SELF DISCOVERY
Operating from a firm sense of self is the key to attracting your ideal reader, standing out from your peers, and communicating your brand in a way that aligns with your career goals.
Most of us dive into the world of writing driven by the joy of crafting narratives and the desire to share our stories with others. Initially, the thrill of creation, of building worlds and weaving plots, is what draws us in. The art of storytelling is our calling, not the complex dance of marketing and promotion.
However, reality is starkly different from the idyllic image of the solitary writer. Marketing and promotion are no longer activities that we can opt out of or set on autopilot. They have become integral parts of the author business. In today’s saturated market, the success of a book often hinges as much on the effectiveness of its marketing as on the quality of its content. This means that as authors, we must either learn the ropes of marketing ourselves or hire experts to manage it for us.
Yet, even when outsourcing these tasks, a fundamental understanding of marketing and promotion is essential. Knowing how to market your book is crucial to gauge the effectiveness of the strategies employed. You need to understand what works, what doesn’t, and why. This knowledge empowers you to make informed decisions about your brand and your book's journey in the marketplace.
This mindset shift towards embracing marketing and branding begins with a process of self-discovery. Before we can effectively promote our work, we need to understand who we are as authors and what unique perspectives and voices we bring to the table. Identifying our core values, passions, and the essence of our storytelling is the first step in crafting a marketing strategy that feels authentic and resonates with our intended audience.
The space between being just a writer to becoming a successful author in today's market involves embracing the dual roles of creator and marketer. It requires a deep dive into the heart of who we are as storytellers and a strategic approach to sharing our stories with the world. This dual focus is not just about selling books; it's about connecting with readers, building a community around our work, and ensuring that our stories find their way to those who will love and appreciate them.
Self-Discovery Begins with Identifying Your Strengths and Weaknesses.
Starting on the path of self-discovery involves a thorough examination of both your strengths and weaknesses, a process crucial for any author aiming to establish a strong and authentic brand. This journey of self-awareness begins by taking a step back to objectively assess the skills and qualities that define you as a writer and as an individual.
Identifying Your Strengths:
Identifying your strengths involves pinpointing the qualities and abilities that differentiate your writing from your peers. Strengths are the innate talents, abilities, and skills that individuals naturally excel at or have developed through experience and practice. They are the aspects of a person’s character or professional capabilities that they perform exceptionally well, often with a sense of ease, passion, and efficiency. Strengths can be a combination of natural aptitudes, learned skills, and acquired knowledge that collectively contribute to an individual’s overall effectiveness and success in various activities.
What do readers and critique partners say about your work?
They write such great dialogue!
Their characters feel so real!
They always tackle complex themes with care and sensitivity!
Their descriptions are lush and vivid!
If you want an absolutely bonkers plot, you should read them!
Is this how do readers talk about your work? If so, this is a great place to start defining who you are as an author. Reviews are great sources of info, too, if you can handle reading them. If you’re a new or unpublished author, consider the types of books you like to read and how you discuss them. More often than not, we write what we know, but we also write what we like!
Keep those things in mind as we work through this process!
Acknowledging Your Weaknesses:
Conversely, acknowledging your weaknesses is equally important. This doesn’t mean focusing on your shortcomings in a negative light, but rather understanding the areas where you could improve. Perhaps your dialogue could be more dynamic, your pacing might need fine-tuning, or maybe you struggle with marketing your books. Recognizing these areas allows you to seek out resources, education, or mentorship to develop these skills and enhance your overall authorial presence.
This introspective process is not just about creating a list of pros and cons; it’s about developing a deep and nuanced understanding of your authorial identity. By identifying your strengths and weaknesses, you gain clarity on what you can leverage to enhance your brand and where you might need support or growth. This awareness is the cornerstone of building a strategic approach to your career as an author, ensuring that your branding efforts are not only effective but also true to who you are.
The good news is that most of us have probably done some of that work. Think about it.
Shedding expectations.
We all have that one author whose career we would love to emulate.
They have a voracious readership,
They can pick and choose the publishers they want to work with while still managing to self-publish a few titles a year.
They’re everywhere and seem to master every aspect of authoring, from social media to Kickstarter to book signing events.
These authors just seem to have it all figured out, and I know I’ve imagined myself doing all those things and excelling at them at one time or another. I’ve even gone as far as planning out really splashy reader-focused projects only to become overwhelmed with the amount of marketing and promo that needed to be done — which is my least favorite part of being an author. In those moments, I had to take a step back and ask…
Is this my authentic self?
While trying on different personas is normal, the goal should always be to find your own unique voice and style and uncover what works for you. This is the step that folks seem to skip lately while looking for shortcuts like content calendars or templates, which will ultimately create a persona that blends into the digital noise that social media and the publishing community have become.
Everyone has different life experiences, likes and dislikes, skills, and talents. Those are the things you should be sharing with your readers.
Know Your Needs
You’ve probably recognized Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs from psychology class or various self-help and motivational resources. Based on Abraham Maslow’s first-hand observation of the Blackfoot Nation — a highly successful and developed society, Maslow theorized that you must have your basic needs met before you can examine or achieve your higher-level needs.
Maslow’s theory is a Western perspective that gives insight into what motivates humans. But how does that apply to our careers as authors? Adapting Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs to authors offers a lens through which to view the journey of writing and publishing.
1. Physiological Needs: The Writing Essentials: At the base of Maslow's pyramid are the physiological needs, the absolute essentials for survival. For authors, this translates to the basics needed for writing:
- Time to Write: Securing chunks of time dedicated solely to writing.
- A Comfortable Writing Space: A physical space conducive to focus and creativity.
- Tools of the Trade: Whether it's a pen and paper or a laptop, having the right tools at hand is crucial.
2. Safety Needs: Financial and Emotional Security: The next level involves safety and security. Authors need:
- Financial Stability: Earning enough from writing or other sources to cover living expenses.
- Creative Confidence: A sense of security in one’s creative ability and the freedom to explore and express ideas without fear.
- Supportive Community: A network of fellow writers, readers, and perhaps agents or publishers who provide feedback, encouragement, and advice.
3. Belongingness and Love: Connection with Readers and Peers: Humans crave a sense of belonging and connection, and authors are no different:
- Engagement with Readers: Building relationships with readers through social media, readings, and signings.
- Writer's Community: Connecting with other writers for support, brainstorming, and companionship.
- Collaboration: Working with editors, co-authors, or illustrators in a way that enriches the writing process.
4. Esteem Needs: Recognition and Confidence: Esteem needs to focus on achieving and gaining recognition:
- Acknowledgment: Positive reviews, awards, and other forms of recognition that validate the author's work and effort.
- Self-Respect: Pride in one's work, including the courage to stand by one's creative decisions.
- Peer Respect: Gaining acknowledgment and respect from fellow authors and professionals in the publishing industry.
5. Self-Actualization: Creative Fulfillment: At the peak of Maslow's pyramid is self-actualization, the realization of one's potential and creative fulfillment:
- Artistic Achievement: Completing a manuscript, seeing one’s book published, or hitting a bestseller list.
- Personal Growth: Developing as a writer and as a person through the challenges and experiences of the writing journey.
- Contributing to Society: Writing work that contributes meaningfully to readers' lives or to cultural conversations.
If the first three in this hierarchy of needs are not met, we will have a hard time focusing on self-esteem, which is where the bulk of our author branding work will take place. These needs are important to consider because if your basic needs are not met, they will affect the decisions you make for your career.
How?
Let’s say you really want to self-publish your book, but you don’t have the funds to do it.
What decisions would you make to get that book in front of readers?
Would you barter with a fellow author who provides the costly services you need?
Would you find another way to fund the story production through Patreon or Kickstarter?
Would you put the story out on submission?
Will a lack of funds change how you approach your writing process and what you write? Meaning, will you decide to write to trend in hopes of catching some of those dollars?
As you can see, compromising just one of those basic needs changes your thought process immensely!
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To get start your journey of self discovery, ask yourself these questions:
What needs of yours have been met?
What needs of yours have not been met?
For the needs that have not been met, do you have a plan to make sure they are met in the future?
What genres or themes do you find yourself drawn to repeatedly in your writing? This can help identify the type of content where you naturally excel.
Which parts of the writing process do you enjoy the most? Whether it's outlining, drafting, or revising, the stages you prefer can highlight your strengths.
What do readers or critique partners consistently praise in your work? Feedback often points to areas where you excel, like character development, dialogue, or world-building.
What kind of stories do you love to read, and why? Understanding what captivates you as a reader can shed light on what you might be good at writing.
When do you feel most in flow while writing? Identifying the moments when you're fully immersed can indicate your strong suits.
What types of characters do you find easy to write? This can reveal your strengths in character development and relatability.
Which aspects of your writing do you find require the least editing? These are likely areas where your natural abilities shine.
What writing tasks do you look forward to? Your anticipation often aligns with your strengths.
In which part of your writing have you seen the most improvement over time? Progress can be a good indicator of where you're naturally skilled.
What do you find easiest to write: dialogue, description, action scenes, etc.? Your comfort with certain elements can highlight your strengths.
By reflecting on these questions, authors can gain a better understanding of their writing strengths and how to leverage them in their work.
What parts of the writing process do you often procrastinate on or avoid? This could indicate areas where you feel less confident or skilled.
Are there certain types of feedback or criticism that you consistently receive? Recurring critiques can highlight areas for improvement.
What aspects of writing do you find most challenging or frustrating? Difficulties can signal weaknesses or areas needing more practice and understanding.
Do you struggle to write certain genres or themes? This might reveal limitations in your comfort zone or skill set.
Which stages of your writing process take the longest or feel the most laborious? Time-consuming or tedious tasks might indicate weaker areas.
Are there elements of storytelling, like pacing, structure, or character development, that you find hard to execute? Difficulty in these areas can point to specific weaknesses.
Do you find it challenging to maintain consistency in tone, voice, or style? Inconsistency can be a sign of underdeveloped writing skills in those areas.
What types of scenes (action, dialogue, descriptive) do you struggle to write? Struggling with certain types of writing can highlight specific weaknesses.
Have you noticed any common issues in your revisions, like plot holes, character inconsistencies, or pacing problems? Frequent issues in drafts can indicate underlying weaknesses.
Do you have difficulty expressing your ideas clearly and effectively? If conveying thoughts is challenging, it might point to weaknesses in communication or writing clarity.
Through this journey of self-discovery, you lay the groundwork for an authentic and impactful author brand. It allows you to navigate the literary world with confidence, showcasing your strengths while addressing your weaknesses, ultimately leading to a more fulfilling and successful writing career.
Core Values are up next!
