- Newsletter: We have a free newsletter when a new issue comes out and periodic e-mail blasts about special opportunities for WOW! subscribers. To sign up, go to our home page at http://www.wow-womenonwriting.com . On the top right-hand side, you will see a box that says, "Sign up for our free newsletter." If you were already signed up, you would have been notified about our new issue, our special offers from our sponsors, and what we are looking for from freelancers this week!
- Facebook: Like us on Facebook! We allow fans to post information about their blogs, books, or businesses once a week. We let you know about all our new classes. We respond to questions on what type of submissions we are looking for and when contest notifications go out. Our Facebook page is a great place to ask us questions and let us know what YOU are up to with your writing. You can also meet other women writers here for networking and support. Anytime we have a special offer or new blog tour with a book giveaway--we post it here.
- Twitter: We have two Twitter accounts you can follow--our general one at http://www.twitter.com/womenonwriting or one specifically for WOW! blog tours at http://www.twitter.com/WOWblogtour On both, we interact with followers; on our general account, we tweet links to helpful articles and contests as well as updates to our class lists and the freelance job board. We point out our sponsors whom we have checked out, and we encourage writers through the hashtags #amwriting and #nanowrimo. Our WOW! blog tour account lets readers know where our authors are appearing and when people can win a prize or learn important information.
- The Muffin: Our blog, which you are reading now, can be subscribed to through e-mail or RSS feed. We update The Muffin each day, so you don't want to miss one thing our bloggers have to say. You can also become a part of our blog through the Friday Speak Out program. For more information, click on a post written on ANY FRIDAY, read it, and then contact Marcia at marcia (at) wow-womenonwriting.com
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By: Annie,
on 1/30/2011
Blog: WOW! Women on Writing Blog (The Muffin) (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: LuAnn Schindler, author promotion, connecting with readers, email newsletters, writer promotion, readers, newsletters, Add a tag
After you start publishing work, after you begin building a following of readers, you realize you need to stay connected so you can inform readers of what you're working on or offer writing advice or promote your latest book.
Now, you may be wondering what the best method of communication may be. You've got a website, you promote your work on Twitter and Facebook. Maybe your blog allows for an RSS feed. Do you also need a newsletter?
Before you starting penning a periodical, several questions need to be addressed. What reasons drive your desire to begin a newsletter? Who will read your newsletter? And perhaps the most important question of all: Why should readers peruse your publication?
Why Start a Newsletter?
Obviously, an e-mail newsletter can help you stay in touch with readers and grow a larger circulation base. Do newsletters give all writers and genres a boost?
- Non-Fiction writers - experts on the topic they write about - benefit from this type of promotion. By offering articles, breaking news, and links to other information regarding your area of expertise, readership will increase. In many cases, cross-links with other websites draw additional readers.
- Fiction writers use a newsletter to update fans about the latest news: book or article updates, blog posts, book tours, speaking engagements. Some authors offer book excerpts or links to video or podcasts.
Who Will Read Your Work?
Determining your intended audience will help you decide what type of content to include in the newsletter. Plus, defining your readership helps you focus on places to find potential readers.
Once you've defined who your audience will be, you need to ask why this audience will want to read your updates. Are they looking for specific advice on the topic? Do they want general information about books, articles, blog posts? Are they interested in personal information?
Sometimes, a writer may try to cover all bases. Trust me, as an avid reader of newsletters from several of my favorite writers, their publications don't always contain the information I'm most interested in. But that may be okay, too, since it forces me to check out their websites.
Formulate a strong mental picture about the type of newsletter you want. Play with several different design ideas. Make a list of potential articles. These strategies provide focus for you and the kind of information you plan to impart to readers. I scoured my favorite writer newsletters and found the following items:
- Top-# lists
- Features
- Reviews
- Q & A
- Guest Writers
- Classified
What Elements Haven't I Considered?
Think you've thought of everything? Think again. Here are a few other considerations:
- How often will I publish a newsletter? Weekly? Monthly? Only you know for sure how much information you'll have to make a newsletter a worthwhile reading experience.
- Will I write every article? Depending on the scope of your publication, a newsletter can be a time-consuming project. Can you afford to pay others to write for the newsletter?
- Should I offer a premium subscription or should my newsletter be free of fees? Once again, the size of the project may point you toward the best answer for you situation.
- Does the publication need a copyright
3 Comments on Spread the Word: Do Authors Need an E-Mail Newsletter?, last added: 1/31/2011Display Comments Add a Comment
By: Molly Blaisdell,
on 11/14/2008
Blog: Seize the Day (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: spirit, Golden Coffee Cup, Phyllis A. Whitney, struggling, Isle of Sky, connecting with readers, Add a tag
Howdy, Coffee Cuppers, I'm here with the beloved spiriti of a great maven of children's stories, Phyllis A. Whitney. On February 8, 2008, the wonderful Phyllis passed to "the other side". Today her spirit is giving us that trusty typewriter-retro high-five. 
Here is the high-five mystery cover of one of her books. This was one of the first books I ever read. I had the flu and afever of 103. With my trusty dictionary in hand, I wrastled my way through this whole book. I was 13 years old.
I can't say how much I appreciated formulaic books as a struggling reader. When I couldn't understand all the words I was able to piece together the plot because mysteries follow patterns. I wore tartan skirts for years after reading this book and that is saying something because I lived in hotter-than-heck Texas. 
Jacket illustration by Ezra Jack Keats, Copyright 1955, The Westminster Press Philadelphia, PA
So, your little inspirational moment today, folks, is to close your eyes and envision your readers. Think about how your words will be with them as they make their space-time journey. Think about how your words and/or pictures are for the their future. Let the emotions flood you. You might let us all know what you felt.
You must want to enough. Enough to take all the rejections, enough to pay the price of disappointment and discouragement while you are learning. Like any other artist you must learn your craft -- then you can add all the genius you like.-- Phyllis A. Whitney
ood this is rally nice!
Yes, I am :) WOW is one of the best places online for women who have the passion for life and writing. WOW has given me lots of tips to strike a balance between career and family.
Thanks! That is so nice of you to say, and that's what we are trying to do here. :)
Thanks to you too, Margo, and to all the passionate women at WOW :)
Thank you, everyone at WOW for connecting me with so many amazing writers. I have been so blessed since I "found" you all.
I'm a newbie to the blog and still don't have looked over all your resources but I'm glad I'm here. I've got you on my Google Reader. Happy Thanksgiving.
@Linda--we are glad you "found" us too. :)
@Grace--Welcome! Let us know if you have any questions.