I am more in the line of Dean Koontz when it comes to making appearances. I make myself appear just enough, not totally comfortable with too many face-to-face events.

I don’t do major conferences. I rarely leave the state anymore. Pre-COVID I was all over the place, and admittedly, the touring helped put my name out there. Post-COVID, however, I’ve been more productive and less real-life promotional.

No, you don’t have to appear if you don’t want to, but tell yourself how people will get to know you. You have to do it to a certain degree to become known, or to remain relevant.

Exercise the 25/50/25 method of dictating where you appear.

25% of the time appear in easy venues that don’t make you nervous. Book clubs, maybe. Groups in coffee houses.

50% of the time, accept larger crowds. They are challenging but doable.

Then 25% of the time, accept something that rattles you enough to put you on your toes. Step into fresh territory and give it a go. So, that means if you appear four times a year, you do a 1/2/1 ratio. If you appear monthly, then break it down into an 3/6/3 situation.

There’s being comfortable, then there’s being true to your profession, which means improvement and reaching out. Your readers deserve your diligence to your writing, your promotion, and to them.