The Season of Giving

Promoting Authors, Reading

It’s the season of giving! As writers, how can we give back? Here are some ideas:

  • When an author asks for beta readers, say yes. Beta readers are golden because they give an author feedback on a polished manuscript.
  • Likewise, you can be an alpha reader and give an author feedback on an early, rough manuscript.
  • Leave reviews after you’re finished with a book. Reviewers rock!
  • Starting in late October of each year, vote for your fave book in the Goodreads Choice Awards.
  • Join an author’s street team. This may involve sharing excerpts of the author’s upcoming book, posting interviews, leaving a release-day review, and stuff like that.
  • Keep up with your NetGalley advanced-reader obligations.
  • Volunteer to be a slush pile reader for your fave short story magazine.
  • Chime in on first page critiques at The Kill Zone blog. The blog is written by top suspense authors and publishing pros, and about once a month they include a first page critique from an anonymous (usually beginner) author.
  • Donate to the Dollar General Literacy Foundation.
  • Seek out and join a critique group. Be encouraging but helpful.
  • Volunteer for a last read-through of a literary magazine after edits and before publication. I guess this would be a beta gamma read. I get to do this in January for a dark fiction magazine I enjoy!
  • Buy a charity anthology for a cause that you believe in. Local Haunts came out this year, and proceeds go toward the First Book charitable organization.
  • Join the Horror Writers Association (or whatever fits your genre) and read for possible award nominations. The committee members need the association at large to whittle down the books.

Merry Christmas from the dogster and me!

Published

72 thoughts on “The Season of Giving”

  1. Pingback: Happy Holidays – Words from JeanMarie

  4. Great list, Priscilla, and your dog is a little cutie! Yes, reviews rock! Thank you so much for your reviews over the past year, I really do appreciate it. Wishing you and your family a wonderful Christmas! 🙂

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  6. First, I want to wish you a VERY Merry Christmas!

    Second, your pup is such a festive cutie!

    Finally, you have nailed this! These are such wonderful ideas and yours is the first blog that I noticed posting about what/how we can be more active in the authorship world. For me, due to time constraints, the only thing I’ve been participating in is ARC reviews (Advanced Reader Copies) for other authors. Reviews are so important!

    Fantastic post, Priscilla! Merry Christmas!

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  7. Merry Christmas, Priscilla! Great suggestions! I’ve done a few of those, and I try to keep up with my reviews, but they do have a way of piling up (I need more hours in a day)!

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  11. I love these affordable ways of giving gifts to writers and the bookish and readerly communities. I think the one I do the most of is reviews and reviewing!

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  13. I’ll keep this in mind, Priscilla. I already implement some of the suggestions, but there are others I wouldn’t mind having a go at. Thanks and have a great 2021!

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