Empowering you to write the stories of your heart and increasing your impact with a book.

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Hello Reader,
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Helpful information for your writing career each month

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In this issue:

• Craft & Commerce: Unlock the Power of Reader Magnets and Bonus Content
• Career: Hero on a Mission: a planner for creatives
• Commerce: KDP Royalty Calculator
• Kudos!: Jennifer Arrington’s #1 New Release in children’s books

Craft & Commerce: Unlock the Power of Reader Magnets and Bonus Content

As authors, we want to engage readers and leave a lasting impression with our stories. There are two powerful tools you should have in your author toolbox to help you do that: reader magnets and exclusive bonus material. These extra ways to showcase your writing deepen reader engagement and can expand your fan base.

Reader Magnets: The Key to Building an Enthusiastic Fan Base

A reader magnet is a valuable piece of content, such as an ebook, quickstart guide, PDF, worksheet, short story, novella, or prequel, that you offer for free to readers in exchange for joining your email list. It should be well written so that it leaves them eager to read more of your work.

Benefits of creating a reader magnet:

• Expand Your Reach: Offering a reader magnet allows you to connect with a wider audience beyond your published works. Services such as Bookfunnel and StoryOrigin often allow you to offer your magnet in swaps, exchanges, and promotions, allowing you to reach new readers. Putting up a sign-up link on your website and in your social media posts and bios is another great way to attract new readers.
• Forge Deeper Connections: When you giveaway something free, you create a small, psychological sense of obligation, especially if the reader perceives your magnet to be something of value. This makes it easier to create a connection, foster loyalty, and build a community of fans who can’t wait for your next book and help promote your work by sharing about it.
• Grow Your Mailing List: Every reader who downloads your reader magnet gets added to your email list. You gain a direct line of communication to keep them updated on your latest releases, promotions, and exclusive content, further nurturing the relationship.
• Boost Book Sales: A reader magnet acts as a gateway to your other books. Once readers fall in love with your free content, they’re more likely to purchase your full-length novels and eagerly explore your backlist, boosting your book sales and increasing your visibility as an author.

Exclusive Bonus Material: Unleash the Power of Extraordinary Additions

In addition to reader magnets, offering exclusive bonus material can also increase reader engagement. These bonus materials serve as fun additions that enhance the reading experience and provide a unique offering for your most dedicated fans. It’s a nice reward for their support of you. And it’s a fun way to use material you might have already created as part of your writing process.

Types of exclusive bonus material:

• Character Backstories: Dive deeper into the lives of your characters by sharing their backstories. Unveiling their secrets, motivations, and past adventures will enrich your readers’ understanding and emotional connection with your characters.
• Deleted Scenes: Share the scenes that didn’t make it into the final version of your book. These intriguing snippets offer readers a glimpse into alternative storylines, character development, or unseen plot twists, providing a behind-the-scenes experience they won’t find anywhere else.
• Author Notes: Delve into your creative process and share your thoughts, inspirations, and challenges while writing the book. Readers appreciate these personal insights, as it allows them to connect with you on a deeper level and gain a greater appreciation for your craft.
• Bonus Short Stories: Craft original short stories set in the world of your novels or featuring your beloved characters. These stand-alone tales or bonus scenes and epilogues provide extra depth, expand your fictional universe, and leave readers eager for the next book because they now have inside information that other readers don’t have.
• Worksheets, workbooks, exclusive podcast episodes: Nonfiction folks can pull content from their book and put it into a format that makes it easy for their readers to access, such as a PDF or worksheet. If you host a podcast, recording special bonus episodes can be a great way for your readers to feel like they are getting additional material and access.

By offering exclusive bonus material, you reward your dedicated readers with unique content that keeps them engaged, excited, and eagerly anticipating your next release and makes them feel like part of a privileged insider group.

Reader magnets and exclusive bonus material are invaluable tools that will not only thrill your existing fans but also attract new readers and amplify your influence as an author. Add them to your toolbox today.

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Where you can find me

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Want personalized writing advice?

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Share a writing, editing, or publishing hurdle you have faced or a question you have and I will email you an autographed copy of Eat the Elephant: How to Write (and Finish!) Your Book One Bite at a Time and send you a personalized five-minute video. Click here to find out more.

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This month’s resource recommendations

Hero on a Mission. Don Miller of Blue LIke Jazz and StoryBrand Marketing fame created a planner designed with creatives in mind. And he’s giving it away free. Check it out and see if it works for you.

KDP Royalty Calculator. Dave Chesson has done it again. He’s provided a wonderful tool for authors. This one will help you calculate your royalty on Amazon based on different factors. Given the changes lately in royalty rates for print products, this will help you determine a good price point for your book. Check it out here.

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Kudos!

One of my editing clients, Jennifer Arrington (what’s with all the Jennifers lately? 🤣) had a great win with her latest book. She ranked a #1 New Release on Amazon in Children’s Christian Action and Adventure for her book, River’s Treasure. Congrats, Jen! Check her book out!

If you’re one of my clients who has won an award, finaled in a contest, achieved bestseller status, or hit some sales goals, let me know. I’d love to celebrate your wins with you!

Writing quote

Write what should not be forgotten. — Isabel Allende

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Pressing on!

Jennifer

PS—You should assume any link in this Update is an affiliate link. It costs you nothing more but gives me a few pennies. 🙂

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