How to help indie published writers

You may or may not have noticed, but since the start of this blog, my posts have mostly been of books from indie published authors. It is not a coincidence. After all, 90% of the books I read are from these very special writers. Yes, this blog will continue on that road of promoting self-published authors, because I like them.

Some of them are indie published since the beginning of their career, but many others used to be with major publishing houses and have decided, for one reason or another, to go the indie road, with the good and bad it involves.

However, what they need, most of all, is to be able to make a living through writing.

So how can we help them?

Here are a few ways to help your favourite indie published authors.

1. Leave an honest review

I mentioned the writer/reader circle in a previous post. That part where it is essential for us, readers, to write an honest and constructive review of their books in order for them to know what we like and what we like less.

This doesn’t mean giving a one-star review because the book arrived late on Kindle Unlimited, as I’ve seen in the recent weeks, or giving a lesser review because there are typos in the books (hey, they do have copy editors, but sometimes it does happen that they miss a little something, so when you do notice that, just send the author a wee email rather than lowering the review for that reason; they will be even more thankful).

A review, basically, is about the story you read.

You didn’t finish the book? It happens. Books are not for every reader. But please, if you didn’t finish, it is not the author’s fault. Neither is it the reader’s. It is like any relationship: sometimes it works out, and sometimes it doesn’t. But please don’t go and diss the author because the book wasn’t a good match for you.

Be honest, but be constructive. Mocking an author or a genre because it isn’t your cuppa is not constructive. (This is why I pick my ARCs.)

Where to leave reviews

1. Amazon
2. Goodreads
3. Barnes & Noble (for Nook readers)
4. BookBub (US only)
5. Audible (for an audio book)
6. Other vendors and bookstores

2. How to help with Kindle Unlimited

Some authors put their books on Kindle Unlimited. As I said time and again, they don’t have to do it. Most of them do it for their readers.

However, a book on Kindle Unlimited means that the author is paid per page read. So every time you turn the page of a book on KU, the author gets paid.

The key, there, is to read the whole book from cover to 100%. Simple as that. And then leave a review, of course!

For the rereaders

You read a book on KU and love to reread? After reading the book to the 100% mark, go back to Amazon and buy it. This way, the author receives double payment: one for your KU reading, and one from your purchase.

This is something that I have learnt via some authors’ groups I am a member of. I loved the idea and I am an avid rereader, so I am now trying my best to double it that way.

3. Talk about it

You love a book? Talk about it! Recommend it to friends, recommend it in your book club, recommend it on your social networks, blog about it.

Another way is to share (quote, RT, Facebook share, Instagram repost) the authors’ posts about their books. This way, your friends and followers will have awesome reading suggestions.

There are many ways to talk about a book you love and promote it in your own way. Word of mouth does a lot for writers, but it is essential for those who are indie published, since they don’t have the big machine of the major publishers.

Let’s spread the love

Basically, we only need to spread the love!