At the moment’s put up is by Hanna Kjeldbjerg, Vice President at Smart Ink Media.

As a author within the age of capitalism, it might really feel like your artwork, and your calling, grow to be commodities—and that different books are your competitors.

However most readers don’t purchase simply one e book. So authors with comparable books should not your competitors—they’re your colleagues! And after nearly fifteen years in publishing, I really imagine within the saying, “A rising tide lifts all boats.”

Participating with authors whose books are just like yours is a helpful alternative for inspiration and collaboration. Listed below are a couple of methods to seek out, and lean into, your e book group.

Determine comparative titles

There’s a purpose that figuring out comparative titles (or “comps”) is one thing brokers search for in question letters. Compelling comps doesn’t imply that the “field has been checked” to your topic—it affirms that an viewers exists for books like yours.

And a question letter isn’t the one place you possibly can leverage comparative titles. Embody them in your on-line gross sales and advertising and marketing descriptions: “Followers of E book Title will love [shared element.]” This can be a win-win, as a result of it aligns you with a e book you admire and sign boosts their title.

Comparative titles will also be included in your Amazon promoting technique. One advert class is known as “Sponsored Merchandise,” the place you possibly can pay to be included on the “Merchandise associated to this merchandise” part of a e book’s Amazon itemizing.

Change into a fan

The perfect comparative titles are sometimes by authors who’re up to date (revealed in the previous few years) and never celebrities (until you’re too!). Which means these writers are possible current on-line—they usually aren’t too well-known to actually recognize one other fan.

So learn their work. Depart five-star evaluations with real affirmations. Join their publication. Observe them on social media and don’t simply lurk, however make your self recognized to them by commenting on their posts. Likewise, touch upon their weblog posts—it’s a typical characteristic, however so few individuals take the time to remark. Have fun their wins, realizing they’re a kindred spirit.

Invite collaboration

End up measuring your success in opposition to theirs? Companion up as an alternative. Know that success might be symbiotic, so reference their e book as beneficial studying in your web site, socials, and even in your e book’s again matter.

Take note: this solely works in case your provide is larger than your ask. Keep away from something that seems like asking for a favor. Which means their viewers must be of comparable dimension to yours. (Don’t underestimate the energy of a “micro-influencer”!) Come ready—it’s far simpler to say “sure” when the work is full, and the provide is obvious.

Since it is a chilly name, it’s essential to personalize your message and make it clear it’s not an e mail blast. Do your analysis. Don’t ask to commerce social media options in the event that they promote paid promotional posts. Particularly reference why you’re a fan and allow them to know you’re already selling them to your community. Convey a humble spirit to the outreach, and don’t take it personally in the event that they’re too busy—know that the best alternative will come.

When you’ve linked, embody them in your advertising and marketing technique. In the event you’re each native, plan a shared bookstore occasion, the place by way of the energy of your networks alone, you possibly can double the attendance. Quote one another in articles and pitch yourselves for joint media interviews. Submit functions to conferences for panel discussions. It’s lots tougher to really feel such as you’re in a race if you’re standing beside one another.

Ask for endorsements

Particularly if you share an viewers, writing an endorsement is a win-win as a result of it’s another method for an creator to get their title on the market. Earlier than and After the E book Deal by Courtney Maum says, “ blurb is a testomony to the standard of the e book in query, but in addition an instance of how properly the endorser writes themselves.”

Don’t reinvent the wheel

In Steal Like an Artist, Austin Kleon says, “Nothing is unique, so embrace affect, faculty your self by way of the work of others, remix and reimagine to find your individual path.” With this knowledge in thoughts, turning into an intentional observer is among the finest issues you are able to do to your publishing profession.

A couple of locations to search for inspiration are:

• Social media. Which platforms are they most energetic on? That’s possible the place your viewers is congregated. The perfect writers are readers, and in case your e book is just like theirs, keep in mind that you possible are their target market. So research their outreach, discover what model of content material resonates with you, and emulate that in your technique.
• Writer web site. Spend time with their web site, noting the construction, content material, and any noteworthy parts that would encourage yours. Do they provide assets or have an energetic weblog? Go to their Occasions tab to see what business occasions they’re attending, the place they’re talking, and which bookstores are internet hosting signings—contemplate if these are good alternatives for you too.
• Media options. Media that’s interested by your comparative creators will possible be interested by you too. What press are they getting? This may allow you to construct your individual media record. Google their title. If there’s lots of press, you possibly can filter by clicking “Instruments,” then transfer “Any time” to “Previous yr” to see latest protection. You may also put a Google Alert on their names to assessment future protection.
• Buyer evaluations. Studying buyer evaluations of your comps on Amazon, Goodreads, and StoryGraph is an effective approach to get within the head of your potential readers and perceive what they like and don’t like in a e book. This may particularly be useful within the writing and revision course of, but in addition helps you perceive how your e book aligns with, and stands out from, different books in your style.

Be part of the dialog

Really feel prefer it’s “already been finished”? Be part of the dialog.

Consciously tune in to their media options. How does your perspective interact with theirs, or discover the subject from a special angle? The perfect media pitches usually reference earlier articles or episodes, as a result of it doesn’t diminish your take, however affirms the shared viewers. “The Finish” is for fairy tales, not cultural conversations.

Within the e book enterprise, we name them “comparative titles.” As a result of they aren’t competitors. They’re good firm. Right here’s to lifting one another up.

Hanna Kjeldbjerg was raised to be a polka dancer however works in publishing as an alternative. She labored on a whole bunch of books within the final fifteen years and is presently the vice chairman of Smart Ink Media. She has offered about publishing on the Loft Literary Heart, the Wordsmith convention, IBPA’s Publishing College, the Minnesota E book Writer’s Roundtable, and Write On, Door County. Her writing has been revealed in Paper Darts and Publishers Weekly, and he or she is a two-time set up artist with the Artwork Shanty Tasks.