You’re so welcome, Katie. I personally found it helpful so I know it’ll resonate with others. Going to post some graphic snippets on Instagram this week!
It’s such a big help to go from Me to We (to focus on our ideal reader, their wants, loves, etc) Still, I’ve struggled sooo long to identify my ideal person. Demographics be darned!
Instead of focusing on demographics, just think about what they would enjoy about your book, what other books / tv / hobbies they enjoy. Also: it’s a guess! And if you get more information and learn more about them, update your idea of them.
I think the best kind of marketing and writing and storytelling of any kind is a dance between what you want to share and what your audience want to receive. I've been told many times to make my work more appealing to a corporate audience. But coming into this space on Substack and feeling so alive with narrative and possibility, I have decided they (corporations) are not my audience. Real people are!
I’m with you. I started a new business in 2020 partly because I wanted to work with kinder humans. Indie businesses and creatives are the best! And, yes, storytelling is a bit of a dance. In this space I love that we have the creative freedom to move and shake as we please 💛
This has got me thinking!!! I love it. I grew up in the theatre, so many would assume that I love the spotlight. The thing is I grew up rather poor until 6/7yrs and didn't start in theatre until I was 15yrs. That was also only being able to do chorus roles after awhile due to my health. Growing up poor, etc. I was always taught that you work for free. That money was evil and the spotlight was the wrong place to be. Why my parents raised me in theatre when they truly believed this is beyond my comprehension. The musical Into The Woods singing "children will listen" comes to mind. Still due to that, my work in theatre, etc. was always free. Personally, I began to LOVE visual art and later writing about it, etc. Today, I struggle with others thinking it's wrong of me to sell my art. My family seems to imply that money is evil and can do nothing but take me away from being a kind person. Still, I tend to understand that I DO need to put myself out there again (all the pictures of me were taken years ago) but I struggle with listening to others (mostly my family) too much. Above all, I know people can learn ALOT from my struggles but don't want everything to be about my health either. I DO have alot of ideas for characters, etc. stories that I know would do wonderfully. As you so wisely noted though, I need to remember that it's ok for me to promote my art. That is EXTREMELY HARD for me to do. I feel like I'm doing something wrong and am going to be punished for it everytime I promote my art. It sounds odd but I've grown used to some who aren't family commenting, etc. and I ignore them. Those close to me...that's a completely different story! I could do it once, so I know that I can. I just need to find that strength again. Thank you for the reminder.
Glad this resonated with you, Angela. I found Katie’s prompts helpful in reframing some of my own challenging thoughts around marketing. I also think it’s important to interrogate whether we’re truly happy with the art we’re producing. Be it acting, painting, writing. If it’s a full embodied “yes” then I say stop sharing that art with those who don’t appreciate it. I don’t have family and friends on here and don’t intend to invite them, but perhaps they’ll find it and stay. If it’s not for them, that’s okay too. All the parts of us can’t be for everyone, right?
You're so right. That reminds me of yrs ago when I sang a solo onstage. It was my first solo since surgery and I've never sang a solo since. At least not one onstage like that. Nobody came to that one and I saw the tears in someones eyes but I was 100% used to that sort of thing. That's what got me through it. Growing up in theatre, you get used to that. Due to the fact that nobody came to it, I have no pictures. Someone from theatre obviously played the piano for me though! *SMILES* I sang Charlie Chaplin's "Smile" That was also years ago. Although, I think I may be an embarrassment to my family, as they do not take the time to see my progress. Others will support me, others are kind and treat me with the respect given to all artists. Some can give me the respect that years of hard work creates. I just need to do EXACTLY what you say and stop sharing my art with those who don't appreciate it. You're VERY VERY wise! Like you said...all the parts of us can't be for everyone.
Just adding, this can be a Big Project: to unhook from the hope that our family will truly get us, see us, appreciate our gifts. 🎁
I’m a singer, too 🤗 My 85-yr old mom recently and emphatically said “no singing” for her end-of-life planning. It’s her life, and her death, of course. Still, she knows I’ve sung several dear ones into the next world, which meant the world to all of us present. I don’t have to take this personally (AND it’s hard). I wish you the best in knowing your value so very well that these disappointments are not disasters.
I love the quality and dept perspective, if something isn’t ready yet, then it just isn’t. I can really relate to sending off sth that wasn’t ready, it was important because as a fellow perfectionist in recovery, sometimes it’s important to leap. But it does have to feel finished in the gut, rather than my head. ✨
That’s a really good point that I didn’t cover. I liken it to head and heart thinking…sometimes my head says ‘yes’ but my heart says ‘no,’ so it’s a ‘no.’ BUT if my heart says ‘yes’ it’s invariably a ‘yes,’ regardless of what the head has decided!
Yes, I feel that if it’s right for the heart/gut, it finishes with a smile, whereas in head it says ‘it’s perfect’ but it’s not the same kind of harmony at the end.
Right? As soon as I saw Katie’s video I knew I had to ask her if she’d be happy to write a guest contribution! As one person shared, “simple but radical” advice.
Katie's points on book marketing are fabulous. They are easy to understand and implement. Thanks for having her as a guest. It really resonated with me and allowed me to find you as well.
Thank you so much for having me, Sarah! I'm glad this idea connected with you, and hope it helps some of your readers to reframe their marketing
You’re so welcome, Katie. I personally found it helpful so I know it’ll resonate with others. Going to post some graphic snippets on Instagram this week!
It’s such a big help to go from Me to We (to focus on our ideal reader, their wants, loves, etc) Still, I’ve struggled sooo long to identify my ideal person. Demographics be darned!
Instead of focusing on demographics, just think about what they would enjoy about your book, what other books / tv / hobbies they enjoy. Also: it’s a guess! And if you get more information and learn more about them, update your idea of them.
Thanks 🙏🏽 I like dreaming into what my people love. 💗 thank you. And getting creative about how to know them better…
(I gave up on “midlife women who want to write/speak, yet cope with perfectionism and people pleasing” when millennial dude clients kept showing up!)
I think the best kind of marketing and writing and storytelling of any kind is a dance between what you want to share and what your audience want to receive. I've been told many times to make my work more appealing to a corporate audience. But coming into this space on Substack and feeling so alive with narrative and possibility, I have decided they (corporations) are not my audience. Real people are!
I’m with you. I started a new business in 2020 partly because I wanted to work with kinder humans. Indie businesses and creatives are the best! And, yes, storytelling is a bit of a dance. In this space I love that we have the creative freedom to move and shake as we please 💛
This has got me thinking!!! I love it. I grew up in the theatre, so many would assume that I love the spotlight. The thing is I grew up rather poor until 6/7yrs and didn't start in theatre until I was 15yrs. That was also only being able to do chorus roles after awhile due to my health. Growing up poor, etc. I was always taught that you work for free. That money was evil and the spotlight was the wrong place to be. Why my parents raised me in theatre when they truly believed this is beyond my comprehension. The musical Into The Woods singing "children will listen" comes to mind. Still due to that, my work in theatre, etc. was always free. Personally, I began to LOVE visual art and later writing about it, etc. Today, I struggle with others thinking it's wrong of me to sell my art. My family seems to imply that money is evil and can do nothing but take me away from being a kind person. Still, I tend to understand that I DO need to put myself out there again (all the pictures of me were taken years ago) but I struggle with listening to others (mostly my family) too much. Above all, I know people can learn ALOT from my struggles but don't want everything to be about my health either. I DO have alot of ideas for characters, etc. stories that I know would do wonderfully. As you so wisely noted though, I need to remember that it's ok for me to promote my art. That is EXTREMELY HARD for me to do. I feel like I'm doing something wrong and am going to be punished for it everytime I promote my art. It sounds odd but I've grown used to some who aren't family commenting, etc. and I ignore them. Those close to me...that's a completely different story! I could do it once, so I know that I can. I just need to find that strength again. Thank you for the reminder.
Glad this resonated with you, Angela. I found Katie’s prompts helpful in reframing some of my own challenging thoughts around marketing. I also think it’s important to interrogate whether we’re truly happy with the art we’re producing. Be it acting, painting, writing. If it’s a full embodied “yes” then I say stop sharing that art with those who don’t appreciate it. I don’t have family and friends on here and don’t intend to invite them, but perhaps they’ll find it and stay. If it’s not for them, that’s okay too. All the parts of us can’t be for everyone, right?
You're so right. That reminds me of yrs ago when I sang a solo onstage. It was my first solo since surgery and I've never sang a solo since. At least not one onstage like that. Nobody came to that one and I saw the tears in someones eyes but I was 100% used to that sort of thing. That's what got me through it. Growing up in theatre, you get used to that. Due to the fact that nobody came to it, I have no pictures. Someone from theatre obviously played the piano for me though! *SMILES* I sang Charlie Chaplin's "Smile" That was also years ago. Although, I think I may be an embarrassment to my family, as they do not take the time to see my progress. Others will support me, others are kind and treat me with the respect given to all artists. Some can give me the respect that years of hard work creates. I just need to do EXACTLY what you say and stop sharing my art with those who don't appreciate it. You're VERY VERY wise! Like you said...all the parts of us can't be for everyone.
And you’re very kind! Please don’t let those who misunderstand you deter you 💛
Just adding, this can be a Big Project: to unhook from the hope that our family will truly get us, see us, appreciate our gifts. 🎁
I’m a singer, too 🤗 My 85-yr old mom recently and emphatically said “no singing” for her end-of-life planning. It’s her life, and her death, of course. Still, she knows I’ve sung several dear ones into the next world, which meant the world to all of us present. I don’t have to take this personally (AND it’s hard). I wish you the best in knowing your value so very well that these disappointments are not disasters.
I love the quality and dept perspective, if something isn’t ready yet, then it just isn’t. I can really relate to sending off sth that wasn’t ready, it was important because as a fellow perfectionist in recovery, sometimes it’s important to leap. But it does have to feel finished in the gut, rather than my head. ✨
That’s a really good point that I didn’t cover. I liken it to head and heart thinking…sometimes my head says ‘yes’ but my heart says ‘no,’ so it’s a ‘no.’ BUT if my heart says ‘yes’ it’s invariably a ‘yes,’ regardless of what the head has decided!
So much fun sorting heart from head! (I call the inner voices my Monkeys 🙈)
Yes, I feel that if it’s right for the heart/gut, it finishes with a smile, whereas in head it says ‘it’s perfect’ but it’s not the same kind of harmony at the end.
Oh wow, that's such a great point
I love this. "Stop thinking of marketing as self promotion" is such a helpful thing to hear, on many levels.
Right? As soon as I saw Katie’s video I knew I had to ask her if she’d be happy to write a guest contribution! As one person shared, “simple but radical” advice.
Amen on all fronts to this!
Thanks, Martin. I enjoyed bringing this piece together and was feeling more confident (and coherent) this week ☺️
Katie's points on book marketing are fabulous. They are easy to understand and implement. Thanks for having her as a guest. It really resonated with me and allowed me to find you as well.
Right?! I took so much away from a video Katie’s posted so had to invite her to contribute. Pleased she said yes!