How to Support Your Favorite Authors for Free
The best way to support your favorite creators is to usually buy their work – by financially supporting and supporting the idea that they can make a living from their art. But even if you don’t have a penny to spare, there is a lot you can do to support the career of your favorite artist. (There are many different authors and many ways to support them – please add anything missing from this list in the comments!)
Leave feedback
Anyone listening to podcasts has heard a million versions of the request “please give us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts” embedded in the end credits. The thing is, it does help – Apple’s algorithms are cryptic, but it’s pretty clear that in terms of best podcast lists and spotlight solutions, reviews and ratings count. To potential advertisers, they are also a sign of a loyal audience that can help your favorite podcast hosts make this article.
Authors will also benefit from reader reviews. Amazon is a monster, and a book full of recommendations can be a huge boon to the author. While the magic threshold of fifty reviews seems like an urban legend , more reviews help the book get noticed by the gods of algorithms.
Beyond algorithms, reviews help other consumers make decisions. Whether it’s the App Store, Goodreads, Etsy or wherever else, a minute to share your love (with maximum stars) can go a long way.
Join the mailing list
If you’ve already subscribed to the artist on social media, it might not even occur to you to subscribe to his mailing list. But beyond making sure you stay on top of their news, and beyond the wonderful ego boost you give them, it will help them prove to future publishers, advertisers, or employers that they have a good fan platform. (Also, follow or like on social media while you do this.)
Discuss them
Speaking of social media, use regardless of platform, you have to share your love. Finish reading your favorite book? Tweet about it! Catching your favorite comedian on the tonight show? Share your video on Facebook! Make a recipe from your favorite cookbook? Add it to Instagram – enter the title of the book and tag the author. Word of mouth is a powerful tool both for attracting new fans and, again, for convincing the mighty to show favor (and work) with the creators.
Make a library request
These are books of sorts, but can really work for any medium that libraries have: ask your library to store the work of artists you love. Libraries buy the books they distribute, so that helps increase sales and makes the art you love available to new fans.
Attend their events
Once on this mailing list, keep an eye out for when your favorite author or artist comes to town. Many book events and gallery exhibitions are free, and many comedians run free shows as well. Try to bring in a friend who doesn’t know his stuff. But even if you go alone, having a good audience – having an audience in general – is great, and you can contribute to that.
Tell them
Making art – and trying to make a living from it – puts your ego at stake. You submit your work to the world and hope that someone will find it and connect to it. But telling an artist that you love their work is more than just praise (although there is nothing wrong with praise!). It also encourages them to keep going forward. Whether it’s through social media, email, or old-fashioned postage, take a few minutes to tell the artist what their work means to you. The most generous letters do not require an answer, they are just a gift to the creator who gave you so much with his work. I promise it will mean a lot to them.