Wow! A lot of questions came in over the weekend. I’ll try to answer a few of them today:
Vennessa wrote:
I’m not sure I like this branding thing.
Randy sez: Nobody likes branding. It is hard work, and it forces you to think about things you’d rather not think about, such as what makes you special. I’ve resisted the whole branding thing for years. And unfortunately, it’s caused me to diffuse my efforts in way too many directions. I’ve had to some serious soul-searching lately and make a hard, hard decision to let one of my genres go.
Christina wrote:
Can I get away with two different styles if one type is written with a co-author and the other, written on my own, has a different “flavor?”
Randy sez: Yes, you can. But that’s going to double your workload. Do you really want to do that? Imagine you’re training for the Olympics in, say, diving. But you’re also interested in going out for the Olympics in a team sport–synchronized swimming?
Can you do both of them? Yes. But you’ll be splitting your training into two sports and competing with people who are focused. It’s hard enough to excel in anything. To excel in something that you’re only doing half-time is a LOT harder.
Debra wrote:
If I am writing in the area of disability, could disability be my brand,allowing me to write about it in any genre? I like magic realism for example but I also like drama, mystery, thrillers etc.
Randy sez: Yes, disability could be part of your brand. But genre is another part of it. My own experience has been that doing multiple genres is a problem, because readers won’t necessarily come with you as you cross those pesky genre boundaries. And if they don’t come along with you, then you’re starting over with every book. For how many books do you want to have the sales of a first-time author? And why?
Judith wrote:
Is using a pseudonym a good way to allow yourself to write in diverse genre?
So should I use my name for my non-fiction and a pen name for my women’s fiction?
Randy sez: A pseudonym can definitely help if you’re writing fiction in different genres. Evan Hunter wrote his police mysteries as “Ed McBain” and he had several pseudonyms. Other authors have written successfully under multiple names. But that really complicates your life.
As for writing nonfiction and fiction under different names, you could do well writing under the same name if they were perceived as being in the same general brand. For example, James Swain is a professional magician who writes mysteries about gambling cheaters. I assume he also writes nonfiction (on magic). If not, he could do so and it would be fine, because his brand would still be “the magician who writes about illusions.”
MLE wrote:
Can you imagine a business plan for one person starting three separate, unrelated businesses being approved by a lender? It’s hard enough for one brand to get a foothold in the overcrowded brain of the consumer without breaking it into many fragments.
Randy sez: This is Xtremely true. For those of you who want to write with multiple brands, why not FIRST try succeeding with one of them, THEN branch out (under a pseudonym or not) to another brand. Publishing is a hard game. Why make things harder?
Karla wrote:
I think I’m beginning to see that I need to narrow down my passions (I have many) and figure out which one I am the most passionate about.
Randy sez: I wish I had learned to do this earlier in life. I have learned it in the last few months, and am constantly having to remind myself to focus, focus, focus. I’ve hobbled my writing career by being too spread out. I hope you won’t ALL insist on making the same mistakes I have.
Donna wrote:
My question is when are we to pick out a brand?
Randy sez: The sooner the better. Please remember that a brand does not pigeonhole you for life! You are free to extend your brand or move it around and launch a new brand, AFTER you have established it. Nothing is written in stone forever. But having a brand will make it far more likely for you to get some early success.
OK, that’s enough for today. I’ll answer more questions tomorrow.
PS: Imagine if this blog were about fiction writing AND linear algebra AND ancient history AND cats AND theoretical physics. All of those are interests of mine. But how many of YOU would stick around to read it? This blog is read because it’s focused on writing fiction.
Randy asks: PS: Imagine if this blog were about fiction writing AND linear algebra AND ancient history AND cats AND theoretical physics. All of those are interests of mine. But how many of YOU would stick around to read it?
Me sez: I would still come to read the fiction entries. 🙂
Hi Vanessa,
Me, too. I share the ancient history and cats interests. But I leave the algebra and physics to friend-husband.
I couldn’t agree more with how branding will simplify life. In my day job as a small business coach, I constantly nag people to keep it simple. Creative types really buck me because they feel so limited by saying no to all the possibilities. However, they are also my clients who get nowhere with their goals. I can see how I must apply the same advice I give them to my own writing. I should have known this, so thanks, Randy, for showing that some business principles are universal.
Strephon – Ouch!
Perhaps you need to try reading an entire novel before making such a harsh statement about Randy’s writing ability.
Granted everyone’s taste in authors and writing styles vary, but there’s always an author available to meet the needs of a reader. Randy’s style may not be your ‘cup of tea’ but that doesn’t make him a bad writer.
Besides, I believe he highlights his Ph.D. here because it shows his qualifications as a teacher. As far as his books go, you’ll notice the Ph.D. (at least on the cover) is not shown.
Strephon, you are not sorry. You meant every word of it. Ouch! Maybe you do not understand the difference between “critique” and “criticism” – anyway, if you don’t like what Randy sez, go find yourself somewhere else that you do like. Randy will definitely not feel offended. He is way too mature. Do not make it unpleasant for the rest of us either. We are busy learning here. You might be higher up the ladder than all of us – congratulations. If something as elementary as the physics of a snowflake helps some of us to write better, and other insights Randy is sharing make us grasp difficult concepts better, then we are grateful. Each teacher has a different method. Learning from different teachers makes a person richer in knowledge.
So, Strephon, go find yourself some teacher that makes you happy. And don’t insult Harvest House, Bethany House, and Zondervan (to mention only a few)- they do not normally publish bad writers. Are you saying the Christy Awards and Christian Writer’s Guild also don’t know what they’re talking about? Sorry Strephon! Thanks Randy!
I’ll give my vote for linear algebra!
Love that stuff.
I’m getting dangerously close to a brand. Here’s my question: I’m using the word “writing” in it, but since I’m wanting to beef up my speaking ministry, I’m considering, instead, the word “communicating.” Is that okay or should it always be “writing”?
Relevangirl,
I think that’s a good idea. You could even say communicating through writing and speaking (or something like that.)
I think it’s good to advertise yourself as a speaker, since some writers aren’t so gifted in speech-making.
Thanks Randy for replying to my question. I can see I will be having to make a choice and very soon since I am in the process of writing a book.
By the way, just think if you used all those interests of yours in the one story. Wouldn’t that be interesting?
Regards
Debra
Ah, Strephron, what side of the grumpy bed did you wake up on?
I’ve found that the best way to be critical of a writer is to actually READ their books.
I have a lot more I’d like to say about your post, but as Aunt Em stated in “The Wizard of Oz”, “…but now, being a Christian woman, I can’t say it.”
OK, I can’t stand it. You were mean and deserve it. I’m not a great writer, (with Randy’s help I’m getting better) but I’m outselling you on Amazon–and I didn’t even have to start my own publishing house to get my work published. PS: I’ve outsold you with my first book and I did it in three years, not 27 years.
Meow. Back off.
Strephon,
Perhaps you can take a lesson from the various scientists who subscribe to Randy’s blog and e-zine…do your research BEFORE condemning. Based on your comment you came here with a preconceived opinion. Could it have something to do with the competing product you’re trying sell? If so, your smear tactic advertising methods are as underhanded as a political campaign and not likely to gain you any sales with this crowd. And, incidently, your sales numbers are not what I would call exceptional: One book of 12 accounts for 1/3 of your sales which are a mere 350,000.
Also, off the top of my head…James Herriot was a veterinarian first, writer second, who has inspire many a young person to persue the career of veterinary medicine. Issac Asimov (check out the mutton chops!) was a professor of biochemistry before becoming a prolific, successful, award-winning writer of sci-fi. And I’m pretty certain Anne Rice has never had the chance to meet and interview a vampire, nor is a vampire herself; yet is a very popular author of vampire novels. The list can go on and on.
From the description of your product, I can get the same thing here without all the “generic” crutches. I won’t be purchasing, nor recommending.
Ok, I think I’m still having a little trouble understanding how to pin one down. Can it be as general as just fiction? As I said before, I’m currently working on two: one is a real-life sort of romantic-type but not like a Harlequin romance, and the other a fantasy-type with a historical background that also will have a bit of romance but not as centered on it. Both probably will have some comedic points as I can’t seem to keep that out of any of my writing. But I don’t want to say I’m a romance writer. How specific does the brand need to be? Especially when starting out.
Randy, thanks for clearing up this “branding” thing a bit more. It actually makes sense now.
And just so you know, I really appreciate you and your willingness to share things that will make us better writers. You didn’t have to. I’ve learned so much over the past couple of years from you, and my writing has improved so much that I no longer see writing as “just” a dream. I’m working to make it a reality.
Everything you have given us from “The Snowflake,” to the MRU, to what level we’re at (freshman, sophomore…) helps us to see where we are now and gives us attainable goals to get to the finish line.
Thank you!
Randy, thanks for clearing up this “branding” thing a bit more. It actually makes sense now.
And just so you know, I really appreciate you and your willingness to share things that will make us better writers. You didn’t have to. I’ve learned so much over the past couple of years from you, and my writing has improved so much that I no longer see writing as “just” a dream. I’m working to make it a reality.
Everything you have given us from “The Snowflake,” to the MRU, to what level we’re at (freshman, sophomore…) helps us to see where we are now and gives us attainable goals to get to the finish line.
Thank you!
Randy,
Now that my rant’s out of the way…I’d drop ya like a rock if you started adding the other subjects to your e-zine/blog. I’m not a cat purrson. And the nightmares I’d relive if you start talking about linear algebra…LOL! I enjoyed the subject, but the class itself was a B***H!
You mention to Debra that disabilities can be a part of your platform. I’m dyslexic (I’ve compensated for many years and wasn’t diagnosed until last fall) and I would like to make this a part of my platform but, not sure how to work it in. Thinking something along the lines of being dyslexic and being successful. I would appreciate your take on this. Thanks for all your help and hard work…the personal assistance is worth so much more than a computer program and e-book.
Strephon, or grumpy,
I choose Randy over you any day. Randy does nothing but give, you seem to dislike that. He did not ask for your advice, so back off. I am sure Randy has many trusted people he goes to for advice and critique. If he wanted yours, he would have asked.
Randy, thanks for all the help you have been to me as a freshman writer, I am learning tons here.
Donna,
Fiction is too broad. It’s like me saying I’m a veterinarian. I’m licensed to examine, diagnose, prognosticate, and treat any species of animal except human. HOWEVER, there is no way I can possibly be that general, even as a general practitioner. There is simply too much variation between species. Instead, I have focused my area of specialization to equine internal medicine. And my research narrows me even further.
Ditto what DEH says. The other thing about Randy that a computer program can’t provide…personal encouragement. It’s very easy to close down a program or shut a book and never look at it again. But when there’s a person on the other end…it’s harder to ignore.
Hi Randy,
I’ve been thinking about what I read about Branding here, and it makes me doubt my choices up until now. I’ve been working on a novel for almost a year now, and thanks to your lessons I finally see “publishing” as a real possibility, instead of a dream.
But here’s my problem: I have 2 other novel idea’s worked out a little bit, and I’m looking forward to working those idea’s out in the future. However, all three novels will be 3 different styles.
The novel I’m working on is gothic horror, the other ones are technopunk and detective. I know I’m a weird person for having such diverse interests, but as you said yourself, being a Novelist I’m not Normal. So I guess I can be forgiven.
Anyway, here’s my question: I can find a way to fit both my cyberpunk and my detective novel into the gothic horror genre without a problem. The question is, should I do so? Wouldn’t it seem like a stretch to fit them all into the same brand?
I appreciate so much the things I have learned from Randy. I am so tickled to see this blog in my mailbox everyday. I really look forward to it.
I believe I’m going to have to make this “branding” thing a matter of prayer because my interests are far too many. I think that happens to teachers. We love to learn, so we like everything interesting.
The novels (crappy ones I admit) I’ve written so far seem to fall into the “relationships” and “conspiracy theory/prophecy” or “ancient history” category.
Relationships i.e., having to deal with working with people who have disabilities of some kind. (That is my specialty.) But I’m not sure about writing about it in fiction allll the time.
I do love to write about prophecy and conspiracy theories but I’m not sure I’m “smart” enough to do it well.
In ancient history, I love putting Biblical characters into novels.
As for linear algebra, I’m looking for a tutor for my son — wish you lived closer, Randy! I have a grant to pay a teacher for him, but can’t find a qualified teacher!
Thanks again for this blog and for your hard work teaching us!
I’m off to make a list of my passions and figure out which one stands out the most.
Hey Strephon, nice trolling there. That should drum up plenty of traffic for your website.
Regardless of Randy’s past fiction, his non-fiction on writing has helped me become a better writer. I know this because I get better responses to my work now. Therefore, what he has to teach is useful to me.
I notice on your site that you are selling a piece of software. I know you’ve written several books on dream psychology and the like. Did you use the software to write those books? Or is it more for fiction?
Like your software, the snowflake is a tool. One that many writers find useful. I’m certain someone could use your software to write a bestseller or a steaming pile of buffalo puckey. The tool doesn’t write the book, the writer still does.
If I learn from Randy, find the tools useful, and become a better writer, then in all honesty it doesn’t matter to me whether or not he’s a great writer.
By the way, I’m not saying that he is a bad writer. A lot of very positive reviews at Amazon and elsewhere say otherwise.
And one more thing, no one ever claimed the snowflake will help you sell novels, only write them.
*rant over*
Thank you Ron. My thing is deciding what to narrow my writing down to. A friend who proofreads all my work suggested dramedy romance. Is that a genre?
How about target readership? How does that fit in with branding? I am currently working on contemporary YA (young adult). Would I someday be able to transition to adult/suspense or am I locking myself into YA?
I have a couple of things that I would like to say:
First, Strephon the Snowflake is a metaphor. Say it with me Met-a-phor. It’s not real. Or maybe analogy. Which ever works for you.
I don’t understand the hostility. Randy is one of the most giving and approachable people online and yet he gets attacked. As for readers, there are many people out there that love Randy’s writing, including myself. This is significant because (drumroll please) I’m not a big fan of Christian fiction. Also, I have read Strephon’s Writer’s Interface and found it to be incoherent and not very useful. So did any friends that I knew who have read it as well. I’m sure Strephon will now try to say that I’m not really anyone’s friend but a man pretending to be a friend. So be it, Strephon’s logic is at best flawed.
My goodness, Strephon! Did you get a bad critique? If so, I sympathize. Tomorrow will be a better day.
As for me I love math, physics, history (His story), and writing. I even tolerate cats and noisy wild parrots!
As a former home school teacher, I learned that people are wired differently. This leads to different teaching styles and different learning styles. None are superior to others, just different. The same goes for writing. Maybe, as the academics seem to think, literary is superior to “commercial” writing. But, it puts me to sleep. What good is a book if no one reads it? I’m wired for science, adventure, and anything that answers the question “why.” (“. ??)Westerns don’t interest me. Is it because the authors can’t write, or is it because I’m not wired to like Westerns? Personally, I’d rather read a book written by a person who knows his subject rather than one that has his information second hand. I was reading a book by a best selling author who misspoke about desert soils, something I know a little about. I don’t remember a lot about his story, but I’ll remember his blunder forever. May it not happen to me!
Donna,
LOL!!! I like it! Even if it’s not an “official” genre, it’s a good unique catchfrase to use in marketing yourself.
OH FRICK!!!! CatchPHrase. Sorry, hooked on phonics but, in recovery.
Is it wrong to kick back and let your branding find you?
I’m dabbling in different genres, but my passion and focus is suspense/mystery. Yet, what if I’m not a suspense writer and instead I’ve got a voice for women’s fiction or momlit? How will I know if I don’t dabble?
Just because I love to read suspense doesn’t mean I’ll have a knack for writing it. So what is a unpublished writer to do? Genre jump or narrow in on a specific genre?
Lynda,
Your reference to desert soils reminded me of an old Dr. Who episode that talked about using a cyclotron as a power source. I’ve worked with cyclotrons and they USE a tremendous amount of power, they don’t produce power.
Trivia: The German word for ‘cylcotron’ is 108 letters long.
Proofed for spelling before submitting.
For those who are worried about branding right away, I would say don’t fret so much. Sometimes you have to try things out for awhile, to see how they fit. I’m not suggesting you write novels in all different genres, but how about short stories and articles? Try out some shorter things and see which come easier, feel better, work better. I did that and found a pattern emerged after awhile. So, write to your hearts content, then sit back and analyze what you’ve written. What’s the common thread?
Randy,
In case you haven’t noticed, you are developing a new brand. It’s called kindness and honesty in sharing your writing journey. I don’t know much about Stephon’s work, but I sure don’t want to pick up any marketing tips from him.
I have a book out there — self published, but not in the expensive sense — that is hitting home to a wide group of people. I’ve sold hundreds in six months, pretty much all on word-of-mouth since I haven’t started my marketing push, and I get great feedback. The genre is historical fiction / romance with animal and Muslim twists. But I have set that aside while I work on developing a YA animal related marketing platform and writing a book that centers on that. Why? Because in the historical/romance category I am up against Diana Gabaldon, Francine Rivers, Philippa Gregory and the like. In the animal genre, I am up against nobody — maybe Richard Adams, but it’s been a long time since ‘Watership Down’. In fact, there isn’t even such a genre for adults. Nonfiction animal books like ‘Thinking in Pictures’ and Marley and Me’ keep topping the bestseller list, but in adult fiction, you only get dragons, weird critters and talking horses.
That means I am on my own. Publishers run on margins so thin, they can’t afford to risk anything new. But that’s okay. Getting feedback through their system is so inefficient, it’s like washing your feet with your shoes on. Today’s interactive world requires new models.
Maybe it’s because I have run small businesses, but it amazes me that writers don’t check out whether there is a need in what they want to write. You know that publishers always do. They know that a market saturated with well-known brands is tough for a newbie to crack, even a very good one.
Enjoy the ride! -MLE
Ron,
Don’t you mean, “Oh Phrick!!!!” ??
🙂
Ted
ROTFLMAO!!!!!!!!!!!! Thanks! Needed that laugh.
Wow ~ go away for a couple of days and look what happens! I came back to a word storm. Strephon really got people up in arms. Maybe that was his intention, but as a Christian and an adult, I would not have aired my upset in such a pubic forum. He really should have emailed Randy privately.
Randy, you must be doing something right. I appreciate your time and words of wisdom. As with any critque or workshop, we should listen to all and take away what works for us.
Just in case someone missed Carrie Stuart Park’s reply to Mr. Cranky Pants; it was this:
“What side of grumpy bed did you wake up on?”
Mr. Williams, if you are going to critique someone’s work, you know that it should be “the work” and not a personal attack.
Do you realize how bad you’ve made yourself look here?
You’ve actually done yourself a disservice.
It’s fine and dandy if you don’t like someone’s writing; everyone has different tastes, but if you are going to criticize, you need to say something substantial about the writing; not simply: “I don’t get that you’re a good novelist.”
I am afraid that many of the people that have read your post here aren’t too enthused by your style.
Unfortunately, you have branded yourself in a bad way.
Regarding today’s topic, I understand better now than before–even though I knew about the concept–I understand more the necessity of focusing on the “What am I really all about?” question that branding forces us to consider.
Blessings,
Joleena
LOL, thanks! So, at least til something better comes up, I shall consider myself a dramedy romantic writer. Maybe if/when publication happens, people will buy my novel just to see what it means.
Guess maybe I’ll give my two-cents on Strephon’s post, to be part of the group. Being one that has a few forums and sites I run, I just put his post down as one of the many spammers I end up deleting off the sites, not someone I put any stock to or take seriously. Definately not someone to spend the time trying to answer his flaming.
All in all, I prefer to ignore him.
Ron,
If you have it, I gotta have that word! I don’t have a scientific German dictionary. 🙂
Strephon (if you’re still around after the uproar you’ve caused)
You said of Randy, “How can I take you seriously as a writer when you emphasize being a scientist, a Ph.D. and so on.”
Exactly how do you come up with that? One of the first things I noticed about Randy’s website is that he downplays his “credentials”. He doesn’t take himself as seriously as you seem to take yourself. I’ve also heard Randy comment online and in person that even though he has such a background in physics, his greatest pleasure comes from teaching others how to better themselves as writers. He wants to help people avoid wasting the time he feels he wasted by learning about writing and publishing the hard way.
So why do you feel that Randy is touting his Ph.D.? Are you jealous? I’m sorry to say, but your wikipedia bio screams “praise me”, while Randy graciously sez “forget my credentials…I’m here to help you if I can.”
Do you know grace? Go to the chalkboard and write 100 times “Grace: a positive benefit that one does not deserve to receive.”
Come back when you can play nice.
Man, all you guys are too nice.
Stephon – Dude –
Meet me in the back alley. I’ll be there with my cat.
No one downgrades our Bro.
Sorry MLE, I had to get it out.
I’m still trying to get my head around all this branding stuff. I went back and found this statement by Randy which seems to help me a little:
Randy sez: When you publish your novels, you too are picking a topic or a genre or a style.
It seems to me that genre plays a big role in this, but genre alone isn’t enough. Am I right so far?
If that is the case, and I need something a little more specific than genre, would “fiction with a kiwi flavour” work as a brand?
As the saying goes, write what you know. I discovered the hard way that writing fiction based in the US won’t work for me, since I don’t live in the US. But basing my stories in NZ, a place I know about since I do live here, works better.
Whether CBA publishers would be interested in stories based in NZ is a whole different topic. 🙂
Lynda, everything on-line just gives the phonetic translation “Zyklotron”. I’m trying to remember the full English translation…something like “Circular high speed (energy) atom accelerator”. Germans have the bad habit of putting a bunch of words together to make a new word. Ugh!
Vennessa, you are correct. Genre alone is too broad a category. Your brand makes you stand out from everyone else.
I enjoy reading about different places, and I think others do too, so NZ shouldn’t be a negative.
Re branding, I have written 100s of articles and short stories, among other things, and am now working on a YA novel. If/When this book gets published, I will then be known as a YA author. Does that mean I should forget trying to market my picture books?
It seems the market has led to branding, and authors are caught in the trap, if you want to call it that.
Mary
Hi Ron
I think you would find there are a lot of people who are dyslexic and possibly don’t say anything so maybe you could make a difference writing about it.
Mary Hake Says: I enjoy reading about different places, and I think others do too, so NZ shouldn’t be a negative.
I had hoped not, but after reading a few comments from publishing insiders, I’m beginning to think it could be.
One publisher stated in their guidelines that they were only interested in stories set in the States. I also noted somewhere else that stories set internationally should contain at least one US character.
I guess I will find out for sure when I start submitting. 🙂
Ron (a few posts back on this topic)
Anyone who references Dr Who is a friend of mine. Even a negative reference because hey, in the old ones the bad science and special effects was all part of the charm!
~bonne
Today was an interesting flurry of writings, but I ended up snorting a giggle out loud at some of you–Steve Lewis especially. My class (law enforcement officers) were wondering what I found so funny.
Randy, ya got a lot of folks ready to do battle with the dragon for you–I’d say you had some loyal fans.
Ron, It would be great if you wrote a book about a dyslexic who makes it. Many of us do amazing things because we think outside the box. So what if someone else has to correct our punctuation and spelling. Those “normal” people without dyslexia may criticize us and be overly harsh, but truth be told–they’d kill to have our fresh ideas.
I know of several dyslexic writers. Google “famous dyslexics.” I think you’ll be surprised. You go, guy! You’re in great company. Also, the book, “Overcoming Dyslexia,” by Dr. Sally Shaywitz of Yale University would be an important book for you to read. It gave me so much encouragement.
Strephon, your attack came off as overly harsh and somewhat jealous. (I bet you’re good at spelling and punctuation,aren’t you?)