Reconnecting With Readers
- Brantwijn Serrah
- Jan 10, 2023
- 3 min read
Recent years have been all about learning, for me. I've spent a lot of time taking writing and marketing courses, working on my cover design skills, and participating in collaborative sets with other authors, becoming more familiar with the business side of self-publishing.
I also embarked on a co-authorship for the first time ever—something I never thought I'd do. I always expected I was too high-maintenance, too difficult to work with, and wouldn't subject any other author to my whole "Doesn't Play Well With Others" vibe. Luckily, I was wrong about all that, and have built a very strong, very encouraging partnership with my long-time author bestie, Torie James. I happen to be very fond of the world we've created, to boot!
What I've been missing, though, is a closer relationship with readers. I haven't had as much opportunity to interact in my reader group, and I must admit my newsletter communications lapsed more than once, and for long periods. I didn't blog as much as I wanted, and I missed several opportunities to send out freebies, special giveaways, or ARCs. For all that, I have to apologize. I've always taken great joy in being a storyteller. A storyteller needs people to tell stories to.
Self-publishing is really very demanding, and by the time I've worked through the actual writing, the book production, the website management, the social media, the marketing, and the sales, I have very little time left to simply enjoy interacting with readers and telling my stories. Don't get me wrong! I love my work (my writerly work, anyway... Day Job is another matter entirely). As a self-published author I have a great deal of freedom over my work and where it goes. There's a lot for me still to learn in terms of business, if I'm every going to make this my primary career and lifestyle. Still, this year I want to get back to the best parts of the job: my readers.
This is why I wanted to offer not just a Patreon this year, but a return to the free story blog and more content people can enjoy, wherever they are. Hopefully I'll have more chances to do free giveaways and share extras with those who love my stories. Most of all, I hope to hear from my readers, and find out what excites you and what you want more of. Should I return to old series? Focus on my fae world romances, or bring back my darker demon series, The Books of Blood and Fire? Would you be interested in sequels to Shifter's Dawn or Beast and Beauty? I'm eager to know, and to be able to keep you by my campfire while I spin new tales and share new worlds with you all.
These are my hopes for the coming year, and for a good long while into the future. I'm ready to get back to you, my wonderful readers and strange wayfarers. I hope you'll join me, too.
Consider this my invitation to come in, sit down a spell, and say hi! If you're interested in my newsletter, my reader group, or any of my social media channels, you can find them right here. There's plenty of ways to connect with me, starting with the comment section on this very post. So please don't be a stranger... I have such wonderful stories to share!
This is such valuable advice for researchers! For those looking to submit medical research papers for publication, remember that choosing the right journal is just as important as the research itself. Consider factors like scope, impact factor, and open access options to ensure your important findings reach the right audience. The peer review process can be challenging, but proper preparation makes all the difference. Wishing everyone success with their important medical research!
It’s awesome to see how important it is to stay connected with your audience. I can relate to this on a personal level when I was overwhelmed with exams. I even thought about relying on online exam takers to get through a tough period. But I found that committing to my studies, even when it was hard, helped me feel more accomplished in the end.
This review of The Starless Sea has me intrigued, especially with its rich storytelling and layers of meaning. It reminded me of how I once struggled to weave together ideas for a complex assignment. I ended up getting custom NVQ assignment writing to make sure my thoughts were clear and well organised. It’s funny how both reading and writing require that same balance of creativity and structure.
This was such an inspiring read. Reconnecting with your readers and sharing more stories sounds like a wonderful plan. Speaking of support, gmat exam help services USA are a real game-changer for students aiming to boost their scores and reduce stress. For anyone feeling overwhelmed by prep, these services offer expert guidance, personalized strategies, and the confidence needed to succeed.
I know how difficult self-publishing is! You're doing so many things simultaneously—writing, creating the book, publishing online, and selling it. It's wonderful that you still wish to spend time with your readers. That's the best aspect! Also, if someone else is pursuing their career like me, CV assistance in belfast is actually quite helpful in enhancing your CV and getting better job opportunities