Audience Building
You build your audience by talking to people and learning from them. First, define who your ideal reader is. You may think that your ideal readers are young people; however, you need to feel like a reader, not like the author. You can start audience-building by researching age/gender/occupation/etc. and people who read your genre. The research will give you a start, then test the waters. Learn more and more each day. Another great way to learn about audience building is through Dr. Robert Garcia Tactical CEQ Course or Russell Nohelty Build A Rabid Fan Base course (both of which I have taken)
Always keep creating
Regardless of what is going on in your life, create. You don’t have to go all out, but you need to create if you are a creative person. Start with something small. If you are not into a complete novel, write a short story. Find prompts through websites like Reedsy Discovery and write something small. Sometimes it’s not about the end game, but the move forward. My friend Donald Dodson has a great article in The Authors’ Porch upcoming Magazine Launch July 15th about creatives you don’t want to miss.
Live shamelessly
Often, as authors/writers/creatives, we fear not being good enough. Some will call it imposter syndrome, and others will call it something else. I call it “FEAR.” Break free from that fear and life “Shamelessly” like my friend Veronica Crystal Young mentions in her article in our upcoming magazine. She also has some fantastic books that will help you break free from the molds that the world tries to put us in.
Do Not Compare
First-time writer, best-selling author, mid-level: you MATTER no matter who you are. Never compare yourself to someone else because they can’t be you, and you cannot be them. Our lives are uniquely ours, and we have to live them for ourselves. Stop trying to be like someone else and be you. It’s pretty freeing. My friend Annette Whittenberger book “The wall Between Two Lives” is a true testament to that, and her podcast and mentorship program are as well.
Authentic Connections
Every author out there is trying to get a leg up. We are all running this race together. The thing is, some are just throwing something out into the universe, hoping they will stick to this proverbial Velcro wall and they will get famous. The only way you grow is by making those authentic connections. I can’t say it as well as Gabi Garland because she is an expert in this arena. Once you are authentic in building relationships, you will start to see growth. You have to be okay with building slow enough to be true to yourself and the people you surround yourself with. One day you will look up, and you will wonder how you rose to the heights you are.
