Writing Articles

Expanding Your Authorial Reach with Goodreads

6/13/2014

I really got into a big time reviewing binge on Goodreads today.

See, I’m not working on a whole lot right now. Well, I am, but I’m not.

First, I don’t have any writing jobs for people right now, so that frees up some time, but puts the pinch on the finances.

Next, I just finished a short ESL book and plowed through a lot of ancient history for another nonfiction book due later this month. I’m kind of taking a break today.

And what that means is that I’m continuing a push I started a couple weeks ago.

What’s that, you say?

Well, I’m increasing my influence on Goodreads, that’s what!

What is Good…alright, maybe you should go back to Google.

For everyone else, Goodreads is a site that allows you to talk about your favorite books with readers who also love them, and sometimes even the authors! For authors like me it’s a great place to do the same, and also find a receptive audience for my own books.

Wow, sounds like Goodreads is the answer to all my dreams, right? <Buzzer Sound> Wrong!

Don’t be stupid! Goodreads is a terrible beast nearly impossible to master and which drives the most well-meaning and persevering and even successful authors to madness or at least crazy things. And that’s on a good day!

Gee whiz! What the hell’s the point of dealing with it at all then?

Gosh, they’ve got more than 10 million members, and many of them tear through books like beavers tear through wood when they’re building a dam. Or use wood to make…you get the idea.

So I’ve been updating my books and adding friends from my groups, and–

Yeah, did I tell you? I went from 17 friends to more than 150 now and in just a couple weeks! Fuck I should have started the article with that, damn it! Well, it’s too late now.

Anyways, just be thankful you read my shit and learn this stuff.

So, what did I do to get that many people? Well, I asked them to be my friend.

I know – this is a hurdle many people cannot do. It’s hard to look at a picture on a computer and click a button, but it can be done. I’m proof of that.

So why not take a look at my reading shelf here, my favorites shelf, and even some of my reviews.

Maybe you’ll get a good laugh and cough up some pearls of wisdom. Maybe not, but you can find a new friend on social media, that’s for sure!