Guest contribution by Scriber's [Hub] author Sandra clip
The world of work is an ocean in which different sea creatures frolic. We authors, especially the reserved among us, are the inconspicuous goldfish that tap down silently and unnoticed in a small glass. The big fish often get the best orders because they draw attention to themselves at the right moment, yes, impose themselves. Do we want to wait until the voracious cat with the bulky name "living costs" and our dream of earning money by writing? Or do we bravely dare to jump into unknown floods earlier?
I chose the latter in summer 2018. At that time my first children's book appeared in self -published. I also write historical specialist texts and romantic stories under pseudonym. Really active when it comes to jumping out of the glass, I only became about a year and a half ago. Why? Because I didn't want to wait any longer to be found at some point. How should someone find me when hardly anyone knows that I exist and what I do?! Even! So, hops, and off we go!
Swim in familiar waters
I am a shy woman. Pressing my business card in my hand is anything but a natural gesture. That cost me overcoming. I found it embarrassing and intrusive. That has to seem desperate to my counterpart, right?!
I work on a voluntary basis in the Tauernbahn Museum. I started there, until today it has remained an important support for my work. Numerous events take place there in pandemic-free times. Groups stand together, you join, let people talk and get involved at some point. Over time, you develop a feel for when the right moment came to pull out the card with your own contact details. At first I let such opportunities pass out of shyness. Except for myself, that didn't work me. To date, I have to overcome myself because it does not correspond to my nature to "impose" myself, but now I have learned that that is exactly what that belongs. To be able to write for someone - and that's exactly what I want! - I have to put my card in hand to him or her first. So, eyes too and through! The more you do, the easier it is. Shyness or false shame must not prevent us from jumping beyond the glass edge.
Wave with the golden fin
The personal contacts reach their limits at some point. How should the Zoo in Linz know, for example, that an author of children's stories would be happy about an order for miles away? I did what I can do best: write. Try to convince new customers with types of words from me and my skills. Formulating and sending emails in which you promote yourself are an elaborate undertaking. On ten emails you may get four answers, three of which are friendly cancellations. If you are lucky, this results in an order - a satisfied customer who will later return to you. However, I don't push people. I neither bomb them with a flood of emails nor I call to hook up. If you are interested, you will get in touch.
This is ideal in Corona times and especially suitable for shy goldfish. A cleverly formulated text can convince. I report what I do, add text food samples, refer to my website. It is important that you stay true to yourself. My cover letters reflect me, but at the same time have to match the furnishings that I contact. Funny, but not compulsive. Failed, why not? If it fits you. Basically, this is nothing more than a creative application letter without the well -known, boring standard rates.
Just a few clicks away from the world's oceans
To point out a homepage and a social media page, I first need something like that and have to look after it. We writers can do it ourselves. After all, we want to live from playing with words, enchanting, kidnapping them into other worlds or clearly presenting facts. My homepage is my information block. My Facebook page "Hanna E. Lore", but here is the personal component. Writing updates, announcements, everyday and weirds are lined up. Screws? Yes. My sense of humor is sometimes strange ... and that is exactly what is well received. So why shouldn't I use this knowledge? I enjoy it and apparently the people too. Try it out and gain experience! Everyone has to find the right mix for themselves, there is no standard recipe.
I am far from being able to call myself an influencer, but I am happy about every further "I like". Because even with small steps you get to your destination. I like and comment. So you attract attention and one or the other gets stuck. I also look after the museum's Facebook appearance. If it fits, I incorporate a reference to myself there. The ocean is only a few mouse clicks far away.
Then there are still platforms such as Scribers [Hub] - an unobtrusive way to draw attention to yourself and your own achievements. Here you swim together in the swarm through the vastness of the sea.
All of this costs nothing (apart from the creation of professional business cards), except time. Nevertheless, you approach potential clients. Strictly speaking, you can even consider this contribution as a measure for customer acquisition. Maybe some readers land on one of my pages and contacts me. Then the jump out of the glass was worth it, right?
To all goldfish out there: hops and off! What should we happen? We can only win, we can write swim ...
Photo credit: Alexas_Fotos (Pixabay)
