I am passionate about branding and feel 100% confident that the "me" I represent online is truly, well, ME. However, my brand doesn't represent my stories very well at all--and the reason is that it's simply not possible. And the reason for that? *I* am not one story. I am not only Desolation, but I am Jump Boys as well. I'm not only Jump Boys, I'm The Swift, Land Magic, Addicted, Blood Crown and the list goes on and on.
I write the stories in my heart and my heart is a bit psycho!
Have you seen the commercial starring musician Carrie Brownstein?
She said,
I'm Carrie Brownstein and I get to be whoever I want.Heck yes, she does! And guess what? So do we!
One of the privileges we enjoy as indie authors is freedom, like Sue said in her post. Feel like writing a fun middle-grade romp through space even though all you've written is dark, edgy YA angst? Go for it!
Think it might be fun to write a YA contemporary romance even though you've never written contemporary before? Why not?
Want to throw your hat into Manga, adult romance, or heck, create your own genre?
You. Can. Do. It.
Here's the thing. I've polled my readers on Facebook and Twitter and the answer is universal: Readers want a) to know when your next book is coming out, b) more about YOU and c) more about your stories.
Not once did someone tell me, "I don't care what else you write, I only want to read more about Desi."
Nope.
They told me, "I love everything you write!! Just give me MORE!"
And because we're indie and we can do whatever we want, more is what we can give them!
I think the notion that we are pigeon-holed based on the first story we publish is outdated. I do think we ought to have Facebook pages or websites for those looking for story-specific information, but as for your *AUTHOR NAME* blog/website, I think you should brand it YOU, not your stories.
Because you are many things, just as you have many stories to tell. I know I do. So while yes, I'm the author of the dark and angsty Desolation series, I'm also the author of a space-adventure done Hardy Boys style. And I have a hecka lot more stories (with much genre-hopping) to come.
I am Ali Cross, Author Extraordinaire. I am whatever I want to be. That's my brand.
Ali Cross is the sensei of the writer's dojo where she holds a black belt in awesome. She lives in Utah with her kickin' husband, two sparring sons, one ninja cat, one sumo dog and four zen turtles.
She's the author the the young adult paranormal romance Desolation series, and the middle grade sci fi adventure, Jump Boys.
Find Ali online: Blog |Facebook | Twitter
I thought the goal of branding was to brand according to who we are and what we write as a whole, which is tough to do if you're writing all over the place.
ReplyDeleteWhich is part of why, I think, the concept of author branding has to change to fit the times. Because there's an inherent conflict in that concept.
DeleteExactly. That's why I reject the outdated notion that we brand ourselves in a book-centric fashion. Like Susan said, she's no longer ONLY writing for "young minds"--she's writing for old ones too! (haha :D)
DeleteI think it's possible, though, to identify your brand as an AUTHOR/PERSON. Most of us write with a certain theme or purpose--no matter the genre. If we can identify what drives our writing, we'll probably be able to find that theme that we can use to successfully brand ourselves. :)
LOVE THIS, Ali! And you hit upon something I think I was just stumbling around - that we're just as multifaceted as our readers and as our characters. And if the age we're writing in is anything at all, it's a deep appreciation for the uniqueness of an individual. I may not express all my personality bits in every work I write, because that's not possible. That's what my future works will be for.
ReplyDeleteYou ARE Author Extraordinaire, and I know I'll enjoy anything you write. :)
Haha, thanks Susan! It's a "brave new world", that's for sure! I think we're all stumbling around a bit--thank goodness we have each other to help guide us!
DeleteMy fans are bummed Byron's journey will end with the third book this fall, but they also just want me to keep writing. I still haven't decided if I will or not, or even what genre. But I'll probably stick with space opera since it's been my success formula.
ReplyDeleteDude, you are THE MAN. The NINJA CAPTAIN. Yes, your fans will follow you wherever you go!
Delete(And I'm bummed, too!)
"I get to be whoever I want," I love that, it's brilliant! We are many faces, many facets, and that's part of the fun. Great info Ali, thank you!
ReplyDeleteI know! I love that too. And it's so, so true!
Delete"my heart is a bit psycho!" That line got me in the funny bone. Branding is essential and it's great that you discussed it.
ReplyDeleteLOL, thanks Sheena-kay!
DeleteRowling had to write under a different name to get away from what people expect of her. Branding is just what happens when people decide the know who you are, whether they are correct or not. The key, I think, to escaping that, is to keep people guessing.
ReplyDeleteThat's true, Andrew. I think it's an entirely different ballgame for uber-authors like Rowling.
DeleteBut for most of us, that kind of "brand recognition" isn't as much of an issue (is it really an issue, lol?) and we have more freedom in expressing ourselves and our "author identities".
I'm not sure I agree with this. I think authors should be careful genre hopping. I read a couple of YA book and loved the author. I bought her NA book and it was nothing like her YA books and I made the decision that unless she pops up on some PG-13 only website being promoted by someone whose opinion I know and trust I'll never read her
ReplyDeleteI totally understand that, Beth, and think you bring up a valid point.
DeleteI really debated how to publish my middle grade book because I didn't ever want them to stumble upon my dark and angsty YA. I decided to use a pen name so that "Ali Cross" fans could find my "Alex Banks" books (clean, younger-audience books). It's a pain because I now have to promote TWO authors--but they are still part of MY author brand.
My "home site" (alicross.com) has both my personas there, and I believe my brand is consistent over both publishing personalities.
If I ever write something older, and want to keep it separate, I will probably create yet another pen name. I don't know if it's an ideal fix or not, but it's how I'm choosing to handle it. Like we've explored in the other comments, authors today have a bevy of new ways to connect with readers, so it's really anyone's guess what will end up being the "right way". Or if there will even ever BE a right way.
But at least I hope to avoid my reader's experiencing what you did. I know *I* don't like surprises like that as a reader!
This is freeing.I'm Indie. I can write what I want. But I agree with Beth, that we could find ourselves in some trouble with our fans this way. This is one reason why I created a pen name for my work geared at older readers. I think we can avoid what happened to her by being very clear with our readers about how certain new books might be different from other books we've written.
ReplyDeleteI feel the exact same way, Elle! That's why I have a pen name for my MG books! (even tho it's kind of a pain!)
DeleteGreat stuff to think about. Authors are free to write in different genres but not all fans will cross over..some will though. And that's okay. I've seen several traditional authors do it after finishing a series, switching from fantasy to contemporary. So it's done. I've seen several successful Indie authors do it too.
ReplyDeleteI don't think I'd recommend any author jump from one brand to another book after book - that does seem to go against reason b/c it doesn't allow room to build a fanbase. so I think we all have to carefully consider our goals.
Your comment about building a fan base is spot on for me, Laura. I think that's why I rejected this other professional's opinion of my brand. But, I do also agree that we might have to consider pen names etc., if we make a drastic change in CONTENT.
DeleteI mean, I don't have a problem with my YA readers reading any of my other YA stuff (as Ali Cross) even if it's a different genre.
I would, however, be leery of middle grade readers (Alex Banks readers) to get a hold of my Ali Cross books. So I'll write different GENRES as Alex Banks (for MG readers) and as Ali Cross (for YA readers), but that's as far as I'll go. :)
Yay!!! Power to us unbranded authors! I hope the whole ME thing is right. Like I was saying on Sue's post, I tend to be scattered, too. Here's hoping my readers are looking for my stories (which do tend to follow a similar theme and tone). <3
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing excellent informations. Your web-site is very cool.
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