As authors, we don’t generally see our writing as a business. We write. We hope others read and enjoy. But, if you want to make a successful career of writing, you need to treat it as a business. That includes creating a brand that represents you and your works. This post will cover the generics of branding, and then the next couple weeks we will go a little deeper into designing your own branding image.
Brand Definition
A brand is a recognizable message that encourages people to buy your product or service. When you see Amazon, Coca-Cola, Tylenol, or Disney, you have specific expectations for each. You don’t go to McDonald’s for escargot. You know that isn’t something they’ll ever serve. It isn’t their brand.
The same is true for your writing business. You need to build a brand around it so the world can recognize your work and know what to expect from you. If you do nothing, you will still have a brand. It will come naturally as the world sees what you produce, but it may not be what you want. Branding is your chance to create how you want to be seen and then make it a reality.
Brand Logo
I’m not going to touch long on this topic as I’m not a graphic designer. I hired one on Fiverr to design my first logo. If you are a graphic designer, you could do it yourself. My suggestion would be to keep it simple, brand specific, and writing oriented. When someone sees it, they should be able to know what you do by your brand.
The only author I know who has a brand is Brandon Sanderson, and I don’t think I have to point out how successful he is right now. He has always approached his writing as a business, and it’s excelling because of it (well, and his talent). His logo is a dragon, drawn from his general signature shape. Though it doesn’t make someone think of a writer, it does speak to the fantasy element of his books.
Brand Pillars
Branding pillars are your main goals as a business. You should pick three to five main messages. What do you want to be known for? One pillar is definitely your books, and I’d even say you need branding pillars for your books. What do you want your books to be known for? Epic twists? Meaningful messages? Steamy romances? You get to pick, and those main things you do in every book will determine your audience and keep them coming back for more.
Beyond books, you’ll need a few more pillars for your brand. Will you do book reviews? Author interviews? Charity drives? Pet pictures? Music playlists for books? These choices will shape public opinion of you. You can also pick pillars that connect with your books to streamline marketing. If you write military thrillers, you could write history blurbs about different battles. If you write cozy mysteries revolving around food, you could share recipes. It’s up to you so be creative and have fun.
Final Thoughts
Everyone will be known by certain things. Patrick Rothfuss is the slowest writer ever. Brandon Sanderson, the fastest. JK Rowling thrives on controversy. Some of these authors may not have picked these attributes, some may have. If you’re early in your writing career, now is the time to pick what you want to be known for as an author. Don’t take that lightly. We have the opportunity to impact the world through our writing. Make a plan now on how to make that impact as broad and deep as possible.
Thanks for reading!
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