Never Stop Learning: 5 Ways to Build Your Brand Identity as a Writer

Let’s get this out of the way: Writing is a business. Period.

If you plan to have more than your mother read your writing, it is a business.

“Well, wait,” you say. “I write because I enjoy it and yeah, sure, one day I’ll get published.”

I feel the same way.

For years I blogged because I wanted to. Not because I thought I should or was trying to build a brand. It was about me sharing ideas, opportunities, tips, and more because I felt the need to do so.

And I still blog for those same reasons. But now it is more. I also blog with a new additional purpose–the purpose of doing it well and building a brand. (It’s a big learning curve!)

When I first started writing a few years ago, I believed that writing a good story was enough. And sometimes it is. However, in today’s world I believe that writers need more. More to be truly successful. More to be noticed. We need to build a brand. We need to never stop learning and applying what we have learned. The world will not stop for us.

What is a brand for writers?

It is you. It is what makes you stand out from the crowd in an unique “you” way. It is recognizable. It is something you can carry over across various online worlds. Hone in on what your brand is and what it isn’t. Think of the big writers. What makes them “them.”

The things on your “isn’t” list should not appear in your tweets or Facebook posts if you are going to be a ‘pure’ brand–unless of course you can find a way to swing that back to your brand in some way. (For example, the other week I shared a story about meeting Canada’s Greatest Know It All and turned what could have been an unrelated story (from a brand standpoint) into a post on writing.)

How do you build a brand?

1. Visual Identity

You need something that is distinctly you. Like a logo, avatar, or image that brands the blog or Twitter account as “you” and is instantly recognizable for your audience. Think Coca-Cola. What popped in your head? It was the red and white can and the writing, wasn’t it? That is visual branding. Now think about what you would expect to see on their Twitter and Facebook accounts. It’s the logo and writing, isn’t it? That is a strong visual identity and visual branding.

It is important to ensure your visual identity matches your brand’s persona. A flowery, feminine visual identity will not work if you are writing dark mysteries, but it would work well with some romances. Your identity should match what you are selling and your voice and tone–not what you think is purdy.

Keep your look current. What is visually up-to-date in terms of style and image on the net changes constantly. What was gorgeous five years ago may look painfully outdated now–and you could too by association.

2. Voice

Voice is huge for writers. It is the distinctive tone we put on the things we write. In theory, someone who read passages from a hundred different writers should be able to pull yours from of the pile. Think of your favourite author. You know the way they write, and their tone, and voice, and could pull them out in a blind taste test.

Our voice is part of our brand. Our voice should carry over all avenues of platform from tweets, to articles, to books, to Facebook posts. Your voice has to be genuine and you for that reason. Otherwise you run into consistency issues. And if you aren’t consistent it can make it difficult for your audience to trust your brand.

3. Consistency

If Coke started selling picnic tables the customer would probably go “wha?” When building a brand we need to hone in on one area and be consistent. Find your niche and hone it. For example, my It’s All Kid’s Play work is on it’s own website with it’s own URL, own logo, own look, own blog, own Twitter account, and own Facebook page. Why? Because if I suddenly started talking about “free play” and it’s values as well as activities to do with your children on this blog it would not go with the brand I am building here. This brand is about improving our fiction writing with the aim of publication. (But I now realize… my blog tagline does not reflect that.)

4. Credibility and Trust

Someone who is upfront, honest, and transparent builds trust. If your reader feels as though you are hiding something and not being authentic and putting it all out there, how will they trust you and your brand?

By being consistent and sharing what we know helps build credibility and trust. By the way, giving some (not all) tips and knowledge away for free is a great way to build trust because your consumer/customer gets to see what you are about, try what you are ‘selling,’ and see that it works. People like helpful people and remember them. And more often than not, they come back to that person when they need to buy. They also tend to recommend that person to others in need. These people are called brand ambassadors (pure gold!) and lend credibility and trust to you and your brand. (Because who are you going to believe when it comes to a product? The salesperson with an obvious vested interest or your buddy down the street?)

5. Marketing

Marketing can cover everything from paid advertisements to things like tweeting and even blogging. Don’t underestimate the power of these avenues in building (and destroying) your brand. Wherever you can, hone your brand and try not to dilute it. Create a niche and bring in your audience. They are yours.

Putting your brand out there can lend it a larger-than-life feel and can be involved or simple. Either way, a good rule of thumb should be that your marketing matches your brand and your brand’s voice.

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Once you have your brand, protect it. It takes way more work to create a brand than to destroy it. Train yourself to think of your brand first before you tweet or post. (And if you aren’t sure what your brand is at the moment, that’s okay! Sometimes it takes awhile to hone down to the nitty gritty.)

One last note: Editors and agents Google writers to see what they are doing online. And when they do, they like to see a brand that is professional, up-to-date, and in line with what the writer is trying to sell.

So how about you? What is your niche? What is your brand?

You’ve Got to be a Hungry Writer to be Successful

So you want to be a writer. A successful writer. But you aren’t sure how to get there. I mean, what qualities do you need? You already have a great story, but that publishing contract and tons of sales hasn’t magically appeared as of yet.

Let me tell you a story.

My one-year-old is curious. Persistent. Knows how to get what he wants. He’s not easily distracted from any task at hand, nor his ultimate goal. (Believe me, I’ve tried to distract him.)

But he’s quite often successful. And not because he wears me down–I have a feeling that giving in now would result in me admitting myself to a psychiatric ward during the teen years.

So why is he successful?

Persistence. But also because of his creativity. He changes his approach when he meets with ‘failure.’ He’s hungry to reach his goal and nothing will stand in his way. He keeps his eye on the ball (or banana or book or…).

For example, I frequently put things out of my son’s reach. For example, I will put a library book along the back cushions of the couch where he can’t reach it while he’s cruising along the couch. However, we have cats and one of them is an old lady who frequently has troubles retracting her claws. To preserve our couch from frequent thread pulls and holes, about 99.9% of the time it is covered in a blanket. Therefore, when I put things on the couch that I don’t want damaged by my little guy, I tuck it at the back of the couch, which, is covered by a blanket.

He’s experimented with stretching, whining, and walking around the couch to get to things that are at the back of the couch. Never once losing his hunger to reach his goal. Naturally, he has met with success. He has discovered that if he pulls on the blanket, he can pull the ‘forbidden’ item within his reach. Score! He uses this tactic everywhere he can including getting a soother out of his crib if it is resting on a blanket or sheet. It doesn’t work everywhere, but he’s learning and adapting his approach to meet different situations.

So if you aren’t reaching your goals to become a better writer, increase your sales, get more followers, get an agent, get a contract, reach the next level, or what-have-you, ask yourself: Are you hungry? Are you hungry enough to do what it takes to reach your goals? Are you willing to work every angle? Are you willing to try something creative to get what you want? And most of all, do you have the persistence to keep trying?

Well, are you? I’m hungry for a platform and a book contract for It’s All Kid’s Play and I’m trying different angles to get what I need. What are you hungry for?

Writers and the Benefits of Givers Gain

I’m just finishing a fantastic book about building your personal brand by Erik Deckers and Kyle Lacy (Branding yourself: How to Use Social Media to Invent or Reinvent Yourself). I came across the section on networking and the idea of Givers Gain which struck a cord with me, not only because I’ve been pretty lucky in a lot of ways, but also as to why another writer’s recent actions haven’t been sitting right with me.

What is Giver’s Gain?

First, what is Givers Gain? Basically, it is a karmic idea. You give for the pleasure of giving, not expecting anything in return. When you give freely, opportunities and the things you need will come to you. For example, on AgentQuery Connect I love to help other writers. I give with no ‘favour counting’ (that would be–you owe me!) or expectations that someone else will provide me with something simply because I gave to someone else.

I give because it feels good to give to others and to share my knowledge. It’s actually a lot like Chris Brogan was saying about coaching others in his newsletter the other week. When we coach others we learn about our own skills, focus our thoughts on the subject, and develop and further ourselves in ways we couldn’t possibly imagine.

Personally, I think sharing sends out a great vibe. When people share and collaborate in a no holds barred way, before long an inspiring group forms that is more than just the sum of its parts. (It’s all that wonderful wisdom of crowds business, only add some feel good warm and fuzzies as well.)

How Has Giver’s Gain Helped me?

What have I discovered? When I give on AQC, opportunities appear. Recently, amazing (AQC related) cheerleaders have appeared out of nowhere–and at a time where I could really use some encouragement to boost my drive (and maybe my confidence as well). Cat Woods has been cheering me on with my efforts on attempting to write a middle grade novel. On Facebook, E.M. LaBonte has seriously been keeping me from throwing up my hands and giving up on that avenue of platform building. Another unexpected cheerleader of the It’s All Kid’s Play idea is Kela McClelland who has appeared out of nowhere to become a serious shout out queen for the website I’m revamping (almost done!). And, of course, here on the blog, Jemi Fraser comments on every post (which keeps me from feeling completely unheard). Why have these vital cheerleaders appeared right when I need them so desperately? I think because of Givers Gain.

More proof that it works? How did I end up with a literary agent? I got a referral from an AQC critique partner, Calista Taylor. She remembered something I’d been working on a year previous (the old It’s All Kid’s Play website) and put my name and project forward as way of introduction. I’d like to think that one of the reasons she helped me out is because of the way I give.

The Black Cloud–Takers

But sometimes there is a dark cloud in and amongst the warm and fuzzies. There are ‘takers’ in the mix. And this is what has disappointed me lately. Of course there are people who join AQC, post their query, get feedback, and leave. But you can see them a mile away so it’s not exactly a big deal. There will always be takers and, sometimes, situations may even necessitate for givers to be a taker.

However, the other day I realized that one writer was not helping others in a way that I expected. I had thought this person was a giver–they do give, don’t get me wrong. But I saw them put out a request for a favour, which was granted by another writer. A little while later the helping writer put out a request for the same type and it fell on deaf ears in terms of the first favour asker.

Around the same time, I put out a general request which I felt was right up that writer’s alley, and guess what? Deaf ears again.

This leaves me inexplicably disappointed. Personally, I could have really, really used the help. Even a simple ‘yes’ or ‘no’ would have helped. And yes, I could have approached them directly and put them on the spot in terms of asking for assistance, but I didn’t feel it was appropriate in this case and I think the reason may have been that in my heart of hearts I already knew what I know now. This person is is a superficial giver. They give when it is easy. And to me, that somehow doesn’t feel like genuine giving. Does that make sense? It’s like they aren’t willing to inconvenience themselves or aren’t willing to make what could be a ‘sacrifice,’ if you will.

I understand that writers are busy and can’t step up for every request. As well, I should give the benefit of the doubt to this writer as it is possible that they may be helping the other writer behind the scenes.

What Will Happen to Takers?

The problem, for me, is the trend I am seeing. This person is asking from their circle and not giving back in true, genuine ways. And pretty soon I fear that many will stop helping this writer and their circle will slowly close up–and with them on the outside.

My question is, how far will this writer get in their career? Will they be truly successful? How far are they going to get if they burn the bridges to their brand ambassadors (those folks who shout out about them from the tops of buildings)?

I hope if there is anything I can ever do for my cheerleaders that they will let me know. And even more so, I hope that I will step up in a big way.

So? How about you? Do you need anything? Can I help you? Don’t be afraid to ask.

By the way, I’m blogging over on From The Write Angle today about the pet peeves we writers have about other writers. I listed 4 and 10 other awesome people helped out (Givers Gain!) and added their 2 cents. Check it out!

It’s a Job

The other day I was thinking about how it is no secret that successful authors such as Michael Ondaatje, Stephen King, and Nora Roberts treat writing as a job. None of this pattering about or dabbling business. These guys are serious about their careers which has something to do with why they have published so many successful books. They “go to work” every day and write. For them, it is a nine to five type situation. And it works. (And I do believe they began treating it as a job before they reached their famed levels of success where they had to treat it as a job in order to survive and sustain their level of achievement and success.)

Yesterday*, I was listening to Charlaine Harris on CBC radio, and again, up came the idea that writing is a job. (Job being “a paid position of regular employment” according to dictionary.com.)

So, until you start treating it as a job–even if it is a second job, part-time job, unpaid job, etc.,–how is it ever going to become anything else? How will it leave the status of hobby if you don’t commit to it in the way you would a ‘real’ job?

Just a little food for thought on a hot, hot day.

*I wrote this in July while on the road, but ran into posting issues. And so this post sat in my drafts folder until, well, now.

Writers Pimping for Commercial Success

Lately, I have been coming across the topic of writers pimping their work. Not pimping it in terms of dressing it up, but rather, selling out or compromising their work in order to increase its commercial appeal.

It’s an interesting quandary. Do you languish in some niche you love, or do you change your work, possibly even changing those bits you cherish and take pride in, those bits that make the piece truly yours, in an effort to achieve success? You could then ask yourself, what is success? Is it making money, or is it being proud and fulfilled by your creation? Is there a middle ground?

While reading Foreign Policy magazine (November/December 2009) the other day, I came across an interesting article by Chandrahas Choudhury called ‘English Spoken Here: How Globalization is Changing the Indian Novel’ which discusses the issue of Indian writers pimping their novels to the global market of English readers. Choudhury says “the Indian novel in English…often seems to sacrifice the particularities of Indian experience for a watered-down idiom that can speak to readers across the globe (page 96).” By translating from an Indian language (there are several) to English, the author loses “the specificity and charge of Indian life” and it creates an English novel that is “paler, weaker and more simplistic” which ends up being off-putting for Indian readers.

Therein lies the rub. Do you go for mass sales at the risk of alienating your local audience, the very people you are writing about? And if so, then is your writing still true? Because if it isn’t still true, your reader is going to know you’ve been pimping and quite possibly shun you. As Jessica Page Morrell says in Thanks, But This Isn’t For Us “Pimping also means you’re telegraphing to readers that your character’s lives and hearts don’t have value (page 94).” So, your efforts to reach that market could totally backfire on you, leaving you with nothing. Or to put it more bluntly: “Diluting your product to make it more “commercial” will just make people like it less (Hugh MacLeod, Ignore Everybody: And 39 Other Keys to Creativity, page 90).”

So where is the line? That thin line between being true to yourself, your characters, and your audience, and commercialism/success/making a living. MacLeod says “The most important thing a creative person can learn professionally is where to draw the red line that separates what you are willing to do from what you are not. Art suffers the moment other people start paying for it. The more you need the money, the more people will tell you what to do. The less control you will have. The more bullshit you will have to swallow. The less joy it will bring (page 64).” Ouch.

Where is you thin red line? Are you chasing a genre you aren’t passionate about in hopes of breaking into publishing and any market will do? Are you frolicking in novel-length poems that are likely to never see the publishing light of day? Where are you and why are you there? What is your intent?

But most importantly, are you happy? Do you enjoy what you are doing? If not, why are you doing it? Life’s short. Grab it by the horns and go for a joyride.

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