An author newsletter is a powerful way to build and maintain a relationship with your readers. Initially, when I first started I had no idea what to put in a newsletter. I’d seen a number of them, since I have subscribed to so many. There were some that were short but full of prizes that I never won. There were some that were long rants that I didn’t care for either. Some had too much personal information. Others sounded like a long vent session. So I tailored mine based on what I like to see from my favorite authors.
How to Write an Amazing Author Newsletter?
Here’s how to make yours stand out:
Be Personal and Authentic
The first paragraph of my newsletter is always about me. What’s the one thing that took over my month? I add a picture, let my readers know the general landscape of life. For eg, I moved. I worked 90 hours a week. I traveled. I was on vacation. Your readers want to connect with you, not just your books. Share your writing process, challenges, behind-the-scenes moments, or personal stories. Being authentic builds trust and keeps readers engaged.
Add Author Value: The Author Update
I see lots of authors now with a random list of all their posts with links. Others will add a list of all their items on sale. Make your newsletter more than just a promotional tool.
As an author you should provide some value to your reader. What’s going on in the your writing world? Where are you in the writing process? Is there a book coming along? How far have you written? What’s holding up the process? Is there a hiccup? Is the cover ready? Has the editor started editing?
I usually offer exclusive content—sneak peeks, deleted scenes, or things like why I’ve based my characters on a location. I remember as I was writing Butterflied, my third book, in the To Love A Sportsman Series based on swimmers, I asked my readers to send in famous swimmers that I could read about since I knew nothing about the world of swimming. And people called me just to explain which swimmer I should research.
Readers will appreciate the value and look forward to your emails.
Include a Call to Action with your Featured Book
I always share a book every month. I have a long catalog at this point. So I’m able to feature a book and tell people to go to Spotify or Apple for an audiobook. Some books that are based on seasons or holidays do well during that time. You can get a lot of traction on older books, by doing this.
You can also link this featured book to a news item or a song or a movie.
Encourage Reader Interaction
Ask questions, invite replies, or include polls to create a dialogue with your audience. Reader feedback can provide insights and help you improve your newsletter. Invite them to an event you’re planning to do or let them know where you’re going to be.
I love polls. I asked my readers to send in names for a cat that I was going to add to my book. It was just so amazing to read all the responses. And I did end up naming the cat in In Other Ways based on a reader recommendation.
Freebies & Discounts
Every month I offer discounts. I was at Walmart, the other day and any decent print book was $15 and up. The better books were $25. In this season of inflation, I just picked up a cheap trade copy of something I didn’t even want to read because I love reading. I can only imagine how hard it is to pay for good books. No wonder there’s so much piracy. As a solution, I offer lots of audiobook discounts and freebies on my newsletter. I love reading reviews that my readers provide as they are true, wholesome and honest.
An amazing author newsletter offers a mix of personal connection, valuable content, and professional polish. Keep your readers engaged by delivering content they can’t wait to open.
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What do you add anything special to your author newsletter?