Do you crave communication with other writers/authors? Do you, perhaps, get your networking fix at the one or two writers’ conferences each year or your local writers’ group meetings?
There’s another way to communicate with like-minded people and that’s through online message boards or forums. SPAWN offers a forum as well as a discussion group where members can pose questions and discuss concerns such as writers’ block, a certain publisher’s reputation, printer recommendations and grammar issues, for example. And there are several other such opportunities through Absolute Write, Author me, Poets and Writers and Writers’ Weekly, to name a few.
You can also seek out forums related to your book topic or genre. Simply use your favorite search engine to locate a few. Type in keywords, “message board†(or “forumâ€) + “gardening,” “fantasy,” “parenting,”
“death and dying,†“motorcycles,†“chic lit,†“poetry,†“cats,†“comic books,†“childhood abuse,†“fitness,†or “photography,†for example.
What can you accomplish at one of these forums? You’ll meet potential readers for your book. While many board hosts discourage blatant promotion, you can usually promote in subtle ways. Offer advice or resources to someone with a problem or question. If it’s allowed, announce upcoming book signings and other appearances. Share information from your book where appropriate and, if permitted, mention your book, your blog, your website.
You’ll also learn from the others at the forum. If you pay close attention, you’ll get ideas for articles on your topic, magazines and ezines related to your subject and possibly some venues for promoting your book. You might make friends with some people who can help promote your book through their local library systems, through newsletters they produce, through their websites, etc.
Most message boards are free, but you must register. I log the writers/authors boards where I’ve registered and note the username and password I’ve used for each.
Some message boards/forums are complicated to navigate. If you happen to land on one of these first, don’t get discouraged. Try another one. Most are very user-friendly.
When you’re seeking additional ways to connect with potential readers for your amazing book or you want to connect with other writers/authors, get involved in the world of message boards and forums. Join SPAWN (Small Publishers, Artists and Writers Network) and network with other authors through our Discussion Group and our Forum: http://www.spawn.org and also participate in those boards related to the topic or genre of your book.
Contact Patricia Fry through her website: http://www.matilijapress.com or PLFry620@yahoo.com