May 6, 2013

Standing Out in a Carbon Copy World

[A Guestpost by Cate Russell-Cole / Image by FlorentCourty]

If all writers thought and expressed themselves the same way, all books would be the same. Fortunately, they aren't. We enjoy libraries stocked with diverse characters, settings, views and approaches. There is always something new to discover. It whets our appetite for thinking outside our own style and genre.

However, as I roam around writer's blogs on the Internet, I see so much of the same repeated. The same blogging challenges, the same badges, the same marketing techniques. I also read regurgitated lists of rules on how often we must blog to capture the attention of search engines, approach social media and present ourselves. There are excellent reasons for following some of that advice… but…
If our success as writers is dependent on our individual creative instincts, why do we fall into a carbon copy approach online? I feel like rebelling: jumping out of line and saying, "Hey, I am going to be ME. If you don't like my style, that's OK. I don't like everyone's style either. I am not going to conform and fail at being myself."
Following the flock of sheep in front of us involves the risk that all people will see, is another woolly behind. We can be too well blended into an indistinguishable mass of cream woolly behinds. When you promote other writers on Triberr and Twitter, you can start to tune out and not pass on another round of giveaways, challenge posts and blog tours. You're looking for something different, something that catches your interest and hasn't been done before. A new design. A new point of view. A new theme. With the number of people online, that's not always easy to do; but when you put yourself forward in your own individualistic style, then people do notice. That can generate a more positive response.
So, while being sensible and sticking to the most essential rules for promotion, may I challenge you to not be afraid to be yourself. Show your personality, show your passion for your work and if you hate blog challenges or tours, don't do it! Find an approach that fits who you are.
Be yourself. You are your best shot at success.

Cate Russell-Cole, is an experienced creativity teacher and author. She has been published in many local and Internet e-zines, magazines and newspapers; and has researched, written and taught her own courses since 1990. Her most successful course to date is “Write Your Life Story,” which has a thriving community on Facebook. 

You can find Cate online at:

2 Kommentare:

  1. So much of that writing advice is contradictory… I finally just gave up and did what I thought was right at the time. That's given me the flexibility to modify my approach as I go; just because I pantsed a large story doesn't mean I'll do that with every story here on out.

    This is a good reminder to turn off the noise from time to time, take a good look at what we want, and figure out how to get there.

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