How to help (and motivate) your favorite authors

Writing is hard work, and it doesn’t always pay as well as you might assume. (Unless you’re Stephen King, or JK Rowling. Then we’re sure it pays just as well as you might assume.) The last thing in the world we want is for our favorite authors to lose hope and quit writing, particularly before that next book in our favorite series is finished. So, with that in mind, here are a few things readers can do to help their favorite authors and keep them motivated to write more books, faster:

Buy their books
I know this one is tough. Romance readers in particular are so voracious that in order to feed their book habit, they need to make use of their library cards and Kindle Unlimited subscriptions. And we’re not saying that you shouldn’t. But after you’ve test-driven a book at your local library or using your KU subscription and you know you love it, why not consider buying the book as a “hat tip” to the author? (Or so that you can re-read it whenever you want) Trust us. For authors, sales = love, and love = renewed interest in writing more books, and writing them faster than ever before.     

Leave reviews
A book review on Amazon or Goodreads is the equivalent of walking up to your favorite author and giving them a warm hug (and a review is a LOT less creepy than being hugged by a random stranger). Authors LOVE reviews, and you might be surprised by how few readers leave them, even for books they truly loved. No one is asking you to write up a thousand word essay on why you loved the book and how it changed your life. A simple “I loved it!” or “I can’t wait for the next book” is enough to keep your favorite author motivated and writing.

Gift their books
Consider gifting your favorite books to your friends and family on holidays and other gift-giving occasions.  Amazon in particular makes gift giving, even for ebooks, super easy and convenient. And again, sales = love to your favorite authors.

​Follow them on social media
Marketing is tough for authors. They don’t really want to do it. But savvy writers know they can’t afford to just hide out in their writing caves all day, being antisocial and thumbing their noses at the real world. If you’re on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Goodreads…whatever, follow your favorite authors and interact with them there to let them know the marketing efforts they dread haven’t been wasted. Better yet, you can help them spread the word about their awesome books by sharing, liking and retweeting their posts. Trust us, they'll love you even more.

Follow them on BookBub
As a reader, we’re sure you’re aware of BookBub. But what you probably don’t realize is that for most authors, especially indie authors, BookBub is the impossible dream. They all fantasize about getting a BookBub featured deal, but few are actually chosen. Following your favorite authors on BookBub and letting them know you’re interested in their work will not only help them get noticed by the folks who choose BookBub featured deals, but will also let them know you’re rooting for them. And sometimes having people in your corner is all it takes to talk a writer off the ledge and convince them to keep writing.

Send them a note
In the digital age, sending fanmail is easier than ever. It only takes a minute to visit an author’s website and shoot them an encouraging note, letting them know you love their work and are anxiously waiting for their next release. But while it will take you only a moment, we guarantee that your message will stick with that author and motivate them to keep writing for a long, long time.

Fan art
For you artsy, talented types out there (you know who you are), fan art is always something that will warm even the coldest of author hearts. Here’s an example some gorgeous Twilight fan art.

Subscribe to their newsletter
We know that you already get way too much email as it is. But it’s drilled into authors’ heads that they HAVE to have a newsletter, and that it’s VITALLY important that they get a lot of subscribers to said newsletter. Subscribing to your favorite author’s newsletter will not only let them know you care, but will also help silence the marketing voices in their head that say their writing career will die slowly and painfully if they don’t have a good number of newsletter subscribers.


Preorder their new releases
Nothing tells an author you can’t wait for their new release faster than pre ordering their latest book.

What about all you writers and readers out there? Have any other ideas about how to help out authors? Let us know! We’d love to hear from you.  
 

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