Frodo

Guest post by Sharon Wagner

Be like Samwise and Frodo and Help a Writer Out

​Friendship isn’t like a Lifetime movie. Often, our tribe can disappoint us. No one knows this better than a newbie writer. Most of you are counting on your friends and family to be your early readers and the choir that will exalt your praises on social media as soon as your masterpiece lands on Amazon. These are the same friends and family that sent brownies when you were studying for exams in college. They saved you from life’s bullies, attended your wedding, and always remember your birthday. They even helped you carry box after box when you moved into your first apartment. They love you, man, right?
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In The Lord of the Rings, Sam follows Frodo to the hellfire of Mordor, like a loyal dog that Frodo had saved from the pound and fed steak at every meal. If Frodo had written a book, Sam would have bought it as soon as it launched and shared Frodo’s precious words on social media. I bet Sam would have shouted the news from New Zealand’s mountaintops and brought a copy to stash in the Shire’s little library. But your best friend probably won’t do any of this. That’s why you need to support other writers; they will understand when you need a literary friend. Here are some spirited reminders to help you find your Samwise:

Reach Out

Have you read a writing article that inspired you? Reach out to the author and tell them what their words meant to you. Express what you learned and thank them. I reached out to an author once who wrote an excellent piece for Author’s Publish, and eventually, she blurbed my debut novel. Flash forward; she’s an editor at a small press and asked me to be part of an anthology. We’ve had each other’s backs numerous times, and it started with a simple email. Samwise carried Frodo many times; if you carry another author, they might schlep around with you, too. 

Newsletter

Do you have an author newsletter? I hope so. Most importantly, subscribe to other debut authors’ newsletters and actually read them. Maybe you can do a cross-promotion with them—a newsletter swap. But you won’t win many Sams if you don’t open their newsletters, learn from their promotional efforts, and connect with them.  

Don't Burn Bridges

Don’t burn bridges. I had a bad experience with two successful authors before my debut launched. They left me in the lurch, and I had to search for new blurb candidates. But I didn’t burn those bridges, and I’m still friends with one of them on Facebook. When I have good literary news, he’ll like my post. I want to play the long game. Perhaps this author will help carry my ring someday, on one finger or another, and keeping those connections could pay off in the long run.

Reviews

Don’t forget to review your writing mentor’s books. I’m in a successful author’s Facebook group, and when she launched a new novel, I read and reviewed it, even though she hadn’t read or reviewed my book. But she was happy to follow me on Instagram, and maybe someday she’ll hold my ring!
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Be kind. After losing two blurb authors, I gained a best-selling author in my genre by reaching out with humble sincerity. Afterward, I shared her book on Instagram, and I plan to take another photo with her book on my next travel adventure and share it again. Pay it forward, and you may reap future rewards. 

Support your peers

Support your writing group peers when they publish a book; hopefully, they will support you someday. It seems obvious, but some peers might withhold help like a stingy Gollum. But you’re smart enough to play the long game.

Follow other authors published at your imprint or press, and maybe they’ll follow you. They are your peeps and might be building a following just like you.  
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I’m no expert at connections, and I wish I had more golden influencers, networks, contacts, and friends in the industry. But paying it forward is good business, and this is a friendly nudge.

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Sharon Wagner is a supernatural writer, inexhaustible travel blogger, spirit investigator (liquid, not ethereal), cat wrangler, and former illustrator of children’s books, including Maya Monkey. Creative from birth, she never stops dreaming of magical worlds to unravel with words. When she’s not wandering to the jungles of Central America, she lives in Minneapolis and Naples with her husband and two naughty cats. The Levitation Game is her debut novel. Discover more at https://sharonwagnerbooks.com/