Writers, It’s Not All About You. It’s About Your Readers

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It’s Not About You: It’s About Your Followers

Your Followers Can Help You — or Hurt You

That applies to followers on social media, as well as people who follow your blog, public appearances, and news coverage.

The Infinite Loop

  • Happy readers = more book sales
  • More book sales = happy writers
  • Happy writers = more books written
  • More books written = happy readers

Do you see where I’m going with this?

The point of view of most readers: “It’s all about me, me, me, not you, you, you.”

Let’s Examine a Page on Social Media

Check the following posts, all by one writer (name changed and posts edited to preserve anonymity).

Fake Author Name 16h
Buy my book, you won’t be disappointed. Honest!!!!
[Post includes name, description, links, and cover photo.]

Fake Author Name 17h
Such awesome information in the sci-fi feed. I get inspired every time I scroll through it. I don’t copy anything, don’t believe in plagiarism, but the stuff there is inspiring.

Fake Author Name 18h
I respect #writers who do NaNoWriMo, whether they do it for a week or make it all the way through. It’s such a cool thing to do. But it’s not for me. I like to take my time.

Fake Author Name 20h
Buy my book, you won’t be disappointed. And don’t forget to review it!!!
[Post includes name, description, links, and cover photo.]

Fake Author Name 1d
So there’s stuff I write for other people to read, but I also keep having this urge to create stories with exactly the kinds of things I want to read in bed before I sleep. And if the only copy I ever sell is to me, then I got what I wanted.

Fake Author Name 1d
Buy my book, you won’t be disappointed.
[Post includes name, description, links, and cover photo.]

Fake Author Name 1d
I was going to run to the store to stock up on snacks, but I decided to stay in and watch TV. Too much COVID and RSV out there, and I don’t feel like wearing a mask today. Maybe I’ll even write a chapter or two.

Fake Author Name 1d
What’s with all these supposed New York Times best sellers? I know some of these writers and have read some of their books. Best sellers? I don’t think so.

Fake Author Name 2d
Buy my book, you won’t be disappointed. It’ll keep you awake at night!!!
[Post includes name, description, links, and cover photo.]

Fake Author Name 2d
I wonder what it’d be like to design a book cover first and then figure out the story. Sort of like writing the last few lines first and then writing the story.

Fake Author Name 2d
My cats unrolled the toilet paper twice today. Then they knocked over a plant while they were racing around the living room. Never a dull moment, but I’d rather write than clean up after felines.

Fake Author Name 2d
Is your family as annoying as mine? They can’t seem to watch a movie without telling me the end. I hate spoilers. For movies and for books. Let me find out for myself, please.

Fake Author Name 2d
I tried making homemade perogies today. Colossal failure. They turned out doughy AND salty. Don’t need that salt. Bad for my blood pressure.

Fake Author Name 2d
Buy my book, you won’t be disappointed!!!
[Post includes name, description, links, and cover photo.]

Find thousands of writing tips and word lists in
The Writer’s Lexicon series
and additional resources on my Facebook page.
–

What Did You Notice?

  • Fake Author promoted their book several times.
  • The feed didn’t include any information that might interest readers or followers (unless they’re stalkers, perhaps).
  • The feed didn’t share posts from other sources.

Blogs and Newsletters

You’ll see a similar approach on many blog posts and newsletters. How can a writer expect to gain new readers and followers if there’s nothing in the blog or newsletter for them?

It’s all about your readers.

Writers should include anecdotes, links, and informational content that appeals to those readers.

Give ‘Em What They Want

  • If you write science fiction, perhaps provide links to well-written science articles.
  • If your writing is based on historical events, tell your readers about some of those events.
  • Romantic comedy? Share flash fiction or a short story that you or someone else wrote.
  • No matter the genre, if you see a free e-book that has good reviews, support your fellow author and let your followers know about the book.
  • Etc., etc., etc. Shake and combine. Find more morsels your readers will gobble up, and then leave them craving for more.

Most readers don’t care about what you had for supper last night. However, they’ll respond to a menu of thoughtful tidbits that stimulate their hunger. Their hunger will keep them coming back for more of the irreplaceable you.

Before I Go, a PSA

Never, I repeat, never use the name of a famous author as your social media persona. Or as your penname.

If you hoodwink readers into following you because they think you’re the real Stephen King or Margaret Atwood, you’ll alienate them faster than a slippery politician’s tongue.

However, if you really do share the name of a famous writer, please create a moniker. Ditto for book titles.

Stephen King could become Stefan Monarch, and Margaret Atwood could morph into Marge Forrest. Or get really creative and visit a site like http://babynames.merschat.com/ for help.

Find thousands of writing tips and word lists in
The Writer’s Lexicon series
and additional resources on my Facebook page.
–

Discover more from KathySteinemann.com: Free Resources for Writers

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6 thoughts on “Writers, It’s Not All About You. It’s About Your Readers”

  1. PERFECT OBJECT LESSON

    Bob Bunting, creator of The Write Practice -TWP, a writers’ learning platform in America, dropped kathysteinemann.com as a resource for additional writing tips in his FREE instruction excerpt!
    You are so chock-full expert, endless, insightful lessons! I’m not inclined to abandon TWP. I am so grateful for this wonderful recommendation. I’m just devouring every enhancing morsel as an additional, strategic building block in my writing journey. Thank you Kathy!

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    A serious description of an IMPORTANT matter warrants my emoji .(~_^).

  3. I like the bit about not using the names of famous writers. I mean, why the hell would you? I recently received an ARC of a book (no names mentioned) that was truly awful but had loads of four-and-five star reviews, including one by a fellow called Stephen King. (I wonder who that is?) Obvious scam, or what?

    • Yes, trying to leverage the name of a celebrity or popular author for your own gain is never a good idea.

      It should be obvious whether the review was written 1) by the real Stephen King or 2) by someone hoping to ride on the coattails of the real horrormeister. I’m guessing #2.

      Thanks for visiting my blog again, Thomas!

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