Boasting in the Mead Hall

As I work on refining my identity as a writer with an eye on creating a writer’s platform, I find that it can be very difficult to choose the words to describe one’s self and one’s writing.  It’s easy to say why I like other authors – this one writes lyrical prose, that one explores the nobility of the human spirit without being trite.  Some of the things I admire in other authors are themes, styles and ideas I try to incorporate into my own writing.  But it’s hard to say that is what I do; that is what my writing is.

I think a part of this is that major religions of the world (from which even then non-religious have created parts of their code of conduct,) tend to view boasting as a vice.  Sure there is a difference between boasting and self-promotion, but sometimes it’s hard to tell where the line is drawn.

So I am going to work on embracing a facet of my Anglo-Saxon heritage: the appropriate use of boasting as a positive indication of character, bravery and determination.

Besides slaying Grendel in a wrestling match – (Oh, you’ve already done that Beowulf – well, darn) – I am preparing to write a description of my writing, testing it on those who have read my work for accuracy and then... Let’s to the mead-hall and let the boasting begin.

Pledge of No Grousing

I have been working with a book called “Get Known Before the Book Deal: Use Your Personal Strengths to Grow an Author Platform” (Christina Katz, Writer’s Digest Books, 2008).  While its primarily focused on non-fiction, I have still been finding it useful and I enjoy Katz’s breezy, no-nonsense style.  


I am nearly done with section one which has been focusing on helping an author figure out what her/his platform might be.  She also has a lot of common sense advice about behaving in a professional manner throughout the process and figuring out how to be your own producer and promoter without being obnoxious.  The section I just read was titled “Ditch Your Resistance” and she makes the point that you (the author) are 100% responsible for the success of your writing career.  All the time.  Then she goes on to ask that you (the author) make a promise that for one year you will never utter a word of reproach against anyone involved with getting you published – no whining, blaming, or other displays of poor attitude.


This promise is not hard for me to make because I had already decided to make it – and not just for a year.  At conventions and in writing groups one can almost immediately run into those people who are bitching and moaning and whose writing careers would be perfect if those other people weren’t idiots.  I had already made the decision that I wasn’t going to blame anyone else for my challenges – if they had really, truly “done me wrong” I’d deal with it in a professional, polite manner, but otherwise I would not rail bbout things.  So Katz’s pledge fits very well with this intention – and here it is (you can find it on pp. 68-9 of her book):

     I, Tannara Young, being of sound mind and body, do solemnly commit to keep my grousing to myself for the period of one year.  This stuffing of the sock in my mouth includes, but is not limited to, whining about all matters related to the publication of my work.  I will not grumble if I do not like an editor’s changes.  I will not moan if I do not like how long production of my work is taking.  I will not cry if I don’t get paid.
     Instead, when and if an injustice occurs, I will calmly take appropriate steps to alert my clients that I am a professional and that I expect professional treatment.  I will treat them in kind.  I will not even whimper when my pet projects get canned.  Regardless of how much I want to grouse, I will not so much as make a sarcastic remark.
     If I have a legitimate complaint and I can’t shake it on my own, or if one is eating at me to the point of distraction, I will discuss it with a good friend or trusted advisor until I find peace.  I won’t dwell on it or hang onto it unnecessarily.  I will do everything I can to avoid a victim stance.
Instead I commit to one year of channeling the energy I would otherwise spend grousing into becoming known.  Most importantly I will not contact Christian Katz with the intention of complaining in any way, shape or manner.  So help me Great Spirits of Publishing.
    Signed Tannara Young, May 16, 2012 

Audience Survey

Calling anyone who has read my stories:  If you are interested in helping me figure out who my audience is and what makes my stories compelling among all the other fantasy stories out there, please take this quick survey.  

I am working on recognizing the themes that are the through lines in my work - the things that people will eventually know that they will probably find when reading my stories.  I have made my own list, but I am interested in what you, my readers, have noticed - and what you liked and would draw you to read another of my stories.

Your answers will be most useful to me if suspend any other relationship than author/reader you have with me, or forget any bribes of cake I have offered you to read my stories in the past while you answer.


FYI - there are 8 questions in the survey.

Create your free online surveys with SurveyMonkey, the world's leading questionnaire tool.

Marketing Idhua Part 1: Mission Statement

So, I have been working on my strategic plan - which is turning out to be a lot more fun than I thought it would be.  My sister, N, and I have observed to each other that often our challenge is not finding a way to do things, but to decide what we want to do in the first place.  It took me over fifteen years to decide I wanted to become a published author, but now that I have I am having fun figuring out how to make that happen.  I like the clarity the exercise of doing strategic planning brings to my process and the way I can go from distant goals to current steps to take towards them.  Here is my mission statement - I welcome any feedback people may have on it.  Leave a comment or email me at tannara.young@gmail.com.

Author Mission Statement for Tannara Young   My mission is to write, publish and promote mythopoeic high fantasy, set in the world of Idhua, for readers who desire such works. My stories are intended for an audience who is looking for high fantasy with a strong focus on lyrical prose that contains mythological depth. These stories will challenge some of the more conservative elements in fantasy by incorporating non-traditional characters and narratives, including female characters, non-white characters and characters of differing sexual orientations placed in atypical roles.

Marketing Idhua: Introduction

I have been thinking a lot about marketing since I came back from Norwescon.  I chose panels that focused mostly on business and marketing aspects of writing and publishing, so it's not surprising that it's been on my mind.  However, I observed a pattern in the panelists - the ones who had marketing experience or deliberately set out to be involved in that aspect of their writing, appeared to be more content and confident in their careers.  


This makes sense - they had a sense of being in charge of their own fates, of understanding what was happening around them and of being a participant in the whole process.  I know myself well enough to know that I, too, will be happier if I understand and am involved with marketing my work - to say nothing of the advantages that that creates, as publishers have less and less time and resources to market any author, let alone new ones.  I am not only looking to market myself to my readers, but to editors, agents and publishers as well.


There is a lot of information out there - on the internet and in print - about marketing, but most of it is geared toward the business world.  However, I think that that can still be applied to my situation - with some modifications.  Idhua is my brand, my stories are my products, and though I don't have any out in the marketplace yet, that doesn't mean I can't have a plan in place for when I do.


The first thing I am going to do is create a strategic plan for myself: a long term plan answering the questions "What do I do?" and "For whom do I do it?" among others.


I think it should be an interesting process and help me become as focused in the business side of things as I have been in the production side of things.