Without an audience, writers would just be shouting into the void. There’s certainly nothing wrong with writing for yourself; some writers are content to create for their own pleasure, others find it therapeutic to keep a personal journal, etc.
But if you’re here reading this, chances are it’s because you do want to share your writing with the world, or at least with several other people. How can you do that?
Gaining a following is hard work. It takes a long time, it requires non-stop determination, and it’s not always totally in your control. After all, you can’t kidnap somebody and force them to read your writing.
There are, however, a few things you can do to make the whole frustrating process of building of a readership a little easier.
Proaction
When a writer shouts into the void, they shouldn’t expect the void to shout back. Writing is only half the challenge. The other half involves you, the author, going out into the world and making some friends.
Engage with other writers. Comment on blog posts, engage in discussion, follow people on Twitter, promote your favorite websites, anything you can do to get people to see your name.
When people do talk to you, respond to them. A like on a Facebook comment about your most recent blog post is nice, but take that extra step to reply to them. It does wonders for making that person feel welcome and wanting to stick around.
Patience
Nobody turns into a bestseller or an internet sensation overnight. Building your readership takes weeks, months, years. When you’re starting out, it can feel like an excruciatingly long process. There will be times even years later when your following might dip a little and you want to give up and start over. This is normal.
One of the best things you can do in these situations is to remember not to panic. Easier said than done, right? No matter how much you get the urge to, don’t obsessively check your blog stats or Twitter followers. Focus on things that are in your control.
Put out new content or make sure your website is streamlined and easy to read. You always have something you can do, so do it. It’ll help you not feel so helpless.
Learn
Contrary to popular belief, finding your audience and getting more attention for your work can be learned. Seek out opportunities to continue learning how to get more attention, study the best strategies and what’s working for others.
The more you know about getting attention the better your chances are of getting your work noticed. All too often writers skip this part, so get a leg up on the competition and learn all you can, and then take over the world.
Acceptance
When all is said and done, there’s nothing to do but wait and see what happens. There’s only so much you can do, so do it, then sit back and relax.
No author is guaranteed to be the next J.K. Rowling or Stephen King. That’s okay! Every writer has something to offer, even if they’re not a national bestseller. Even affecting one reader in a significant way is huge.
The sooner you realize that whatever happens happens, the easier it’ll be to focus on what really matters: your writing. If you’re not enjoying the process, your readers won’t, either. Make sure you’re still happy with the writer you are as you work on building your audience.
What obstacles have you run into in your quest to build an audience? How do you handle them?
Want help getting attention for your latest work? Share a link to your most recent blog post in the comments so our readers can find it!
For those ready to take their work to the next level by learning what it takes to get attention, Bryan has opened his new course “How to get Attention!” Read more about it here.
