blogger: Cynthia Ruchti
Over the centuries, a “patron of the arts” referred to (usually) the very wealthy and/or influential who commissioned artists, supported young or budding artists until they could support themselves, advocated for art of all kinds, and served as a benefactor so artists had financial and creative space to…well…create.
Granted, from ancient times, some patrons of the arts used their patronage efforts for money laundering or self-aggrandizement. But that’s a story for another day.
Our focus today is on the concept of good-hearted appreciators who provide support so architects, musicians, painters, sculptors, and writers can spread their drafting table, instrument, palette, chisel, and laptop wings.
If you follow this blog, you’re no doubt a fan of or engaged in the literary arts. That’s where we’ll land with our discussion of the topic of patrons.
It was far more common practice years ago for publishing houses–among their many other responsibilities–to serve as patrons of emerging writers.
Bigger platform and bestselling authors were still a publishing house’s bread-and-butter. But they could afford to–and wrote into their business plans to–develop their “jam.” They invested in newer, unknown writers who couldn’t yet draw a crowd. Those authors were nurtured by the support they received on the way to becoming top or mid-level literary artists. It still happens. But not to the level it once did. Profit-and-loss statements shouted above the patron perspective.
In what ways can you and I serve as a literary patron of the arts?
Donate mentoring time to a writer a mile or two behind you on the journey.
Many a successful author can point to the priceless benefit of the counsel and encouragement of a writing mentor.
Offer childcare services or play date swaps for an author on deadline.
(Yes, sometimes that feels like a million dollar “fellowship” grant.)
Invest financially so a new writer can attend a quality writers conference or workshop.
In a recent conversational huddle at a large fiction conference, each person around the huddle of accomplished writers pointed back to a parent, grandparent, or friend who helped provide the way for their first conference experience.
Pay full price.
Who doesn’t love a bargain? Or the glorious word FREE? What’s the author’s take-home on a free book? Zero. How much does an author make on a book for which the reader decided to “wait until it’s on sale”? Very little. An author’s income is directly, significantly, and negatively affected by the sale that benefitted the reader. Yes, sales help get the word out about new authors. But it takes a lot of new readers to make up for the income loss if prospective readers put off a purchase until the literary artwork is cheaper or free.
Please do take advantage of discount prices to buy more books and discover new authors. And don’t feel guilty if your life circumstances truly do demand that you wait for the sale price. But once in a while, or routinely in your role as an unofficial patron of the arts, consider paying full price. It’s a magnanimous decision, a gift to the world of literary arts and to the lifeblood of the authors who create the books you love to read.
Celebrate books and authors.
The more you celebrate the work of other authors and their books, the less time they need to invest in marketing their own. The more time they have to write more books. And the more creative energy they conserve. Consider it a privilege to show your patron of the arts support by pointing others to good books.
Make books the default answer to your gift-giving questions.
Give books even between holidays, for no other reason than to show you care about offering quality reading material as a gift to the reader.
And if you are the praying type, become a prayer patron of the literary arts.
The results of your investments of time spent praying for the entire industry, and for both well-known and on-their-way authors, can’t be measured, but also can’t be denied.
What would you add to this list? How can you and I serve in our own ways as an unofficial patron of literary arts?
I work with high school students, and I want to add one more item to your list, Cynthia: Encourage the next generation to read books. Too many young people see it as homework, a dull but necessary chore. They seldom read more than a few lines at a time, mostly on their electronic devices. We can nurture a love of literature through our gifts, our examples and our thoughtful recommendations. Share the love!
So true, Shirlee. When we TALK together about good books, it builds relationship, too!
Thank you for sharing about increasing student’s interest in reading. As a former 3rd-grade teacher and district literacy coach, I loved to encourage students taking reading interest inventories, capturing home reading libraries and share them in the classroom. Students also shared video conversations of books ie. plot, theme, etc.
Love this, Sheila!
The greatest gift you can bestow,
to raise a literary blessing-shower
is to gird your loins and go
to read aloud at Story Hour.
Words can spark imagination
in the young (and oldsters, too)
to overcome the screen-fixation,
to help them see the world as true.
The seed that’s planted in the soul
will grow and flourish through the years
to inspire, comfort, and make whole
what might otherwise be wracked by tears.
Your words, your heart can open doors
for littles cross-legged on the floor.
Andrew, may I post that poetry online? I assume it’s an original to you?
Sure, Cynthia! I’m so honoured!
It is indeed mine, and was written specifically for your post.
I will gladly pay full price for my favorite authors’ books. And leaving reviews is a helpful way to serve, as well. It only takes a moment. Even a simple “Great novel” would be appreciated, surely.
Great point, Shelli! Think of any product you’re thinking about purchasing. You might see mostly five star reviews, but if there are only six reviews total, it doesn’t carry near the weight of 300 four and a half star reviews. The volume of reviews adds to the significance. And it is not outside of most readers’ capacity to serve as an art patron by submitting a simply but thoughtful review!
Always share the covers of your favorite authors. I have bought many books because I kept seeing pictures of them and people telling how good they are.
Brenda, great comment!
This is so good!
Thanks for all the great reminders.
You’ve prompted me to think through how I might be able to implement more mentoring in the upcoming year.
My mentor was Ethel Herr. Now that she’s in heaven I treasure all that she poured into me more than ever.
Thanks for sharing on this topic, Cynthia. It’s so important to the future of the arts and especially in the field of books.
We can’t let the future of books and reading just happen. We can do more than serve as cheerleaders for the idea that books and authors thrive. Bless you for mentoring and for promoting/patroning in all the ways you do, Robin!
Here’s a few practical and easy things we can do:
If you liked a book, post a review. It only takes two or three sentences to say why you liked something. The organic review rate at Amazon averages one per 500 purchases. That means a book must sell 5000 copies to get 10 reviews! Mine is substantially higher, but I still need to sell 500 to 1000 copies to get ten reviews. Only a person email is more encouraging than a review from someone who loved your book. (Do both!)
Join Facebook reader groups and regularly post about books you’ve enjoyed by lesser known authors who are indie or with small publishing houses. Discoverability is extremely challenging for any author who isn’t with the big publishing houses.
If you liked a book, send the author a personal email. Many list the address in the back of the book or have a contact form at their website. There is NOTHING more encouraging to me as an author than hearing how a reader felt reading my books.
Sign up to receive authors’ newsletters and then actually open them when they appear in your inbox. Click on the links, answer the questions, especially those about what you’d like in the future (or what you liked in the past).
Like their author page at Facebook and click on what it shares in your news feed. Leave comments.
If they have a reader group at Facebook, join and take part.
Sign up for their blog at their author website.
If they are active at Pinterest, Twitter, Instagram, or some other social media you enjoy, follow them.
Follow them at BookBub and Goodreads.
If you’re an author driving to a writer’s conference, invite another author to ride along with you or share a room (for free if they are on a really tight budget).
Great insights. I wonder how many have considered how valuable that last idea is. 🙂
My public library is very good about ordering the books that library patrons ask for. I don’t buy very many books for myself, but I get tons from the library and request that the library order books by Christian authors all the time.
Bless you for doing that, Kristen!
Cynthia–Thank you for this!! We’re on the same wave-length, as that is what my blog is based on. LOVE encouraging others…As someone who was bullied in school as a child, I wanted to turn that around after I learned the Lord had blessed me with a joy in writing & painting. I think it’s very healthy; saw a lot of my students blossom with encouragement as well. I buy my books at full-price, enjoy doing reviews, and promoting Christian authors. The world needs them! p.s. saving this post–and its great illustrations.
Applauding what you do, Patricia!