Many months ago my Sister From Another Mister, Nora, asked me (and others) to join her at a workshop called Fully Funded. I mentioned this in passing in my last couple of posts because it’s been part of what’s moving me right now.

A couple of weeks ago, I brought this up from the marketing side, a bit. Because I did go into it with a WIIFM mindset. What’s in it for me? At the beginning, it was to maybe help missionaries edit or write their support emails and posts. It might still be, but I found there was a lot that translated to writers in all aspects of their career.

There were definitely places where you could straight up substitute “writer/writing” for “missionary/mission”. Because a lot of it was based on affordable marketing – like through newsletters and emails and social media. I mentioned on of Mike Kim’s other books in a previous post, but it came up in a passing mention of a person and their reputation being their “Brand” – which is where I’ve always stuttered as a writer. Because I don’t write ONE THING. I always saw Brand as being pigeonholed into Romantasy or Space Opera a specific flavor of something that then requires you to have Pen Names if you dare step out of that box. I couldn’t keep up with that many personas…for I WOULD contain multitudes.

And yet ME as a brand makes more sense. I know my stories and my styles are not for everyone and every writer ever has been told to shout from the rooftops “BUY MY BOOK/STORY!!!!!” to anyone who has ears. The same with many missionaries. But we all know that just makes more noise in an already loud landscapes.

Some of Mary’s “Say This, Not That” emails MAKE SENSE to, even though they are intended for another audience. Such as for her intended non-profit audience she advices NOT saying things like “please give to me” instead say, “when you plan your giving please consider me…” because some missions/missionaries speak to some supporters not others. That works for readers and writers, maybe we say instead of “Buy my book/story”, we say “When you’re looking for you next escape/read, consider my XYZ…” Make it a choice instead of a demand. Less pressure. Less ick.

The whole two days was about making the whole idea of direct “sales” as it were, the whole idea of marketing and branding as much less ICKY. And SO MUCH of it was about Storytelling. How we present OUR story so others want to support what we do and how we do it. Hello, my alley. Which is why I’m very specifically varying my socials and my blogs. I think readers/supporters want to know about us as people instead of just story churning machines — the good, the bad, and even (sometimes) the ugly.

We, as writers, are all flailing as the publishing industry constantly changes around us. We can traditionally publish, independently publish, both, all, whatever…and it’s okay now. There’s NO ONE way to do anything anymore. And what works for one person doesn’t for another. I’ve never done crowd funding because by the time I blinked, everyone was doing it and I was afraid of adding to the noise. Then I did InkersCon where folks were talking about newsletters and book magnets and words I did not have context for. Because we’re in a New World.

But I’m committed to the work. Even on the hard days. Because after a while the hard days get easier. Have opinions? Leave them in the comments. Love to hear from them and you!