This is the ninth post in a series of 12 ways to help authors (and your writing) by reading.
Making connections can be an easy task in this digital landscape.
For starters, connect with authors:
- online
- at signings
- on topic
I really enjoy connecting with authors via social media and blogs. If you love an author’s book, social media is a quick and easy way to share an “I love your book” comment with both the digital universe and the author.
Book signings are another way to connect. I read a post the other day where an author reported only a handful of attendees. While plane tickets aren’t always feasible to help an author out, I can keep an eye for local (or within an hour or two drive) events I can attend.
If an author has a book about a topic near and dear to your heart, let her know. Maybe your book club or your classroom has a question about a story, perhaps Tweet or email him your question. You may receive an answer.
I remember I tweeted about my son’s first birthday and tagged Garth Stein, author of The Art of Racing in the Rain. We chose to name our son Enzo, after the main character and narrator — a dog. Garth Stein tweeted me back.
Authors use social media differently. Some will friend you on Facebook while others won’t respond to emails. Writing is a time consuming task, so I understand those who don’t use social media channels to interact with fans. If you write, you know how writing your stories and living outside of the voices inside of your head (i.e. family, the day job, hobbies, etc.) is often a balancing act. Of course, I really LOVE the ones, who embrace social media and add to my experience as a reader.
I’ve mentioned before that my reading list this year is so 2012, but John Green’s The Fault in Our Stars, shows a character’s quest to learn more about a book and an author’s reluctance to communicate with fans. This added a lot of tension to the overall story.
How do you connect with authors (and other writers)?
Reading: I’m still reading A Season of Love by Amy Clipston, an Amish romance. I read an interesting essay How Much My Novel Cost Me by author Emily Gould, which was a little depressing and eye opening at the same time. If you like the link at The Passive Voice, you should click through and read the full essay.
If you missed any of the Reader University posts,
- I share why I’m doing Reader Universtiy here.
- My first post Reader University: Try
- My second post Reader University: Read
- My third post Reader University: Name
- My fourth post Reader University: Review
- My fifth post Reader University: Follow
- My sixth post Reader University: Learn
- My seventh post Reader University: Share
- My eighth post Reader University: Request
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I agree – those who can connect however briefly via social media are the ones I become more passionate about!
Yes. Being nice goes a long way.
I’m with Cathy! 🙂 I am now a lifelong fan of Ame Dykman because not only did she follow me back but she also replies to her followers/me on Twitter! I think it’s smart to engage.
From the other end of the game, granted, I’ve only had 2 fan letters so far, but I make it a point to reply to people who take the time to tell me they like my writing because I know we’re all busy and I appreciate their taking the time to make my day, and I hope I never get so busy (or big-headed) that I forget to let fans know I appreciate them. 🙂
That’s cool about Ame Dykman. I’m not sure I’ve tried to follow her. I can see where authors get so large, it becomes unwieldy to respond. Of course, some interaction goes a looooong way.
I know some writers get too popular to respond individually, of course. But that mutual relationship is important. I dropped a few connections with authors because I felt I was being talked “at”. Still, it’s fun to leave them a note. I’m quite sure it encourages many writers.
Yes, being talked at is not good.
Great post, Stacy! I was stunned once at not getting a reply to a comment I made on the blog of a great author, so so big he was too famous, but maybe he was too busy. My comment was off topic for the blog discussion but still I raved about his book and got nada. I’d be chuffed to bits if a stranger bought my book nevermind commented lol.
I know it’s funny how we expect interaction in this age of social media. I understand when they can’t.
Racing in the Rain was an awesome (but sort of sad) book. I loved the ending. 🙂 Great post! 😀
Erik – I agree it was sort of sad, but we named our son after the dog!
I love this post, Stac! I love connecting. I expect it in this day and age. But I just read Catherine’s comment and I’m shocked that a well known author would be so careless as to not acknowledge her comment. We’ll NEVER do that, will we? 🙂 xoxo
Robyn, I’m nervous now that I’m too late in responding to comments on this one… :)I do love connecting!
Your post reminded me to tweet Alissa Nutting about her disturbingly fascinating debut novel Tampa that I just finished. Let’s see if she tweets back!
I hope she did Kim! And I’ll have to check out that novel.