Look, this is a question on my mind as I've now delved into the world of self-publishing. Not only do I wonder how to best get people to support myself, I ponder the best way to support my friends who are venturing into this abyss where you cast you net of words and hope to pull something back from it. I have thought of a few ways.
First and formost, buy their book. Look, if it's $0.99 it's not a big deal. If it's a tad bit more expensive just remember that you are supporting someone. When you are first starting out on this adventure every little sale makes your heart leap and gives you a bit of a grin. I know I have purchased a couple of R. Brady Frost's books from the Nook Store, and when his latest Chlorophyllium 9: A Short Story comes to the Nook I will buy it too. This short story I have already read (and enjoyed) but it's not about just reading it to me. It's giving that little ego boost that every author needs every now and then.
Rate their books honestly. Now wait a moment before you raise and eyebrow and hear me out here. I know you want to give your friend a five star, ultra awesome, changed my life rating. That's cool because you are a good friend. However, think of what it will do when someone browses over his book, see's that 5 star rating decides to give it a go. If the story does not live up to that hype this prospective fan could be turned off.
Think of it this way, there is a movie you really want to see. You hear all these rave reviews, your buddies tell you it's awesome, and everything builds the expected Wow factor higher and higher. Then you see this movie. The movie can be good, even great, but if it doesn't meet that Wow factor you have build for it you feel a sense of dissapointment. The same kind of feeling can happen if you read a bunch of five star reviews, then find you don't like the story or you feel it's not that good. The sense of betrayal you get could turn you off of an author before you get to see some of their work you might really like. This could also cut your friend off from prospective fans if you oversell the experience to them.
So give them a rating that fits the story for you. You can speak positively about what you like about their story and try to sell it for what it is. If you don't have anything nice to say, don't leave the review. Seriously, it's O.k. to tell someone you didn't like their story. If your are writing you have to accept not everyone will like what you write. It might sting initially coming from a friend, but be honest and tell them why and they might be able to improve their writing off the feedback. If not, well like I said above not everyone is going to like what you write. That includes friends. And family members.
I have already decided that when the day comes that someone tells me what a crappy writer I am, and how horrible my story or writing is that I'm just going to smile. Then I'm going to thank them for taking the time to read my story and tell them I'm sorry they didn't like it and keep it at that. I know when the time comes it will harder then just writing these words down and making the plan, but I feel this plan is solid.
My last bit of advice is help your friend share their story to the world. Take a moment to share their link on facebook. Retweet a link for them. Talk about their book if it comes up in discussion and do what you can the help raise awareness. I think of it this way. If all my friends have one hundred friends on their Facebook accounts, and two share my post. That is two hundred more people that will glance at my book that I may have not reached. That number only goes up with each share I get.
Most of all, just be supportive. Let your friend know your excited they are writing and taking the risks that come with it. (Rejection, Mental Breakdowns, Self doubt, and all the other fun) Let them know you are happy for them every step of the way. Even if I never sell a single copy of anything I write, I know just having people like that in my life helps keep me writing.
Ben Marble
P.S. My short story The Choice is now available on Amazon.com.
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