Gifts Every Author Will Want to See Under the Tree This Christmas

For authors one of the primary focuses at Christmas is marketing and selling books.

Black Friday Sales!

Christmas Specials!

It can also be a time to prepare for the new year and all the writing projects they want to undertake.

Start a new manuscript!

Query agents and publishers!

It’s like a holiday hamster wheel, with no signs of getting off any time soon (what’s often referred to in the industry as a necessary evil).

But in order for authors to keep churning out the words and stories that entertain us, they need some TLC too! So just as we need to show gratitude to our readers, we need to shower the writers in our lives with pampering as well.

Gift Ideas for Authors

Here are a few gift ideas every author will want to open up on December 25th, either as a gift from Ol’ St. Nick himself, or from beloved family and friends:

1. Books, books and more books. It’s no secret writers are readers so books top the list for our author wishlist! Whether it’s a favorite fiction book they can escape with for a bit or a craft book they can use to improve their writing skills, your favorite author will enjoy any manner of book - eBook, paperback, hardback, audio, or even a bookstore gift card - to cozy up with next to the fireplace!

2. Bookplates. It’s not uncommon for readers to ask authors for some type of signage to accompany their books. If they can’t get an autographed edition, a personalized bookplate is a good alternative to send to fans. We love bookplates designed by Erika Plum Creations! Not only are they super cute but they’re super affordable too!

3. Magazine subscription. Pursuing their favorite writer magazine, like Writer’s Digest, is a great way for authors to spend an afternoon. And knowing they’ll receive a copy each month in the mail (or digitally) is a bonus!

4. Funds to attend a writing class or conference. Authors, no matter how established they are in their careers, should always be learning. But over time, that can become costly. Why not gift your favorite author a scholarship to attend a class or conference, gift them a hotel room for when they head out to one, or donate air miles to make the cost of getting to a conference a little easier.

5. A massage. Writers spend a lot of time seated at their desks hunched over their computers. That can lead to sore muscles - which means a gift certificate for a massage would be just the trick to relieve any aches and pains! Definitely a great way to pamper your beloved author!

6. Comfortable furniture. As noted in Gift #5 above, writers are well-known for passing large amounts of time at their desks. Make sure they are working in style - and staying healthy - with an ergonomic chair and possibly even a standing desk.

7. Idea catchers. Writers are notorious for coming up with ideas at the most inconvenient times! A great way to help them capture all the amazing plotlines, book titles and character sketches that tickle their brains would be to invest in some fun idea “catchers”: there’s an Aquanotes for when inspiration hits while showering, post-it notes for when another story pops up while they are still finishing one, and post-it book flags to mark their favorite sentences in a beloved book!

8. Office Supplies. Pens (any color, but especially red), pencils, paper clips, Sharpies. Writers love ALL of them! Help your author have all the essentials on hand, just make sure to spice them up a little!!

9. Noise canceling headphones. Concentration is a must for any great work of art to be created! To help drown out all the noise - either in the house, office, or coffee shop - a great pair of noise cancelling headphones is a must! We love these Beats Headphones. They ensure that any outside noise stays at bay so that a writer’s imaginary friends can have center stage!

10. An extra pair of hands! When an author is on a deadline or just needs that extra time to focus on their manuscript, an extra pair of hands can make all the difference! For help around the house, consider hiring a maid service; with laundry, take advantage of wash and fold services at your local laundromat; with kids, arrange for a babysitter or family member to keep them for a weekend; with marketing, hire The Author’s Write Hand! We have gift certificates available so you can take the pressure of platform building away from your writer and let us do the heavy lifting!

If you aren’t sure what to gift the author in your life, we hope these ideas will offer some help! And no matter which of these presents you wrap up and place under the Christmas tree this year, they’re sure to love it!

5 Ways to Show Gratitude to Your Readers

grat·i·tude

the quality of being thankful; readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness.

As authors, we have a lot to be grateful for: the words that poured out of us somehow, the publishing contract we may have received, the book sales that were more than we were expecting, and of course, the raving reviews.

And while we should sing praises to God for showering us with all those blessings, we also need to show our appreciation to those who have supported us along the way - our readers! But how do we do that when we may not know them personally? Or when there are way more of them than us?

It’s a real dilemma!

Thankfully, there’s an easy solution to the problem. Well, five, actually …

How to Show Gratitude to Your Readers

If you’re looking for ways to show gratitude to your followers rather than scare them off, here are five simple ideas to make your readers feel appreciated all year long:

• Host giveaways. Each month host a giveaway where one member of your community wins a prize. It might be a signed copy of your book, the eBook version of another author’s book, or a small gift card and trinket related to your book’s theme. It doesn’t have to cost much, but it’s an easy way to give back to your readers and to say thanks.

• Be real. We often think that people aren’t interested in our lives, but that’s simply not true! Not only do readers follow you for your expertise and storytelling abilities, but they also follow you because they like you as a person. Don’t be afraid to give them your authentic self and share glimpses of your life, your writing journey, and the struggles you’ve encountered along the way. You don’t have to be overly personal, but find ways to connect and build relationships with them rather than always selling to them. Keeping it real with your community can go a long way in building trust and showing your appreciation.

• Include them in your process. Want to make readers truly invested in your book? Include them in your writing/publishing process! Ask them to help you name a character, choose a setting for your book, or decide on the best cover. Giving them “skin in the game” will not only make them more excited for the book itself, but it will also let them know you value their opinions and insights as readers. That’s a huge act of kindness that won’t go unnoticed!

• Spend time with them. While you may not be able to sit down with the members of your community 1:1 over a cup of coffee, there are several ways you can spend time with them:

  • Attend reader book festivals and meet them there. Sign their books, take pictures with them and ask questions to learn more about who they are and what they’re wanting from you as an author.

  • Create a private Facebook group just for them. Discuss various books (yours included, of course!), debate book topics (Are bookmarks for quitters?), or host Zoom calls and answer their most pressing questions! Having a direct link to you will give them all sorts of good feels!

  • Join reader groups. Hang out where they hang out! Share your favorite books and ask for their recommendations. They’ll love knowing that you are an avid reader like they are and that you struggle to find your next great read too!

• Pray for them. While it may seem strange at first, praying for our readers is probably the best way to show our gratitude! Paul says in Ephesians 116 (NIV), “I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers …” How you pray for them can vary (you might pray that they will be drawn closer to God through your story/that their hearts would be open to the message you’re sharing, or you might even consider asking how you can specifically pray for them), but it’s unlikely anyone would be unwilling or ungrateful for you to intercede on their behalf!

We have so much to be thankful for as writers. As we count our blessings one by one, let’s not forget to pour back into some of the most important people in our lives - our readers. When we do, we’re certain not only to make followers, but life-long friends as well.

3 Marketing Mistakes that Scare Off Readers

For most authors, marketing is scary! What do I share? How do I use the complex platforms available to get my posts, blogs, and newsletters out?

#thestruggleisreal

But for a reader, author marketing can be just as frightening! When not done properly, an author’s marketing efforts can spook their audience and cause them to run in the other direction.

No author wants that!

But sadly, many writers don’t know they’re even scaring anyone with their marketing. They’re simply doing what they’ve “been told to do” not realizing that it’s turning off readers.

That doesn’t have to be the case. Today, we’re sharing three common mistakes we see authors making and offering our best tips so your marketing can stop being spooky and start being spectacular!

3 Marketing Mistakes that Scare Off Readers

Mistake #1 - Selling not Sharing

Your book is out in the world - congratulations! Now you need to start selling it, right? Of course, but most authors make the mistake of bombarding their audience with “Buy my book, buy my book” in their social media posts and newsletters rather than building up to that ask.

Don’t fall into that trap!

Instead of constantly asking people to buy your book, share the journey of writing the book with your audience before it even hits the stands. Talk about the plot knots, the crappy first drafts, the bags of chocolate you consumed while writing it. Ask them to help name a character or choose a book cover.

By involving them in the process along the way, they’ll grow to love you and your book. In doing so, you won’t have to ask them to buy it when it releases. Instead, they’ll be pushing the buy button the minute it goes on pre-order!

Mistake #2 - Ghosting Them

In any serious relationship, there is some level of constant communication. Without it the relationship slowly withers and dies.

It’s the same for the partnership between an author and their readers. When you, the author, fail to keep up your responsibility to communicate with your audience regularly you take the chance of severing the connection you have with them.

Only showing up in their inbox or on their social media newsfeed every six months or only when you have a book releasing is basically “ghosting them”. They know it and most of them aren’t looking for that kind of relationship. They want an author who will show up on the rough days (when the words refuse to come) and the sunny ones (when you type THE END).

So be an author they can count on. Make consistent communication with your readers a priority (at least one monthly newsletter and a few social media posts on your Author Page each week) and watch the relationship blossom!

Mistake #3 - Taking Not Giving

As authors we ask a lot of our readers:

• Buy my book

• Leave a review

• Join my launch team

• Tell your friends about me/my books

• Sign up for my newsletter

• Buy my next book

Yet relationships can’t be one-sided. You can’t always be taking from your audience or asking them to carry the load all the time. You have to be giving too.

(And yes, we know you’ve given blood, sweat, and tears to produce your latest work. And we’re not discounting that. At. All.)

But from a marketing point of view, what else could you be giving to your readers as a “thank you” for all they’ve done to show their love and devotion to you?

Here are a few ideas you might want to consider::

• Giveaway a free book or gift card in your newsletter each month

• Share a deleted scene from your latest release with them

• Let them have a sneak peek at your latest WIP

• Host an Author Q & A call/Zoom and answer their most pressing questions

• Reply back when they reach out

It doesn’t have to be much, but you can’t always be the one taking in a relationship. When it’s a 50/50 exchange, the relationship is that much stronger and sweeter.

The relationship you have with your audience is critical. Don’t let your scary marketing efforts ruin a spectacular author-reader connection. Instead, utilize these tips and keep the flame burning!

And should you need it, The Author’s Write Hand is available for relationship counseling and assistance :)