Find Your Own Style
Finding your own voice, with your own personality, is your goal as an author. What sets you apart? What is your style? You may not know the answer to this yet, but to be effective, you must use your OWN voice and style.
It will not work if you simply try to copy someone else. In this case, imitation is not the best form of flattery.
Your “right people” are going to gather around you because they like YOUR voice, YOUR style.
Now I know you’re thinking, “I’ve written this great book, isn’t that enough?”
NO.
Now your job is to market this book, to help the right people find it. Don’t be scared. Help is out there!
To learn to promote yourself without feeling icky, here’s my top picks:
Naomi swears. A LOT. She could put my Irish roofer to shame. That’s her style. She will teach you to promote your book (an Itty Biz, she calls it. And yes, you are in business!) in a way that only she can. Just be careful, you might spit whatever you’re drinking across the room because you’re laughing so hard. Don’t say I didn’t warn you. To test it out read all the best marketing advice in this story about the wine box. She’s one of the best marketing teachers out there, and certainly makes it fun.
Havi has a duck. She dances the Shiva Nata. And she talks to monsters. Also, she loves to make up her own words, like “destuckification.” That is her style. But if you want to get “unstuck,” to get your thing done, and learn that it’s ok to promote it, Havi is the woman to learn from.
Sonia has pink hair. She thinks you should treat your readers like dogs (give them lots of cookies). That’s her style. But if you want to learn to communicate your message and promote your book without feeling like a dirty rotten spammer, she’s your girl.
Now, the point is, you don’t need to get a duck, start swearing like a construction worker, or have pink hair. You don’t want to copy someone else’s style. You need to find your own.
But start reading any (or all) of these remarkable women. You will learn all that you need to successfully market your book. Apply that learning, and your book will take off. That’s what you really want!
What makes you unique? What’s your style? Why should people buy your book and not some other book?
Answering these questions will help you find your style.
{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
That’s the 6 million dollar question, isn’t it? “Why should people buy your book and not some other book?” Working on that one…
That definitely is the hard one.
OK, I’ve had a lot of swearing comparisons in my day, but putting an Irish roofer to shame is by far my favorite.
Thanks for making my day.
Naomi Dunford´s last blog ..Updates! We Have Updates! And Gossip!
When I worked in construction I tried to outdo him once…..I didn’t stand a chance.
Hee hee.
There’s a principle for novelists that protagonists should be “marked” in some way. (A scar, missing finger, bizarrely tall or short, etc.) It gives the reader something to visualize, a way to categorize that character in her head and make the character real. I think it works with marketing personas, too. If there’s nothing weird, or at least unusual, to grab onto, it’s hard for folks to make a strong connection.
Sonia Simone´s last blog ..How to Get Rich and Crazy on the Internet