I’d say no. His hair never crossed my mind when I thought of buying a new book. But when he shaved off his goatee a few months back, it did cause a bit of a stir on his site forum. It didn’t bother me either way, but I did question how it would affect the sales of the T-shirts and mugs featuring his face. :-O

I’m working on a YA tradional type fantasy. The theme is: man has no greater love than this: that he should lay his life down for his friends.

The other fantasy I’ve done is middle grade and is a computer fantasy, but fantasy nonetheless. It’s also inspirational, quirky and, I hope, fun.

I’m wondering if my brand could be something like “inspirational fantasy” or “fantasy with heart” but I think they’re weak. Sigh. Well, I’ll keep working on it.

I sez: Thank you! I actually breathed a small sigh of release to read that, thinking that my brand’s not something I have to have right away but something that will come as I do what I love: writing. I know you’ve said it before, but this just sort of clicked.

I didn’t make the teleseminar but am going through the script. There’s a lot to think about, mainly personally. I think deep down in my psychie that I could be like Lemony Snicket where his average reader knows nothing of the true author other than the made-up persona he puts up. A unique brand, I must say.

My genre is (somewhat) literary mythic fantasy, geared to teen girls. I am a dancer and performer of many genres, and the common thread in what I do is personal expression (and worship) through beauty.

I want my stories to a) be a glorious escape from the cruelties of daily life b) stir their hearts to consider their own cosmic significance, that there is more to this world than what we see,and they are more important than they’ve ever dared to hope.

I can’t guarantee that b) will happen, but I do my best to tell a great story and pray it strikes a chord.

The two incarnations of the first tagline are:

Making words and worlds dance.

Choreographer of words and worlds.

The second tagline is:

Reflecting the greatness in girls.

Possible substitutes for “reflecting”: awakening, kindling

Have at ‘er!

I just met a writer that is closer to my stage. And we plan on getting together and reading each other’s stuff and commenting on it. She wrote such a beautiful little book to her grandchild. I was able to make some constructive comments with all the things that I have learned from you and your fellow blogers.

Everyday that I read what you all have to write, I learn more. I sometimes feel like a sponge, I just hope that I don’t get squeezed to hard. HAHA

What I would like to know, is from step one and beyond. How to write, who to find as an Agent, and how to get published. I have taken creative writing course from my local high school and my teacher is an agent, and he is willing to work with me too.

I feel like I need to learn to write better, before I find an agent, and way before I find a publisher, so I am looking forward to the “craft of writing”.

From what I can tell, branding yourself is a good thing, but it is tantamount to running, and I need to learn to take my first steps then brand myself.

I am looking foward to learning more about writing.

Carly

Awakening greatness in the hearts of girls through worlds that dance.

I know it’s not a finished product, but maybe a start?

Excellent goal for your stories, I hope you let us all know when you’re published. I’d love to read it, even if I’m not a teen any longer.

The only ideas I’ve had for myself are:
“Biker Chick Lit” (because I ride a motorcycle and I could include bikers in my stories but that’s never been my emphasis)
OR
Something to do with being a Pastor’s Wife such as
“Help! Our Pastor’s Wife’s a Biker Chick”
or
“True Confessions (or Secrets) of a Pastor’s Wife” and have the Pastor’s wife be the main character in each of my novels, where she finds herself in sticky, mysterious, even criminal situations.

I have a blog called “Jesus Loves Biker Chicks, Too.” http://jesuslovesbikerchickstoo.blogspot.com/

I thought about even writing a nonfiction book about that, but since I’ve only ridden a motorcycle for about a year and a half, I don’t really have that much to share! (But it did shock the congregation when I started to ride and that has been GREAT FUN!)

As far as genre, I really like writing ancient history fiction, or biographical fiction, but I also like writing about relationships.

But since I’ve yet to be published in fiction, I’m going to take Randy’s advice and write what is true in my heart and maybe along the way God will reveal my brand and genre to me.

Also, it seems to me that you do need a good idea of your self-image to brand yourself effectively. As I see myself as a loud, unconventional, country bumpkin pastor’s wife, I wonder if that’s how I should market myself? Then I ask myself: branding is to attract readers, so who wants to hear from a country bumpkin pastor’s wife?

I am such an honest, can’t-play-games-your-will-always-know-how-I-feel kind of person that it would be very difficult for me to play a brand I’m really not. (And I don’t think we are being taught that we should.)

I have been more a teacher of theology and apologetics and history than I have of women’s ministries, but I do like writing about outrageous characters and especially women.

I also run a cottage school for children with disabilities (http://libertyscholars.com) and I have three kids still at home with disabilities (I have two more grown children and three grandchildren.) So then I wonder — do I do a disability emphasis somewhere — or just include these things in my books?

I’m strange and very spread out. I am greedy about life. I want to experience ALL of it. Motorcycles, dogs, ancient fiction, pastor’s wife, theology, and kids with disabilities. (I’m also tired.)

Is it hopeless? (What about “Stranger than Fiction” as my tagline?)

Can’t I just write under another name and pretend I have the glamour of Danielle Steele?

Anyone have any ideas?

I thought of combining but then it seemed too long, maybe more like a mission statement than a tag.

It will be interesting to see Randy’s comments.

Christophe ~ I wonder what you’re planning?

That dilemma won’t last. One day - hopefully soon - you’ll figure out what to do with your professional life as well as your brand.

What do you want to write about specifically. And if you were to describe yourself, or your writing style, in 2 or 3 words, what would they be?

To describe myself in 2 or 3 words, I could say Aussie Battler or Determined Debra and for my writing style, Real and rough - though its not always rough. There is real life in my stories which can be tragic but is also humorous at points along the way. I’m not sure if that is going to be a brand but its closer than I was before so thanks for that Chrisophe.

I’ve decided to get a job that doesn’t take too much of my creativity like my last one did. That way I have it all for my writing. Basically, I will have a job and not a career.