Here's what I've learned in the past few months about concrete ways you can support your favorite writer, whether they're a close friend or someone you admire from afar (even celebrity authors would welcome your help on most of these).

Much as those of us who wave the introvert flag would like to believe otherwise, that we can just hunker down, do the work, send it out and wait for the royalty checks to come flooding back, in the early 21st-century literary landscape that just isn't the reality.

Those nonfiction books that purport to explain life, the universe, and everything will occasionally rocket to the top of the bestseller lists and stick there for months, like a wine stain that won't scrub from the carpet.

Comedian and musician Dave Hill has written a memoir. Aside from comedy and music, he shares stories on girlfriends, hockey and "Misguided Attempts at...