Two Sylvias' Weekly Muse: May 12, 2024
Issue 107
Hello, Poets and Writers!
We occasionally receive questions here at the Muse asking how poets can find an audience for their work. Imagine that your first collection has just been published and the majority of the poems are ekphrastic (poetry inspired by artwork). You have friends, family, and some poet friends who will definitely purchase your book, but you would like to increase your readership. And, you would like to extend your audience without resorting to forms of bombastic self-promotion. How can you reach out to potential readers in an altruistic way where you are offering something more than your business card or a link to purchase your book?
We came across an article by writer Kathy Hopewell in which she offers five ways to grow your audience that involve giving something away as a gesture of trust or sincerity and, like any good relationship, you need to think about more than just yourself. Below, we’ve listed Hopewell’s suggestions:
Offer Assistance: Be generous with sharing …