#author branding

[oliolioxenfreewrites]

Now, you all have seen me struggle with my author logos for a long time! After all this time, I can confidently say that I crafted a cohesive design that I can use for the website and my branding going forward as an aspiring freelancer/writer. These are the perfect symbolization of my kind of vibe (why does 'vibe' seem like an icky word in this context?). With my manic meticulous details, hopefully, this will further my longevity in branding myself!

What do we think??? 🥰

Um also... CHOOSING TYPOGRAPHY????

4/10 experience. do not recommend it.

Yet, even after all my anguish, this is good work for me. I need to gain even more experience in graphics or design at the top of this year! But beauty is definitely in the eye of the beholder, as someone more competent and wiser than me once proclaimed. So, I've always wanted to have that cosmic storyteller vibe while still maintaining the balance of professional wit. Do you know if I got it right?

Do you have any notes, critiques, or feedback on the designs? Should I try again, or are these perfect for me? :)

[cara-delaney-author]

Author brands 'n shit, I guess

So I somehow managed to lose a post I really wanted to reblog to an unexpected re-log. The post was about a Vox article talking about how the concept of a personal brand and a platform is poisoning artistic industries, particularly writing and music. So we're just doing a new post instead.

The article makes some really good points, especially about how now more than ever, authors (and musicians, but I write books so that's what we're mostly looking at) can't just do the thing that's in their job description. We have to do the marketing as well. And that is such a wild concept to me, who grew up convinced that I would one day land a publishing deal and be a famous author. I had this idea of how the traditional publishing industry worked, and for a long time, that idea was fairly accurate. Now?

If we now also have to do most of the marketing for our book to even stand a chance.

If advances are shrinking to the point where even successful authors are forced back into day jobs.

If print-on-demand means that nobody has to shell out thousands for a print run anymore without knowing that they'll even sell a fraction of the books.

What do we even need the traditional publishing industry for anymore?

Midlist books and authors are disappearing. The focus is on bestsellers, on "the next big thing", to the exclusion of almost everything else. That's not a sustainable plan. Sure, in theory, producing nothing but bestsellers would make you thrive. But you can't. You simply cannot guarantee that 100% of your books are going to be bestsellers. The vast majority are not. Even big pre-existing audiences don't guarantee that. Just look at these incredibly funny numbers provided by the New York Times, about celebrity books that "flopped". And I'm using that word loosely - tens of thousands of copies sold are GREAT, actually. But when you calculated your sales potential based on an audience of millions? It's nothing.

This really pokes a lot of holes into the idea that big platform = big sales, but here we are, being asked to flap our arms about and make silly voices in funny little TikToks to promote our work. When that should be the publisher's job. So, again - what are they even still good for, if you aren't coming to them already famous?

Though the article also comes with some questionable takes, albeit when it cites other writers. Specifically when it cites Defector writer Israel Daramola about music criticism, and how more and more professional outlets are closing or get incorporated into other publications. How this means that the ecosystem of criticism is shifting to "a loose collection of Youtubers and influencers", and how "This has all helped produce a mass of music fans who don’t understand the value of criticism and outright detest being told the things they like might suck." Which is just so baffling to me. Of course they don't like that! Do you?! If you think the point of criticism is to forcibly explain to people why the thing they enjoy is bad, actually, you really suck at criticism. Criticism is meant to give you an idea before you engage with something, of what the quality might be and whether or not you'll like it. It's not meant to make you go "oh, well, if this artist I love is bad, I should probably not listen to them". Stop doing that! Let people enjoy things, it doesn't matter if you, personally, think the thing in question is "objectively not good". People are allowed to enjoy "bad" things, for fuck's sake. This is the exact kind of elitism that drives people away from professional, thoughtful and educated critique.

I find this particular citation odd, because Daramola does make a point much more related to the subject of the article - that the reduction of music criticism to subsections and listicles is a symptom of a similar problem as "author brands" in the music sphere. If you don't already have a big platform, a successful brand, you won't find support. Budding artists struggle the same as budding authors, where the industry whose entire business model is built upon taking risks on new talent and building that talent up is now refusing to do that, and shifting all of that work onto the artists. This has very little to do with the audience, and everything to do with the business people calling the shots behind the scenes.

There is a whole lot wrong with my industry these days. Art gets more and more commodified. The content doesn't matter anymore as long as you, the author, can sell a lot of it. Once you have proven yourself, the publishing gods might decide that you're a guaranteed success, and deign to give you the kind of support they should have given you from the beginning. Only now, there is no risk for them anymore. That risk was all taken by you, the person with the most to lose.

One last time - if that's how traditional publishing works now, what is it even still good for?

And I haven't even gotten into how this entire system is also rigged heavily in favour of the (white, attractive) Anglosphere, while the platforms themselves have global reach. So the Anglosphere is actively sucking the air out of the room with its ever-growing cultural hegemony even on the level of individual artists. The article touches on this, too, though it brushes past that pretty quickly, and one of the linked articles in the section basically just says "if you're from a different culture, consider simply ignoring that and doing it the American way". Fabulous.

I don't have any quick, easy fixes for this problem. I don't think anybody has. But if you're a reader, if you're a music lover, maybe next time you're looking for something new, consider looking past the big hits. Ignore the huge platforms, and maybe go and find some indie artists to try. There's a lot of gold to be mined here, even if it's getting harder and harder to find. It takes a little more effort, but it would mean the world to the indie artists on the other side.

[the-ellia-west]

Poor Boy doesn't know how to Deal with emotions

------------------------------------- Hey there! Hi! You! Tumblr user!

Are you a fan of epic fantasy? Want a story with romance, action, and sassy heroes and villains? How about some good old-fashioned ANGST?

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[writingvideos]

“Write what you want, then think about business”

[sarahhudgins]

If you ever wonder what my "brand" is, know that I just ordered the Western Barbie Funko Pop and the Papa Emeritus IV Funko Pop.

[tccbookdesign]

Did I mention I do brand refreshes too? Like author logos?! :D

Say hello@thecreativeconsultant.au if you want to get grooving with some cute new branding for your socials whoop whoop!

[author-a-holmes]

My Icon is actually the author logo I had made for my branding package from Getcovers

When I was ordering the branding package, I mentioned that my pen name, Arista, was an old name for "Spica" the brightest star in the virgo constellation. And the designer spotted that little throwaway comment, and ran with it!

So my logo is a star in the colours of my author branding. I use this logo basically everywhere I have an author account, for brand consistency.

hello I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately. The anonymity of tumblr means that I associate my idea/image of you with your icon and sometimes I look at people’s icons and I’m like ‘hmmm….what is that and why?’ 

so pls reblog this and comment in the tags the meaning behind your icon and why you chose it. this is a social experiment. do it for science pls.

[studyhelianthus]

Trying to make shit less complicated. Heh! 🪻 🤭🌸

[matthewarnoldstern]

Why you should write from your values

As an author, you may not feel comfortable sharing your deepest held beliefs. But writing from your values offers you a number of benefits.

Anna Daugherty, author of the upcoming novel Reaching for Grace, and I have a couple of things in common. (You can read more about her in my upcoming newsletter. Subscribe to be among the first to read it.) First, we’re published by the same press, Black Rose Writing. Second, we both believe in writing from our values. Writers don’t feel comfortable sharing their values, especially with how…

[onesilentcall]

Discovering the Delight of Hobbies: Enhancing Well-Being and Creative Thinking

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In today's fast-paced world, finding time to enjoy pastimes has actually ended up being more crucial than ever. Leisure activities function as a restorative escape from the daily stress and anxieties of life, enabling people to loosen up, unwind, and recharge. Whether it's paint, gardening, knitting, or playing a music tool, leisure activities give an imaginative outlet that can enhance psychological health and general wellness. Taking part in tasks that bring happiness and fulfillment can have a profound impact on decreasing anxiousness, enhancing mood, and increasing general happiness.Moreover, pastimes offer a

special possibility for self-expression and personal growth. They allow people to explore new interests, develop new skills, and expand their creativity. By dedicating time to hobbies, individuals can take advantage of their enthusiasms and support their skills, leading to a higher sense of achievement and fulfillment. Whether pursued alone or shown others, leisure activities can cultivate a sense of neighborhood and link, creating possibilities for social communication and creating enduring relationships. So, why not sculpt out a long time in your busy schedule to embrace your pastimes and open the many benefits they have to provide?

Read more here https://www.alissadaydreams.com

[cookboss88]

Exploring the Happiness of Hobbies: Enhancing Wellness and Creativity

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In today's busy globe, locating time to indulge in hobbies has actually come to be much more essential than ever before. Hobbies function as a restorative retreat from the daily stresses of life, allowing people to relax, relax, and recharge. Whether it's painting, gardening, knitting, or playing a music instrument, pastimes provide a creative outlet that can enhance mental wellness and overall health. Participating in tasks that bring joy and gratification can have a profound effect on decreasing anxiety, enhancing mood, and raising overall happiness.Moreover, leisure activities offer a

one-of-a-kind opportunity for self-expression and individual development. They enable people to discover brand-new interests, create new skills, and increase their creative thinking. By devoting time to pastimes, people can use their passions and nurture their skills, bring about a higher feeling of success and gratification. Whether pursued alone or shown others, hobbies can cultivate a sense of area and connection, creating chances for social interaction and developing enduring friendships. So, why not take time in your busy schedule to welcome your leisure activities and open the numerous benefits they have to provide?

Read more here https://www.alissadaydreams.com/

[bookboost]

In the vast landscape of literature, authors often find themselves facing the challenge of standing out in a sea of words. One powerful tool that can set you apart and leave a lasting impression is personal branding. In this blog post, we'll explore why it's essential for authors to brand themselves and provide practical steps on how to build a compelling literary identity.....

[thebookmarketingnook]

Creating a Powerful Author Brand: 6 Steps for Published Authors

After rereading several of my past blogs, I realized the need to go into greater detail on creating a powerful author brand. I believe it to be paramount for success in the literary world and feel that I would be remiss if I didn’t explain it further. Remember that your author brand goes beyond just selling books; it’s about creating a lasting connection with your readers and establishing a…

[writerobscura]

Author Website

Not going to lie - I don't market myself nor am I a brand. I did that dance back when I wrote comics and it burned me out and made me toxic. After retiring from television production last August, I started writing again for pleasure - still, I got that 'author website' thing.

The mild success of my current serial allows me to remain obscure and focus on writing. Too much social media and internet destroys my creative-brain. Some writers thrive on it and good for them, but it's definitely not for me.

My 'site' is years old, and contains everything I've done as a pro published creator, and a self-published one. It's got my successes and my failures - and updates with current projects.

That's it. That's the post.

[nicholasandriani]

Milan Kundera: The Maestro of Symbiotic Five – Remembering a Literary Alchemist and Master of Utmost Seriousness and Utmost Lightness Remembering a Literary Alchemist and Master of Utmost Seriousness and Utmost Lightness 📖 Favorite Quotes by Milan Kundera 🖋️ • “The only way to leave a trace of our passage on Earth is art.” • “The struggle of man against power is the struggle of memory against…

[lnk-and-lnspiration]

The Business of Writing: Navigating Contracts, Royalties, and Taxes

Writing is not just about creativity, but also about the business side of things. As an author, it’s important to understand the legal and financial aspects of the publishing industry, including contracts, royalties, and taxes. Here are some tips for navigating the business of writing: Contracts: Review publishing contracts carefully and make sure you understand the terms and conditions before…