The problem is not whether writers write but whether they publish what they write.
For a lot of writers, publishing happens only when an established publishing company thinks their work is worthy – while that is something you should aspire to, it is not the only form of publishing.
Micro-publishing is a term that connotes sharing your work in bits with the aim of orienting the crowd about you such that you build an audience for your major publishing. At least, this is what it is supposed to be.
For a lot of people, the biggest stressor around micro-publishing is plagiarism and theft. Legally speaking, if you can prove that you published your work with your name on any platform before someone else replicated it, you will have a strong case.
Now that we have dealt with your fear, why are you not publishing your work?
Every few months, I get the privilege to speak to fellow writers about the business of writing and I always begin with a pretty simple question – if I am not your friend, family or classmate, where can I accidentally bump into your work?
In the business world, the most qualified businesses do not necessarily get the crowd (they could over a long time); the most visible and accessible businesses do.
During some social interactions, it was discovered that people would eat crappy street food when hungry as long as it is nearby than go to a faraway restaurant or exclusive restaurant where they might need reservations.
People know what is quality, but many times they are easily convinced by accessibility.
It does not matter how amazing your work is. If we cannot find it, we will read another’s. Mind you, professional writing is no longer as scarce as it used to be, now that social media is making micro-publishing a norm and creative journals are multiplying on a daily basis.
Quick experiment;
Go on Google and search “why does my back ache?”
You will realize three major categories of content are likely to fill the first one page
– content from hospitals and medical organizations that are considered trustworthy
– content from creators who have that title (books, YouTube, podcasts)
– businesses that sell you pain relief.
This is applicable to any search you make.
Let us say you write wedding vows as a business. Where can we search for wedding vows and you’ll show up?
Understand that being seen consistently makes it easy to be remembered.
I am sure you have bought a product from a brand simply because you had seen their advert so frequently that you instantly remembered their name when you wanted something they had previously advertised.
You want to create that same effect? I know there are a lot of options of places where you could be so, while now I will attempt to help you streamline.
- To know where to show up, you need to know where your audience is.
If you write and perform spoken word pieces and you are looking to be a household name in your state or country, it is only natural that
- You begin to attend those types of events and apply to perform there.
- Document your presentations and create a digital portfolio that you can use to apply for subsequent opportunities
- Create a digital presence that showcases that side of you.
You could argue and say “I only perform in my state so why do I need a digital presence?”
Well…
- Everyone in your state was not physically present during your last presentation
- All events hosted in your state are not by indigenous people
- You cannot sit around and wait for word of mouth
- You want to make sure you are creating in a way that when you decide to expand, you do have a track record.
Back to the question that started this piece – If I was not your friend, family or classmate, where would I accidentally bump into your work?
Do not just strive to only be an excellent writer but also, an accessible writer.
Imagine what could happen if those roadside eaters realize a particular road side vendor (who is easily accessible) also makes great meals in a clean environment?
You want to be that writer who is easily accessible and yet delivers impeccable work whether it’s poetry, articles, stories or any other genre you have chosen.
- To know where to show up, you need to know what people are looking for.
It is possible that people are looking for spoken word artists. But how do they phrase their words when they ask search engines? How do they phrase their words if they were to input in a directory?
You should do some research about your specific niche but another low-cost way to do that research is to ask yourself – how do I phrase my words when I search? For example, I would usually search for spoken word performance in Farsi.
Why? I accidentally heard one in a movie then I will find some people and discover a multilingual performer and now, I’m searching for multilingual spoken word performances.
I could even search for spoken word pieces with a full orchestra in the background. why? Because I imagined it after hearing a spoken word piece that used violin for an accomplice.
If you understand that you are also searching out other people and your friends are searching people and content types, you will begin to realize you have been missing out on being the subject of someone else’s search.
How can you word your titles and content so strategically that search engines would recommend you? How can you title your business cards so strategically that people can remember you easily? How can you phrase your writings so that people would remember to quote them?
- You need to know where they are looking for it.
In order for people to find you deliberately or accidentally, you need to be in the radar of where they are looking.
If I need a spoken word artist in Abuja, Nigeria, I would definitely add the word Abuja in my searches. Why? Because I do not want someone outside that geographical location recommended.
I am sure you have seen magazines and journals that have ‘African’ in their titles. That is strategically used so when you are looking for predominant African creatives, they are likely to show up first.
Another example you might know well is the Poetic Africa Magazine. People are likely to search for poetry on the Internet and they are likely to search for poetry by Africans on the internet. Therefore, Poetic Africa Magazine is better as a digital magazine than as a physical one because we cannot distribute it to the entire Africa in record time.
If you are an Editor, where are people likely to be searching for editors?
Well consider the audience you want to serve. If you want to serve as an editor for academic content then, you know you need physical presence on university campuses, you need partnerships or contacts at academic journals, you need to run your online adverts to groups and platforms that speak to academia.
For us to love your work, we need to first discover it, but for us to discover you, you need to be accessible. If you will actively prioritize using this information over the next few months, your visibility and profitability will increase exponentially.
Until next month when I bring you another article on the business of writing, stay accessible.
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