Book bloggers are great ambassadors for promoting your book. Many book bloggers have large followings, ranging from 1,000 subscribers to 50,000, therefore enlisting their services to review your book is a big deal and can lead to a spike in sales.

My novel The Sheriff was recently reviewed by Books J'adore, a blog written by American author Maria Mankin with over 15,000 subscribers. This was great exposure for my novel and thankfully the review was positive! I have also been interviewed by the Writing About Books blog and a review is due to follow.

It is important to remember that book bloggers are in high demand and need to be treated with respect. Therefore, here are five quick tips for approaching a book blogger.

1. Respect - be nice and not forceful. They are already overworked and owe you nothing. Do not be impatient and demand a review within the next week. You may have to wait six months. But their reviews are priceless so you need to work around their schedule, not the other way around.

2. Big Fan - if you have not met them in person then you need to consider why they would pick your novel to review out of the hundreds of requests that they receive. It helps to therefore show that you have done your homework. Mention reviews they have written which you found particularly useful, make sure you are subscribed to their mailing list and explain why you sought their opinion of your novel over other book bloggers.

3. Give Them A Free Copy - I hope this goes without saying but you have to provide the book blogger with a free copy of your novel, in whatever format they would prefer: paperback, mobi, epub and so on. You would be hugely delusional if you expect them to buy a copy of your book in order to review it. Remember, they are doing you the favour!

4. Play By The Rules - many prominent book bloggers have terms and conditions on their website, which state time frames, disclaimers, preferred formats and preferred genres. There is no use offering your fantasy novel to a book blogger who only reads crime fiction. You would be wasting your time and theirs. Therefore, do your homework and read their website before firing off a request.

5. Do Your Bit - after they have posted their review, make sure you thank them and do not attack them for any negative criticism that you receive. After all, you asked them for their opinion. If they do not like your novel then that is tough luck. Promote the review, regardless of its content, to your friends and followers to drive traffic to their blog. It is only fair that they get some exposure out of the arrangements. Post links to the review on your social media channels to ensure the word gets out there, about both your book and their fabulous blog.

Following a recent spoken word event at Brewsmiths cafe, I was invited to take part in an author Q&A panel. This was a new experience for me but it was very enjoyable. It was a sign that I had made it as an author. People were asking for my opinion on writing! Incredible.

However, interviews and Q&A panels can be challenging, regardless of whether you are an introverted writer or a self-indulgent type. You also do not want to miss an opportunity to make a good impression because interviews are a chance to promote yourself and your work.

So here are five quick tips for participating in a successful interview.

1. Loud and Clear - when answering questions, you need to follow the same rules as when you are speaking at a spoken word event. Specifically, you need to be loud, clear, well-paced and make eye contact with the audience.

2. Short and Sweet - writers could talk for hours about writing (we are quite a vain bunch considering we are supposedly introverts) but short, relevant answers are the best. We all know that the second draft of a story is much shorter than the first and your answers should also be trimmed around the edges. It is even more important to provide short answers when part of an interview panel because everyone needs time to respond to the questions. Do not be selfish.

3. Be Prepared - you cannot predict all the questions that you will be asked but there are some questions that will always be asked. What do you write? Why do you write? How do you write? What is your favourite book? Who are your writing heroes? And, of course, that dreaded question: where do you get your ideas? You should therefore draft and re-draft answers for these questions so they are concise, insightful and maybe even a little funny. This will save you thinking on your feet and waffling.

4. Be Mindful of the Panel - spoken word events feature multiple writers which often means the post-performance interview will consist of a panel of writers. Writers should help other writers so refer to the other writers on the panel, discuss their work and feel free to ask them questions yourself. Intra-panel questions often make for lively discussion and helps get the ball rolling in case the audience are to shy to raise their hands.

5. Plug Away! - it would be a shame not to plug your latest projects, especially when you have a captive audience. Therefore, mention upcoming appearances and the next novel which you are hoping to publish. You may feel a little guilty for plugging away but writers need to become comfortable at self-promotion. Try and tie your plugs into an answer to make it seem more natural and less of a hard sell.

Writing is not a job that you can leave at the office, nor is it a hobby that can wait until the weekend. Writing is a lifestyle choice. You are always on the clock.

This means a good writer needs to be prepared. So, here are five things you should have on you at all times.

1. Pen and Paper - surely this goes without saying. If you get a good idea, or overhear a snappy bit of dialogue on the train, then you need to be able to scribble it down. I do a lot of my best writing during my commute to work. You need to be able to write on the move because it will help you find more time for writing. Pen and paper (or a laptop) should always be at hand in case inspiration strikes.

2. Book or E-Reader - writers need to be readers. The work of other authors will motivate you and teach you new techniques, whether consciously or subconsciously. It also helps if you read the work of authors who you know because you will then be able to leave them an Amazon review which is a favour that they will hopefully return.

3. Fully-Charged Smartphone - a smartphone is an essential tool for a writer. It will allow you to access all manner of apps which will increase your reading (Kindle, Kobo, Nook) and market your work (Twitter, Facebook). You can also access writing tutorials on the move (YouTube), update your author website (Weebly) and check your newsletter subscribers (MailChimp). Of course, a smartphone will allow you to access your emails and calendar so you can stay in touch with other writers and keep track of your upcoming appearances. Smartphones mean that the world is now kept safely in our pockets and accessible by our very fingertips. Writers need to have the world within reach.

4. Business Cards - you never know when you might meet a fellow writer or a fan of your particular genre. Therefore, carry around a couple of business cards which you can give with people. The business cards should contain your name, website, Twitter profile and a glimpse of your book cover, so they can get in touch with you and locate your book online.

5. Your Book - it always helps to have your book on you at all times, either on your e-reader or in a paperback format. If you capture someone's attention for a good period of time (perhaps you are sat next to each other on the train or attending the same conference) then lend them your book a short while so they can read your first chapter. If you get them hooked then hopefully then will go online to buy a copy themselves.

There are many reasons why writers should do spoken word events, so hopefully you have signed up for a few events over the coming months.

However, it is not enough to simply show up and read. You should put a lot of consideration into your performance to ensure you get the most out of the event.

Here are my top five tips for speaking at a spoken word event.

1. Pick Wisely - you need to pick a piece of writing that is suitable for the tone of the evening. Is there a theme for the event? If so, then stick to it. I attended the Brewsmiths spoken word evening last week and the theme was stories set in Birmingham. I therefore read my Birmingham-based poem, Crispin the Crooked. If I had showed up and read a chapter from my fantasy novel The Sheriff then it would ignore the theme altogether and appear quite dismissive. If your novel is appropriate to the theme and you decide to read an extract then read an early chapter which sets up the story, otherwise the audience will find it hard to follow. Speaking of which, it is also important to be mindful of the audience. If it is a daytime event and young people are present then pick something appropriate. If the event is late at night and everyone is older then feel free to go darker and pick a piece with bad language.

2. Hi, My Name Is - remember to introduce yourself before you speak. It is a good way for the audience to get to know you and see that writers are people too, not just a name on a front cover. Building a rapport with the audience by telling them a little about yourself (name, writing history, current projects) may increase your chances of selling a book from the inevitable Table Of Merchandise which is provided at most spoken word events.

3. Short and Sweet - do not outstay your welcome. If you hog the spotlight for more than ten minutes then it will deprive other writers of the chance to share their work. It is also likely that the audience will grow tired of you. If you have been allocated a set time slot then you should respect the window by filling the slot but not running over.

4. Practise - it is essential that you practise before you read to a group of strangers. It will give you confidence and allow you to familiarise yourself with your text so you do not stumble over your own words. A few test-runs will also help you get the timing spot on.

5. Speak Up, Look Up - volume and clarity are essential when reading. Not every venue will have a microphone so stand up straight so your voice projects further and speak up. There is nothing more sleep-inducing than someone who mumbles at a spoken word event. Eye contact is also important. This can be difficult when you have to look down to consult the page in front of you but look up whenever you can. It allows you to connect with the audience but also keeps them on their toes. They are less likely to look down at their phones if you keep looking at them to check they are still listening!

I have taken part in several spoken word events since becoming a writer. Just last week, I read my poem Crispin the Crooked at the Brewsmiths Spoken Word Evening and it was a lot of fun.

Spoken word events can often seem daunting, especially for the more introverted writers, however all writers should participate in these events. 

Why? Here are five reasons.

1. Adoration! - spoken word events are the perfect opportunity to present your work to a listening audience. Not everyone will read your Amazon reviews and buy your book, so make the most of having a captive audience and dazzle them with your poetic and story-telling brilliance. Even if they do own your novels and poetry collection, they will get a different experience from seeing it performed in person. Dialogue and poetry really come to life when read aloud.

2. Meet Other Writers - networking is an important part of being a writer and you will meet plenty of other authors at spoken word events. Not only will you hear their work but you will chat to them between performances because you are in the same boat as them, nervously waiting for your moment in the spotlight. Meeting other writers allows you to share tips, exchange promises to review each other's books and may open windows to future spoken word events. Don't forget your business cards and flyers!

3. Build Your Fan Base - nowadays, people invest in writers as much as they invest in a book. If readers are able to meet you, ask you questions and hear you talk about your passion for writing, then they will be much more inclined to buy your novel. In some ways, readers will feel more empathy towards you by simply seeing there is a face behind the Twitter account. Also, if you are invited to participate in a Q&A panel after the readings then make sure you accept. You will then be given the window to talk about writing in a good-humoured and informative way, all of which will increase your likability.

4. Sell, Sell, Sell! - writers need to sell books so they can justify writing even more books. Spoken word events are a platform to promote your books and there is always a table where you can line up your books alongside those by the other authors. You are unlikely to sell dozens on a spoken word evening but the audience will certainly browse your work in the breaks and you might sell a few. You can also plug future events where you will be reading or upcoming novels that are due to be released, either before or after your reading, or during the Q&A.

5. Good Karma - a final reason for participating in these events is the altruistic notion of helping out local cafes and bookshops where these events inevitably take place. Spoken word events draw a crowd to independent locations at times when they would normally be empty, which drives business to places in the local community. Self-published authors are also an independent business so it pays to join forces on events like this for mutual benefit.

So, do not delay, find a local spoken word event and take to the stage!

Brewsmiths hosted a spoken word evening on Monday 29th September, with a focus on stories set in Birmingham. I was invited to do a reading, along with five other brilliant authors: Iain Grant, Heide Goody, Katharine D'Souza, Ryan Davis and A A Abbott. Afterwards we took part in a Q&A and answered questions from the audience and our brilliant host and organiser, Donna Finn. A collection of photos can be found below.