Writers & Illustrators: Effective Ways to Help Us All Succeed

I bet you’ve heard stories about writers who hoard their best writing advice, or how opportunities are snatched up jealously and the names of contacts never shared. This may be so in some writing circles, but it hasn’t been my experience. Most writers I know tend to give their all at presentations, in critique groups, and on blogs, etc. This has allowed me to joyfully learn at the feet of others, fill notebooks with writing advice, connect folks with each other, and support my fellow writers. Best of all, I have met great folks and made many friends. We are not in this endeavor alone.

That said, sometimes I feel there is even more we can do to help each other. Below is a short list of easy ways to lend a hand to a fellow writer or illustrator. What you do just might be the break a colleague needs.

Never just say “no”

Keep a referral list of folks who do great presentations with their contact info and webpage URLs. Then, if you’re invited to speak or present and you can’t do it, say, “I can’t. But I am sending you a list of writers, or illustrators, who might be able to.” It will only take a few moments to copy and paste your list and send it with your reply.

Hand a referral list to event organizers

When you’re at a book festival or conference, thank the organizers and let them know that you have a list of other writers, or illustrators, who might like to participate next year. Then hand them your list. Don’t wait for the organizers to ask you for it. Or follow-up with a thank you email and the list. (A lot of organizers have no idea how to contact writers and illustrators. BTW: I always include on my list the links to the various speaker bureaus of the organizations to which I belong.)

Alert your local booksellers

Tell your local booksellers about writers in the area who have books coming out soon.

Buddy up

Do signings and book launches with another author. You can double the audience this way, and cross-introduce family and friends to each other’s books. Booksellers love it. Why not go for three authors? Make it a party! Don’t wait for the bookseller to suggest this. Put out a call on your social media for anyone with a new book coming out about the same time yours is, then buddy up and contact the bookstores.

Have more than one elevator pitch

When you have the opportunity, why not include pitches for your favorite manuscripts of friends? I’ve heard of one writer who used her precious ten minutes with an editor at a conference to pitch all the manuscripts in her critique group! What a heart. The editor asked to see three manuscripts from the group—as well as from the person in front of her.

Open your wallet for someone

Support scholarships for writers and illustrators. Even if you can only donate a little. Make it an annual giving and help members of your writing groups who may not be able to attend conferences, etc. otherwise.

Critique

I know time is precious, and we can’t all do this, or are uncomfortable doing this, but lend a critical ear and eye if possible. This also means attending your critique group sessions even when you don’t have any of your own writing to share. Good groups thrive on giving—you should not be there just to get feedback on your own work.

Use social media to advertise the successes of others

Don’t just toot your own horn! Share FB posts and retweet often when a fellow writer has a new book out, wins an award, is presenting somewhere. Spread the good word beyond your own circle of family and friends. How hard is it to push that “share” button? Also, let others know you wouldn’t mind the same in return.

Don’t hoard information

If you hear about writing/illustrating opportunities, online classes, agents, editors, pitch parties, spur-of-the-moment markets, freebies, etc., let others know. Sometimes these kinds of opportunities come and go too quickly to make it into chapter newsletters. No miserliness allowed! Push that “share” button (It’s easy!) and use group emails for like-minded friends.

Volunteer

We all know that life happens, and what available time we have gets co-opted quickly. But every little bit helps. And remember to thank volunteers whenever you see them. (A big thank-you to all the FWA volunteers!) We couldn’t do what we do without them.