Literary Branding and Dragon Slaying

The Best Damn Creative Writing Blog talked about branding recently, and they've continued the topic with Branding, Part 2. In part 2, they relate branding to writers and why it is important.

Building a "literary brand" is not the same thing as an author establishing their literary voice. It is important for an author to their writing style and voice to hook readers, but personal branding through social media is different. This is because what you write and who you are are two very different things. Personal branding is about who you are as a writer. Social media is about engaging with people directly - getting to know them and letting them know you. Branding helps you control how your audience perceive.

The BDCWB then gave a list of why all writers should brand themselves, at least a little bit if they are going to be on the internet. The list is interesting and important, and I would highly encourage any entrepreneur to look at it and consider branding as a means to build their business. Right now, I want to move on to something else that BDCWB talked about. Dragons, specifically slaying them.

The BDCWB reminds us that no matter what you write, those dragons will always be there. I think that's something that many people forget in their desperate pursuit to become published authors. You can't write something that everyone will love.  There will always be someone there who wants to take a bite out of you.

We, as writers also have our own personal dragons.  These are always there telling us that we will never be successful, that we aren't really writers. We especially need to slay these.

So grab your swords ladies and gents, and slay those dragons...and maybe do some personal branding along the way.

BK