Bob Baker's Book Promotion Blog
The 3 Elements of Becoming an Irresistible Writer
There are many factors that go into the development of truly compelling writers and authors. Here I cover three elements that will make the difference between you being a mediocre writer who struggles with obscurity and a gifted wordsmith who attracts a raving fan base.
This idea struck me while reading a blog post by Danielle LaPorte earlier this year. In the piece she mentions three factors that make up a person's brand identity:
Your topic
Your message
Your voice
Of course, I was familiar with all three of these aspects, but I had never quite viewed them as separate but interconnected pieces before. But it's a brilliant way to break down an approach to writing and communicating with an audience.
Let's quickly examine each one and consider the important role each plays:
Your topic
This is the broad category that you write about or the genre in which you write. If you're a nonfiction writer, your topic could be gardening, personal finance, self-help, or fitness. If you write fiction, then you would consider labels such as mystery, science fiction, romance, or young adult. Other topics or categories you might place yourself in would be personal memoir, poetry or graphic novels.
The important thing to note is that this is just the starting point for defining yourself as writer -- and for how your readers define you. Think of your topic as the big picture, broad stroke view of what you do with words.
Your message
The second of these three elements is your personal slant on the topic, category or genre that you specialize in. What perspective are you coming from? Let's say you are establishing yourself as an expert on gardening. Is your message a scientific one (azaleas grow best in soil with these ingredients)? Or an aesthetic one (place these azaleas in this area of your patio for a pleasing design appeal)? Or a spiritual one (tuning into the vibration of your azaleas will help you connect with a higher power)?
If you cover fitness, your message might be "Working out is hard, so toughen up and get over it!" Or it could be "Staying in shape should be fun and I'll make it easy for you." Wayne Dyer has a much different message with his self-help advice ("Change Your Thoughts, Change Your Life") than does Larry Winget ("Shut Up, Stop Whining, and Get a Life!").
So what's your message? How do you approach your topic or genre?
Your voice
Great. You know your topic and your message. Now comes the crucial third element: Your voice. This includes your unique writing style, your tone, and the personality and attitude that shine through your words.
Let's return to the azalea expert with the spiritual message. Her writing voice could be solemn and reverential. Or it could be playful and fun. Or any number of other spins on the subject at hand.
Wayne Dyer's gentle demeanor is in sharp contrast to Larry Winget's in-your-face style. Neither one is right or wrong. But I assume each author is being true to who they are, and each one attracts a different audience as a result.
Voice may be the toughest of the three elements to hone because it usually takes years (and even decades) to develop. But it's also the most important of the three when it comes to attracting and retaining a following. Sure, people are interested in your topic, and they enjoy your message. But it's your voice that keeps them intrigued and coming back for more.
What are your thoughts on these three elements of becoming an irresistible writer? I welcome your comments.
Bob
P.S. Read Danielle LaPorte's original blog post that inspired these ideas.
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Two Ways Writers Can Get More Done in Less Time
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Keep these in mind to help you carve out more time and space to write books, blog posts, scripts, articles, and more:
1) Touch email messages once - and only once.
"How many times do you read the same email message over and over again? Guess what? The information hasn't changed," Hyatt writes. "I have a personal rule: I will only read each message once then take the appropriate action: do, delegate, defer, file or delete it."
I'm guilty as charged. I often "star" emails in Gmail with the intent to respond later. And later often never comes - which means I not only leave a lot of items hanging out there unfinished; I also create potential bad vibes with people who wonder why I never responded.
Let's all resolve to deal with unanswered emails as quickly as we can!
2) Follow the two-minute rule.
"I do everything I can immediately," Hyatt asserts. "If I need to make a phone call, rather than entering it on my to-do list, I just make the call. If I can complete the action in less than two minutes, I just go ahead and do it. Why wait? You will be amazed at how much this 'bias toward action' will reduce your workload."
He continues, "Conversely, when you don't do it promptly, you end up generating more work for yourself and others. The longer a project sits, the longer it takes to overcome inertia and get it moving again. The key is to define the very next action and do it. You don't have to complete the whole project, just the next action."
Great advice. Read Michael Hyatt's entire blog post, called "How to Shave Ten Hours Off Your Work Week," here.
Have you used either of these two ideas to be a more efficient writer? In what other ways do you get more done in less time? I welcome your comments.
Bob
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Amazon's Confusing Kindle Ebook Royalty Rate Explained
Have you ever wondered why Amazon pays authors and book publishers 35% on some Kindle ebook price ranges and 70% (twice as much) on others?
It can be very confusing.
In this new YouTube video I explain why ... and the answer may surprise you!
Watch it now:
Bob
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It can be very confusing.
In this new YouTube video I explain why ... and the answer may surprise you!
Watch it now:
Bob
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Connect with Bob on Google+