Talking Tuesday: An Author's Work is Never Done

I confess; I did not get my degree in creative writing. I did not get my degree in English either.  I did not go through college pursuing my desire to write.  My years in college were spent learning about marketing and advertising. 

After college, life took me down roads that led me back to my love of creative writing.  At first, I was very disappointed that I had wasted used my college years studying marketing instead of the art of crafting stories.  There are still moments that I regret the opportunities I missed to take courses from writers I admire.  However, I have realized that my education holds more worth than I originally allowed.

Marketing does not always come naturally for many of the creative types.  Marketing plans, query letters, and pitches can be scarier than a bed full of snakes.  It is comfortable to focus their thoughts and energy on creative.  But a little knowledge of marketing can go a long way when it comes to getting your work out there.

Technology has come a long way.  The publishing industry is changing. Still, I am yet to hear of a book that jumps off the shelf and sells itself.  It isn't enough to write an amazing book.  To get your book in the hands of the readers takes work.  Whatever publishing path you choose will require work.

You have to be able to turn your book as well as yourself into a "product" you can promote.  You have to have a brand of your own.  You are unique, your book is unique.  It is your job to tell others why they should care.   Truth: not everyone will care.  Rejection is part of the process.  However, through hard work you will find the right audience.  Then you will need to build that audience. 

Do you have marketing questions or topics you would like to see discussed on Mormon Mommy Writers?  

Email us at mormonmommywriters@gmail.com

Generic vs. Name Brand

If you've ever lived the life of a student, unemployed, low income or food storage minded shopper (or maybe you're a millionaire because of how you use your money) than you understand what I mean when I say:

Thank goodness for the No Name brand!

As much as I might want to splurge from time to time on that Campbell's thick and chunky soup (substitute this product for whatever came first to your mind as you read that sentence), common sense and a corset-tight-budget often means that it's the yellow-labelled cans of goods that end up in my cart.

Because in food, and clothing, and many other areas of industry, branding products usually works this way:

brand name = high quality

no name = low price

There's been a lot of talk in the blogosphere about creating a brand for yourself as a writer. This is usually referring to the way you use social platforms such as facebook, twitter and blogging to promote yourself, your work and your talents. Your brand.

What does this have to do with groceries?

Simply this: Have you considered what your brand is? Do you think brand is important? (I'm referring here more to how author brand relates to visibility, recognition and the quality of our writing, not the price or worth of our books and stories).

I've never really thought about it to be honest, until last night when I opened my pantry door to the food stacked three cans high with blaring read labels that said "No Name". Do I really want to be one of those cans? Is it worth it to build an author brand, or can one find a 'niche' as a generic writer?

When exploring the question of what is an author brand? I found this interesting statement:

If you've put your pen to paper, you've already started developing a brand, even if you don't know it. A brand is a promise to your readers that you will deliver a specific value or benefit from reading your work that can help you develop your readership and expand your audience. ...and when choosing a book to read, time and again, you'll return to the authors who delivered on their promise (from createspace article).

In other words, just as in industry, branding in writing should 'ideally' lead to the following

brand author name = High Quality

brand author work = Desirable

So while we might be a penny conscious grocery shopper, we don't want to scrimp when it comes to brand name in writing. It's definitely an area I need to put some thought and effort into.

I have a fun question for all you MMW blog readers. If you were a canned good (or any generic/brand name product, what would you be and why?

And, as a writer, how have you worked to develop your own brand? Any tips for those new to the craft?

Mold, Shape, GO!

My friend Carolina from Carol's Prints was expressing her wonder in having to do headshots as a published author and if branding is necessary and how she feels all squished inside a mold.

This inspired today's post.

At the start of my career, I had mixed feelings about this. Rules. Rules. Rules. We are being molded, beaten and shaped to please editors, agents, publishers, readers and more. (I'm thinking there's no wonder writers are so needy!)

I feel that being an author is one of the bravest things anyone can do because, in so many ways, it takes away our identity. (The rules tell us how to write). No POV changes. No adverbs. No purple prose...

A commenter from Roland's blog had so much about rules and purple prose and how we need to write to please others.

I think that having a brand is important because that's how our fans will know us and find us and love us!

What is your author brand? How did you deal with squeezing yourself into that mold as you started out?