I don’t think I need to tell you the amount of talent there is in the indie/self-publishing sphere. It’s obvious. There are so many incredibly gifted storytellers who are doing the most to get their own names out there and create their own success on their own terms. It’s crazy. It’s inspiring.
What is even more amazing is that we writers are no longer beholden to the traditional market. Our success doesn’t hinge on predatory contracts and the complete loss of personal rights to our work. We can work for ourselves. For our readers.
The question becomes how to support the authors we love — whether they be established entrepreneurs or fresh voices just starting out.
Don’t worry. I got ya covered!
Read their books.
I mean, it seems like a complete no-brainer, but! It’s true. The best way to support an author is to read their work. That’s what they’re writing for, after all! It’s not just about reading, but also about…
Review their books.
You don’t have to write an entire novel. You don’t even have to go too in-depth. Even taking the time to write, “I loved this book! Can’t wait for the next one” helps out more than you could know!
Like everything on the internet, books are supported by algorithms. We writers require reviews to get our book seen by more people. So every review helps us!
Promote their books!
Social media is an author’s best friend. Whether it be on Instagram, Twitter, Tiktok, or Facebook, these platforms are brilliant marketing platforms. Sharing an author’s announcements, cover reveals, sales/promotions will help them out insanely. The more eyes on their work, the better! There are promotional services out there for authors that charge an arm and a leg. While they’re certainly worth the money, not a lot of indie/self-published authors have that to spare. Anything and everything helps!
Sign-Up for ARCS and Betas!
If you’ve been around Bookstagram, you’ve likely seen these terms floating around. Let me take a minute to explain what they are. ARC stands for Advanced Reader Copies — ARC readers get the book ahead of schedule with the expectation of writing a review to be posted at launch. Beta readers get a copy of the book (often, pre-editing) to read and offer insight on general/particular concerns (for example, storytelling, searching for plot holes, character development, etc.).
Needless to say, these are endlessly helpful for authors. If you elect to sign up for these kinds of roles please follow through with your end of the agreement. Authors really do depend on our ARC/Beta readers, and it can be incredibly detrimental (and frankly, discouraging) when people fall through.
Engage with their social media!
Even just seeing that people are interested and engaged with their content helps out. A lot. And it also helps push their content into the algorithm, which allows for more exposure!
Last but not least, recommend their books!
Don’t underestimate the power of the word of mouth! Recommending our books to friends or loved ones helps us out more than you could know! So, if you enjoyed reading, please, pass on the word!
Overall
There are many ways to promote your favorite author! There is no one right way to do it. Even if you don’t have the time to read and review, simply sharing our social media posts helps out! We wouldn’t be where we are if it weren’t for the support of our readers. It’s all noticed, and I promise, it’s all appreciated.
And to you, my fellow authors! Is there anything you can think of to add to this list? Let me know in the comment section below!
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Ivy Whitaker 