Are you having a hard time building your writing platform, your precious brand? Does every day seem like an uphill battle? You work hard but never seem to make any headway, your books aren't selling. Three stumbles back instead of one step forward.
As a writer, no two months are ever the same. Sales up one and then down the next. Frustrating, right?
photo credit: visual.dichotomy via photopin cc
Stop Focusing On Yourself
It's easy to worry about low sales, writer's block and lost motivation. The sinking sands of pity suck us in. We feel trapped. We feel broken. We feel lost.
Take a look at writer's forums and LinkedIn groups and you'll see writers complaining about everything from evil Amazon to the lack of time they have to write. Boo Hoo. Woe is me.
I've done it. If you're doing it now, snap out of it!
Instead of wallowing in misery, let's turn the tables and do something constructive.
Shift The Focus
Tim Grahl, in his book Your First 1,000 Copies, talks about doing outreach, about connecting with fellow writers in an honest and giving way.
What's one of the easiest ways to do that? Author interviews.
An author interview posted on the web has the ability to be passed from person to person, platform to platform. It's a win-win.
Not only do you both get more exposure, you also have the ability to connect with a writer who may have otherwise seemed in another league.
How cool is that?! You get to make a new friend just by helping someone else. A novel idea, no?
So how do you do it?
Do Your Research
Once said author says yes to your interview request, take some time to look into their work, their brand and their focus. You don't have to read every book, but get a feel for who they are as an artist.
You want to be able to tailor questions to fit them. Make it personalized.
Make Your Subject Look Like a Rock Star
Remember, you are not the focus of the interview. Your only job is to make the interviewee look like a hero.
Ask open-ended questions that allow your interviewee to voice their opinion. YES or NO answers are not allowed.
Develop questions that will entice your readership to try out some of your new friend's work. What will make them click the buy button?
Last Pointers
– Use a format you're comfortable with, including, but not limited to: written blog posts, webinars, podcasts, etc…
– Don't waste their time. Be punctual if you're doing a live author interview and stay within the timeline allotted.
Who's the first author you'd like to connect with?
PRACTICE
For the next fifteen minutes, you're my subject. Answer the following three questions as the rock star of the day.
1. Why did you want to be a writer?
2. Tell us a little bit about what you're currently writing.
3. What do you enjoy most about connecting with readers?
Post your practice in the comments section below and please provide feedback for your peers.
This was very informative. Thanks. 🙂
I agree Carol, this was a great. Thanks
Thanks, Carol!
Thanks, Carlos, great idea! One suggestion: if you have a small tape recorder you might want to record your interview so when you quote the author you get it exactly right!
Now, why do I want to be a writer? Because there are so many moments in life that overwhelm me with inspiration I have to write it down in the most detail I can think of. I want to share those nonficton moments in story form with any reader out there I can reach. I want to inspire them as I have been inspired. I have had several stories published and now working on a collection to have published in book form.
Thanks for your post.
Tape recorders were great ideas in the past. However, I feel that Google+ Hangouts on Air have effectively replaced them, as far as live recorded interviews. You can do audio or video, record the conversation, keep it private or invite specific others or the public to listen in and participate. You can also share files, run slideshows or other videos, do a text chat and more. It can be as simple or complex as you want to make it, and it still records everything for future reference. You can even share them on YouTube.
Thanks for the recording update. I had no idea all that was available!
Good point. That’s another reason I prefer written (via email) interviews. Can’t misquote that way 🙂
Thanks for sharing, Eva!
Just what I needed, Carlos. I’ve been struggling to come up with author interview questions recently. And you’re exactly right about the benefits. That’s been my experience. OK, so here goes.
1. Why did you want to be a writer?
I was the curly haired nerd girl in school who always walked around with her nose in a book and a notebook in her hands. Writing was always going and coming out. I could actually feel the concepts beginning in my brain and found a stopping point in my work where I could get it down by the time it began flowing from my shoulder to my fingers. It wasn’t a choice. It’s who I am.
2. Tell us a little bit about what you’re currently writing.
My current works in progress are an LGBT romantic comedy mystery, a collection of erotica poetry, the third edition of my vegetarian cookbook, a blog post on health writing markets and an author interview with @lisajanicecohen.
3. What do you enjoy most about connecting with readers?
Reader reviews, because it’s there that my audience tells me: a) they like what I write; b) they want more; c) exactly what they want and d) I’m making a difference in their lives.
I agree that reader reviews are very rewarding, both favorable and not. I’ve received so many helpful ideas on this blog from readers. Good luck with all your writing efforts!
“…always walked around with her nose in a book…”
Sounds familiar 🙂
Keep up the great work, Belinda!
1. I suppose I want to be a writer because, with your work published for all the world to read, you have the opportunity to make people question things such as society, the future, and beliefs. I like the idea that maybe someday I’ll make a huge impact in someone’s life. And I love that when I write I don’t have to live in reality. I live temporarily in a world that I created, with people I created and understand better than many people in real life.
2. I have two projects on the go right now. One I’ve been working on since last fall and am now editing, the other I’ve only just started planning. My older project is about a hardened orphan who gets unvoluntarily involved in his country’s unjust invasion of a neighboring land. The only way for him to get back home is to find a way to end the war before every single one of his countrymen dies. Right now I’m trying to deepen my characters and descriptions in this story, as well as reinforce the represented values of loyalty, family, and selflessness.
3. Again, I love the idea that maybe one day I’ll make a huge impact in someone’s life through my writing. I want to leave a mark on the world, a good one, and maybe I’ll be able to do that in some small way through my writing.
I so relate! Writing is a great way to represent timeless values and make an impact on the world around us. 🙂
“I love that when I write I don’t have to live in reality.”
Awesome 🙂
First off, thanks for all your posts, Carlos! They always make my day. 🙂
1) Sometime around my freshman year of high school I started writing just for fun. Now a few years later, it’s more than a hobby. It’s a passion. I write because something inside of me wants to write. I write because writing changes the world, and it changes me too.
2) I’m writing my first novel about a teenage girl traveling in Israel. The first draft was mainly based off of personal experiences, but with the second draft I’m taking a different approach. I have mixed emotions over the book, but I’m so glad that I’ve finally committed myself to an idea. I’m letting that idea grow, and I’m excited to see where it ends up.
3) I like to hear my readers’ honest opinions. As a young and always-learning writer, I love to hear their suggestions and advice. And ultimately, I love hearing when my writing has encouraged someone and made a positive influence on their life.
“I write because something inside of me wants to write.”
🙂
Thanks for sharing, Joy! Keep on writing!
Thanks for the questions, it has made me think as it should. As I think about the first question I had to look deep inside to identify why I love writing so much, I think the idea of taking the words inside of my head and painting a Monet with them to create something that makes the reader think. I am currently writing a memoir of a tragedy that changed my life and the thousands of others who have been impacted because of this one incident. The third question is powerful because I believe if I can connect with the reader through life experiences I can connect with them at a deeper level that may for a brief moment allow them to dream or explore with their mind.
Thanks for sharing!
Thank you for posting this “interview.” This subject has been off and on mind the last several weeks. I’ve commented on the subject of why I wanted to become a writer multiple times. And every time, I remind myself why I chose writing in the first place.
So, question one. Why did I want to become a writer? The simplest answer is because I like being creative. I remember playing with Tinkertoys and Legos, creating different vehicles and buildings. In middle school, I crafted a series of stories about the heroic Detective Falcon and his mission to serve and protect St. Canard. In college, while originally going for an Education major, I fell in love with a Creative Writing course. After being published in their magazine, I changed my major and graduated with a Creative Writing degree.
Question two. What am I working on? I have two works in progress. The first is a remake of the short story I had published. It’s about a young man yearning to break free from his mother’s overbearing grip. The second is a new piece about a chance encounter between a man recently dumped and an older man and the friendship that forms.
Now, on to the big question: what do I enjoy most about connecting with readers? For me, I love what I have to share. It may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but the idea of relatability speaks volumes. (Don’t know if that makes sense.) I love crafting stories people love to read and can relate to the characters and/or the subject matter. I don’t know if I’m making a difference with what I’m writing, but I love being creative and I love it if I can make just one person happy.
“I love what I have to share.”
It all starts there, doesn’t it?
Thanks for sharing, George!
As the producer and host of zombiepalooza radio I believe you are heading in the right direction. Many authors are though terrified to use that microphone. Knowing your audience and how to extract those feelings from your guest of being comfortable is a skill. You have set an excellent staircase for success thank you. http://www.zombiepaloozaradio.com