The Benefits of Author Interviews with New Writers
I recently hit the mark of having interviewed 2 dozen authors on my blog. Many of these authors had just published their first book at the time of the interview or it was their first author interview. I think the benefit for them is obvious, it helps to promote their book, it lets readers get a feel for who they are, and it doesn’t cost them a thing. But why do I do it? What benefit do I get out of author interviews with people that don’t have a huge following? I’ve spent some time thinking about, so here are my best reasons.
Why Bookish Bloggers Should Interview Newbie Writers
It Helps Comparison-itis
As a new writer, I spent a lot of time listening to the Author Stories Podcast with Hank Garner, Joanna Penn’s podcast, and more. And one thing that all of them had in common was that the guest speakers were usually very successful authors. They might even be making six-figures from their books. While I still love those podcasts, sometimes I wished that I could have heard their perspective when they were just starting.
It is easy to look back over the past and say that x or y is why you are where you are today. But that’s not always true. Sometimes our own biases cloud our judgement and maybe it wasn’t drinking 6 cups of Chai tea every day that made them successful. That’s a silly example, but you get it. Sometimes success is attributed to things like advertising or building a big street team. I think it’s helpful to look at the journey of how that author got there.
Instead of feeling discouraged because I’m in my 7th year and I am not yet making six-figures, maybe I can look at someone else that has been writing for 8 years and is just starting to find success and feel inspired.
You Can Learn From Their Mistakes
As a book blogger, I like to give new authors the platform to share their journey. Maybe they are still figuring out what works for them and what doesn’t, but for writers that haven’t even hit “publish” or sent out their first query letter yet, these types of interviews are very valuable.
It’s like reading a book review to see why the book sucked. It helps to be able to see for yourself. For the writers that read and enjoy book bloggers (since many of us are book readers too), it can be a great way to learn the ropes.
They are Struggling, But They Don’t Give Up
Being a writer isn’t easy. Being a new writer that is just stepping out their with their first book? I can’t think of anything that makes my palms sweat more. Newbie writers are struggling. Maybe they aren’t sure how to get their voice out there, they don’t have many reviews yet, they aren’t making money yet, or they just aren’t sure where to start.
It can be very encouraging to see those struggles and know that the authors haven’t given up. They are willing to push through those challenging moments and find success on the other side of the hill.
It Gives Them A Better Platform for Promotion
I can’t be the only one who hates getting my social media feed flooded with the same book ads. Many authors aren’t sure where to promote their books and are often encouraged to just “post on social media!”
But when those posts are just the same 2 or 3 images of the book, it gets old quick. When authors have a platform to interact with an audience, ask questions, and share their perspective, the content can turn into something interesting and fun. I would much rather read an author interview than look at another book cover on Twitter that just says “support Indie authors!”
Readers like to know the behind-the-scenes from the books. They want to know what the author was thinking when they made two characters break up or killed off another. This type of content can spark interest in the book, start discussions about it, and most importantly, provide valuable content rather than filler.
Self-Publishing and Self-Promoting Go Hand-in-Hand
It can be challenging to find good outlets for promoting your self-published works. Book bloggers often jump at the idea of working with a “real author” that went through traditional publishing, but for self-published (and even small press published) authors, these chances can be few and far between. I enjoy being able to help authors, whether they are self-published or traditional, have an outlet for sharing their works. It’s fun to ask them questions because everyone is so unique, you never know what they will say.
If I happen to reach out to an author and ask for an interview and they say that they have never been interviewed before, I know it’s going to be great. I always put in a little bit of work to research their book, their website, their social media, and write questions that are focused on their books. It can be exciting for them that someone is showing that much interest in their books at all! And I always feel privileged to be the first one to ask.
Consider Interviewing an Author on Your Blog
I was so nervous when I first started doing interviews. At the time, I was an intern with a small press and I was interviewing them for the company. When I started reaching out to authors on my own, it was because I really enjoyed asking questions. It sparks my curiosity when I get to ask a writer why they made the choices they did, what their writing process looks like, or questions about their genre.
And I’m not the only one. The Picky Bookworm has a podcast where she often shares interviews with authors or reads the first chapter from an Indie book. The best part? The podcast is free to listen to!
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