Hi Reader,

Let’s face it—talking about your own work can feel just as awkward as showing someone your eighth-grade yearbook photo. (You know the one. With the braces and the unfortunate haircut.) But here’s the deal: people can’t read your brilliant screenplay or novel if they don’t know it exists.

So how do you promote your work without feeling like a walking billboard or a pushy used car salesperson in a tweed blazer?

Welcome to the first installment of Building Buzz a playful peek at ways to share your writing without losing your soul.

🎥 Screening Room

Got a screenplay or teleplay you’re proud of? Consider posting an excerpt—or even the full thing—as a writing sample on your website. That way, when someone Googles you (agents, producers, curious fans… your mom), they can read your work with the click of a button.

I know one writer who landed their first staffing gig because they had their script up and ready to read. No password. No hoops. Just “click here, be amazed.”

💡Pro Tip: Don’t just plop the PDF on your site with no context. Introduce it with your cocktail pitch that makes people lean in and say, “Ooooh, tell me more.”

🖼 Make a Poster: Make a fun movie poster to go with your script. A picture is worth a thousand words!

🔐Protect Your Pages:​
Before you unleash your words on the internet, make sure they’re protected. You can:

• Register your screenplay with the WGA for just $25 - even if you’re not a member.
• ​Copyright it with the Library of Congress for $65.

📖 Book Nook

Let’s make it ridiculously easy for people to buy your book. Enter: the Universal Book Link (UBL). Think of it as a one-link-to-rule-them-all situation. A UBL takes readers to a landing page (one page website) where they can choose their favorite bookstore.

Because here’s the thing:

• I’m a Kindle-for-life kinda gal.
• Some folks are ride-or-die Apple Books users.
• Others want to support indie bookstores through Bookshop.org.
• And your superfans? They’ll want to buy directly from you to cheer you on.

💡Here’s my own UBL for How to Turn Your Screenplay Into a Novel so you can see what I mean.

🛠️ UBL Services I Love:

• ​BookFunnel – I use their UBL ($20/year), and here’s why I like it: they let readers buy directly from me before showing other store options. Bonus: they also deliver ebooks, audiobooks, and run author promotions.
• ​Draft2Digital's Books2Read – Free and open to everyone. Even if you don’t distribute through D2D, you can use this handy tool. One caveat: if you sell books on your own website, Books2Read won’t highlight that option—you can list the link, but it doesn’t say “buy directly from the author.”
• ​Genius Link – Offers free and paid versions. Great for savvy link wranglers who want to customize every click.

🤑Affiliate Pro Tip:​
Use affiliate links for Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other retailers wherever you can. That way, you earn a little extra with every sale—even if it’s just a few coins jingling in your virtual tip jar.

More fun tips coming soon. For now, go forth and share your stories with confidence and flair!

Podcast Alert!

This week I'm on the Native Tongues podcast! Listen to me talk about writing, life in Hollywood, and my search for the perfect ground beef taco.

In Case You Missed It

​My Favorite Writing Podcasts, Books, Tools, & Software​

​Two Types of Fun for Writers​

​Brand vs. Voice: What's the Difference?​

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Cheers,

Lindsey

Thanks for reading!

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