Participating in a shared world series or anthology can be a strategic move for authors looking to expand their readership, build their platform, and explore new creative avenues. This collaborative approach offers unique benefits that can significantly impact your author business. Each group or organization who is sponsoring a shared world publication(s) will have their own rules about participation.
What is a Shared World?
A shared world is a fictional universe created by multiple authors, where each contributes their own stories while adhering to established guidelines. This collaborative approach can range from anthologies to ongoing series.
Benefits of Participating in a Shared World
Reach a Wider Audience: By joining forces with other authors, you tap into a combined readership. This can expose your work to new readers who may not have discovered you otherwise.
Build Your Author Platform: Collaboration with established authors can elevate your profile. Being associated with a successful shared world can increase your credibility and visibility within the genre.
Explore New Creative Territories: Shared worlds often present unique challenges and opportunities for character development and storytelling. This can help you grow as a writer and experiment with different genres or subgenres.
Networking Opportunities: Collaborating with other authors can lead to valuable connections within the industry. You may find potential co-authors, beta readers, or even agents and editors through these relationships.
Increased Sales Potential: A well-promoted shared world can generate significant buzz, leading to increased sales for all participating authors.
Leverage Shared Marketing Efforts: The shared world concept allows for combined marketing efforts, which can amplify the reach of your book and the series as a whole.
Tips for Success in a Shared World
Understand the World: Thoroughly familiarize yourself with the shared world’s rules, history, and characters. This will ensure your story fits seamlessly within the established universe.
Develop Unique Characters: While adhering to the shared world’s guidelines, create characters that stand out and resonate with readers.
Collaborate Effectively: Open communication and collaboration with other authors are essential for the success of a shared world.
Promote the Series: Actively participate in marketing efforts to promote both your story and the entire series.
Build Your Own Brand: While collaborating, maintain your unique author voice and brand identity.
Participating in a shared world can be a rewarding experience that offers numerous benefits for your author business. By carefully considering the opportunities and challenges, you can increase your visibility, expand your readership, and enhance your writing career.
Guest Post from Author Lillian J Green
I am a fairly new author recounting the tales of my late, great aunt and cousin who were quite the black sheep of the family I must tell you. I had just graduated from high school when our nation was fully involved in some horrific and trying times. With nothing better to do I went to clean out our attic and I found some old diaries. They were tucked away in an old steamer trunk that my mother had inherited from her mother. My own mother was never interested in the contents as they looked to be well-preserved and undisturbed for quite a number of years. I truly enjoyed reading them during that long, hot summer when we had very little money for frills of any kind and no prospects for that changing any time in the future. So, I am converting these tales into a steampunk mystery series for you to enjoy. The hope and possibilities within historical fiction mixed in with fantastical inventions is extremely fun and challenging at the same time.
Visit my Website: https://authorlillianjgreen.blogspot.com/ and join my newsletter to keep up with all the changes happening as I spruce up my author brand over the next several weeks.
I am participating in a “Shared World” anthology series with the First Coast Romance Writers group and hope you will join in on the fun by purchasing some of the stories, writing reviews for the authors, and sharing them on your social media pages. Mine will be published sometime in 2025. I am still working on getting the professional edits done as this group requires that the participants do that themselves. They are providing the book cover designs and the promotions for each book. All the proceeds from the sales of these stories goes towards paying for writer’s workshops, and other learning experiences for the members.
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