Help at the finish line

I have never strapped on running shoes and participated in an organized race. I actually enjoy a pleasant walk or even a good hike, but in this Earthly existence, you will probably never see me run. Unless I'm running for my life.

My Vicki, 1987, with her Peachtree Road Race shirt
I have been to a race. In the two years between the time my Vicki and I married and our first son was born, Vicki actually ran in a couple of races. In 1987, she ran in and completed the big July 4 Peachtree Road Race in downtown Atlanta. In preparation for that race, she ran a 5K sponsored by a local elementary school PTA in Lawrenceville, GA.

I couldn't get close to the finish line of the Peachtree Road Race, but I was there at the PTA 5K. I stood with a cup of coffee and a free doughnut along with a bunch of other people. Well, okay, two free doughnuts. We were in position at the finish line, lined up on both sides of the runners' approach, ready to cheer for everyone. When Vicki approached, I actually dropped a doughnut and spilled my coffee. The crowd roared for the approaching runners, encouraging them on toward the finish line. Many of the runners gave embarrassed smiles, but they appreciated the support.

For the writer, and especially the independent author, you have an opportunity to be at the finish line, cheering words of encouragement.

Almost all books in print are sold through Amazon.com. This includes my two books and the books of other independent authors who are my friends. If you visit Brookwood Road on Amazon (click here), you will see a row of stars just below the book's title. To the right of those stars, you can see the number of reviews that have been posted. These are the people cheering at the finish line. Clicking on that number takes you to the book's reviews.

You have a chance to be a cheerleader at the finish line. You can leave your own review.

Sometimes people don't leave reviews because they don't know how to leave a review. I don't like the word review; think of it as a statement. It can be as simple as, "I really liked this book and here's why . . . " or "I enjoyed this book, and this was my favorite part or chapter, " or you can just go Hallmark greeting card and write, "Way to go; good job." Seriously, imagine yourself at the finish line of a great race, and you are cheering on the runners. (You can even mask your identity with a handle kinda like my daddy's favorite CB Radio handle, Maverick.)

Cheerleaders are necessary because it is a race. Book writing, independent publishing, managing your own marketing and promotion - it's quite a job and not for the faint-of-heart. Readers who become encouragers are oh so essential to the process.

Your encouragement inspires the independent author to keep going, to keep on writing, to keep on promoting, to keep on churning out the words, and fine-tune his or her craft. Your encouragement also becomes much-needed fuel for book promotion that increases circulation even if it doesn't improve sales. Every book that's circulated equals about three readers.

Encouragement goes a long way. I promise it does. I also guarantee that it is so very appreciated by those of us pumping hard toward the finish line. Thank you. I'm going to get a doughnut and write a review for a book that I just finished.

www.scottdvaughan.com


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