#Authoring Episode 19: Reader Questions! On Developing Expertise, Building a Social Media Platform, and Promoting Your Book Online in Our Pandemic Reality

#Authoring

We answer questions from listeners Beth Schap, Kirthana Ramisetti, and Curtis Honeycutt!

From Beth: Can you become enough of an expert on a passion topic to be a credible author of articles or books if you're not in that industry? And if so how? (Spoiler: yes, and we tell you how!)

From Kirthana: Right now I'm back on Twitter and am trying to re-establish my presence and organically increase my followers. I like what I've seen of the book community on Twitter, and would love to connect with other debut writers and novelists, but not quite sure how to do that. Also, I know Goodreads is hugely important and have never used it, so insights on the best way to use it and engage readers there would also be great. (We’ve got tips on what has worked on our own social media, and even better ideas from Roxane Gay’s online genius.)

From Curtis: thanks for the episodes about book launches in the age of coronavirus. I’d love more advice on getting out there. Do FB ads work? (We share some resources for super-creative ideas for online events, as well as what works and doesn’t work on a more practical level from friend-of-the-show Anna David.)

Plus, we talk up the #AuthorsForBlackVoices online silent charity auction to benefit literary racial-justice non-profits, which includes several offerings from Jennifer and Kim as well as agents and authors auctioning off critiques and writing career coaching. We'll be on a short hiatus for the remainder of summer, then back with more in the fall!

Resources:

• Roxane Gay’s Goodreads
• Goodreads’ tips on Goodreads
• Curtis Honeycutt’s book Good Grammar Is the Life of the Party
• Anna David’s Instagram post about what worked and what didn’t in promoting her book Make Your Mess Your Memoir
• Kate Reed Petty’s Electric Lit Post “It’s Time to Radically Rethink Online Book Events”