Authors love finding new ways to connect with readers and that doesn’t need to translate to rapid-fire releases. If your subscriber opt-in (aka “freebie”) has grown stale, here are five fun ways you can still connect and share with your readers.
1. A Deleted Scene from a Published Novel
Who doesn’t love a behind-the-scenes look at those scenes that didn’t make the cut? Whether it’s a cut conversation, a fun date, or a quiet moment between characters, a deleted scene allows fans to dive deeper into your fictional world. I’ve also heard of alternative endings—I’d urge caution here, though. You don’t want to totally disrupt your readers by drastically altering the outcome. However, if you have an alternate ending that still leads to the same happily-ever-after, go for it.
How to Make It Work:
- Choose a scene that adds value or provides extra insight into the characters or plot.
- Include a brief note explaining why the scene didn’t make the final cut to give it a personal touch.
- Deliver the deleted scene as a beautifully designed PDF that readers can download.
Pro Tip: Tie the scene to a popular or pivotal book in your catalog to attract fans of that specific story.
2. A Bonus Short Story Featuring Beloved Characters
Readers who fall in love with your characters often want more of them. Writing a short story featuring popular characters from your novels can be a fantastic freebie. This could be a prequel, a post-epilogue moment, or even a holiday-themed tale.
How to Make It Work:
- Keep the story between 1,000 and 5,000 words to make it manageable for you and engaging for readers.
- Make sure the story aligns with the tone and themes of your novels.
- Use this opportunity to tease upcoming books by introducing new characters or subplots.
Pro Tip: If you write series, offer a short story that bridges the gap between two books.
3. Book Club Questions for your Novel
With book clubs thriving in the contemporary romance space, providing discussion questions for your novels can help your stories become the group’s next big hit. Thoughtful questions can encourage deeper engagement with your work and help readers connect on a personal level. Authors can delve into the faith elements and themes of the novel and character arcs.
How to Make It Work:
- Create 8-10 questions that explore key themes, character development, and pivotal plot points.
- Include fun, lighthearted questions for casual readers as well as deeper, analytical ones for serious discussions.
- Format the questions into an attractive PDF or webpage download.
Pro Tip: Highlight this freebie in your marketing to attract book clubs looking for their next read. You can also offer to speak to local book clubs at their final meeting.
4. A Romantic Playlist Inspired by Your Book
Music and romance go hand in hand. Curating a playlist that reflects the mood, themes, or characters of your novel is a creative way to immerse readers in your story. I built one of these to share with readers and it was (a) really fun to do and (b) was loved by readers. What would your characters be listening to? Were there songs you listened to while writing the novel that put you into the world of your characters?
How to Make It Work:
- Use platforms like Spotify or YouTube to create and share your playlist.
- Include songs that match key scenes or characters’ emotional journeys.
- Share a short description of why each song was chosen to deepen the connection.
Pro Tip: Include a link to the playlist in your book and use it as a promotional tool during launches.
5. Printable Quotes from Your Novel
How about a keepsake that readers can use? Offering beautifully designed, printable quotes from your novels can be a meaningful and shareable freebie. Look at frequent Kindle highlights for ideas, as well as poignant scenes for your characters. Super crafty? You can even make SVG files for Cricut users to make their own quote stickers.
How to Make It Work:
- Select 3-5 romantic or inspirational quotes from your books.
- Use a free design tool like Canva to create visually appealing graphics.
- Offer the designs in both printable and digital formats for versatility.
Pro Tip: Encourage fans to share photos of their printed quotes on social media, tagging you for extra exposure.
Got more ideas? Share them in the comments!
