by Karen Whiting @KarenHWhiting
A literary calendar includes many book related dates to use for promotion. These can be connected with posts and sales or bigger promotional campaigns. The link to the full calendar by book buzz is at https://buildbookbuzz.com/2024-literary-calendar/. Review the list and highlight dates that will connect with your readers about your books or an upcoming release. Share via video or post why certain dates resonate with you and what others think of the date.
Here are ideas for a few from each month's dates to use plus trigger brainstorming and a discussion at your next critique group meeting.
February
A monthly event many readers know is African American Read-in Month That's a great reminder to promote African American authors, or speaking is you are African American.
It's also library lover's day, so connect with your local library about a Valentine event. Give romance tips that reflect something in your books, share historic romance stories of how your characters met, or the sweetest treats in your books. Or give tips for couples and relationship builders.
The 20th is Clean Out Your Bookcase Day. Give tips on where to donate books and mention that makes room for followers to buy your newest titles!
March
Read Across America Day is March 2nd.Ask readers to post where they have read your books? Will it go across several states?
March 20th is World storytelling day, so share a summarized story from one of your books.
The 21st celebrates World Poetry Day. Share a poem you wrote or make up a poem about your newest book! Mention your favorite poets.
April
April is D.E.A.R. (drop and read everything month), so ask what readers have skipped to read one of your books and admit what you have dropped to snuggle you with a book.
April 2nd commemorates Children's Picture Book Day so share a picture book you or a friend wrote.
National Librarian Day is the 16th, so give a librarian a copy of one of your books!
May
May celebrates Get Caught Reading Month. Ask readers to provide a review as a way to catch them reading and draw a prize at the end of the month from the new reviewers.
World Press Freedom Day is on the 3rd. Appreciate the freedom to write what you believe, and how to respect books that are not aligned with your beliefs.
Make a Book Day, the 9th, provide ideas for readers book to make a bookmark or a simple booklet. She the backstory about one of your books and how it came to be published.
June
Ballpoint Pen Day is the 10th, so offer to sign books on this day.
Bloomsday, on the 16th, offers a day to celebrate Irish writer James Joyce and appreciate Irish writer friends and Irish readers.
July
National Anti-boredom Month provides a great opportunity to share how reading opens minds to magically transport, transform, and inspire readers. Ask readers to share how your books excite them, and why others should read them.
Make World Emoji Day, the 17th, fun. Put up photos of books or quotes from your book and ask followers to respond with emojis.
August
On Book Lover's Day, the 9th, send an e-gift to download for readers to thank them for loving your books. Share what you appreciate about your readers and why you wany your books to touch them.
We Love Memoirs Day is a time to promote your personal stories or even slices of your life. Also, share what biographies or memoirs and how they impacted you.
September
Use National Literacy Month to encourage people to inspire non-reading friends to delve into books. Read aloud online for people to listen to parts of your books.
Let Read an e-book day a celebration with a special eBook sale.
October
Give books to your church library for Church Library month. Offer to speak to a group at the church.
Myth and Legends Day allows time to share writing myths, chat your heroes in life and writing
Let Teen Read Week of October 13-19 be a time to promote teen and YA author friends as well as encourage teens to making reading a lifelong habit that will continue to improve their minds.
November
Celebrate National Family Literacy Week with asking readers to take photos of their family members reading books.
Encourage girls and boys to read on Young Readers Day, November 12th. Ask parents to share how they encourage reading at home.
Ahead of National Author's Day book an interview or blog post and post past interviews.
December
The 21st is National Short Story Day and time to tell a story related to one of your books. Ask everyone to share a story about Christmas.
Crossword Puzzle Day so create a crossword puzzle related to your book.
January
Library Shelfie Day, so photo what's on your shelf. Ask readers to photo a shelf that includes one of your books on it. Take and post a photo at library with one of your books on the shelf.
Book Publisher's Day so post about upcoming releases, a great experience with your publisher, and any book recently contracted.
Combining the trivia of special dates with your book captures attention. Add more fun by including silly pictures too.
Start now to define your purpose and know how it's part of whatever you write and market.
TWEETABLE
Karen has a heart to grow tomorrow’s wholesome families today. She has written more than eight hundred articles for more than sixty publications and loves to let creativity splash over the pages of what she writes. She writes for Crosswalk. Connect with Karen on Twitter @KarenHWhiting Pinterest KarenWhiting FB KarenHWhiting.
Karen, thank you so much for your very informative post. I was unaware of the Literary Calendar and am excited to learn about it.
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
MaryAnn
Thanks, Karen! This post has valuable info for us authors.
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