How to Create a Great Author Tagline

I’ve been thinking about taglines lately and that maybe I need one to help strengthen my brand(s). By the way, taglines are those short, snazzy sentences you see on some author’s websites that encompasses their brand. It’s the feel of their stories. It’s an instant, “Oh, I get it” for the visitor and reader. You read a good tagline and you immediately know what the author is about, what they write, the feeling you are going to get from their books and basically, exactly what you are in for.

(You may hear of taglines being called loglines. Loglines usually apply to your story, or your movie/TV script and not your website or brand. But some folks use the terms interchangeably. Personally, I think there is a difference, but we won’t get into that today.)

Three Good Author Taglines

Cynthia Herron: Heartfelt, Homespun fiction

Heather Thurmeier: Heart, Humor, and a Happliy Ever After

Pat Ballard (Queen of Rubenesque Romances): Romance novels with big, beautiful heroines

Those three taglines give you an immediate feel for what they write, don’t they? That’s what you want. Short. Concise. Evoking good things.

Why Do You Need an Author Tagline?

Author taglines (or even writer taglines–you don’t need to be published to use one!) help readers, editors, publicists (hopefully!), and stumblers immediately recognize what you and your brand and your site is about. It should be memorable, short, and encompass what you are and what you write about, and in doing so, let folks know what you are not.

Right now my blog tagline is “Always learning. Always writing.” That about sums up my blog and website at the moment. When you come here, you probably figure you are going to read about what I am learning in terms of writing. However, when I publish my fiction, that tagline will need to change–at least for my website where my readers land. My current tagline may still fit for my blog. (It’s okay to have two taglines.)

A good tagline, when you are a published author can be whipped out all over the place. It can go on your business card or promotional bookmarks, your email signature or a sign out front of your house, your website/blog or your social media profiles. Everywhere! You hand out something to potential readers that contains your tagline all front and center, and immediately they know what your stories are about and if it is their “thing.”

Why use your tagline everywhere? Brand recognition. They may not remember your name (doh!), but they may recall your tagline and what you are about.

What a Good Author Tagline Can Do For You

• Good taglines create immediate feelings in your reader.
• They make you memorable.
• They help focus potential readers, site visitors, etc., immediately categorize you (in a good way).
• They help publicity folks know exactly where you fit in and what they can do for you.
• They help people setting up talks or book signings know who you are and what they are helping sell. They may be able to figure out whether a black table cloth or doilies are going to be best for you at the book signing table. Yes, a good tagline is that good!
• Instant recognition.
• A good tagline can help you retain your focus when it comes to projecting your image, deciding on your publicity, and even writing future books, etc. For example, if your tagline is “dark” something, and you know that is the essence of you, your brand, and your platform. Therefore, you probably aren’t going to go and pursue reviews from conservative religious bookclub mags, right?

What Do You Encompass?: Brainstorming Your Author Tagline

If, right now, you are like me, you may be writing and aspiring in several genres as you settle into who you are in the writing world. That’s normal. However, you may be noticing trends in terms of your story settings, the feel of your novels, the types of characters you create, the problems they must overcome, as well as your voice.

For example, you may write kids books, mysteries, and commercial fiction. But in all of your stories you are a bit dark and all have a spiritual feel to them. Voila. You write dark spirituals. (Er… okay… dark spirituals. Work with me here!)

For me, I have noticed that my stories tend to be light due to humour and tend to be set in small towns. So my future writing tagline may end up being something like “small town fiction with a dollop of humour.” (Ugh. Maybe not. Going to have to work on that tagline! But I think you get what I am saying here.)

Create Your Own Tagline: A Primer

But how do you really get to the meat of what your tagline should be and what you encompass (or want to encompass)?

First, do a little brainstorming. Basically, all those adjectives you don’t get to use in your writing, you’re going to write down… now!

1. How you want your readers to feel. (Ex. inspired, scared, hopeful, etc.)

2. Common themes in your stories or types of stories. (Ex. coming of age, romance, good overcomes evil, believe in yourself.)

3. What image you want to convey. (Professional? Goth? Religious?)

4. Who is your audience? (This will help you direct you towards what will appeal to them and help you figure out how to aim straight at them.)

5. What makes you, you? (How do you differ or standout? Humour? Sassy?)

Now that you have a list of things you would you like to evoke, circle the top 5-7 that really speak to you or that you connect with. Are there synonyms that might evoke a stronger image?

Almost There! Putting it Together to Make a Stellar Tagline

Take your 5-7 words and play around with them. Do you have a few taglines popping out at you already? Write them down. All of them. Don’t go with the first one you like because you may (believe it or not) decide it isn’t the one after all.

Have a few? Ask others what they think. Which ones do they think fit you best? Listen to their suggestions. Sleep on it.

Hone it down until it is short and concise.

A Tagline is Not Forever

A few years down the road you may look at your tagline and realize you have evolved and your tagline isn’t quite right any longer. Don’t be afraid to modify it!

As well, you may notice that bestselling authors are using their taglines less and less on their websites. Why is that? Because their name has become their brand and their tagline. Their readership knows what they stand for and what they are going to get from reading their stories. However, they still use taglines in their promotional material for reaching out to new audiences as well as keeping their eye focused on the ball.

Don’t forget–you can put your tagline everywhere! Use it! It’ll be one of your best tools. You can even use it when folks ask what you write. If it’s good, it’ll intrigue them and open the conversation.

This might be one of the hardest things you do (right up there with query writing) but it will be well worth it!

You can do it!

How about you? Have you seen some good ones out there?

Do you have a tagline? (Share it!) If so, could you hone it in even more?

Take Your Writing to the Next Level: Perfectionism

I learned something all over again the other day.

Sometimes I have to be dissatisfied with my work
in order to
take it to the next level.

That’s right. Sometimes that annoying little editor perfectionist b*tch that hangs out over my right shoulder… is okay. A little harsh, yeah, of course. But sometimes that mean hag is right. Sometimes her driving criticism is for my own good and I should listen.

And especially when I am doing something difficult. That’s when I really need to listen to her spurring me on so I don’t quit or do things half-butted.

So, what was I doing when this nugget hit me? I was working on organizing some of the information I have on my It’s All Kid’s Play website (check it out–I’m done!!!! (Well, mostly. Still some tweaking and images to add.) Tell me what you think. Does it need something? Do you like it? Feel free to pass the word on about it if you are so inclined).

I was trying to figure out an easy way for people to find the information (crafts and activities) on each page without a ton of scrolling. I have hundreds of activities for kids on the site and around 30 pages, so most pages have about 10-20 items per page. But that’s a lot of scrolling when each activity or craft has anywhere from 0-15 lines of text after them. I tried drop down menus within the paragraphs–too much work for the reader. I tried columns, but the irregularity of the paragraphs looked odd. I tried read more links–too much work. I experimented again and again and put in hours I didn’t have–damn that b*tch, but she was right again and again. It just simply wasn’t good enough. Why go to all this effort if I wasn’t going to be truly satisfied?

And so I kept trying. Kept working. Kept getting harangued by that snot on my shoulder. Eventually I came up with a solution that isn’t too bad. (I hope!)

It’s the same with writing. When I get to the hard slogging, I tend to buck and balk. Hey! I just spent two precious weeks on that scene, what do you mean you think I should take it out? Are you nuts??? And you want me to try something completely new? How much time do you think I have?

But she’s right. When she’s the loudest and most annoying, and I buck at her advice–that’s when she’s right about the most important things and I should shut the heck up and listen.

How about you? Do you ever balk at your internal editor? Did you listen to her/him and find they were right after all (and it was worth the grief)?

Trust Your Instincts: Mom Guilt and Writing

There is nowhere more prevalent where we need to trust our gut and instincts than in parenting. I mean, even more than writing–although you really need to follow them there as well!

I have to admit, sometimes I get Mom Guilt pretty bad. Right now my little guy has woken from his nap. He’s cooing softly to himself, still in his crib. While my instincts (and past experience) tell me that he is content and won’t be as content if I get him up before he calls me, I feel guilt. I am typing a mile a minute trying to get every second of “writing time” out of this nap that I can.

Why? Because I try to put it away when my kids are up and need me.

But it’s hard. Finding that balance. Meeting the needs of my family while balancing my own need to have a career that I absolutely love.

Today, I am a guest on the lovely, new, and very bad ass online magazine, The Indie Chicks. These ambitious women have spunk! It’s my first guest post and I’m pretty excited about it. What am I talking about over there? Mom Guilt (or Dad Guilt for you lovely Dad’s out there–I know you feel it too). If you’ve ever experienced it and have wondered what life is like on the other side of “super busy” then have I got a post for you!

So go grab a glass of wine (it’s 5PM somewhere), let the kids see how much playdough they can stick to the underside of the dining room table before it peels off, and click this linky to read my take on Mom Guilt and letting our kids play. And if you think I’m going to be just blowing smoke the whole time–I’ve thrown in some research too. So, educational, inspiring, and… fun!

By the way, they need writers for their blogs and this is a fabulous way to get some exposure and cross-promotional yahoo going on. (These fine ladies managed to score 1000 Facebook likes in like, no time! They are not to be messed with!)

And in case you are still on the fence, my post on the Deadly Swamp of Mom Guilt might just change your life!

Don’t miss it, and most of all…

Enjoy!

I’m rooting for you!

P.S. What brings on your Mom or Dad Guilt? What helps you survive it?

The Cost of Perseverance

Perseverance. It’s that stick-with-it-ness that makes dappling writers move from okay to great, can help midlist writers become bestsellers, and drive writers to shove past their failures.

Let’s face it, if you are going to make it in this business (whether you go the indie or traditional route) you are going to need some major perseverance to hone your craft, get heard, and drill down to your core audience and basically, succeed.

<Rah-rah-rah. Insert Jean’s inspiring pep talk here.>

But what about the dark side of perseverance? Like any magic, there is a dark side.

For example, the other night I curled up against my husband who was watching “Flipped Out” on his tablet. This show features the one and only Russell Hanz of “Survivor” fame. The premise of the show is that Russell and his brother buy a house, fix it up, and then sell it within a month–hoping to make a tidy profit while they are at it, of course.

The interesting part for me was Russell–and not because he is an awesome multi-dimensional character, but because he was saying that he went from working man to famous overnight. He was one determined player on “Survivor” and went back for 3 seasons (meaning he had to leave his family for at least 6 weeks each time–and with no contact during those times) in hopes of gaining the title “Sole Survivor.” (Not to mention the million dollars.)

And all of this determination and perseverance to make that goal is trickling down and affecting his personal life. He and his wife were talking about splitting during “Flipped Out.” (She says he hasn’t been the same since his obsession with winning “Survivor.”) Being in the midst of a break up obviously is not easy. This ended up causing him friction in his business life and he ended up taking a week off the renos to get his life in order after his personal problems affected his judgement. (He shoved an officer and got himself cuffed and stuffed–into a squad car.)

The moral of the story is this: Perseverance in your quest for greatness is fabulous. You are going to need it. But sometimes you need to give your perseverance a rest and take a breather. Remember who is in your life and why. Find that balance.

If you are doubtful about taking a breather, note that many of the AQC (AgentQuery Connect) members who have taken a bit of time off come back renewed, with honed skills, a renewed purpose and drive… and often find their publishing success shortly there afterwards.

How about you? How do you balance the “good” and “evil” sides of perseverance?

How to Hold a Contest: 5 Tips Over at FTWA Today

Hey, I’m over at From the Write Angle talking about how to hold an effective online contest today. I’ve shared 5 tips, and as usual, squished pretty much everything I know about getting the biggest bang for your contest buck into that post. Why do I do that to myself? I chose to do a 5 tips theme so I wouldn’t feel the urge to pour all I know into every post! So silly.

An example of one of my tasty little tips: Did you know that advertising or holding your contest on Facebook has to stay within certain Facebook rules or you page could be deleted without warning? Scary, isn’t it?

Anyway, if you have ever considered holding a contest, or have held one and want to share your expertise and experience with the Write Angle gang, we’d love to hear from you. Pop on over!

Here’s a little something I whipped up for that post (mmm cake!):

How about you? Ever held a contest? How did it go? What would you do differently next time?

Never held a contest? What drives you to enter or not enter a contest?