This week’s post is once again brought to you by Christopher Haymon of Adulting Digest, a site giving financial advice on a broad range of topics relevant to individuals and small businesses alike. This week’s post lists a few ways that you, as a newcomer on the scene, can make yourself and your work stand out in a highly competitive market. If you like this post, please consider taking a look at his blog on adultingdigest.com.
As a new author or illustrator, you may be wondering how you can get your words or art in front of those that need to see it. There’s no single answer that works for everyone, and you’ll face challenges along the way. However, if you don’t mind putting in a bit of hard work, it won’t take long to gain a following.
Start with social media
Social media is a powerful tool for all types of creatives. Through social media, you can digitally meet and mingle with other writers as well as your future fan base. You can peruse the pages of other authors that may share a similar readership demographic to see what type of content gets attention when words fall flat.
Create a brochure
Although the digital age has ushered in the era of social media, print marketing continues to hold value. Spend some time designing interactive material like brochures, small books, business cards, and more. Since you’re just starting out, look for free online software that lets you swap out images and elements from a template. This will save you money on graphic design fees.
Share your thoughts.
Even if you already have social media and a robust print presence, consider launching a blog so that you can share your thoughts and feelings with your friends and readers. This can help you establish an authentic connection with those that support you and your work. Plus, a blog is a wonderful no-pressure way to get words out of your head that don’t have to be passed through editorial teams.
Go back to school
There are many benefits of going back to school, even if you already hold a degree in literature, history, or an area pertinent to your writing. A degree in business may not help you become a better writer, but it will help you become more efficient at communicating your ideas in a business tone, making business decisions, and sharpening your overall business acumen. Consider going to school online; you may consider this option if you are already working full-
time on top of writing.
Join a writing contest
Writing contests are a great way to pit your skills against others. A quick look at the Reedsy blog offers up hundreds of contests you might consider. Although you may never find fame or fortune submitting short stories to online or print publications, these types of events give you experience writing under pressure, and that may be more valuable than any prize that you might win.
Use prompts
Writing prompts can help you break writer’s block, and there are many that can even serve as a form of relaxation. Grammarly suggests writing about what’s on your mind, what your ideal life would look like, and what you’re grateful for among its top 15 writing prompts.
Network
Networking is one of the most important things you can do for yourself, no matter what industry you work in or what genre in which you aspire to write. Make sure that you have a professional social media presence in addition to your normal social media pages. You can also network in person by attending writers workshops and events geared toward your genre.
It takes patience and persistence to make it as an author – just ask JK Rowling of Harry Potter fame. But if you don’t mind putting in the work, which might include printing brochures, going back to school, or even clearing your mind with writing prompts, then there is a whole fan base out there that you have yet to discover and has yet to discover you. Good luck in your future writing endeavors, and, remember, don’t ever give up on your dreams.