Building an Audience and Release of Free Reads

by M. Pax

Like many writers, I had my free reads available up on my website. A writer friend, Lindsay Buroker [very talented and has been a most generous friend],  recently suggested I put them up on Smashwords for distribution instead. I don't know why I never thought of it, but it's a more sensible way for a writer to build an audience and let readers discover her/him.

Smashwords is one of the sites where readers hang out. Who do we want to reach? Readers. So, it made perfect sense. Readers are more likely to find us on a site like Smashwords than on our own blogs or websites. It goes back to marketing and promoting ourselves. The sooner we get started, the better. Waiting until you get an agent or a contract is starting late out of the gate. And truth is, over the next few years ebooks will begin to out sell traditional books.

For more information on self-publishing free reads, check out my articles at Wicked Writers and Wistful Nebulae. The same article appears on my website, www.mpaxauthor.com [version 2.0 is now out] under the 'Blog' tab. Want to know more? Send me an email, mpaxauthor@gmail.com

Help support a struggling writer by downloading my free reads from Smashwords. Available in all formats. Pick the one you want. You don't have to sign up for anything to do so. However, if you do sign up, you can help an aspiring writer out more by writing a review. Click on the title under the book cover to download that story.

Small Graces / Translations / Plantgirl

Invitation to Authors

An invitation to authors

RaeAnn Proost, Author of SORRY LITTLE SUPPER, THE STOVE AND STORIES OF A SWEDISH GRANDMOTHER and PEPPER IN HER POCKET, THE STOVE AND STORIES OF A COUNTRY GRANDMOTHER“If you don’t, who will?” is the question I ask at my book signings. If you don’t take responsibility for writing and sharing your family stories, who will? Genealogy studies and time lines are important in the process of capturing our histories, but names, places, and dates can be dull reading. Preservation of events and impressions may be lost along the way. Remembered sights, sounds, touches, and aromas tell the stories. These are the facets of the imperfect crystals of our lives. I propose to give back and offer encouragement to new authors, inviting them to share family memories and a recipe. CUPCAKES ON THE COUNTER, THE STOVES AND STORIES OF OUR FAMILIES is to be a collection published in 2009. Please copy your story (500-1500 words) and recipe to an email (no attachments, please) and send to me before December 31, 2008, e-mail to me. In the event your story and recipe become part of the final publication, you will receive an honorarium.


Tags : writing , recipes , RaeAnn Proost