Tuesday Tidbits: Author Newsletters (Part V)

Followers, subscribers and likes, oh my!

If you are an author, then you probably have a newsletter. If you are a reader, you have probably subscribed to one or more. Newsletters are essentially about creating and maintaining a readership for your books. And by readership I mean people who will buy your books.

I try to remain transparent in my newsletters, although readers know that I want to sell them stuff. I try not to bombard them with pitches and offer them value each week, either through book deals or just something entertaining. I purge my list periodically because if people don’t open them, then I don’t need to cutter up their inbox (plus it lowers my open rate).

Here is what I’ll be sending in tomorrow’s newsletter:

Author newsletters. Maybe you love ’em, maybe you don’t. If you don’t, then you probably don’t open them, right?

When I set out on my writing journey as a poet, I couldn’t imagine where I would be four years later. I am now an author with two poetry and two science fiction books to my name. Many of my long time subscribers have been with me from the start and know me as a poet first. Now, the majority of my subscribers have signed up because I am a science fiction author.

This newsletter is for readers. Readers of poetry, science fiction, historical drama, crime fiction, comedy, and of the countless other genres out there. Some of my poetry readers have crossed over to enjoy my science fiction and vice versa.

I try to offer as much variety in my newsletter, while staying true to what I like to write about and ultimately why you continue to open my weekly smorgasbord of entertainment. Because that’s what it is, entertainment. You may not be interested in some of the promos I include. Some of the authors I interview may be to obscure. You might not even get my sense of humor. Heck, I don’t get my sense of humor some of the time, like what was up with that cartoon about Pythagoras and the Cheerios?

-Hey I liked that one.
Yeah. me too.

It’s hard work to be an indie author. The writing is the easy part. Creating weekly content? It can be stressful at times, but I enjoy it. Meeting and supporting other authors like me? Rewarding. The marketing? Well, that part sucks.

Anyway, I’m glad you are here. Thank you for your support.

(Curious about the cartoon?)

Here are some previous newsletter related posts:

Tuesday Tidbits: What’s the Frequency, Kenneth? Newsletters that is.
Tuesday Tidbits: Mailing Lists for Authors
Free Book Friday: Author’s Newsletters- Worth the free book?
Newsletter Success: Benchmarks

-Leon

Have you discovered linktree? All links on one handy page: https://linktr.ee/leonstevens

Leon Stevens is a multi-genre author, composer, guitarist, songwriter, and an artist, with a Bachelor of Music and Education. He published his first book of poetry, Lines by Leon: Poems, Prose, and Pictures in January 2020, followed by a book of original classical guitar compositions, Journeys, and a short story collection of science fiction/post-apocalyptic tales called The Knot at the End of the Rope and Other Short Stories. His newest publications are the novella trilogy, The View from Here, which is a continuation of one of his short stories, and a new collection of poetry titled, A Wonder of Words.

My new book page: http://books.linesbyleon.com/