This post is part of a weekly series on YWP, aptly titled “The Writer’s Weekly Wrap-Up”.
Each Sunday, I will endeavour to provide you with a curated list of the best articles I have seen throughout the week that relate to building your platform.
The featured articles cover topics on book marketing and promotion, blogging, social media and self-publishing. (I may even throw in a few inspirational and fun posts, just so that it’s not all work and no play!)
Don’t Sell; Engage
What do your readers want?
What do you want as an author?
What can you share that your audience desires, and what will you receive in return?
Engagement develops from finding the common ground, the similar interests and the mutual needs between you and your readers.
This shouldn’t be difficult, forced or phoney–but real and genuine.
“Effective engagement is inspired by the empathy that develops simply by being human.”
– Brian Solis
So strive to include this simple premise of engagement in your efforts to build your writer platform.
Commit to your readers not only by developing yourself as a writer, but by sharing the most important and relevant parts of your growth with them.
Ensure that those that should be aware of your work, are.
Listen to–and acknowledge–their compliments, criticisms and interpretations.
Include your readers in the process of your artistic expression, and let them share the journey with you.
If you do this well, you will never have to ‘sell’ another book. [Read more…]