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I’m not Branded!

Date: May 17, 2012
Author: summermahan
summermahan
Categories: Blog, Fun, Writing
Comments: 6 Replies

Now, this sounds a lot kinkier than the point I’m trying to make. A ‘brand’ is what every author uses to represent them in the big picture of things on social media and their writing careers. The mark of what you’re most successful at in your writing.

The ogle of Google that’s your passion.

Don’t know what your good at? Join the club.

Writers. We know how to write, but to market ourselves is really difficult. We don’t like to brag or carry on about our lives. In fact, I’m pretty boring. (That’s why I write.) And to go on about what I’m great at or what my passion is can be perplexing and intimidating.

And yet, if we don’t brand how can we succeed in the current market. To sell, we have to promote and consistently build a fan base. Easier said than done, especially if you have no clue what your niche is.

Do you have your brand down?

Your website, Facebook, Twitter and other media places proclaim your theme where fans can understand what you’re all about with one glance. You have the perfect tagline to wrap up your yummy goodness with simplicity and screams buy me!

I wish I did.

I thought I knew last year when I started all this where I wanted to go. What I wanted to be known for. But the more I write, the more I think I have it all wrong.

Lately, I’m focused on humorous contemporary writing. However, I’ve branded myself as a historical writer (or have I?). I’m confused most days. :)

And if I jump ship now, will I be doing more damage changing my ‘brand’ and then what if I go back to writing historical more. Grrr! Can’t I have both? Of course I can. Then do I have pen names for different genres? The questions and concerns go on and on.

Follow your gut and you can’t go wrong.

We all change over time about what we write, how we write and why. The market is never going to stay the same and if we don’t reinvent ourselves on a regular basis, we will get left behind.

Don’t wait to build a platform. Brand yourself today…and then change if you need.

Please share some of your own tags as I’d love to hear them.

Love*Laugh*Read

Beta Readers

Date: April 25, 2012
Author: Laurel
Laurel
Categories: Blog, Books, Editing, Publishing, Writing
Comments: 1 Reply

There’s been a lot of talk lately about Beta Readers.  But what is a beta reader, anyway?  She or he is a reader that is given an advance copy of an authors book and advises the author if her novel works or what problems there are.  Did the author leave a loose end?  Does the story not make sense?

Some authors want a more comprehenisve read from their beta readers, typos, grammar, etc.  Some authors want less.  Simply, does the book work?

For an author, there are pros and cons.  One of the pros is that you get to see, before the book is published, what the beta reader, and in turn, the public will think of your book.

The cons?  My biggest concern would be that if a beta reader found a glaring error in my novel and made a suggestion to fix it, would she later come back for monetary compensation?  Trust.  You have to be able to trust your beta reader.

Why the recent interest in beta readers?  I believe this job was originally the editors job.  Now that so many authors are turning to self publishing this important role needs to be filled in order to give the reader a good story.

For me, I haven’t yet used a beta reader.  But I’m looking for the future.  Any takers who love medieval romance?  :)

I’d love to hear your experiences, beta reader or author who has used one.