Advocacy for Writers
When we think of what advocacy means it makes us want to get up and do something for a great cause. Indie Book Awards website www.indiebookawards.com gives that desire to anyone who visits its site. This site is giving back to its literary community through exposure. It connects new and emerging writers with veterans in the business through contests and galas in an effort to promote a constant influx of new material into the industry. This site thrives on the exposure of writers who demonstrate great ability to add new and diversified material to the writing industry and therefore society as well.
Exposure to a new and emerging writer is key. Joe Bunting writes “You can choose to treat other writers as competitors for the attention spans of busy readers, or you can choose to treat them as potential allies, in other words, as your team” (https://thewritepractice.com/publish-book/ ) in his article How to Publish Your Book and Sell Your First 1,000 Copies. One way to understand this assertion in terms of Indie Book Awards is to think of their contests, galas, and exposure as ways to make connections. By connecting with others in the writing industry a new and emerging writer would essentially be building their own team of resources they could draw upon for help and advice.
Galas can be a great source of significant fundraising which can supply organizations such as Indie Book Awards with the money they need to run their organization and pay the winners of their contests. Gail Sessomes explains in her article How to Do a Nonprofit Organization Fundraising Dinner the importance of hosting galas as a way to...
Contests are the other favored way that Indie Book Awards promotes advocacy within the writing industry. By providing the writing community with opportunities for future writers to gain exposure and connections they are supporting the successful growth of the industry at large. Having a panel of published authors combing through the submissions gives expertise to the selection process which allows winners to become more accomplished future authors and gain insight into the field. According to Becky Tuch author of the article Writing Contests: Should You Take the Plunge? writing contests are worth the investment and effort. She says “Aside from the cash prize, winning a contest usually means publication in a magazine. Both yield readership, relationships with editors, and exposure.” (http://www.thereviewreview.net/publishing-tips/writing-contests-should-you-take-plunge)
Indie Book Awards may not have a whole score of ways they are advocating for the writing community but they have three really impactful one's contests, galas, and exposure. By utilizing all three of those advocacy techniques they are setting new and emerging writers up for greater chances at successful writing careers. As they promote and encourage the best writers to move forward in their respective paths Indie Book Awards is helping to create a supportive environment for industry newcomers.
Works Cited:
When we think of what advocacy means it makes us want to get up and do something for a great cause. Indie Book Awards website www.indiebookawards.com gives that desire to anyone who visits its site. This site is giving back to its literary community through exposure. It connects new and emerging writers with veterans in the business through contests and galas in an effort to promote a constant influx of new material into the industry. This site thrives on the exposure of writers who demonstrate great ability to add new and diversified material to the writing industry and therefore society as well.
Exposure to a new and emerging writer is key. Joe Bunting writes “You can choose to treat other writers as competitors for the attention spans of busy readers, or you can choose to treat them as potential allies, in other words, as your team” (https://thewritepractice.com/publish-book/ ) in his article How to Publish Your Book and Sell Your First 1,000 Copies. One way to understand this assertion in terms of Indie Book Awards is to think of their contests, galas, and exposure as ways to make connections. By connecting with others in the writing industry a new and emerging writer would essentially be building their own team of resources they could draw upon for help and advice.
Galas can be a great source of significant fundraising which can supply organizations such as Indie Book Awards with the money they need to run their organization and pay the winners of their contests. Gail Sessomes explains in her article How to Do a Nonprofit Organization Fundraising Dinner the importance of hosting galas as a way to...
“...raise significant funds and also provide an opportunity for the organization’s supporters, volunteers and staff to mingle, have fun and renew their commitment to the nonprofit’s mission. Some nonprofits hold annual fundraising dinners that are anticipated as festive community events to promote and support a worthy cause. A memorable event is important, but the main purpose of the fundraising dinner is to raise money.” (http://smallbusiness.chron.com/nonprofit-organization-fundraising-dinner-23077.html)It’s no wonder Indie Book Awards uses these types of events, they not only raise much-needed funding but they also bring the writing community together to help promote networking and exposure.
Contests are the other favored way that Indie Book Awards promotes advocacy within the writing industry. By providing the writing community with opportunities for future writers to gain exposure and connections they are supporting the successful growth of the industry at large. Having a panel of published authors combing through the submissions gives expertise to the selection process which allows winners to become more accomplished future authors and gain insight into the field. According to Becky Tuch author of the article Writing Contests: Should You Take the Plunge? writing contests are worth the investment and effort. She says “Aside from the cash prize, winning a contest usually means publication in a magazine. Both yield readership, relationships with editors, and exposure.” (http://www.thereviewreview.net/publishing-tips/writing-contests-should-you-take-plunge)
Indie Book Awards may not have a whole score of ways they are advocating for the writing community but they have three really impactful one's contests, galas, and exposure. By utilizing all three of those advocacy techniques they are setting new and emerging writers up for greater chances at successful writing careers. As they promote and encourage the best writers to move forward in their respective paths Indie Book Awards is helping to create a supportive environment for industry newcomers.
Works Cited:
- Bunting, Joe. “How to Publish Your Book and Sell Your First 1,000 Copies.” The Write Practice. https://thewritepractice.com/publish-book/. Accessed 25 March 2018.
- Sessoms, Gail. "How to Do a Nonprofit Organization Fundraising Dinner." Small Business - Chron.com, http://smallbusiness.chron.com/nonprofit-organization-fundraising-dinner-23077.html. Accessed 25 March 2018.
- Tuch, Becky. “Writing Contests: Should You Take the Plunge?”. The Review Review. http://www.thereviewreview.net/publishing-tips/writing-contests-should-you-take-plunge. Accessed 25 March 2018.