One unfortunate truth about publishing is that having written a book is only the halfway point of the marathon.

Is a book still a book if it has no readers?

All authors should be finding their audience before, during, and after their book is published. This is doubly true for nonfiction authors and trebly true for nonfiction authors hoping for a Big 5 trad pub deal.

But man is it laborious.

You've spent months if not years honing your book. Now you have to create more content to support the content you've already written?

I sometimes feel that I can barely write consistent, cogent, helpful LinkedIn posts (and I'm not even pushing a book).

But if you're intent on making your message heard, this ancillary work is necessary.

Here are a few ways to make it less labor-intensive:

• Repurpose what you have. Make quote images from your book. Turn that stray thought you cut from your book into a social post. Submit an article based on a section or chapter to a venue your readers read.
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• Solicit reader questions. Ask your newsletter what they'd like to know about you or your book. Be brave and host an AMA on Reddit.
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• You do you. Just because Billy Bob Bestseller posts 12 times per day on Instagram doesn't mean you have to as well. Figure out what works for you. Don't feel the need to be on every platform. Find out where you can have fun in promoting your work.

For more (and better) ideas, subscribe to these Substack newsletters:

• ​Before and After the Book Deal, Courtney Maum​
• ​Publishing Confidential, Kathleen Schmidt​
• ​The Creative Shift, Dan Blank​

Are you good at promoting your book or building your platform?

If not, what's holding you back?

If you are, what's worked best for you?

Why am I getting this?

You subscribed to Every Word Tell by nonfiction ghostwriter, editor, and book coach Blake Atwood.

Every Tuesday, you'll receive 300 words or so about writing, reading, editing, or publishing.

Always feel free to reply. Ask a question you'd like to see answered here. Reach out for help with your next nonfiction project. Or just reply to let me know, Yeah, me too.