Goodreads, A Hot Desert or Book-Loving Oasis?

Is Goodreads a vast, barren desert with no end or glass of water in sight? Or can we find a lush garden oasis of positive things on the all-book platform?

Years ago, before I had a book published, I dove into Goodreads as a reader. Marking everything I’d ever read, rating books with golden stars, searching for recommended reads. How cool, I thought, a website that is all about books!!! This Goodreads of my past was pre-babies, pre-too many cross-country moves to count, pre-lots of life-gets-in-the-way things!

I let Goodreads fall off my radar over the years. My first novel came out last November and even then, I didn’t rush to embrace Goodreads right away. It seemed like one more social media platform to keep up with and I told myself I didn’t have time. It also seemed like one more empty place to feel like a spec of sand in the Sahara.

But here’s the thing, for authors in today’s world, we are as much the business and marketing and promoting side of our books as we are the writers. And Goodreads has an enormous audience of readers just waiting for us. Simply put, it’s where our audiences are.

Even after taking an amazing class about Goodreads by bestselling author Alessandra Torre, reminding me why, as an author trying to sell books, I should be on Goodreads, I still hesitated to return. Because to be honest, pushing my books, trying to sell them is an exhausting part of the business. I think many writers can relate. It’s the creativity that drives us, not so much the promoting.

But when I dove back in a few months ago, I discovered just like with every way to grow an audience for our books, it’s really about connecting with readers and other writers authentically and positively. And I’m 100% here for the connecting. In the crazy, busy world we live in, I’d nearly forgotten how much I love to talk about great books, even if, especially if they aren’t mine.

I learned a few tips from Alessandra’s wonderful class, like checking to make sure my book’s page has all the correct information listed. Especially any links or ISBN numbers. Because if someone really does decide to buy my book on Goodreads, I want them to be able to. She also has some great tips for doing GR Giveaways.

I’ve even managed to teach myself a few fun things about the platform. Did you know Goodreads is full of different groups you can join? Groups to find fellow readers of a genre you enjoy reading, or the genre in which you write. Groups to find readers who will read an ARC of your book and write a review. Groups for book clubs or fun and ridiculous reading challenges. Discovering a few of these groups felt like a hint of the oasis. 

While it is indeed a place to promote our own books, it’s also a great place to help other authors, and connect with bookish people. Even the simple task of adding a book to my want-to-read on Goodreads helps another author, because it gives their book more visibility.

I can publish a blog on Goodreads, answer questions my followers might ask, leave reviews for other authors. I can even engage in conversations with reviews I like. I know, it’s like one big DUH! moment, but Goodreads really has seemed absolutely intimidating to me. I haven’t really known where to begin.

We all have to figure out which social platforms work best for each of us and where we feel comfortable. For me, as I take small steps and find the corners of Goodreads I feel comfortable in, it’s become a platform I both enjoy and still feel intimidated by. But little by little I can make of it what I want. I can add a friend or fellow author’s book to my want-to-read pile, and ask my followers to do the same for my books. I can leave a review for a book I loved, thank someone for a review they left for me, put a fun blog post up, answer some of the questions from Goodreads or readers on my Author Dashboard.

Essentially, I can be a part of the book community and remember how much I love connecting with other people who adore books as much as I do. And that feels like one of the best parts of this writing and publishing journey, the connections.

—

 

Sara Ohlin is a writer with her heart in the Pacific Northwest. She is the author of the romance novels, Handling the Rancher and Salvaging Love (coming in Dec.) Her essays can be found at Anderbo.com, Mothers Always Write, The Good Mother Project, Feminine Collective, The Manifest Station, Chicken Soup for the Soul, Literary Mama, theSame and the anthologies, Are We Feeling Better Yet? Women Speak About Health Care in America, and Take Care: Tales, Tips and Love from Women Caregivers. You can read more about her at www.saraohlin.com.

Twitter https://twitter.com/SaraOhlin222

Instagram  http://www.instagram.com/saraohlin222

Facebook  https://www.facebook.com/saraohlinwriter/

Pinterest  http://www.pinterest.com/saraohlin/

BookBub  https://www.bookbub.com/profile/sara-ohlin

 

IGNITING LOVE

FROM POPULAR ROMANCE AUTHOR SARA OHLIN

Book two in the Rescue Me series

When an embittered artist crosses paths with a young widow, the heat is on…

When personal chef and single mom Katie Walsh jumps back into the dating game, Leo Treversini’s gaze in the doorway of a local bar lights up her whole body. Bumping into him a week later, Kate thinks fate is calling—until Leo’s bitter words hit her like a punch to the gut.

Recently returned to the up-and-coming Corvallis neighborhood, metal artist and loner Leo feels the beautiful power of Katie’s eyes like the flame from his torch, but discovering his muse is married and the young mother of three daughters cuts him to the quick.

Except…Katie is widowed, which means she’s free to love again—if she can trust a man with her heart and her most precious gifts, her daughters. As Leo is free to love her, if he can overcome a past betrayal and believe in Katie’s love. Add in the meddling community, Katie’s family and teenage internet crime and it’s going to be far from easy…or even likely.

Katie’s love might be just the balm Leo’s wounded heart needs, but will he have the courage to face his crushing past to accept it?

Can the artist with the wounded heart love his muse?

Tags: featured, women writers

Category: How To and Tips