What a beautiful blog.

I wanted to stop by and check you out, but it keeps pasting a ‘Google Frame’ download offer over the top half of every screen on your blog. I tried to download the frame just to make the offer go away, and it won’t disappear, so unfortunately I can only see the last few lines of every article you’ve written here. (I’m only offering feedback as that screen likely doesn’t appear for you.)

Anyhow, I agree whole-heartedly that marketing is half (if not more?) of the writer’s job. I’m a very new writer so am only beginning this journey, but I appreciate folks like you who are living it live and in color and take the time to share the adventure–and speak truth about what exactly will be expected from us as authors.

Very best of luck to you with Mockingbirds! Your writing is so energetic and alive. I wish I could get in to read your articles — LOL

All the best,
Corra

As the saying goes, you want to leave your readers (fans, if you prefer) feeling better than you found them. We creative types can justifiably get so caught up in talking about our own process, inspiration, and experiences that we can be quite boorish to some readers when they meet us.

Instead, I like to engage my readers in an honest conversation about the creative process in general, asking them questions about the stories they themselves like (besides mine). As the conversation happens, I look for opportunities to discuss how their favorite books/films/tv shows use storytelling techniques to thrill an audience. This is my way of sharing my excitement about writing with my audience in a somewhat less crass way. The implicit suggestion is “We’re all in on this. I love the same stories that you do, we’re all fans.” But also implicit in the conversation is “I know my way around this storytelling stuff, and I love it too much not to share it with you.”

I honestly believe we’re the “meta generation” where it’s not enough to just enjoy a story on its own. We want to know about the process behind making things (look at shows like Unwrapped and How It’s Made). Having these conversations with your readers not only gives them a richer experience when enjoying your work; you’ve helped them identify a deeper level of experience when they’re enjoying any storytelling medium. You’ve made them feel a little smarter. And they’ll always associate that empowering feeling with you.

And they’ll probably buy more of your books in the future, without you having to be a car salesman about it. Everyone wins.