Engage!

Summary

Lori Carlson shares her approach to engaging readers by embracing versatility in writing genres and actively engaging with other writers, while remaining authentic and vulnerable in her work.

Abstract

Lori Carlson, a writer who explores a range of topics including relationships, spirituality, and mental health, discusses her strategy for maintaining reader engagement. She emphasizes the importance of being versatile as a writer, not confining herself to a single genre, and instead producing poetry, fiction, essays, and opinion pieces. Carlson believes that this diversity, coupled with a willingness to share personal experiences in both their beauty and ugliness, keeps her audience interested. She also advises writers to be active readers and to learn from their peers, incorporating successful elements into their own work while making it unique. Her insights are a response to a prompt by Lucy Dan 蛋小姐 on engaging readers and giving back to the writing community.

Opinions

Carlson values vulnerability and openness in her writing, which she believes gives readers a genuine connection to her work.
She encourages writers to avoid letting their writing become stagnant by exploring different writing styles and topics.
Carlson suggests that writers should read and engage with the work of other writers to understand what attracts readers and to learn from their success.
She stresses the importance of versatility, suggesting that writers who can produce a variety of content can attract a wider audience.
Carlson is mindful of retaining her new readers, indicating a concern for the growth and sustainability of her readership.

Engage!

Most of my readers of this past year and a half have come to the realization that my work is going to be somewhat dark, somewhat mournful, or of a spiritual nature. I keep them engaged, I hope, by remaining vulnerable and open enough as to give them glimpses of my life in all its beauty and ugliness. I don’t stick to one thing either. I am a poet, fiction writer, essayist and at times an over-opinionated Op-Ed writer. So my range of readers has grown through my versatility. I just hope I don’t scare away my new readers!

So, my best tip for engaging readers is to dive into your versatility. Change things up now and again. Do not allow your words to stagnate. Another tip is to also be an active reader yourself. Engage with other writers. See what draws readers to their work. Emulate that. Make it your own.

This shortform is in response to Lucy Dan 蛋小姐 (she/her/她)’s shortform prompt — What are your tips for engaging readers? How do you give back?

Lori Carlson writes Poetry, Fiction, Articles, Creative Non-Fiction and Personal Essays. Most of her topics are centered around Relationships, Spirituality, Life Lessons, Mental Health, Nature, Loss, Death, and the LGBTQ+ community. Check out her personal Medium blog here.

Engage!

What Are Your Tips For Engaging Readers?

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