The Obvious Answer
Being an author can be thankless at times. You toil over your book, fatigue over edits, stress over publishing, and go nuts over promoting. All for even one sale or a review that will make you happy. Just something to make it all worthwhile. Now, we’ve all heard that buying the book, sharing the book, and reviewing the book can make an author smile. What about the lesser known pick me ups, especially if you know the author personally?
- Can’t go wrong with giving them coffee, but this doesn’t go for every author. Contrary to belief, not every author likes coffee. For example, it makes me sleepy, so that would be a bad idea. Just do a little research and find out what the author likes as an energy source during those rough patches. Heck, a scratch-and-sniff sticker can work, especially with touchscreens. Doesn’t even have to be true since the author can imagine it working.
- Introduce a friend to the author. This doesn’t even have to be a potential reader, but it’s a new set of ears to talk to. Authors are people who are plugging away at a difficult road. This friend could have insight into what the author is doing or simply be curious about the hows and whys of their life. It’s a little bit of ego-stroking and helps the author to know that they’re not isolated. Just make sure not to bring a friend whose first comment is asking when they’re getting a free frozen yogurt.
- Send a picture of yourself dressed as one of the characters. Extra smiles if you’re holding the book. If there aren’t any characters that you can dress up as then combine the two ideas. Cosplay as the book itself.
- Edible Arrangements. This might just be me.
- Give the gift of a thesaurus. Sure, they can get one on-line or on their phone, but the physical one helps in a power outage. Don’t bother asking if they already have one because I’m sure all authors can use one in every room. Nothing is more frustrating than taking a shower and not being able to think of a synonym for ‘damp’.
- Remember their birthday. Even if it’s just a message of FB or an e-card, it’s nice to know you’re being thought of. An added bonus is if the author has forgotten it’s their birthday and now they realize cake is in their future. Downside to this is if their family forgot too and their dreams of cake are scattered like a dropped cup of a cookie crumbles that go great with Carvel ice cream cakes.
- Comment on blog posts or other social media sites. This gets overlooked for some reason, but it’s similar to the reviews with a lot less time put in. You don’t have to read a whole book to understand the post. Authors, especially the indies, love interacting with readers. We’re already on the computer writing, so this is a taste of socialization that we might be missing. Not to mention, you can get ideas from the conversation or make a brand new friend.
Legends of Windemere 
Charles you are brilliant! I love all of these suggestions!
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Thanks. 🙂
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All very valid, Charles, but I would have to ask that if anyone was going to bring me hot beverages it be tea… can’t stand coffee! See, another author who doesn’t fit into the norm 😉 Great post.
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I’m guessing the hot drink of choice depends on the region. I’d prefer hot chocolate.
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Hmmm… perhaps. We do hot chocolate too although it really is all about the coffee and the tea over here 🙂
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Too bad. Hot chocolate is a great alternative. 😀
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Good suggestions! I love the Edible Arrangements also. And coffee. And chocolate.
Just thinking about the Edible Arrangements makes my mouth water. My brother’s in-laws usually have those around the holidays. 🙂
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We only seem to get them during anniversaries and funerals. I love the chocolate-covered apples and pineapple flowers. Can’t go wrong with strawberries too.
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Buying me a pint and sitting with me, as I enjoy it close to an open fire, in a traditional English pub makes me smile. Also being told, in a face-to-face situation how much a reader enjoyed my work brings a smile to my face. Great post, thanks. Kevin
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Glad you enjoyed it. Totally agree about the face-to-face compliment.
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Reblogged this on Chris The Story Reading Ape's Blog and commented:
WARNING: REVIEWS NOT INCLUDED – but please don’t let that stop you leaving any, or comments on Charles’ blog, or . . . 😃
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Thanks for the reblog. Love the warning. 🙂
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👍😄😄😄
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Add another… drag author away from computer when the temperature in their corner starts to rise above danger level. Forcibly if required.
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Good point. Though it’s winter here, so the heat might be welcomed.
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Winter here too, but if WordPress eats anything else I will go supernova…
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The app has been doing that to me all day. At least it opens unlike what happened with my old phone.
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These would all do nicely. A nice cup of tea is always welcome as is a back rub from time to time.
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Fun post, you made this author smile. 🙂
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Glad to hear it. 🙂
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Now I have this vision of you dressed as Lisa Burton. I’ll get to work on my Fizzle costume. Maybe it’s time for another hot beverage. Bourbon can be a hot beverage, can’t it?
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Bourbon works for me. Not sure I have the legs for a Lisa cosplay. Have anything shorter and with more hair? Maybe the yak.
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I do actually, but I haven’t talked about him publicly yet. He appears in the Yak Guy project as a kind of mentor.
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How is that project going?
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His section is already written and over. I may get to Yak Guy himself again this weekend. I have some guest posts to work on first.
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Good luck. Not really sure what’s going on here, so I might have to start living vicariously through other authors. 😀
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Great list, Charles. You hit the seven nails on the head. BTW I haven’t thought of Carvel in twenty years. Is old Tom still doing the commercials?
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Funny thing is that I haven’t seen a Carvel commercial in years. There’s one near me, so we always get birthday cakes from it. Been a tradition since I was a kid. Need to find those old ads for the memories.
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There was Lucky the elephant with his trunk turned up for extra luck. Tom sounded like he adenoids were swollen. And remember there is no air pump in Carvel stores.
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Have to admit that I don’t remember the elephant or the air pump. Fudgie the Whale and Cookie Puss are still around though.
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Ah Fudgie the whale yes. Cookie puss no.
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Never had one of those, but it looks weird. Always willing to try something that bizarre when ice cream is involved.
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My favorite. (Ice cream that is)
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Wonderful post, Charles! Sharing… 🙂
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Thanks for the share. Glad you enjoyed it too. 🙂
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I’m sure you can’t miss with these suggestions. Ha ha.
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Thanks. Definitely can’t. 😀
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What can I send you to encourage you via US Mail? I would love to have another “real author” friend.
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Honestly, I’m easy with getting encouragement from comments. Gifts tend to make me awkward.
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Consider that this reply is a bushel basket full of encouragement tied with a Thanksgiving-themed bow.
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Thanks. 🙂
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Reblogged this on Kate McClelland.
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Thanks for the reblog.
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The cosplay idea is great. Do you suppose it would be tacky to dress up as your OWN character?
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Not really. I’ve heard of it being done before.
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Coffee makes me sleepy as well. I’m trying to get into the review booth more than before. For me, I have to get my copies mostly at Netgalley as unfortunately I’m a single mom and disabled to boot. I would love to review more Indie authors given the chance.
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I don’t know if a lot of indie authors are on Netgalley. I think many are free through kindle unlimited, but that still requires money. Hard to ask for copies from the author too since Amazon started doing the verified thing. Really is an uphill battle for all corners of the book world.
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Yes, it is. I wish it were easier.
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Your list made me smile, Charles. Off to share. 🙂
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Glad you enjoyed it. 🙂
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I’m always happy whenever one of my story posts gets a like, especially if the person actually read the story. 😀
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Me too. 🙂
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Yeah, I totally agree, especially #7, so much work if people don’t read things.
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Thanks. It is a slight pain when I do a post and it seems to go unnoticed. Does make me think authors have a little bit of neediness. Then again, maybe all artists have that.
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Yeah for sure, I really feel that way as someone new to social media for writing, wondering what is worthwhile, so even a “like” is really appreciated.
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Those do mean somebody saw it. I think Facebook has made me numb to the ‘like’ thing when I’m on the receiving end. At least on that platform. I seem to take it more seriously on WordPress.
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Yea, that totally makes sense, hard to tell levels of actual engagement
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