Writers Need to Engage these Three Ways

by Tammy Karasek @TickledPinkTam

Writer, are you engaged? No, I’m not talking about wearing new shiny bling on your left hand. I’m referring to engagement related to your writing. Stick with me, here. I have three questions regarding three R’s of writing, and then I’ll explain what I mean. 

3 Questions to Ensure Writer Engagement

Question One

Are you engaged with your readers? If you are writing on your website blog, sending a newsletter and have social media accounts where your readers can find you—do you regularly go back to check for comments and/or questions?

If your answer is no, you’re missing out on a great opportunity. To be engaged with your readers in essence is to build relationship. And relationship builds your reader’s desire to stay connected to you and your work. From that, relationship builds a platform of—wait for it—engaged fans. As writers, that’s what we want. We desire people who enjoy our work and want to stick around for other books we will write in the future. We can use this to challenge us to write better and keep persevering. 

As a reader myself, I love seeing an author jump in and respond to others’ comments as well as my own. When they write a blog post, newsletter or make an Instagram story and share what’s on their minds or teach us a tidbit this can encourage us as writers to keep doing the thing … sitting at the keyboard sharing what the Lord lays on our hearts. Don’t you love that?

Question Two

Are you engaged as a writer in what you’re writing about? Have your done your research, or are you slacking? Be engaged with the topic. Know the terms and not just how to spell them. Be confident you could explain or describe the word or terms you’re using. 

For example, my current work in progress has a strong cooking and chef element throughout the book series. I could watch a couple cooking shows and count the many years I’ve cooked supper for my family and write away. However, those of us who’ve actually graduated from a cooking school (I really did), flip out of our chairs as we watch some of those TV shows and their hosts give poor instruction or information. I’ve watched a couple shows or You Tube Videos of several popular social media folks and their knife skills are scary. It’s not scary like I’d do that so much better it’s a basic oh my goodness, she’s going to cut her finger off holding that knife or tool like that kind of scary. 

Can you imagine a Criminal Investigator reading a book and shaking his/her head thinking we never do it that way, too dangerous for both the criminal and ourselves? The writer may think binge watching a couple seasons of Chicago PD could fill their repertoire of terms and ideas. However, not only true detectives would catch those faux pas, but readers are pretty savvy as well. Don’t try to fool them.

We’ve heard over and over use Deep POV, but what if we add to that use Deep POR or Deep Power of Research. Do your homework and do it well.

Question Three

Are you engaged within your writing community? Being in connection with other writers through the different opportunities of critique groups, mastermind groups, craft partners and even conferences are great examples of walking this journey alongside other writers. They also get what it takes to be a writer and can help with brainstorming, accountability and encouragement. Likewise, when you’re engaged in this type of connection, you have the ability to give back as well. 

In summary, are you engaged in the three R’s of writing?

1. Readers

2. Research

3. (w)Riters —hey, it sounds like an R! (Wink)

I do hope that you are. 

I’d love for you to Respond to this post and share with all of us your thoughts on engagement as a writer.

TWEETABLE

Writers Need to Engage these Three Ways, tips from @TickledPinkTam on @EdieMelson (Click to Tweet)

Tammy Karasek uses humor and wit to bring joy and hope to every aspect in life. Her past, filled with bullying and criticism from family, drives her passion to encourage and inspire others and give them The Reason to smile. She’s gone from down and defeated to living a “Tickled Pink” life as she believes there’s always a giggle wanting to come out! 

She’s the Social Media Manager for the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference, Founding President and current Vice-President of ACFW Upstate SC, Founding President of Word Weavers Upstate SC. She’s a writing team member for The Write Conversation Blog, Novel Academy, and MBT Monday Devotions and others. Her work was published in a Divine Moments Compilation Book—Cool-inary Moments. When not writing Women’s Fiction and Rom-Com, she’s The Launch Team Geek helping authors launch their books and a Virtual Assistant for authors.

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