By Geraldine Donaher, author of Mouth Shut Head Down
Art festivals and book fairs get authors out of their heads, off the computer, and into the messy world of human interaction. I’m not talking about paying a $75 table fee to sell five books. Instead of such high costs, I invest in the lovely, down-to-earth human interactions found at community events.
Thanks Dianna Sinovic author of Scream of The Silent Sun, I attended (at no upfront cost) the July Tinicum Arts Festival Authors’ Table. I received only part of the proceeds from my book sales because: the Civic Association and Frenchtown Bookshop did all the advertising (I was featured in the festival’s brochure and on a poster), the bookshop handled all the money, and they took care of setting up and taking down. Bonus? I met some wonderful authors and booksellers.
A few weeks later, I was at the Literacy Nation Book Fair within the Container Village in West Philadelphia. This is free for authors who pay the $45 annual Literacy Nation membership. A staff member from the Free Library of Philadelphia stopped by my table and asked if I’d be interested in taking part in a Meet-the-Author program.
For me, it’s the people. Readers are genuinely interested in books and engage in uplifting conversations. But here’s a list of TEN REASONS to get out there.
10. Practice. By stepping out of the normal writing routine, you learn to advocate for your work, speak up professionally, and give a short but effective pitch.
9. Promote. This is the absolute hardest thing for so many authors. Look around and see other crafters and writers. Whatever they’re selling doesn’t lose its importance, creativity, or beauty just because of sales. It is important.
8. Build your reputation. For anything to happen, we have to show up. Fairs and festivals are a good way to offer your services to libraries, writer groups, and book clubs. Have business cards to give out, and more importantly, ask for theirs. It’s easier for you to reach out to them in a follow-up than to wait for them.
7. Find support from other authors. Go and find authors who light up when they talk about their work. Do they ask about yours? This is a probable future friend (and how I found Diana Sinovic).
6. Surround yourself with other creatives. I have a deep sense of respect whenever I’m around people who create: fine artists, dancers, designers, woodworkers, authors. Why? Vulnerability and courage are the conflicting emotions needed to put something out into the world. This is the height of the human experience. Vulnerability and the courage that grows from it are how humans reach full potential.
5. Learn from others. What I learned from other authors: design and order a cool author banner, invest in a lightweight table canopy, vinyl stickers boost foot traffic (give them away for free), offer Hershey Kisses (cool weather) or Life Savers mints (hot weather) to everyone who walks by, put out a sign-up sheet for your free newsletter, advertise a discount for anyone who buys that day.
4. Use your five senses and take notes. Listen to dialogues, watch how people dress, smell the food/sweat/perfumes, feel the heat rising up from the blacktop or the breeze moving through the trees, and order the street food or carnival fare you would normally shy away from. The more you take notice, the more these things will authentically appear in your next story.
3. Make connections. Put on a smile, strengthen your handshake, practice looking people in the eye, and brush up on your active listening skills. You are a professional. Show it to everyone walking past your table.
2. Engage with the community. People always stop to ask questions and share their thoughts about my writing. Sometimes they cry about a family member who is being trafficked, or they’ll share their sad experience of a baby dying. Human experiences are in the stories we read and write.
1. Have fun and enjoy the community’s support of your passion. People will remember how you engage with them. Use kind engagement to let them know how important they are to you. Voice how grateful you are that they welcomed you into their community.
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