“The self-promo is hard for me. I know it’s necessary to
raise visibility for my coaching and workshop offers, but memoir and personal
storytelling are so…well, personal, that 'selling' just feels icky.”
Annette Fix, a fellow writer who is also a memoir writing
coach, recently wrote that when someone pointed out that her social media posts
should always include her business information. Writers are not salespeople. So
sometimes (a lot of times) sales feels…icky. But the truth is that everywhere
we turn, someone is selling something. Selling is not a dirty word. So how can
we be comfortable as writers who are also salespeople?
POV
As writers, we’re all familiar with how point-of-view can
change everything. A murder mystery written from the victim’s POV is very
different from one from the murderer’s POV or the detective’s POV.
If you’re uncomfortable with self-promotion, stop and ask
yourself about the POV. Do you see it as you trying to get something (usually
money) from people? Stop right there. You are not a con artist tricking a
person out of their money with snake oil. Look at your exchange from the
nonwriter’s POV. What are they receiving
in this exchange?
Our most common exchange as writers is a book sale. We get
money. The reader gets a book. It’s easy to see things from the nonwriter’s
POV. Self-promotion is easy when the exchange feels concrete. But don’t
overlook the value of the others things you have to offer.
Value Beyond Books
Many us of start to falter when we’re selling something more
abstract…our knowledge as a writing coach or our presence as a speaker. For
some, it feels like we’re asking for money but giving nothing “real.” We
mistakenly believe that it’s an uneven trade, that we’re receiving much more
than we’re giving.
Take a moment to appreciate what you’re bringing to the
table. Look at the exchange from the nonwriter’s POV. You’re offering them
something they may not have found anywhere else. Your engaging personality
bringing people to their event. Your knowledge helping them achieve their long-held
dream of writing a memoir. Not everything valuable fits in an Amazon delivery
truck. Don’t underestimate the value of what you are delivering.
Writing vs. Writing Well
Sometimes, it’s difficult to get over the fact that everyone
can write. Yes, we all learned to write in elementary school, starting with
those one-paragraph book reports hung neatly on the bulletin board. But there
is a difference between writing and writing well. Don’t dismiss your skill.
Compare the handful of flowers you picked from your garden and plunked in a
water glass to the breathtaking arrangement your florist delivers. Technically,
you both arranged flowers. Realistically, the results were worlds apart. Why?
Skill.
For writers, writing
can be many things. Challenging. Fun. Rewarding. For non-writers, it can be
very different. Torturous. Overwhelming. Mind numbing. (OK, it can be those
things for writers too, but we eventually get to the positive parts.) Recognize that what is innate to you can be
insurmountable to another person. You can help them tackle that mountain. Even
if writing well seems simple to you, it is a skill that not everyone possesses.
Repeat after me. I am a writer. I am also a salesperson. My skills
are valuable.
Happy promoting!
Jodi M. Webb was published in dozens of magazines and anthologies you won’t recognize. She even spent several years as a WOW Blog Tour Manager and has the sweatshirt to prove it! For the last 12 years, she’s written ad copy, advertorials and organized contests for her local newspaper. Stay tuned for what comes next!
1 comments:
This post is timely for me and just what I needed to hear. Thank you! "Selling" does feel icky (perfect word) but if I look at it this way-not selling snake oil but something concrete-it feels honest and worthy. "I am a writer. I am also a salesperson." I'll see if I can get used to telling myself that. THANK YOU!!!
Yvonne
yvonneosborne.com
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