Blogger: Mary Keeley
The Books & Such offices are closed over the Christmas holidays, but we’re re-posting some popular blogs from the past. This one is from a year ago. Enjoy commenting among yourselves. A blessed Christmas to all of you.
Often I talk to writers who are confused about the necessity of author branding and what goes into determining their unique brand. The quick answer is that the best way to guard your author identity is to establish and maintain a clearly defined brand. Readers begin to associate your name with your particular voice, style, content, and genre. They become synonymous. That’s the beauty and reliability of a well-established brand.
One client already told me she officially has put herself on sabbatical from writing until January. Unless you are working to meet a contracted manuscript due date, it’s refreshing for mind, body, and spirit to take a break from writing over the Christmas holidays and enjoy extra time with God, family, and friends. But you can spend free moments pondering some thoughts related to establishing your brand or evaluating your current concept of your brand while you aren’t in writing mode.
Establishing your author brand is essential to creating a consistent perception in readers’ minds. Think Karen Kingsbury. What comes to mind? Think Debbie Macomber or Rick Warren. What unique characteristics come to mind when you see these well-known names? Voice, writing style, personality, passion—these qualities establish your unique identity within your chosen genre. No one else can do these the same way you do. That is a profound thought.
You know your personality, but it takes lots of practice writing to discover your special voice and develop your writing style. This is why many authors don’t get their first, or second, or even third books published. But these works still have incredible value as learning tools. Blogging is another way to practice your writing.
Next, ask yourself the following questions. You might find them elementary at first glance, but bear with this exercise. You could gather additional insights into identifying your brand or refining your current brand concept:
- Have I chosen the genre that best suits my interests and passions, or am I going for what is currently popular? Genre popularity is cyclical, so choosing by that standard alone is a mistake and won’t result in your best writing if it’s the wrong fit for you.
- What are the characteristics of the readers I want to attract? How can I touch their deepest needs? How can I give back to them?
- Nonfiction writers: What topics am I most passionate about? How can I convey my message through my unique writing style? Fiction writers: What kinds of stories do I want to write? What values do I want to express in the characters I create?
Genre selection, voice, personality, passion, writing style. These have to be clear to you before you can define your brand with confidence. It may be helpful to ask your critique partners or mentors for their perspectives on you as well as your values and strengths. Others often see qualities we miss in ourselves.
So far, do you think you have identified your brand accurately? How might your current brand concept need refining? What areas do you think you need to spend time considering over the holidays?
Andrew Budek-Schmeisser
Interesting questions, Mary, and a great post.
* Specific identification of a brand in terms of voice is something I never consciously pursued, beyond knowing what I wanted my writing to ‘sound like’, a style formed by those who have impressed me the most – Nevil Shute, Robert Ruark, Hermak nouk, and Richard Bach. I make no apologies for being derivative. One sees father when standing on giants’ shoulders.
* In fictional genre, I write about that which I care the most…romance and marriage. It’s an awkward fit for someone whose go-to tool-kit for practical problem-solving tends to be prejudicial and abrupt, but I don’t WANT to write the armed conflicts I lived. I want to write about healing hearts.
* And in the end, through illness, my brand has really been burned in. Seeing life from the bouncy end of the diving board over Eternity’s Deep End, I’ve learned that everything I thought distracted me from the true goals of my life actually WERE the true goals, and that Paul is so very very right…”all you need is love”.
* Oops, wrong Paul. “…and the greatest of these is love.” Sorry.
Michelle Ule
Lol, Andrew. We’re Nevil Shute fans at our house, too, but what else would expect from the marriage of an engineer and a storyteller?
Merry Christmas from someone who should have asked for brand clarity for Christmas!
Andrew Budek-Schmeisser
Yes, indeed, Michelle…the marriage of engineer and storyteller! Love that!
* When my brand clarity became focused through fell circumstance, there were times I thought, “Be careful of that for which you may wish!”, but in truth…I know now that I am exactly where I’m supposed to be.
Jeanne Takenaka
Andrew, I hadn’t truly thought through the truth that sometimes our life circumstances help define our brand. I know circumstances can (and often do) change us, so why wouldn’t they have a place in what our brand is?
*And it’s wonderful that you know what you’re passionate about what you’re writing, and that you want your words to be life-giving and uplifting. One of the many wonderful things about you, my friend.
Andrew Budek-Schmeisser
Jeanne, thank you so much!
* What’s interesting is that it works both ways – as circumstances define brand, so does the growth of a brand shape how we meet our circumstances. The act of writing, of putting thoughts and feelings into a structured, coherent, and hopefully readable form, refines us both spiritually and emotionally.
* Journaling probably does something similar (I don’t journal), but I think that writing for public consumption, of having to explain what’s implicit in my own heart and mind has made me better able to face things as they have developed.
JenM
I’m new to this blog; I’ve been making my way through the posts the past week or so. You all seem so tight-knit that I didn’t want to intrude. But Andrew, your comment right here—“I’ve learned that everything I thought distracted me from the true goals of my life actually WERE the true goals”— so much truth right there.
My husband has been living the good life with Jesus for two years and this is one truth I learned quickly. It grows deeper and deeper. As a soon-to-be-blogger whose message is life and hope to widows because of Jesus, may I affirm you and God’s work in you.
Shortly after Jesus welcomed my husband home, I was talking with a friend. I made a comment that became a statement that became a mission: “Our story was never about cancer; it’s about the faithfulness of God.” My heart is to tell God’s story through our story. I see the same reflected in your posts here.
Andrew, God is faithful. He won’t drop you and he won’t drop your dear wife. Jesus is the prize that is worth everything.
Shelli Littleton
Merry Christmas Eve, y’all! Are y’all ready for Christmas? I think I am.
*I believe I have finally identified my brand in writing … and I’m working to hone those skills, voice. I’m working on my second MS in this direction, so I’ll be working on planning and plotting scenes over the holidays. I’ll be filling my journal book. The thing I love the most about writing for the Christian market is that everything I do and think involves the Lord in one way or another. Don’t you love that? Even when I am concerned that my priorities may be out-of-wack in writing over home life, the Lord is right where He should be, front and center.
*Have a Merry Christmas, everyone. You have all blessed me in one way or another. I cherish this journey with you. Thank you.
Andrew Budek-Schmeisser
And you have blessed all of us with your shining faith, Shelli. We love you. We NEED you.
* And your brand…”God and Texas”. What do you think?
Shelli Littleton
I love that, Andrew!
Jeanne Takenaka
Shelli, you’re brand will be life-giving and inspiring, just like your writing.
*Have a beautiful CHRISTmas, my friend!
Shelli Littleton
Thank you, Jeanne!
Andrew Budek-Schmeisser
For those who have not yet heard, my dear friend Joe Pote, whose blog ‘Redeemed’ is a simply extraordinary Christian witness, has recently been diagnosed with throat cancer.
* I’d like to ask everyone here to PLEASE give him a visit, and to offer love, support, and prayers. Here’s his link –
http://josephjpote.com/2015/12/blessed/
Jeanne Takenaka
Andrew, I hadn’t heard this. Thanks so much for sharing. I’ll be praying for him.
Jeanne Takenaka
I am still refining my brand. I know my genre, and some aspects of it. I think blogging has helped me in growing to know my voice. My voice doesn’t always translate into my fiction writing yet. I’m still working on that. 🙂
*My faith will definitely play into my brand.
*I’ll be considering your post as I walk through the rest of the holidays, Mary
*I hope everyone has a hope-filled CHRISTmas!
Andrew Budek-Schmeisser
You have a very distinct voice, Jeanne, and the heart of faith that is so evident in your blog carries over into your fiction, more than you may realize.
* I hope you have a wonderful CHRIST-mas1