Marketing guilt

Mar 13, 2009 11:22

Less than an hour ago I posted an entry about some of my alter-ego Jane Seville's online activities.

You know what? Every time I do that, or mention it, or even think of it, this little voice goes off in my head.

you shouldn't be doing this.

you're selling out.What shouldn't I be doing, according to the little voice? Promotion. Marketing ( Read more... )

books: zero at the bone, books: jane seville, writing: thoughts, discussion: musings, writing: marketing, writing: publishing, features: necklace of the day

Leave a comment

Comments 24

erinm_4600 March 13 2009, 16:00:22 UTC
I don't know too much about the whole thing... so correct me if I'm wrong...

But wouldn't having a "following" before the onslaught of a following be a good thing?

If you're proud of your accomplishment: LET IT OUT!

*icon*

Reply

madlori March 13 2009, 16:05:31 UTC
Yes, absolutely! I'm thrilled to have a following now, such as it is, but I can't rely just on that.

Reply

erinm_4600 March 13 2009, 16:23:55 UTC
Knowing you as shortlong as I have, I wouldn't expect anything less!

But, the fanbase has to start somewhere. And, without you saying "Hey! Page is live", etc, there's no way for word to spread, etc., before word gets out.

Granted, I'm kinda looking at this from a music standpoint... one of my favorite bands is completely independent and, without updates from them, there's no way to pass on the news.

One, you're advertising for the publisher and the other authors on their list, which is awesome.

Two, you're starting your fanbase with real people - I've witnessed some "fanbases" which are entirely fictional - that you trust with the true story.

Again, I really don't know... and it makes sense in my head.. but I fear the allergy meds are blocking the clarity ;)

Either way: \O/ Congrats!

Reply


wereontheroad March 13 2009, 16:10:24 UTC
I'm not well versed about the publishing venue, so I can't comment from an experience standpoint. But don't most authors, especially well established authors, market and promote themselves and their "products"? They may have someone that specifically coordinates these things for them so that they don't have to bother with the details, but they still do it, right?

I don't think there's anything wrong with getting these things started now, especially since your publisher can't assist you. And having a friend like Paul to help is all that much better. Maybe some day will come when YOU won't have to deal with these "other" aspects of your work. But getting started requires that you have your hands on everything so that 1) You know exactly what is being put out there, and 2) you completely understand all aspects of your business.

Keep forging ahead - you're doing great! and yes, I'm prejudiced. :-)

Dad

Reply


(The comment has been removed)

madlori March 13 2009, 17:00:07 UTC
Well, the proofs, they must be checked. I wish Jane could do it, because I've got a million other things to do!

Reply


grey_graphite March 13 2009, 17:04:23 UTC
I was force-fed the whole "starving artist who will live in poverty rather than sell his work or do ...gasp... COMMERCIAL art" bullshit for 4 years in college. I never bought into it. Paul never bought into it. Those kids can work at Starbucks their whole lives for all I care. And I see them there sometimes. They serve the bitterest, most sanctimonious lattes I've ever tasted.

Reply

madlori March 13 2009, 17:06:32 UTC
Mocha with a shot of self-righteousness? No thanks.

If they don't want to be a working artist that's fine. Art can be a private passion, writing can forever be an unpaid hobby. But if you want a CAREER, it's not going to get handed to you magically. Marketing and promotion are important.

Reply

grey_graphite March 13 2009, 17:17:51 UTC
Yes, and unfortunately that's frowned upon to some extent at art school. Marketing and promotion are for the sell-outs, the commercial artists. Why compromise your creative integrity with something as dirty as advertising?

But back to your issue. There is something you didn't mention in your post: the issue of quality. If you have a bad product, no amount of promotion will work (whoops...I just remembered Ann Coulter...) But your work is excellent, Ms Seville, so not only should you be out there getting it into as many hands as possible, but you should be PROUD of your work and everything you accomplish.

Reply

madlori March 13 2009, 17:22:51 UTC
Awww. Thanks, bb.

And I saw on HuffPo today that Ann Coulter's book sales are down. HA!

Reply


kriscynical March 13 2009, 17:16:51 UTC
The prevailing wisdom is that true artists don't concern themselves with the business end of what they do...

Ugh, GOD, that sounds just like all of the Fine Arts majors at Ringling. They always bitched about the Illustration majors saying we were sellouts and not real artists because we were *gasp* producing something mass marketable for magazines, books, etc. for money. And marketing ourselves. The horror! We always bitched about the Fine Arts majors for being pretentious jerks for thinking their wax slathered rocking chair stuck in a corner was art but our illustrations weren't ( ... )

Reply

grey_graphite March 13 2009, 17:20:32 UTC
I'm relieved to hear that this wasn't something just CCAD Illustration majors had to deal with.

Many of my friends from college were fine art majors, and none of them ever said that kind of crap.

Reply

kriscynical March 13 2009, 17:27:04 UTC
By CCAD I take it you mean Columbus? I almost went there but decided against it because of the snow and ice. I'm a Texas girl so we don't know how to drive in it at all. Enough snow to make a footprint shuts the state down.

Not all of the fine arts majors at Ringling were like that, but the loud ones sure as hell were (enough to give the whole department a rep to the rest of the school). God forbid you market yourself as a business entity that can produce the desired product for the client. That's totally selling out. You need to suffer for your work or else you are not a True Artist.

And speaking of being pretentious, I saw a fantastic bumper sticker last week: "Just because nobody understands you doesn't mean you're an Artist." X)

Reply

madlori March 13 2009, 17:29:58 UTC
Kris, you've been reading my blog for a long time, so you'll probably get it when I tell you that grey_graphite is Brian the Art Guy. :-)

Reply


Leave a comment

Up