add that ion a note :), Goodreads (also owned by Bezos, Mr. Hands-in-Everything), and on your social media, where it counts even more because the people reading will in fact know you. And trust you! There is nothing quite like word of mouth. No matter what, it is still the best advertising. So use it.
Suggest the title to your book club, your local library, and/or school. (Libraries often have online forms for book-buying suggestions.)
What else?
Use your imagination. If you hear about a reading series or event, let your friend know. Consider your own list of contacts. Who else would like to read, and might spread word?
GO to reading events… even when you don’t know the writer. You may get a most pleasant surprise! Inject some writing-karma into your world.
When you do attend a launch, buy one more book. Choose carefully: there are a few rich writers out there, and you don’t need to buy their books—those are for second-hand stores. Dead writers fall into the same category.
Writers receive no pay from used-books stores… Think about that! And garage sales. (I can attest to how miserable it is to be at a garage sale… and find a copy of one of my books. Ouch!)
Though here I really do have to note: if you cannot afford to buy, your writer friends —indeed most writers—would understand! Just buy second-hand and enjoy. Or use the library. Poverty and guilt-trips cannot exist together… moving on...
Blog about books you read. Keep a reading journal, and share/exchange your entries with others. I’ve been doing this for almost two years with a friend who is not a writer but is a book-lover; I have learned so much from the insight into what she enjoys (and doesn’t) about her reads.
What do you do to support your writer friends?
What do you wish people did for your work?
Post and share in the comments!