Sometimes life gets in the way of your art and you wind up taking an unplanned sabbatical from your work. Unfortunately the business of writing and keeping an audience is driven by the momentum, slack off and you’ll lose much of your fan base. Sometimes it can’t be helped, family emergencies, illness, “other” job requirements, and even emotional recuperation are all reasons you might have taken a break. But don’t let the break become permanent – get back in the game as soon as you can.
For a writer the best way to keep your audience glued is to keep producing, that means write, write and write. Now that you’ve been on a break, chances are your name just isn’t out there as much (unless of course an earlier work has hit it big – even then, too long between books or such will cut down on your doting fans).
Get back into blogging, touting your backlist, write short stories if you can’t come up with a new book just yet, and participate in CONSTRUCTIVE social media. Start drumming up interest in you first and then your writing. Mention your previous works but as always, don’t produce a continuous advertisement. Re-post an old review or post now and then. Build the buzz about a well advanced work-in-progress and let folks know that something is on its way.
Get your name out there and make it a household word again.
While you may look at the daunting task of rebuilding your audience, don’t get discouraged – you did it before without having an established backlist to wave as a banner. You also have experience this time around and probably a lot more contacts in the field than when you first started out. What you don’t have is time to waste.
Make a plan. List the promo items and activities that worked best before and try some of those again. Start scheduling in-person and virtual appearances and get out there to work the crowds. Don’t bother with excuses for your absence (unless directly asked and then be brief), just announce loudly “I’m back!” And most importantly, WRITE.
Writing Exercise: Write up a press release announcing an upcoming appearance. Be sure to include reference to your backlist and a brief personal bio (your bio should be writing related). Include contact and buying info. Even if you don’t mail this out to the media (and why not?) or it isn’t picked up for publication, post this on your website or social media page.
Writing Prompt: Think of 5 to 10 things that occurred during your sabbatical that you could write something about, it doesn’t matter if its fiction or real. Make a list and jot your ideas down as well.
