Being a Good Literary Citizen: Part 1

We always talk about how to promote your book and this week I attended (as a speaker) the Business Boot Camp for the Women in Publishing Summit team where all we talked about was authorprenuership. But there’s more to this literary life than just self-promotion. There’s a give-back element that we call literary citizenship and if you can learn to enjoy it, you can really profit from it.Five years ago, we talked about this as taking the easy way out by doing anything but writing. In 2021, we touched on the topic as it related to Paying Your Writerly Dues. And last week in our quest for inspiration, we suggested some of these activities to channel your creative vibes. This time we’re taking a list from the Executive Director of the Pat Conroy Literary Center, Jonathan Haupt, who presented on the topic at last week’s Joy of Writing conference for the SCWA. We’re going to expound upon each of these topics on the air. No segments today, just working the list:Join a writers’ groupGo to a writers’ conferenceBe a loyal customer to your local indy bookstoreWrite reviews for your favorite indy bookstoresAttend author talks and book signingsSend than you letters, notes, and messages to authorsLike, comment, share, subscribe to authors’ digital contentPost reviews for books you enjoyGo to book festivalsBe the “in conversation with” hostBe a library patron, better yet, a Friend of the LiberarySupport literary journals and magazinesBe a literacy volunteer at your local schoolsDonate books to the Little Free LiberariesJoin the Authors GuildJoin a book clubJoin Authors Against Book BandsAdvocate for the rights to read and write freelyChronicle the times in which you liveSupport the arts and your fellow creativesBe a literary touristRead.Read more on the blog