Christmas is Coming!

Christmas is Coming!

Christmas is coming, the goose is getting fat.
Please put something in the reader’s hat.

                          
I admit my rhyming skills aren’t highly developed, but my point is Christmas is nearly here, and what can we do for our readers?

Before I raise your stress level and you re-examine your gift-giving budget, I’d like to point out a few reasons why readers deserve to know how much we value them.

Without readers, we have no book sales.

Without readers, we have no one to tell others about our stories.

Without readers, we have no one to entertain with our passion for writing.

Without readers, we have no choice but find another way to express our gifts and talents. (If we have any left.)

Okay, we agree on the reasons why we love our readers, but how can a writer offer her heartfelt thanks in a way that is special and meaningful?

I have a few ideas that only cost time and a little effort. They can all be shared online: e-mail and social media.

For those of you who blog, you can create a letter of appreciation. Use free blog images through http://www.rgbstock.com/ or http://bit.ly/HVIRmb. If you have a holiday photo that you don’t mind sharing, use it. I also use pic monkey http://bit.ly/1aoez5k to add a personal touch. This could also be shared in an email or a newsletter.

Do you have a collection of holiday recipes? Add a picture, photo, or a note as to why this is special, then point the reader to a website for a free download. You can share this through social media.

What is your favorite Christmas story? We are writers, and what better way than to
share a personal experience that holds a warm spot in your heart.


A short story either about Christmas or simply one you want to share with your readers.
If you have a budget, you can splurge by purchasing a cover for your recipes, personal story, or short story. This will give your gift a professional touch. Self-publishing is another option.

Create a list of practical tips that make this time of year less stressful. Celebrating Christ’s birth is a season of joy spent with family and friends. Everyone is to enjoy the
holiday.

Create a Pinterest board of what makes your Christmas memorable.

There are many beautiful online Christmas cards for you to express your sincere
sentiments.

Share your Christmas wishes via YouTube. Make it fun and personal.

Record an audio message and make it available on your website.

If you’re on Facebook, have an online Christmas party with random drawings.

Our readers are friends. If we jump into a project to thank them without valuing them as true friends, we will fail. Embrace readers as part of an extended family. Show them you care.

DiAnn Mills is an award winning writer who believes her readers should expect an adventure. She currently has more than fifty-five books published.

Her titles have appeared on the CBA and ECPA bestseller lists and have won placements through the American Christian Fiction Writer’s Carol Awards and Inspirational Reader’s Choice awards. DiAnn won the Christy Award in 2010 and 2011.

DiAnn is a founding board member for American Christian Fiction Writers and a member of Faith, Hope, & Love Inc.,  Romance Writers of America, Advanced Writers and Speakers Association, and International Thriller Writers. She speaks to various groups and teaches writing workshops around the country. DiAnn is also a Craftsman mentor for the Jerry B. Jenkins Christian Writers Guild.

She and her husband live in sunny Houston, Texas.

Website: www.diannmills.com