FROM THE HANDYMAN: Credibility
Building Credibility
By Danielle Ackley-McPhail
©2011
Who do you think you are?
Yeah…confrontational, maybe, but we’ve been over this before. There are a LOT of would-be authors out there. That means a lot of people brandishing their first-ever book expecting the world to take notice. I’m sorry, but one book does not instantly make you a success. Not saying that to belittle anyone, or to scoff at anyone’s accomplishments. Not even saying it to discourage anyone, just trying to prepare the beginners out there for the harsh reality that blindsided me.
See, I work in publishing. That means you would expect I might have had a bit more insight than everyone else going into this wacked-out industry cold. Nope…I was a total noob.
I won’t go into all the ugly details, at least not in this article. But one cold, glaring point in all of my ignoble beginning actually is relevant to what I’m writing about. As mentioned, I work in publishing, and at the time my first novel came out I was employed by one of the “Big” publishing houses. The reason this is relevant? My first book (and every other book after that one) was not with a “Big” publisher. I am very solidly a small-press author-or independent, as they now say to put a prettier face on it. Anyway, as I was going through the initial production process needless to say I was very excited and would share the details with my co-workers, or those that would listen, anyway.
No big deal, right?
One day my boss’s boss pulled me aside to tell me he didn’t want me to talk about my book. He cited it as a conflict of interest. What he really meant is he thought I had self-published the book and he considered it an embarrassment that reflected badly on our parent company.
(Very ironic, that, considering…but I those tales aren’t mine to tell.)
The moment I realized that I learned about credibility, and the fact that in many eyes I didn’t have any yet. I had one book with a publisher most people had never heard of before, so yeah, I got a lot of “Who do you think you are?” Here’s my point: No one knew my name. Having it printed nice and big on a couple of hundred copies of my book did not instantaneously make it common knowledge (heck, having it on several thousand hasn’t either…just to put it in perspective.)
Now if your only goal is to have your name on the front cover of a published book credibility isn’t a big deal. However, if your goal is to share your writing with the world, in as many variations as your fertile mind can come up with, it’s going to take a lot of work building that credibility.
How? Well…funny you should ask…
Making A Name
One mistake that many authors-beginning or otherwise-make is promoting books.
No, you didn’t read that wrong. See, by promoting books, the focus is directed away from the author. What you want to do is promote yourself foremost and individual titles secondary. It’s called branding.
(Oh, relax! It doesn’t involve superheated iron rods.)
Visibility - Have you ever seen playbills and promotional posters plastered over a city? I encountered this a lot in New York, boarded up buildings or construction fences completely covered by posters, sometimes all the same one. Now, I’m not telling you that is what you should do…precisely, but it is close. I’m actually talking about virtually. Go on the internet and look for interview opportunities or author databases, make sure you are posted on every one you can find. Use that social media for something more than bitching about the weather, or groaning over your relationship drama. Create a page or user id that is just for author-related posts and every time you have some news share it with the world. If you can increase awareness of yourself as a good author, attention for your books (existing and upcoming) will follow. That doesn’t mean make everything about you alone, but when you promote something book-related it should be (for example) “Danielle Ackley-McPhail’s new book, In An Iron Cage,” not “In An Iron Cage, by Danielle Ackley-McPhail.” I’m not talking literally. This isn’t about form. The book should be important as the next great thing from you. If they can remember your name they can find everything else on their own, so whatever reason you have to promote always filter it through your Brand (which is you).
Have a website where you are the focus and the books are mentioned in relation to you. Have a printable reading list so people can more easily find your work. Do author events at conventions, schools, libraries, and bookstores.
Whether virtually or in the real world, you want the readers to associate the book title with a name and the name with a face so that you become an icon, a presence, instead of just type on a front cover.
Productivity - In most cases it isn’t enough to write one book and expect to get somewhere. It’s been known to happen, but it is rare. Most authors have to build up their publishing credits. It’s sad, but a lot of people are cynical. Get published once and they think it could be a fluke, you could be a one-hit wonder, or worse, you signed with a publisher who doesn’t know good fiction. That doesn’t mean they are right, but it does mean you have to prove them wrong. Novels take a very long time both to write and publish, but if you are one of the fortunate ones who can write long or short fiction, you have a branding goldmine. The more credits you have to your name the more people will take notice of you, even if they’ve never read your work before. What you’re showing is that your writing is good enough that someone bought it. Each sale adds to your credibility because it shows that you can stick with it and people are interested in what you write. It shows a dedication and reinforces the quality of your work in their minds.
Consistency - speaking of quality of work, make it is the best you can produce, grammatically, literally, accurately. Don’t depend on the publisher to clean things up. There is in theory and editor assigned to your book who is supposed to help with that, but you can’t depend on their knowledge and thoroughness. Sadly, I have learned that from experience. Produce high-quality fiction-over and over again-and then sell it to reputable, established publishers and you will build the recognition you are looking for.
Association - There are a couple of ways this applies. First off the publishers, since I’ve already mentioned them. It’s not enough to get published by just anyone. You need a venue known in the industry for producing your chosen genre with quality production values, good writing, and good business practices. Face it, having a story printed in a magazine that is photocopied pages folded and stapled in the middle is not the way to come across as professional.
Speaking of professional…professional organizations. Not only are these great opportunities for networking, mentoring, and inside knowledge about the market, but they also tell the world you are serious about being a writer and elevate your visibility through the company you keep and the opportunities the organization offers.
Summing Up
Want a more positive approach? Here’s a better question for you…who do you want to be?
(Sorry, J.K. Rowling is already taken).
If you want to be a successful author (whatever successful means to you) it takes effort and the ability to put yourself out there. Engage your audience directly and indirectly. Most people like to feel touched by celebrity and authors fall into the category, no matter the level of your success. Sell them on yourself as a brand and the books will move; sell a book with your name on it and you have to hope the reader remembers who wrote it-and that they enjoyed it-by the next time one of your books comes out.
By Danielle Ackley-McPhail
©2011
Who do you think you are?
Yeah…confrontational, maybe, but we’ve been over this before. There are a LOT of would-be authors out there. That means a lot of people brandishing their first-ever book expecting the world to take notice. I’m sorry, but one book does not instantly make you a success. Not saying that to belittle anyone, or to scoff at anyone’s accomplishments. Not even saying it to discourage anyone, just trying to prepare the beginners out there for the harsh reality that blindsided me.
See, I work in publishing. That means you would expect I might have had a bit more insight than everyone else going into this wacked-out industry cold. Nope…I was a total noob.
I won’t go into all the ugly details, at least not in this article. But one cold, glaring point in all of my ignoble beginning actually is relevant to what I’m writing about. As mentioned, I work in publishing, and at the time my first novel came out I was employed by one of the “Big” publishing houses. The reason this is relevant? My first book (and every other book after that one) was not with a “Big” publisher. I am very solidly a small-press author-or independent, as they now say to put a prettier face on it. Anyway, as I was going through the initial production process needless to say I was very excited and would share the details with my co-workers, or those that would listen, anyway.
No big deal, right?
One day my boss’s boss pulled me aside to tell me he didn’t want me to talk about my book. He cited it as a conflict of interest. What he really meant is he thought I had self-published the book and he considered it an embarrassment that reflected badly on our parent company.
(Very ironic, that, considering…but I those tales aren’t mine to tell.)
The moment I realized that I learned about credibility, and the fact that in many eyes I didn’t have any yet. I had one book with a publisher most people had never heard of before, so yeah, I got a lot of “Who do you think you are?” Here’s my point: No one knew my name. Having it printed nice and big on a couple of hundred copies of my book did not instantaneously make it common knowledge (heck, having it on several thousand hasn’t either…just to put it in perspective.)
Now if your only goal is to have your name on the front cover of a published book credibility isn’t a big deal. However, if your goal is to share your writing with the world, in as many variations as your fertile mind can come up with, it’s going to take a lot of work building that credibility.
How? Well…funny you should ask…
Making A Name
One mistake that many authors-beginning or otherwise-make is promoting books.
No, you didn’t read that wrong. See, by promoting books, the focus is directed away from the author. What you want to do is promote yourself foremost and individual titles secondary. It’s called branding.
(Oh, relax! It doesn’t involve superheated iron rods.)
Visibility - Have you ever seen playbills and promotional posters plastered over a city? I encountered this a lot in New York, boarded up buildings or construction fences completely covered by posters, sometimes all the same one. Now, I’m not telling you that is what you should do…precisely, but it is close. I’m actually talking about virtually. Go on the internet and look for interview opportunities or author databases, make sure you are posted on every one you can find. Use that social media for something more than bitching about the weather, or groaning over your relationship drama. Create a page or user id that is just for author-related posts and every time you have some news share it with the world. If you can increase awareness of yourself as a good author, attention for your books (existing and upcoming) will follow. That doesn’t mean make everything about you alone, but when you promote something book-related it should be (for example) “Danielle Ackley-McPhail’s new book, In An Iron Cage,” not “In An Iron Cage, by Danielle Ackley-McPhail.” I’m not talking literally. This isn’t about form. The book should be important as the next great thing from you. If they can remember your name they can find everything else on their own, so whatever reason you have to promote always filter it through your Brand (which is you).
Have a website where you are the focus and the books are mentioned in relation to you. Have a printable reading list so people can more easily find your work. Do author events at conventions, schools, libraries, and bookstores.
Whether virtually or in the real world, you want the readers to associate the book title with a name and the name with a face so that you become an icon, a presence, instead of just type on a front cover.
Productivity - In most cases it isn’t enough to write one book and expect to get somewhere. It’s been known to happen, but it is rare. Most authors have to build up their publishing credits. It’s sad, but a lot of people are cynical. Get published once and they think it could be a fluke, you could be a one-hit wonder, or worse, you signed with a publisher who doesn’t know good fiction. That doesn’t mean they are right, but it does mean you have to prove them wrong. Novels take a very long time both to write and publish, but if you are one of the fortunate ones who can write long or short fiction, you have a branding goldmine. The more credits you have to your name the more people will take notice of you, even if they’ve never read your work before. What you’re showing is that your writing is good enough that someone bought it. Each sale adds to your credibility because it shows that you can stick with it and people are interested in what you write. It shows a dedication and reinforces the quality of your work in their minds.
Consistency - speaking of quality of work, make it is the best you can produce, grammatically, literally, accurately. Don’t depend on the publisher to clean things up. There is in theory and editor assigned to your book who is supposed to help with that, but you can’t depend on their knowledge and thoroughness. Sadly, I have learned that from experience. Produce high-quality fiction-over and over again-and then sell it to reputable, established publishers and you will build the recognition you are looking for.
Association - There are a couple of ways this applies. First off the publishers, since I’ve already mentioned them. It’s not enough to get published by just anyone. You need a venue known in the industry for producing your chosen genre with quality production values, good writing, and good business practices. Face it, having a story printed in a magazine that is photocopied pages folded and stapled in the middle is not the way to come across as professional.
Speaking of professional…professional organizations. Not only are these great opportunities for networking, mentoring, and inside knowledge about the market, but they also tell the world you are serious about being a writer and elevate your visibility through the company you keep and the opportunities the organization offers.
Summing Up
Want a more positive approach? Here’s a better question for you…who do you want to be?
(Sorry, J.K. Rowling is already taken).
If you want to be a successful author (whatever successful means to you) it takes effort and the ability to put yourself out there. Engage your audience directly and indirectly. Most people like to feel touched by celebrity and authors fall into the category, no matter the level of your success. Sell them on yourself as a brand and the books will move; sell a book with your name on it and you have to hope the reader remembers who wrote it-and that they enjoyed it-by the next time one of your books comes out.