Publishing News Roundup Series: How Much a Pen Name Identifies an Author Brand
by Maureen Crisp • February 27, 2018 • Follow
Published in Publishing Tips • No comments
Every author has a brand, but what is it that makes it unique?
It is important for an author to make sure that their brand stands out among all the others. There are a few ways that this can be done, and usually a memorable pen name is a great way to start branding.
What’s In A Name
I was listening today to the Spa Girls podcast on pen names and it got me thinking about how much a name identifies the author brand. In my blog posts I use the names of the content creators I reference as my label
tags. This is probably against all the blogging rules. I have a list of experts whom I see as essential to check in with on a regular basis to provide overview of the industry or smart tips or new ideas. They are among the best in the business so I know that I am passing on quality advice.
tags. This is probably against all the blogging rules. I have a list of experts whom I see as essential to check in with on a regular basis to provide overview of the industry or smart tips or new ideas. They are among the best in the business so I know that I am passing on quality advice.
Victoria Strauss of Writer Beware is someone that you should check in with if you are ever offered a ‘too good to be true,’ deal or for peace of mind. This week Writer Beware had a post about all the clones that Author Solutions spawned. It makes sobering reading. There are so many hydras in the forest of publishing.
Joanna Penn and Orna Ross get together once a month to talk about issues for experienced authors in a Q and A for Alli. This week they were talking about personal branding, the latest Author Earnings report and the controversy it has caused, and rebranding the Indie Author Fringe conferences
Along with this good advice Alli have put together a quick overview of author business models. What systems should you be thinking of putting in place for your author business?
Kris Rusch continues her look at 2017 and turns it around for 2018. Self publishing is not the new kid on the block. Indie publishers are now a force with almost 1 in 5 books sold coming out of the Indie community. Kris and her husband Dean have more than 30 years in the publishing industry doing everything you can think of. They are the Go To people for the Gurus of the Indie world.
Jane Friedman has a guest blog on her website about rocking a free promotion day. If you are trying to get the word out about your book, here are some places and tips you can try.
Last week I highlighted all the big changes that have happened in the last two weeks in publishing. It’s not over yet. Barnes and Noble, America’s biggest bricks and mortar bookstore, want you to tell them what you like about the book you just read. The Digital Reader is trying out their beta version… Competition for Goodreads anyone?
Write On Con starts tomorrow… Online free conference for children’s writers… Jump on over and check out the fun.
Bookbub have a list of suggestions if you want to sell your books overseas… and it doesn’t cost much!
Kimberly Rempel has written a guest post on perfectionism and how it can derail the author. This is a timely post as I find that reading some very fine books over the Christmas period has left me a little flat when I look at my own writing. I must follow Kimberley’s advice.
In The Craft Section,
Using indirect dialogue– Anne R Allen – Bookmark
25 mistakes that send your screenplay to the trash– Bang2Write- Bookmark
Using exclamation points– Editors blog
Writing characters clothing– Now Novel-Bookmark
3 paradoxes of slow writing– Roz Morris
All you need to know about story structure in 5 minutes-writetodone- Bookmark
Pattern and Repetition– Gabriela Pereira- Bookmark
In The Marketing Section,
Capture readers with better book description– Kevin Tumlinson-Bookmark
Boost your chances to get a Bookbub deal– Bookbub – Bookmark
Mistakes made in book promotion– Joanna Penn- Bookmark
Bookstagram (Instagram tips)- Bookriot
To Finish,
Among other groups rebranding their identities are the Self Publishing Guys who kicked down the doors of publishing and said follow us into the promised land. Jonny, Sean and Dave are pivoting… into something new…. Check out their new venture in their own typical style…
Maureen
@craicer
(It’s really me…)
About Maureen Crisp
Maureen Crisp has been writing her weekly publishing roundups for over seven years. She is a traditionally published children's author as well as indie-published. She lives in New Zealand and is heading the team organising the 4th National Conference of Children's Writers and Illustrators. She is currently trying her hand at writing a children’s book series if she can drag herself away from forever tweaking her Mars novel or obsessing over space.