Author Shari Stauch of Shark Marketing Co. and author MaryAnn Reid are collaborating on a writer’s workshop in Charleston at the Center for Women (129 Cannon St.) that’s all about building a custom audience of readers for your words.

“Become An Outrageously Successful Author: How to Build Your Audience of Readers, Even Before You’re Published!” is a two hour workshop that will focus on:

1. Why millions of people try and fail to get published, and how to insure YOUR words get read.
2. FIVE key ingredients for a successful writer website
3. HOW and WHY you should be BLOGGING
4. HOW to build a successful social networking platform and create a ready-made audience for your book(s)

“Nowadays, it’s all about building your audience of readers,” said Stauch, “because over 70% of books fail at the box office due to weak sales. Today’s economy dictates that authors need to be building their audiences on their own steam, and typically that begins even before a book comes off the press.”

The workshop is part of Charleston’s Center for Women’s Writer Series. For more info and to register, visit Center for Women.

Stauch will conduct a similar, limited registration workshop at this year’s Words & Music: A Literary Feast in New Orleans on November 21st, with acclaimed debut author Heidi Durrow, whose social savvy has resulted in a whirlwind book tour on the heels of her novel, The Girl Who Fell From the Sky, chosen by Barbara Kingsolver as the winner of the Bellwether Prize for best fiction manuscript addressing issues of social justice.

Comment: Tell us how you’re using social media to promote your love of words!