conferences

Thoughts on Branding: from Fashion to Filters

How much does branding matter, really? The #1 goal of any creator is to provide good content for their audience, right? To tell a good story. Yes, but readers, especially potential repeat readers, want to know what to expect from you. Branding helps with that.

Your brand should represent the emotional response you want from your readers.

The idea of branding used to freak me out. It’s kind of along the same lines as “author voice” that way. How does one even find that? Can it be manufactured? Won’t someone just tell me what the answer is??

But after hearing about “creating your brand” for years at different conferences, I’m finally embracing the idea of fine-tuning my brand. I’d like to break that down for you here, and maybe it’ll help you find yours too, if you’re looking.

Sell More Books Show Summit 2019 Takeaways

Now that I’ve written about the summit in a couple different ways, let’s recap the thing, shall we?

By the way, as much as I love what seems to be conference season for me, my head was clearly not screwed on right when I left this one. I ended up forgetting my suitcase at the front desk of the hotel before driving two hours home. It’s not quite as dumb as it sounds, but still. It’s not great. Since then, my suitcase and I have been reunited.

Pass the coffee, s’il vous plait! Onto the recap!

The Importance of Networking (Even When It’s Scary)

Something that came up a lot at the Sell More Books Show Summit 2019 was, INTROVERTS! You must network!!! In fact, I’m kicking myself for not starting a drinking game for how often someone referred to writers as “introverts” that weekend. And it’s true! Many of us are. (I am.)

When I first walked into the theater about a half hour early for dinner and podcast night, I found a handful of other early arrivals, but the place was mostly empty. I introduced myself to Jim Kukral (who had already said he wanted to meet everyone there, so that was a no-brainer), and then cemented myself to the only other woman in the room, my new friend Kinsley Burke.

Throughout the weekend, our group of two grew and fluctuated, and I ended up finding myself always in the company of friendly writers although I had arrived alone.

Say You’re Worthy Now

This is one of at least three posts I have planned about the Sell More Books Show Summit 2019. At some point, I want to do my standard recap with my biggest takeaway from each session. Then, I have another in Drafts about the importance of networking, even and especially for introverts. Maybe one about branding too. Here, I’m going to touch a bit on goal setting.

The last official event of the weekend was another networking hour with drinks provided by one of the sponsors. I had to drive, so I skipped the drinks for this one, but I did accept the cookies host Jim Kukral was trying to get rid of!

Conferences and Training and Book Fairs, Oh My!

32266312_10160356617895298_7915530280197160960_n-e1526601736430 Conferences and Training and Book Fairs, Oh My! Me in traditional Floweranthan attire at the Lakefly Writers Conference – does that look like someone who could take apart an engine??

Usually I write a recap of every writers’ conference I go to, and I was originally planning to do that for the Lakefly one I attended in Oshkosh this month. I was tired when I got to the conference, and I was beyond exhausted when I left. But it was so worth it. I made a few good connections, and everyone there was so nice and pleasant. And, AND, I sold more books than I ever have at an event like that. Plus, it was very affordable compared to what I’ve paid for other conferences.

For a quick summary, I will say it was a conference that uniquely specialized in genre fiction, from what I observed. There were sessions tailored to fantasy, historical, and mystery/thriller, among others. Seeing as I don’t write much genre fiction, there wasn’t a ton there for me; but for people who do, it’s definitely something to look into. To get a better idea of the vibe, you may just want to watch the Facebook Live video below that I did from my table.