Boyertown PA
8-18-2026 12:22am

Writers' Circle Update--August 13, 2026 with Diane Lauer Plus Future Guest Writers

by Michele Barrett, facilitator, The Writers' Circle

Thank you for another thoughtful Writers’ Circle! On August 13, we welcomed Diane Lauer as our guest author and talked about something that matters to every writer hoping to reach readers: what happens after the writing?

Discussion Highlights — Diane Lauer

Diane shared practical strategies for building an audience and helping published work get seen. One of the clearest takeaways was that writers are ultimately responsible for their own marketing—whether traditionally published or self-published.

Some of Diane’s suggestions:

  • Know your reader. Get specific about who is most likely to connect with your work, then go where those readers already gather—both in person and online.
  • Build relationships before promoting. Participate authentically in writing groups, book clubs, libraries, bookstores, conferences, online communities, and other spaces connected to your genre or subject.
  • Build a Beta/Advance Reader (ARC) Team. Diane suggested recruiting approximately 10–30 readers to read a book or excerpt before or around launch and provide honest reviews. Reviews appearing around the same time can help create early visibility and momentum.
  • Use Goodreads and other reader communities to connect with potential readers and reviewers.
  • Create and maintain an Amazon Author Page that connects your books and helps readers discover your other work.
  • Understand Amazon categories and algorithms. Early activity, reviews, and thoughtful categorization can help books become more discoverable.
  • Consider Substack or an email newsletter. An email list gives writers a direct way to stay connected with readers.
  • Pitch podcasts strategically. Rather than looking only for “book podcasts,” look for programs whose audiences are already interested in the subject, themes, or genre of your work. When pitching, offer a few concrete ideas you can discuss rather than simply asking to promote a book.
  • Look for opportunities to read aloud. Readings, library programs, bookstores, book clubs, podcasts, speaking engagements, and similar events can introduce both the writer and the work to new audiences.
  • Build a friendly network. Connections with writers, readers, booksellers, librarians, podcast hosts, and others can create opportunities that ripple outward.
  • Use the tools that work for you. Canva and other accessible resources can make promotion easier—but marketing does not need to become overly complicated.

Diane also provided a helpful handout, “Marketing Your Book: Four Practical Strategies to Get Your Book Into Readers’ Hands,” with additional resources for finding advance readers, podcasts, review opportunities, newsletters, cross-promotion, local events, and more.

Sharing Our Writing

Thank you to everyone who shared work this week and to everyone who listened and responded thoughtfully. As always, reading is optional—but bringing your writing into the Circle is encouraged!

  • New Writers’ Circle Google Drive

We now have a shared Google Drive folder where members can upload writing they would like to share with the Circle:

Writers’ Circle Shared Google Drive⁠

Everyone with a Google account has also been sent an email invitation to join the folder. 

Come Early and Write!

Beginning next week, writers are encouraged to arrive early and bring something to work on. Use that time however it serves you—draft, revise, organize notes, wrestle with a stubborn paragraph, or simply sit among other people who are writing.

The Writers’ Circle will formally begin at 3:30 PM.

Coming Up

Thursday, August 20 — 3:30 PM
Guest Author: Rebecca P. Minor

Rebecca writes sword-and-sorcery fantasy and serves as president of Realm Makers while also working in bookselling at Bookish in King of Prussia. We’ll talk about the relationship between writing, equipping other writers, bookselling, and the larger writing community.

Thursday, August 27 — 3:30 PM
Guest Author: John Yamrus

John is the author of 46 books and has spent more than five decades as a working writer. He’ll join us to talk about writing and publishing poetry and memoir, and turning personal experience into prose.

Bring your writing back to the Circle.

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