At Louisiana Book Festival, publicist shares advice for writers

By Beau Didier

South Louisiana is a land of story. People have events to share, history to discuss, and stories to tell. With oration as a deep part of this culture, the Louisiana Book Festival in October attracted published and aspiring authors alike.

During a writing workshop, literary publicist Sarah Russo shared with a room of aspiring writers how to think like a publicist—even if you can’t afford to hire one.

The publishing world has changed, Russo says. Mainstream publishing houses will typically not accept unsolicited work or manuscripts. This means that without a social platform or a large readership, mainstream publishing isn’t plausible.

But there are still ways to be found. Yes, it does help if your protagonist has a lightning bolt on his forehead (Harry Potter) or is a billionaire who enjoys bondage (50 Shades of Grey), but what you have to say can still resonate. Don’t lose faith. Publicity is something you can generate.

Russo’s tips:

1. Take advantage of the literary presence in Baton Rouge. Connect with local writers and attend writing workshops and seminars. Reach out to university libraries. Connect with local media. Like you would network for a job, do the same when trying to connect with other readers and writers, Russo says.

2. Utilize outlets like Facebook and Twitter. Try creating a business page. Link and attach your work. Good Reads and Wattpad are two other unique tools that can enable interaction and exchange with a large collection of readers and writers. “Make three to five moves on social media a day promoting you and your work,” she says.

3. Stay active as a writer. Blogging is a great way to achieve recognition and expand your following. It can afford you an opportunity to write regularly and attract readers.

4. Stay active with your audience. When you create a new blog post, let people know, she says. Create a newsletter. Reply to comments.

5. Stay true to your craft. “Ultimately, you are all writers. Focus on writing,” Russo says. Good writing should be heard, and she is vehement in her belief in that.