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By Masimba Mukichi

Writing is not a trade for the faint hearted. Writers reap what they sow. Writers shouldn’t write for the sake of it and hide their articles, stories, poetry, memoirs and novels from the public domain – Light under a bushel cannot be seen.

Writers work shouldn’t be a treasure trove to be discovered under the mattresses upon the deaths of the writers. Writers work should reach the readers whilst they’re still alive and kicking – they should not wait to be honoured post -humorously. Their work should be made available to readers through various means – it’s now a digital world.

Writers should give their work to friends and relatives so that they read their work and give them feedback which can help them to improve for the better. If relatives and friends enjoy their work they would end up buying the books , newspapers or even read the stories online.

Some work on websites may entice readers by writing teaser bios .The more enticing the bios are the more traffic, followers and readers to their online websites. Writers shouldn’t shy away from interacting with various people. Writers should carry few copies of their novels or stories in their bags when they attend church or when they go for a glass of wine at the local pub. In most cases a sizeable number of people would buy their books or place orders for future deliveries.

In this digital world, ‘’Whats App’’ texting is the talk of the town – writers can use this to maximum advantage.If writers have published new stories, articles or novels they can inform their mates through ‘’Whats APP’’ which is a free service for anyone with internet connection.

Writers can also market their work by informing friends and relatives at social networking sites such as Facebook, Linkedln and Twitter. Writers who are football mad and support Manchester United Football Club or any other team – they can distribute pamphlets of their novels or blogs before the game starts. Writers who use this approach are likely to get sympathy buyers of their novels because they have something in common – they’re all football mad and are supporters of Manchester or that other team.

Sending emails to potential buyers is also another way of marketing writers work. By the click of a mouse in the comfort of their homes writers can reach wider readership. Arranging book signings is another way of boasting sales for writers. Donating some copies of their published books to schools, libraries and elderly homes, writers can later benefit from this gesture of good will because in future when these libraries, schools and elderly homes want to order new books they would order books from their generous writers who once donated books to them – a good turn deserves another.

Arranging poetry reading nights at local pubs can pay dividends. Writers can read their poetry at the same time selling some copies of their poetry books. The local newspapers and radio stations may boost the profile of writers by interviewing them. Volunteering to write poems, stories for national events such as Remembrance Day or Poppy Day as it is sometimes known would open writing opportunities for writers in future.

Writers should always be motivated by the rhyme from the nursery which goes as follows:

Try, try , try again if you don’t succeed try again. Indeed it pays to market ourselves as writers and we should always remember it only takes a moment to change a writer’s life – fortune knocks once at a man’s door. Writers – write on, write on!

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