Last week, my mentor offered a free miniworkshop on personal branding. I wrote back, asking if that meant a tattoo. Another one of my buddies wanted to know where the tattoo would be located.
Turns out, there is no need to bare your arms - or other body parts. No piercings necessary, either. She just wants us to come up with some way to make ourselves memorable to our target audience. She said it's like creating an elevator pitch that sticks beyond the life of one book.
Mark Twain instantly came to mind. He went all out and created a persona: shaggy eyebrows, white suit, white mustache and all. Samuel Clemens disappeared and the ironic humorist became a welcome house guest whenever his new book was published.
I'm waiting to hear if I got that part right - that Mark Twain was Sam C's personal branding personna. I think that's pretty close, if it isn't a dead ringer here.
Back to the personal branding requisites. There are four factors in this official version of a personal brand: personality, appearance, competencies, and differentiation. My personality's pretty okay, my appearance is less than stellar - without makeup I tend to scare little children (which can be an advantage at times). Competencies? Hmmm. And I assume "differentiation" has to do with what makes me different from, say, the Wicked Witch of the North?
I'm thinking we're supposed to come up with something that makes us worth remembering. The goal is to present ourselves to the public as someone memorable enough to show up on a mental Google whenever readers think of mystery writers.
Or maybe not. Stay tuned.
Meanwhile, it's worth brainstorming about - both privately and with your closest allies in this preparation stage, prior to marketing any more of our wares. You’re invited to take a few minutes and jot down details of your personality, appearance, competencies and differentiations. Next week I'll post my ruminations and review any comments you leave for me to ponder.
Thanks for helping me with my homework! I’ve reviewed the assignment with you. Think I know what I’m supposed to do. And I guess I’d best get it done while it still makes sense.
Meanwhile,
Write On!
Posts
4 comments:
I knew a guy who wrote a book that he got published more or less on a vanity press basis. He wore a white hat everywhere he went to make himself as different as he tried to market it. That part worked but what didn't work was that he just looked a bit goofy. The whole thing seemed too staged. So different but in a way that suits you, maybe.
I covered an MWA meeting in which Wendy Corsi Staub said she brands all her different series (yes'm...you heard that right...all of 'em...e.g., women's fiction vs. suspense...) so that cover art, author's pseudonym, slogans, PR etc. is distinctive for each. She doesn't want her readers expecting a heroine to try on shoes and instead find that she gets knocked off.
I can see the need for branding in a case like hers (ah, would that I were anywhere near as prolific!) I didn't realize that mystery writers of our ilk ought to care. But I think your mentor is onto something. (Who's your mentor? How do I get one?) I can see how you'd stand out in an agent's or publisher's pile if you managed to distinguish yourself from the pack.
Yet another thing to worry about!
Lois asked about my mentor. I got lucky when I signed up for one of the last WRITER'S DIGEST novel writing programs that was done via snail mail.
Lee Duran became my "teacher," a job she certainly transcended when she suggested that all her students get together on-line so we could exchange comments and questions, etc., quickly and easily. She recruited her writing buddy Margaret Brownley to add her years of experience as well.
Together they got me oriented to internet chatting with other writers. They predated my membership in SinC. Both had earned the tag "NY TIMES BEST SELLER."
We continue to learn - now on a more equal basis. (They never had to invent ways of promoting their books - they've been in the business long enough to have connections, but now they're busy reinventing themselves for the changing market.
Write ON!
Nan
Nan,
I'm thinking that of the four: personality, appearance, competencies and differentiation, the most important is differentiation.
Assuming that my work and I have the personality, appearance, and competence, what sets us apart from the crowd? What will get us noticed so that people can see the personality, appearance and competence.
Aye, that's the rub.
Terrie
Post a Comment