Five Ways to Stay Relevant as an Author

by Katherine Hutchinson-Hayes @KHutch0767

I remember getting my first Walkman as a teen. My world was transformed as I jammed out to cassette tapes of Prince, Madonna, and Sade. In college, I embraced CDs and upgraded to a CD player. Nowadays, I play music and podcasts through a streaming device. However, I’m sure updated technology will eventually replace this invention. Things change rapidly in technology, impacting everything, including the publishing industry.

As an author, it can be challenging to remain current in a swiftly evolving world. Adapting to the continuous advancements in technology and changing trends is crucial to staying relevant in the dynamic writing environment. 

5 Tips for Writers to Stay Connected and Current with Your Audience

1. Accept Change: For writers to remain relevant, they must accept change. It’s critical to keep an open mind and be flexible when utilizing new writing platforms, technology, and writing styles. Adapting to diverse audience preferences can be achieved by experimenting with alternative formats, such as interactive storytelling, podcasts, or video content. Accepting change allows writers to adapt to the demands of the profession.

2. Ongoing Education: We must never stop learning and improving. Utilize conferences, workshops, and online courses to keep up with the most recent developments and industry best practices. We can develop new abilities and maintain our competitiveness in the writing market by making an investment in lifelong learning.

3. Involve Your Audience: Understanding and establishing a connection with our readers is another aspect of staying relevant as a writer. Use online forums, author events, and social media to interact with readers. Pay attention to their choices and feedback so that we may adjust our content to suit their interests. Maintaining a strong and engaged relationship with our audience is essential to our continued relevance and growth.

4. Diversify Your Portfolio: We can remain adaptable and relevant by diversifying our holdings. Investigate writing in many genres, formats, and platforms to broaden our audience and develop our skill set. Expanding our writing portfolio through other genres such as fiction, non-fiction, blogging, or freelance writing can lead to new prospects and maintain the interest and freshness of our work.

5. Remain Current and Informed: Keep up with news from the industry, pop culture, and current events. Knowing what’s happening in the world can help us provide timely and relevant information. To stay current and draw in readers, think about writing about hot topics or providing our viewpoint on pressing problems.

As writers, we need to be flexible, always learning, involved with our audience, have a diverse portfolio, and be current. Through the adoption of these tactics, we can effectively traverse the ever-evolving publishing scene and maintain our influence, regardless of what the future brings.

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Dr. Katherine Hutchinson-Hayes is a review board member and contributor to Inkspirations (an online magazine for Christian writers), and her writing has been published in Guideposts. Her work in art/writing is distinguished by awards, including the New York Mayor’s Contribution to the Arts, Outstanding Resident Artist of Arizona, and the Foundations Awards at the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writer’s Conference (2016, 2019, 2021). She is a member of Word Weavers International and serves as an online chapter president and mentor. She belongs to FWA (Florida Writers Association), ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers), CWoC (Crime Writers of Color),

AWSA (Advanced Writers and Speakers Association), and AASA (American Association of School Administrators). She serves on the nonprofit organization Submersion 14 board and the 540 Writer’s Community board and is an art instructor for the nonprofit organization Light for the Future. Katherine hosts the podcast Murder, Mystery & Mayhem Laced with Morality. She has authored a Christian Bible study for women and is currently working on the sequel to her first general market thriller novel. Her thriller A Fifth of the Story will debut in February 2024 through Endgame Press.

Katherine flourishes in developmental editing and coaching writers. She has a twenty-year career in education, leadership, and journalism. Katherine freelances as an educational consultant for charter schools, home school programs, and churches. In this role, she has written and edited curriculum, led program development, and helped manage growth facilitating and public relations.

She also works as an editor and book coach through her consulting business. Katherine provides skill, accountability, and professionalism so clients can begin, develop, and finish their writing projects for publication.