Do you know how many local authors live around you?
I would suspect that you would be surprised. At least, I was when I attended the Idaho Falls Public Library Authorpalooza as a panelist on June 14.
The event targeted aspiring and established writers seeking guidance from experienced professionals.
The topics covered were:
- Character creation
- Plotting your novel
- Worldbuilding
- Time management
- Overcoming writer’s block
- Traditional publishing vs. Self-publishing
There were three different panels. The first covered all things related to becoming a better writer. The second, time management, staying motivated, and dealing with writer’s block. The final panel was all about publishing and the pros and cons to each route.
I was a panelist in the second group. I honestly felt I learned as much as I advised. Each author on the panel had such a unique journey as to how they got there, and every perspective gave me little insights about how I can do things better in the future.
Some of my biggest takeaways, and ones I think could help you too if you are a writer, are these:
- There are many approaches to a single problem. If you are stuck with your writing, some tips are to 1) Take a break and go for a walk. 2) Pivot to a different project until you are ready to go back to the one you’re struggling with. 3) Ask developing questions about your characters or the plot. (i.e., How can this get worse? How can I shorten the timeline? Who is another character perspective that we could view this event from?)
- When it comes to launching a book, being more open to working with others, whether that be bookstores, bookstagramers, booktokers, building a strong ARC team, or doing book tours (physical or virtual), can go a long way. And many of these avenues come with only a small cost.
- If you are ready to publish, don’t forget to make your books available on sites like Draft 2 Digital. They can distribute your books to a much wider audience than just Amazon.
- Then if you are doing an in-person event, here are some things I would recommend
- Have freebies to give away.
- Have a sign that describes who you are and what you write.
- Have an attendee offer to encourage people to sign up for your email list.
- Practice setting up your display beforehand and get outside opinions on what you need to add or take away.
- Have a business card, bookmark, magnet, or some other token attendees can take that has all the ways to find you later. Bonus if you can make it something they actually want to keep.
- Showcase any awards, praise, or endorsements your books may receive. This is social proof to those walking by.
Throughout the event, I felt very humbled to rub shoulders with the other authors in the room. It was a wonderful experience and one I hope to take part in again.
Vanessa Thurgood
Vanessa is an indie author with a passion for epic fantasy adventures without the spice, language, or graphic violence.
Her books are excellent choices for family reads.
