text: I’ve asked Nat to help me in the past, and loved her input. Nat introduced me at my latest book launch (back in 2019, when we had actual book launches!)
  Nat introduces me at my last book launch
  Today I’m asking Natalie to share some advice for creative people about the business of their creativity.
  It’s not enough, as we know, to write a book. For example, the book needs a pitch and its author needs a bio. There is a business attached to storytelling.
  In today’s blog, Nat is going to take us through some exercises to help us discover who we are – what values stand behind our creativity. Nat also shares some activities to help writers define who they are and what they have to share.
  THE BUSINESS OF WRITING
  Writing for business is not the same as writing for creativity or self-expression.
  As an author or writer you’re probably well versed in the latter. But if you want to get those words out into the world, at some point, you might need to think of yourself as a creative business.
  That means developing a profile and talking about yourself with a brand story. Which might feel like sticking pins in your eyes. So, here’s a few tips for when you get stuck developing your bio or preparing the perfect pitch.
  Accept the challenge
  Talking about yourself to sell your work is difficult. Possibly unnatural. If you’re struggling to write about you, understand that that this block is not a reflection of your writing capabilities. It’s the tricky human dance between hubris and humility. Many people feel challenged by this task, so acknowledge the difficulty and give yourself time and space to have a go.
  Brain dump words
  Let your ego off the leash. Without overthinking it jot down an intuitive list of words that describe your work, or how you’d like to be thought of by others. Come back to the list. Feel into the words and whittle them down. Circle the most important 30. Then cull it to your top 20. Be the ruthless editor of your own story. Repeat, to get it down to three words. Use these as themes for your bio.
  Draft multiple bios
  If it starts to feel like you’re pigeon-holing yourself, try writing in different styles. Write a free range playful version. Then go for bureaucratic and perfunctory (a few games of buzzword bingo will introduce you to the industry lingo). You can also give yourself word length exercises. Write 50, 150 and 300 word versions. Deposit them in your bio bank, then access the appropriate version to fit the context.
  Nail your narrative
  Distil your work into 30 words. Nail your narrative in the most succinct way. Another option is to pitch it to a room full of ten year olds (real or pretend). Get over any idea that this is ‘dumbing down’. Conveying your work simply does not detract from the complexity of the ideas. This exercise can help you to step back out of your mind forest to see the wood for the trees.
  Stage an interview
  Sometimes we need prompts or an outsider to help us see what’s buried below the surface. Call in a friend or colleague to ‘interview’ you about your writing style, background or project. The ‘what’, ‘why’, ‘how’, ‘when’ and ‘where’ questions are useful starting points. But it’s often the follow-up questions or conversation that strips away the layers to uncover a gold nugget of wisdom or insight.
  Create the momentum
  You know how to plot a narrative arc or chart character development. So you’ve got directional skills. You can map possibilities and assess which routes to take. See what happens when your writing career becomes the subject and you put those transferrable skills to work. Make decisions about what you want to achieve and determine what’s needed to get there. Give yourself goals and deadlines.
  Some folks don’t want to consider themselves business people, because it’s at odds with the noble artist motif. But if you want to find an audience or make a living as a writer, you might want to get over that. You don’t need to compromise your integrity to tout your wares. It’s just a different type of writing that requires a shift in mindset, a commitment to your work, and a little bit of practice.
  Thank you so much, Nat, for these pointers on business writing for creatives. That was – and will be – really useful! More power to you.
  Web: www.wordsonapage.com.au Socials: @wordsonapageau
  Posted in Australian, finding readers, Last Word of the Week, marketing, publishing, writingTagged creative writing, Natalie Dowling, The Business of Writing, words on a pageLeave a comment
  The Middle Child Reads
  Posted on January 17, 2020 January 16, 2020 by Clare
  2020 has begun with a great deal of destruction, loss and anxiety for us in Australia. I will write more about this, but I also need to take it on board – it’s part of me now.
  And I can still do bits and pieces – like this list of twenty positive actions.
  This week, I’m looking over my shoulder, gathering strength for the times ahead.
  Last year, 2019, was pivotal for me in many ways:
  I had two books published
  The Stars in the Night
  The Ruined Land: Chronicles of the Pale #3
  Thanks to Odyssey Books for the thrill and the sterling support
  I had two launch parties
  I revamped my website a little
  Thanks to Natalie at Words on a Page
  I joined the reviewing team at Aurealis magazine
  Thanks to reviews editor extraordinary Eugen Bacon
  I attended my first Supernova
  Thanks to author Lachlan Walter for sharing a table!
  I started an author instagram page
  @ Clare Rhoden Author
  I joined a few writer-focused groups on Facebook
  the #WritingCommunity is wonderfully supportive
  I read 89 novels (yep, 119% of my target 75 LOL)
  and I sent all four of my published novels on blog tours
  Thanks to Rachel’s Random Resources
  I could say that 2019 is the year that convinced me that I am writer. So that was quite affirming, as well as a huge relief! Looks like I can sort of do this thing I’ve always longed to do.
  Middle Child Reads
  Some of you know that I ‘suffer’ from Middle Child Syndrome. I’m not the eldest, or the youngest; I’m not the prettiest, or the most artistic; I’m not the most talented sportsperson, or the most charming bloke. Each one of those titles belongs to one of my six siblings. Three older, three younger. (Search Middle Child Memes – they’re hilarious!)
  Your classic middle child, so they say, craves the attention that is lavished on their older and younger sibs. Mid kids are said to be overachievers as they try desperately to be noticed. I could call 2019 the year of overachievement.
  But I won’t. I’d rather say that my defining characteristic is that I’m the reader – reading is my superpower – and now I feel I can confidently say
  I’m the writer!
  Oooh, that felt good.
  Thank you so much for your support and interest in 2019. Next week I’d better get my head properly around 2020.
  Posted in Last Word of the Week, writingTagged Aurealis, Lachlan Walter, middle child, Odyssey Books, Rachel's Random Resources, supernova, The Chronicles of the Pale, The Pale, The Ruined Land, The Stars in the Night, words on a page, writers, writing1 Comment