How to Earn Recognition as a Writer

When asked the question, “What can a writer do to get noticed?” Some people may simply answer . . . write. They believe that all a writer must do for a little recognition is to write and write a lot and eventually you would have so many books or articles that someone is bound to recognize you.

Yes, writing is important as a writer and definitely one of the first things you should do, but you also must write well. Many newbies forget this rule. It is one thing to be known as “that woman who writes stories that pulls you in,” verses “that chick who uses the word agenda too much.”

What makes you stand out from the average writer is also what makes you memorable, and that can be your good or bad qualities. So make sure it’s the good ones.

Just look at the definition of Memorable.

Memorable: worth remembering: sufficiently interesting, exciting, or unusual to be worth remembering or likely to be remembered.

Now examine your work and yourself and find out what makes you interesting, exciting and unusual.

Is it that you write in a unique genre? Erotic Biblical Characters? Maybe? No?

Do you have an interactive website where readers can paste their faces on the bodies of your characters? Or add to the story? Or choose what happens next?

Do you examine and reveal juicy secrets on your blog that stir up debates and controversy? Perez Hilton, anyone.

Every Thursday do you give away free chapters of your book, along with free bookmarks and magnets?

These are examples of what makes you memorable. Ask yourself what it is about you and your writing that others should take notice. You must do or write something amazing.

No matter what your book or article’s content, we all are experts at something. Whatever it is you do best, let others know it. Share your knowledge about your expertise because even the things that are second nature to you are valuable to others.

Become valuable and sought out for your expertise. Join social networks, build your platform of interested readers, make friends, and share, share, share. Volunteer your time and knowledge and share your passion. When someone is looking for his or her next social speaker or interviewee, it may very well be you.

If writing stories is your expertise then write extraordinarily and I do not mean spelling and grammar check.

- Make sure your writing has memorable characters.

- Make sure the theme is something readers feel passionate about reading.

- Make your endings great and memorable.

- Pull on the emotions of the reader. Make them angry, scare them, titillate them or lift their spirits.

The same things that make your book or article memorable are the same things that make you memorable as a writer. The trick is to give the reader a reason to remember you.

1. Post the same author photo on all your websites and networking site. People remember a face easier than words.

2. Create a tagline or motto and post that as your signature on blogs and forums. Mine, for example, is “Author of Fiction and Fiction with Spice!” Catchy? Memorable?

3. Be friendly. This may seem like a, “Well, duh,” but be open and social and be sincere about it. Take the extra time to respond to your emails in a timely manner, post thank you notes in the comment section of your blogs for every compliment. Take the time to participate in other’s interests and blogs too. Be truly, sincerely friendly and helpful.

4. Create buzz: Use controversial or taboo marketing to create buzz. Do something that’s memorable enough where people have to tell their friends about it, but make sure it does not jeopardize your image.

Example 1: Ben and Jerry’s ice cream name change from Chubby Hubby to Hubby Hubby for the celebration of gay marriage in Vermont. Controversial? Yes. Great buzz? Absolutely.

Example 2: Shooting gerbils out of a cannon (as beyond.com did). Controversial? Yes. Great buzz? No. Although it might get people talking, it will not do much for your public image.

I hope my tips help you become the recognized writer you deserve to be.

Leslie Lee Sanders