Getting Used to Creating Content

We’re writers. But still, the endless list of content to be created (especially when, like me, you’ve decided to start a blog, an eZine, got on Twitter, started a Facebook fan page) sometimes makes me want to just forget it. What is the point of all this content creation? I’m not getting paid for it. Why should I do it? Shouldn’t I just write my books?

Promotion is part of the writing job, remember. My friend, Allison Winn Scotch, in town the other night for her book signing, was on the job. She didn’t consider meeting all of her readers as a chore, in fact, she was delighted to see all of us. I felt she was authentic as a writer. She understands that meeting readers, interacting with readers, writing extra content for your readers, is how publishing works. Can you list any other business that can be run without any marketing and promotion? I sure can’t.

It’s a pipe dream, folks. You’re not going to make a living off of one book. You’re not going to be done promoting yourself once the book is out and your book tour is over. The promotion part of your job never ends. Better to embrace the reality that is publishing now and quit sticking your head in the sand, right? Better to have a plan in which you create extra content for promotional purposes. You’ll be so glad you did.

1. Figure out what you really want to do. It takes commitment to begin a blog, to be on Twitter, and to keep up an email newsletter (eZine) and Facebook fan page. You need to find out if you’re willing to be there for the long haul. You need to ask yourself the hard questions. There’s no magic formula to this. You don’t start one of those projects and suddenly it gets done when you want it to. Really commit to it. Don’t be half-hearted. Don’t set yourself up for a failure.

2. Figure out how much content there is to be created. Any writer knows how much they have to write for their book. You need to figure out how much you have to write for your promotional content: two blogs a week, monthly newsletter, five tweets a day, weekly Facebook fan page update. Or what do you think you want to do? You figure out what you have to write and you keep a list of it.

3. Mark off the time to get it done. You don’t get a book written by not writing it. The same thing for promotional content. You don’t get it done unless you make time to do it. Can you tap out a blog post while you’re waiting for your kid’s soccer practice? Can you tack on the eZine research and writing when you bang out your 1,000 words each day on your novel? Figure out when it works for you and then give yourself the time to get it done.

There’s no use fretting at the social media explosion. As authors, we don’t get the luxury of waiting until we absolutely have to do it. We’re better off easing in, starting one thing, or committing to one thing, right now. Otherwise, it will just hurt more later. It’s like waiting until the night (or the hour) before your deadline to research, write, and edit a magazine article or an essay. It’s too much pressure and we don’t like pressure. Reduce the pressure on yourself right now: jump in.

Action Step: I recommend creating a social media strategy. Why are you on social media? Why are you creating all this content? (In upcoming blog announcements, I’ll be dispensing more information on my upcoming social media strategy bootcamp for Writer’s Digest University! Stay tuned!)

Tagged as: content creation, social media strategy, Writer's Digest University