Thursday, March 15, 2012

Death of a Wallflower

Pretty dramatic title, huh? That’s one of the tricks my editor taught me in magazine writing. He said, “Eighty percent of a reader’s decision about which article to read will come down to the title and first picture they see. You have about five seconds to capture their initial interest.”

What if I labeled this article, “The Business Side of a Novelist”?  You might pass it up for an extra ten minutes on FaceBook, or worse yet, watch a re-run of The Bachelor. If we, as authors, hope to succeed in selling books, in building a fan base, and quitting our day jobs, then we MUST understand the business of authorship. It’s not about writing—it’s about marketing. That means leaving the sanctuary of our writing caves.

Old writer's cave (with writing coaches).

When I was young, I was a wallflower. Still am, actually. Despite being painfully shy, I attended high school dances where I looked for the darkest corner from which I could watch the other kids have fun. Why attend? In some weird way, I felt part of the event even though my role was little more than shadow-filler. My habit of people-watching, spawned in those early years, heavily contributes to my writing.  Airports, train stations, on the bus, grocery stores . . . it did not matter where I saw them. I studied the habits, characteristics, and social rituals of strangers. Sometimes, I saw things they would not want me to see. Things like the mournful smile of a lonely girl as she glanced longingly at a young man kissing his girlfriend. I saw her. She did not see me.

Such is the life of a wallflower, destined to observe life while others live life. Similarly, many novel writers enjoy seclusion that comes with solitary hours in contemplation and creativity. I do. The problem arises after the writer’s work finds a willing publisher. All of a sudden, a book company prints thousands of copies for national release and expects the author to become animated and outgoing. Happy solitude ends, replaced by business demands of publication. Book signings, radio interviews, reading clubs, fan questions, press releases--scary demands for someone who prefers emotional safety in a writer’s cave. Such public settings draw the writer into an unfamiliar and often uncomfortable world. The wallflower dies, releasing an author’s carefully constructed public persona, a necessary metamorphosis in publishing. Platform defines the author's marketing potential and is important to publishers for that reason. Can this author promote? Does he or she have the ability to leave the comfort of writing and step into the spotlight? Can he or she command respect and generate sales?

Inflexible wallflowers rarely succeed in publishing. Publishers know it. Like most of my writer friends, I enjoy the bright lights of public acclaim, but my positive demeanor and friendly handshaking is not my happy place. Inside, I yearn to return to my late-night solitary tryst with a computer, immersing in some new fictional world. Fortunately, when my public persona completes its mission, the wallflower comes back to life. Then, I disappear into my fantasy world where I am both master and slave.

New writer's cave.

Are all authors, wallflowers? Nah, but lots of them are. The point of this blog is simply to inform introverts about the business side of writing. Sales don’t happen by themselves. Even word-of-mouth bestsellers begin with author promotions. And, if you want to get a publishing contract, you’d better convince your literary agent and publisher of your ability and willingness to take care of “business.”

10 comments:

  1. Excellent Blog Dean- This is the truth about introverted writers and the need to learn self-marketing skills. We may think it is all about what we write and how well we write it...but once the hoopla wears off - if we are to not be forgotton we need to make ourselves unforgettable- like some of the characters we write about Stacey

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thank you, Stacey. While I specifically directed my thoughts to introverts, like myself, there is an important theme for ALL aspiring authors. Bulding a "platform" amounts to packaging your marketing/promotional abilities for prospective agents and/or publishers. It begins and ends with acceptance that an author is, above all else, a self-employed business owner. Again, thank you for your thoughts.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Dean,
    You're right on, I think.

    An author has to wear many hats, so to speak, and one of them is a promotions hat. The thing is, while an author may never be the best public speaker or marketing guru, or chit chat person when meeting a potential reader, practice, effort and attention to detail can definately improve those skills.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Terry,

      I agree completely. An author/introvert carries the same pressure to perform in public settings as any other business owner who is trying to sell a product or service. The public performance does not have to be "natural", it can be learned, just like acting. Nevertheless, literary agents and publishers look for that strength when making decisions about what books to take on. Yes, that's a hint to aspiring authors about an important focus for a platform.

      Delete
  4. Good news for me is, I've been a newspaper reporter for more than 30 years - so I had to learn early to step out and get in front of the public.
    Promoting my books has maybe been a bit easier for me than for some writers.
    But I'm reminded of a few years back when I met a young woman at a book festival in Casper, Wyo. She said she was actively seeking a publisher for her books so that "I can just stay home and write more books while they're promoting me."
    I had to tell her that, sadly, it doesn't work that way ...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You did the young woman a great favor by being honest. Public persona often makes the difference between getting a publishing contract or being nicely rejected. "We find your story interesting and with a little revision, we will be willing to consider it again...next year."

      The rejection might really mean, "Great story but we don't feel you have the background to make a profit for us. Come back after you have developed a public image (platform)."

      Thank you for sharing your real life experience. And, for those of you introverts who don't already have some kind of public image, I suggest acting lessons. Not a joke! Toastmasters, a famous organization that helps develop public speaking skills, is another good source of training for shy writers.

      Delete
  5. I enjoyed this read because I feel the same way a lot of the time. Trying to market, when you are so used to staying at home and not talking to many people, is hard.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Fortunately, Caterina, you're in good company with many of us who feel the same way. Marketing is like wine-drinking...it's an "acquired" taste...lol.

      Delete
  6. Lovely words, sir...as usual. Naturally as one of life's extroverted wallflowers (weird breed, I know), I can empathise with both sides. I love the sanctuary of my man cave and the anonymity of the shadows...but am just at home in the light. I think I shall start a group called "Wallflowers can be extroverts too, dammit!!". Your words, I am sure, ring true and are an inspiration to many taking their first painful steps into the glare of marketing and self-publicity. Nicely done, sir! PS: the new cave is nice...but prefer the comfort of the old one. I know...I know....

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'll tell you a little secret, my friend. I still have the old writer's cave, too! Couldn't dismantle the world where I spent so many hours in creativity and comfort. Writing in the old cave takes me deeper into my stories, while I edit from the bright modernity of the new office where I wield the editorial axe with colder efficiency.

      Good luck with your elite group of extrovert wallflowers. May I be an honorary member? lol

      Delete

I would love to hear your thoughts about my blog.