OK, folks, let’s apply our collective brainpower.
Bonne wrote:
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
Randy sez: OK, to begin with, part of your brand is your genre and you’ve got that nailed down well. You’ve tied this in with your target audience very nicely: Mythic fantasy for teen girls.
That’s good! You’ve identified your genre and your target market very precisely. The target market is not a huge market, but it’s big enough and it’s renewable, because they keep making more and more teen girls all the time. And girls read more than boys do.
Your background in dance also ties in very nicely. Dance is something that is going to appeal to teen girls who like mythic fantasy. You might want to find a logo designer or graphic designer to put together some graphical elements that you can use on your business cards, web site, etc. Graphics, as Allison told us Monday night, are part of your brand.
As for your tagline, that’s where my blog readers can help. What do you all think? Do you like Bonne’s suggestions for tagline? I have my own opinions, but I’m going to withhold them for now, because I’ve learned that this group is smarter than I am and I want to hear your opinions.
Can anyone suggest a better tagline for Bonne?
Karla wrote:
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)
Randy sez: “Biker chick lit” could work. The only question I’d have is whether that’s truly what you want to write. It sounds like you’re a lot broader than that, based on the rest of your comments. Do you read chick lit? Do you like it? Do you respect it? If so, then this might be your genre. But of course then you can’t do ancient historical fiction or biographical fiction, which you also say you like.
The first thing is to figure out what you really want to write. Then build a brand around that.
I’m an ardent reader and suscriber of this blog, but I’ve never replied yet. I just wanted to say today that I find it very informative. And, like is the case today, I find actual reports of branding even more informative.
I wish I had some suggestions for the branding, but I can’t think of anything right now. I’ll put my mind to it, though.
Thanks,
Destiny
Bonne,
Going with the dancing and the “kindling” theme.
“Helping girls dance in the flames of imagination.”
“Words dance and worlds burn in a girl’s heart.”
Okay, so my taglines sounds pretty odd to me but then again I’m not the target audience. I’m a 36 year old man. Still, maybe these will give you some ideas. Hope they help a little.
Andrew
Bonne,
I like the word “choreographer” but “dancing” seems simpler. I go back and forth (have ever since you posted the other day).
Could you use something like:
Choreographer of words and dreams
I like “awakening” rather than “reflecting,” As teenagers, there’s still lots to be awakened, and reflecting suggests something that’s already there.
(Of course, the seeds are already there, so round and round we go.)
I also like one word creations, like
Worddancer
Dreamdancer
but not sure that ties in everything you want to include.
I find cluster thinking (on paper) helps bring new thoughts into focus. Keep at it!
Karla,
I’d think Biker Chick Lit would find a market, and would be an instant recognition. Are you aware of Pat Brady’s cartoon strip “Rose is Rose”? Rose is a young at-home mother of a little boy but her alter-ego is a biker chick that she morphs into when things get stale at home.
As for historical or biographical fiction, could you include your biker chick by delving into time travel.
She could find herself as an observer in historic times.
Or–one of your historical side figures could fantasize about, and design a motorized bicycle. I see lots of possibilities!
Of course, you’d have to find some magical way of providing her bike with fuel. Maybe solar power?
Sounds fun.
Following Camy’s well-done brand, Bonne, you could pick a specific word related to dance and use it like: “Fantasy with a twirl” (obviously not the right one, but you get the idea). Find a word or phrase that matches the tone of your writing. Even better if you can find one that also fits your purpose in writing and/or your target audience.
The one thing I’m noticing about Bonne’s taglines is that they are about what she is trying to do, not what she produces. I’m not sure how important the distinction is except that I would expect to see the ones she’s written on her resume/professional website, versus what I’d expect to see on a web site about her books.
Suggestions for a product-related brand tagline: “Drawing girls into worlds that make their souls dance” or “Awakening the dancer in every girl”. Maybe these are a little cliche. I think Bonne could put them into her own words to shape the impression she wants to make. But hopefully I’ve helped clarify the difference I’m seeing.
Randy, am I on target here?
Bonne,
I think a tagline should be “catchy”, otherwise it’s not gonna stick.
“Making words and worlds dance” won’t work IMO, it’s too much of a tongue-twister. But dancing and these worlds should be in it, I think.
Off the top of my head:
– “Words you can dance to”
(or “Worlds you can dance to” if you prefer that)
– “Dances with Words” (like in Dances with Wolves 😉 )
– “Choreographer of Words” (just dropped “and Worlds)
For Bonne, what about Dancing in the World of Words
For Karla, I like the suggestion Lois made about time travel with the bike. Its a really neat way to tie in your interests.
Thanks, Randy. I was tickled to be included in your most esteemed blog today.
You are right, Biker Chick is not my main passion, but since it’s so marketable right now (Wild Hogs has made Harley-Davison a fortune this summer) I just wondered if it would be a way to “break in.” I wonder if it’s possible to “break in” and then write what you really love later?
I have never read “Rose is a Rose” but she sounds just like me! I love getting away from my boring life on my motorcycle! There’s just nothing like it. Vrrrooom!
I noticed no one said anything about my boring pastor’s wife life being used. So perhaps I’m right in thinking that it’s not really what people want to read about? Or what would draw people to my writing?
I do read some chick lit but not all of it. It has to be very good for me to read it. (In the same vein as Ya Ya Sisterhood for example, or Big Stone Gap.) For some reason, I do like writing it — I think — but can’t decide if it’s chick lit or Drama??? (I love throwing conspiracy theories in them, or mysteries of some kind.)
Since I consider myself a sophomore/junior in my fiction career, perhaps I just need to keep writing and then find my way.
What I have been published in so far is in writing fictional biographies for young people. I do love doing that. So maybe that’s what I should stick to for awhile. It just feels less “creative.” I mean, when you write a fictional biography, you already have the story line pretty much mapped out, you just add the drama to it.
As for a biker chick riding her bike back in time — I’m going to have to wrap my mind around that — but it might work for fictional biographies for boys. (Have you noticed there aren’t too many good books written for boys? I should know. I have 4 boys.) Not that girls might not enjoy it. Kids have changed a lot since I was a kid. But to be honest, I’m not very sci-fi savvy, so it would be a stretch for me. My 16-year-old Star Wars fan son, however, would love it.
Thanks again, Randy, for letting us post our ponderings! And thanks for everyone’s comments!
Bonne,
Oooh, I love brainstorming! I’ll try to pitch in my $0.02. Your concept of tying in dance with the writing meshes well, because words can flow just as dance flows. I know it’s really difficult summing up your whole style in a handful of words, but I think it would be great if you could somehow work in your passion for building self-esteem in teen girls.
How about something like, “Dancing in worlds of possibility”? As a reference to your idea of awakening the greatness in girls, maybe “Fantasy to awaken the dance in you” or “Stories to awaken the dance in you”? Or maybe, “Mythic fantasy: Dance in the possibilities.”
This brings me to a question for Randy: Should the writer’s genre and style have equal presence in a tagline? Or is it more important to convey the writer’s style, assuming that the genre will be identified in the writer’s work? For example, Bonne’s tagline “Making words and worlds dance” does not explicitly name her genre but it certainly conveys a sense of her style, and once readers become acquainted with Bonne’s work, the tagline will remind them what she writes (?).
I too love to brain storm. I have been going over a ton of thoughts. Some of them to follow: You reflect the music of my words. Wonder in the music of my words. Find the music in my words, and dance.
I love the combo word. Dreamdancer is good, very good. It gives me thoughts of the dreamcatchers that are very popular at this time.
Well, that what I can offer at this time. Thanks for reading.
Carly
Bonne — what kind of dance is it? A jitterbug or a waltz? A word waltz or a Charleston chat or tantalizing tango? A prom or a sock hop? A ballet or a hoe down? I think it would be fun to play around with different kinds of dances to get where you’re coming from. I love the dance idea!
My suggestions for Bonne are: Life is a Dance, Inside a Girl’s Heart, Girls Tick and Then Some. I feel that something that specifies dancing might turn away those girls not interested in dance. I’m with Aly in suggesting things that build up the self-esteem of girls because they really need to see things like that that get rid of the images society throws at them of not being worthy unless you’re skinny and beautiful (like the music vids they love to watch). They need to know that it’s what’s inside that counts.
For Karla, I would have to say that I for one would be interested in stories from a minister’s wife (especially taking on loves such as biking), as long as they aren’t preachy. What you said brings to mind Erma Bombeck’s books; she was famous for writing about her ‘boring’ life but they were great and funny reads.
Wow, such awesome comments all around ~ I’m really blessed!
Let’s see
Lois~ I like all of your suggestions, particularly the one word ideas. But that’s where the art of less is more comes in, like with a one-sentence summary. It’s not an easy thing to do, but so powerful when just the right combination comes together. I’ll keep working on it.
Christophe~ I hear you with the wordiness. Again the “less is more” but the less has to say more. I really like the flow and “catchiness” of your suggestions. Nailing the content so that is says enough continues to be a challenge.
Aly ~ Great thoughts. I like “Dance in the possibilities”. I don’t know if it is enough for a tagline, but it’s certainly inspiring! I might make a little poster of that to stick by my computer.
Carly ~ Thanks for your ideas. I like the combo words too.
Karla ~ Aside from musical theatre choreography, my main dancing is free-form lyrical dance (ballet based, less rigid, very flowy and interpretive) and belly dancing. My troupe does a number of forms from banghra to tribal, but my preference is again the slowy-flowy isolations and sensual/passionate movement. I’ve stopped performing publicly but fortunately there are lots of women-only venues to dance for, not to mention hubby…(grin)
Donna, that’s so interesting that you said that about Erma Bombeck. . .I’ve been compared to her before. . .interesting — what was her “genre” or “tagline”. . .gonna go see. Thanks for the heads up!
As for being preachy, my thoughts are more to reveal how really real preacher’s wives are as opposed to the way they are thought of. At least this one is! Good fiction isn’t preachy anyway. So thanks! I love the comments.
Karla,
Wow, Donna said some of it for me. I think it’s VERY interesting to be a pastor’s wife who motorcycles. It shakes up the preconcieved notion and may even be considered controversial, depending what circles one swims in.
This works as chick-lit, or it could be an engaging backdrop for a mystery/consipiracy theory tale. Who would imagine a pastor’s wife being a detective or unofficial investigator? The innocence card could be played to get your character close enough to hear vital conversations, or charity work could be a foil for you to be at the right place at the right time to notice “something fishy”. Them VRooom, there she goes on her motor bike to chase down the evidence and save the day. Like a superhero with a secret identity, but you wouldn’t have to take it that far. Just someone behaving in non-stereotypical ways.
Wow, you got my interest anyway!
~bonne
Bonne,I really like “Making Words and Worlds Dance,” for your tagline. It reminds me of Wendy Lawton’s tagline, “Telling Stories in Porcelain; Painting Pictures with Words.”(http://www.wendylawton.com) She designs award-winning porcelain dolls and also writes historical fiction (of real girls in history) for girls. I’ve seen her work this into articles as she describes what she does, and somehow it all fits and describes.
To me that is a tagline–describing what you do and a bit of who you are as a writer. Now, as to that branding you…sheesh, I don’t know.
I could be wrong, too. (ha)
Bonne, how about
Dreamdancing young women’s potential.
Worddancing young women’s dreams (awaking dreams)
Karla, go for it! Great ideas.
(and please don’t say your life is boring).
Karla,
I would guess you are right about the pastor’s wife angle. Regrettably, it has become the modern-day equivalent of ‘scoolmarm’. Sad.
I’m a fan of Rose is Rose and her biker chick persona. A retired friend rides with her husband. I think there has been a definite greying of the biker world since I used a motorcycle because it was all I could afford. Does that demographic read a lot? Is there enough of it to write to, and do you have an artery for reaching them?
Bonne, I wouldn’t use the term ‘Choreographer’ for your age group. Many will know it, but a lot of your potential readers won’t. I like ‘dreamdancer’, but since I’m up to my eyeballs in ‘dreamweaver’ (the most prominent web-design program) tutorials, I’d worry about confusion. And I also prefer awakening to reflecting. Teenage girls spend too much time reflecting their surroundings; it sounds like you are trying to lift them out of that. One is passive, the other active. And nowadays ’empowering’ is the big buzz word.
Alas, I can’t come up with anything better — brain fried on dreamwhatever.
Enjoy the ride! -MLE
Thanks, MLE. I appreciate your input!