Zestful Admin Writing a book is a lengthy process that requires much effort and dedication. As an author completes their manuscript, they are eager to send them out to be published. Of course, they want to see their book displayed in bookstores wherever they go.
However, it is not just about making it to the bookshelves.
With so much reading material and multiple forms of entertainment, the competition for writers is tough. These circumstances raise important questions. Why will a person be interested in reading your book, and how will you engage them?
If you look forward to publishing a book, here are a few tips to ensure reader engagement through your work.
- Write Concisely
Have you ever tried to sit through reading a terms and conditions section? It is so easy to lose interest and get bored instantly. It happens because such manuscripts include long sentences and use complex jargon, making it easy for the reader to lose interest instantly.
Remember that your reader is here to read and have a good time. As an author, you can increase the readability of your book manifold by using short sentences and simple language. A freelance developmental editor can help you increase the readability of your book.
- Learn From Hemmingway
As an author, you will agree that consistently reading good literature is one of the key factors to writing well. It is because the writers who find fame because of their work have so much to teach us about book writing. As you are aware, Hemmingway is one of the most acclaimed writers in the English language.
Hemingway blessed the writing community with his Iceberg Theory. This theory suggests that a writer must only tell the readers about the tip of the iceberg and reveal the base later. It means you should invite the readers with obvious surprises as they read. Reveal the surprises and details inside.
- Design an Eye Catching Cover
Writers spend a lot of time making their manuscripts flawless. This practice involves countless rewriting and editing sessions, leading to great outcomes. However, what is on the outside also matters when it comes to engaging readers. Yes, we are talking about the book cover.
To sell your book, you must know that appearances matter. For example, if you are writing for a young audience, they may want to see energetic and lively book covers. If your book cover is bland and simple, they might move to the book next to yours.
- Rethink Your Opening Line
Writers put a lot of effort into their work and want the readers to be excited about their books. It can be heartbreaking to see your efforts going unnoticed. Sometimes, the reasons for the book to go unnoticed can be as little as a boring opening line.
As readers walk through book aisles, the first thing they see after looking at the cover is the book’s opening line. If it does not make them feel curious, they will move to the next one. To engage your reader, you must revise your opening line enough times to become engaging for the reader.
- Develop Relatable Character
There are many types of readers; the most common are those that read to empathize and find a connection away from the real world. Books offer such readers a temporary solace from reality and free space to play with their imagination.
Relatable characters help the readers to feel more engaged with the book. However, it does not mean that the character or the plot has to be predictable as well. You can excel at taking relatability and surprises side by side with a little practice.
- Create an Interesting Plot
Creating a perfect plot with interesting surprises and twists can be time-consuming. If you are new to writing, this may be one of the hardest things to excel in. It is a multipurpose step that can take many attempts to perfect.
If your story plot does not have interesting sub-plots or does not match your character description, this can create problems for you. To keep your reader engaged, you must rely on elements like surprises and unexpected revelations.
- Make Appealing Description
For devoted readers, a book is not just about going through the lines and highlighting the parts they like. Readers like to read the things that engage them. You can engage more than the reader’s sense of sight with a strong description of characters and settings.
Words are one of the most powerful tools to appeal to all senses. For example, if you are writing about intimacy, adding descriptions about touching and feeling can make the readers use their imagination more effectively to feel those things.
- Fight Predictability
Life already seems too predictable. Most readers admit that they read to escape the monotony of life and live in an alternative world. A reader can find a book about almost any topic and genre. What do you think the readers hate the most?
Its predictability.
The world is filled with literature, and it can be hard to create something unique. However, it would be best if you devoted all your efforts to keeping the reader interested in your work as a writer. You can create plot twists to fight predictability in your writing.
- Fact Check
Would you ever trust a source that gets tagged as factually wrong? No, right? Many readers worldwide have the same reasons to ignore a book completely. To escape from factual inconsistencies, writers everywhere spend days fact-checking their manuscripts.
Before sending your book to be published, you must ensure that there are no incorrect facts in your book. This practice can save you from embarrassment and many possible legal troubles. Most importantly, your readers will not judge you before reading your work.
- Seek Feedback
Engaging with your readers is not only about having them buy and read your book. It is much more than that. As an author that seeks growth, you must put your efforts towards converting your readers into your followers. This way, your followers will be there for you when you decide to publish again.
In addition, seeking feedback from your readers can also help you grow. Feedback is also essential to let you know about your readers’ interests. Many writers across the globe also create their blogs and author website to ensure that their readers do not lose touch.
