Being a cheerleader for other authors helps you promote your own book

Authors benefit from supporting their writing peers. Here's why being a cheerleader for other authors helps you, too.

Give me an A!

Give me a U!

Give me a T!

Give me an H!

Give me an O!

Give me an R!

What’s it spell?

“AUTHOR!”

Louder!

“AUTHOR!”

Yaaaaaay!

Be a cheerleader!

I was a high school cheerleader for one memorable year.

I learned about more than clapping, jumping, and how to polish white Keds, though. I also discovered the importance of crowd and community support.

That’s probably why I’m still a cheerleader today.

Now I’m cheering for authors, not football and basketball players. (And I don’t wear briefs dyed green to match my cheer sweater anymore.)

You can do it, authors!

Jami Albright’s guest post on her inspiring success as an indie author underscores the importance of cheering for other writers.

“I’ve tried to be the best community member that I can be. I cheer people on, I support them, I share their stuff, and I offer help when I can,” she wrote.

As she noted, it’s so important for us to take time away from our own writing and marketing to support other authors we know, respect, or like.

It’s counter-intuitive, but . . .

Perhaps what I’m proposing seems counter-intuitive, especially when you already feel like you don’t have enough time to do what’s needed for your own book.

How will you ever find the time to be a cheerleader for other authors, too?

Let’s focus on the “why” before the “how.” Here’s why it makes sense for you.

5 reasons to cheer on other authors

There are so many reasons to support other writers, but here are my top five.

1. It’s good for your soul.

It’s better to give than to receive, right?

Seriously. According to the American Psychological Association, simple acts of kindness can reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety while also increasing happiness and self-esteem and lowering emotional reactivity. 

Help someone else and you’ll help yourself.

2. You will learn.

Connecting with other authors will expose you to the tactics and tools they’re using to promote their books.

You could be privy to the “behind the scenes” work that goes into certain types of promotions. That insider information can save you a great deal of time later if you decide to implement one of those tactics.

Be a beta reader. Join a launch team. Attend a book signing by a lesser-known author who doesn’t have a large fan base yet.

3. You will create a valuable community.

The authors you start supporting today become the people you can turn to tomorrow when you need a recommendation for a cover designer, an editor, or a proofreader.

Or help promoting your book. When you support others, they will often repay the favor by supporting you.

4. It’s good training.

When you cheer on other authors, you learn more about what kind of support you will need when it’s your turn.

You’ll have a better understanding of what to ask for, how to ask for it, and when to ask for it.

5. You will make authors happy.

Imagine how excited you would be if another author shared on social media their glowing review of your new book! Don’t you want to do that for someone else?

Set an example for others by re-sharing their promotional posts. Create and share your own content about their books. Tag authors you’re supporting so they know what you’ve done.

Those author will be happy… and so will you.

It takes so little time

Supporting and helping your writer colleagues can take just a few minutes every day.

There’s so much in this for you that I can’t imagine why you wouldn’t want to do it.

Here are just a few ideas:

• Buy their books when possible and tell people you’ve done so — and why.
• Interview them for your YouTube channel.
• If you liked the book, review it on Amazon and Goodreads as soon after launch date as possible.
• Make books your go-to gift for those occasions or events that warrant a gift.
• If you know someone who can help, connect them.

Get even more ideas in “5 ways to collaborate with other authors.”

The more you give, the more you’ll get back, so make supporting other authors a regular practice.

What are you doing already to support other authors?  

(Editor’s note: This article was published in October 2018. It is now updated and expanded.)