I spend an embarrassing amount of time reading about marketing and branding for authors.
It’s especially frustrating when much of the advice out there is for non-fiction or adult fiction authors, YA. When the bulk of your work is middle grade (MG), like mine, I haven’t found there’s a lot to go on. So much of the marketing for MG seems to happen in libraries and schools, indie book shops and word of mouth. Which is great! I love getting invited to libraries and schools to talk story with readers. But what do I do the rest of the time? What am I SUPPOSED to be doing?
Branding, it seems! At least, that’s what the interwebs seems to be telling me to do. Who am I as a writer? What's my colour palette? My style? I carefully craft one sentence pitches of ME. Who I am, in a single, digestible phrase. Curate subject matter that speaks to my "brand" and only that speaks to the brand. Help the audience understand me at a glimpse of my profile. Your brand is a frame of your own making, get thee inside there and BE.
But then…
But then I look at my favourite authors - messy websites that look like they are from 2001. Irregular social media updates, or updates about random life stuff like their dogs and kids and deck renos. Books that span different genres, even written under different names. Projects across mediums and industries. News sections of websites thar haven’t been updated since 2017.
And yet. They are successful. Prolific. They live on the NYT bestseller or have followings in the thousands, film deals and streaming shows and kickstarters bulldozing our ideas of what publishing has to be.
These writers and artist are all over the place. No sexy graphics or coherent web design. So how, I have to wonder, are they doing so well when they are doing none of the THINGS?
The answer is liberating and also kind of terrifying.
They are experts of their craft. Good writers. Good artists.
Very good.
That’s it. That's the sauce.
Does that mean I think there’s nothing to personal branding? No - savvy marketing will always be an asset, and it looks slick and polished and I am very impressed by the multi-talented authors who know how to not only write but market themselves propely. Some of my faves do have strong personal brands.
But if personal branding stresses you out like it does me, and eats up more time than you like....maybe…
...maybe don’t worry so much?
The important thing is the craft. Making the best whatever it is you can. The thing that’s in your heart. That has to be the priority.
Anything else is just a distraction.
And them’s the things I think.
Doodle
This one’s an old one for a super hero team I was working on. I love everything Sailor Moon and Ladybug and Jem and Buffy and Sheera and the like - crazy kickass girl-super heroes who are a little weird and all kinds of fun. So anyway, here’s my team, I think they are great so figured I’d share. Still a work in progress.
What I’m Working On
November is nearly at its end which means everyone is ramping up for the holidays and Authorstrator is no exception!
Every Friday I release a new chapter of Zombie Shark Highway on Authorstrator, and we are closing in on the end. If you need to catch up or haven’t yet started, you can find all available chapters in the ZSH section here.
Once Zombie Shark Highway is over, I’ll be releasing the next book in the series, Lava Cat Cruise Ship as a serial here on Substack. So there’s lots more zombie action coming your way in 2024.
I am getting a facial expression step-by-step tutorial ready for paid subscribers which will be coming to you later this week! And I’m hoping to have more digital goodies to share with all subscribers over the coming month! Get ready to deck the halls Authorstrator-style!
And finally, with 2024 in sight, I am very excited to be working on releasing my werewolf whodunnit, Wulfrun, in ebook form! Wulfrun is a YA fantasy mystery that leans hard into classic werewolf lore. The scary kind. Silver and full moons and blood in the snow. Its the kind of story to get a hot cocoa or tea, and curl up by a fire with a blanket. This story has been on a very long journey since I wrote it 5 years ago, first having a tumultuous start on submission to publishers and then briefly hopping onto Wattpad and ultimately being nominated for a Watty award. When I left Wattpad, I took Wulfrun with me and it’s been sitting in a drawer while I try to decide what happens to it next. I love this story because its all vibes and also - PUPS! SO MANY PUPS! One of the characters is a particular adorable Dogue de Bordeaux who I am still kind of wishing into my real existence. I was always a bit sad circumstances on Wulfrun’s initial attempt to find a publishing home didn’t work out. But now, it’s getting new life on Substack and will soon be its very own ebook, exclusively available to paid subscribers! I hope you guys like it, because it is near and dear to my heart and anyway, more about this one later.
What I’m Reading
Drowned Country by Emily Tesh - This is the sequel to Silver in the Wood, and I love the gothic fairy tale vibes.
Chokepoint Capitalism by Cory Doctorow and Rebecca Giblin - This book delves into how major platforms and big tech have effected creatives and what can be done to change course and its delicious and informative and I’m devouring it.
And that’s it from me! Til next time!
I am so excited about Wulfrun! It's how I found your writing and still my fave. Can't wait to read it again! 😍
If it's any consolation, you have a strong brand from my POV!