tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9156334464585894857.post1937217856071118512..comments2023-10-25T05:30:54.507-04:00Comments on Oh Get A Grip!: Building a BrandAshe Barkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03390519279886657608noreply@blogger.comBlogger23125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9156334464585894857.post-26741277439769973392015-11-20T11:42:35.402-05:002015-11-20T11:42:35.402-05:00This is a good point, and I'm glad you made it...This is a good point, and I'm glad you made it. It's a bit of a relief, too.Annabeth Leonghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07455191827664110878noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9156334464585894857.post-517168614380399802015-11-19T09:22:27.809-05:002015-11-19T09:22:27.809-05:00Even Alison Tyler has allowed herself some latitud...Even Alison Tyler has allowed herself some latitude, over the years. Some of her short stories have little or no BDSM. In fact, enough of her stories are like that that I became an enthusiastic fan of her work, even though my personal tastes don't run to stories and books where BDSM is the focus (no offense, no judgment). I don't know how many of her novels fall outside the BDSM theme, but I did read (and love) <i>Melt with You</i>, which, while it probably has elements of BDSM, is not what you'd call a tale of submission first and foremost.Jeremy Edwardshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01980177431018869829noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9156334464585894857.post-33804630117785913132015-11-19T07:46:39.429-05:002015-11-19T07:46:39.429-05:00Lisabet, I really feel your point on consistency. ...Lisabet, I really feel your point on consistency. I've thought a lot about what it would be like to have a subject I could commit to the way Alison Tyler has committed to her brand of BDSM. However, that's not my personality, in life or on the page. <br /><br />I go to a rope conference twice a year and one of the things it's taught me is, much as I like rope, I'm not that committed to any one kink. The last con I went to, I got so freaking excited about sap gloves and (whoa!) topping (totally new for me). That's just who I am, and I feel like branding concerns have to come after being myself.Annabeth Leonghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07455191827664110878noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9156334464585894857.post-82436983294448884092015-11-11T12:57:57.348-05:002015-11-11T12:57:57.348-05:00That's amazing. We're famous!That's amazing. We're famous!Giselle Renardehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15955755448116234634noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9156334464585894857.post-61101448676253756342015-11-11T07:27:08.695-05:002015-11-11T07:27:08.695-05:00Yes. Very important point.Yes. Very important point.Jeremy Edwardshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01980177431018869829noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9156334464585894857.post-72950468708559082392015-11-11T07:25:58.961-05:002015-11-11T07:25:58.961-05:00Well, in my case the catch was that the readers wh...Well, in my case the catch was that the readers who like my kind of erotica mostly don't follow erotica, so they were, for the most part, unreachable. Believe me, we tried!Jeremy Edwardshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01980177431018869829noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9156334464585894857.post-88889305364759053922015-11-10T23:30:30.270-05:002015-11-10T23:30:30.270-05:00You know, I've noticed a tendency among erotic...You know, I've noticed a tendency among erotica authors to say "most readers prefer... X" where "X" is what they themselves DON'T write. I don't think there's that level of consistency. You need to find the readers who DO like what YOU write.<br /><br />I have to say that editor deserves to have egg on his or her face...Lisabet Saraihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05162514190572269660noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9156334464585894857.post-74812812749954693442015-11-10T23:28:44.718-05:002015-11-10T23:28:44.718-05:00The fact is that most "big names" in ero...The fact is that most "big names" in erotica were pioneers. That include Rachel and Alison, also Violet Blue, Laura Antoniou, and M. Christian. They were publishing erotica long before the flood.Lisabet Saraihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05162514190572269660noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9156334464585894857.post-66522650503754233392015-11-10T08:37:50.584-05:002015-11-10T08:37:50.584-05:00I imagine the state of the market now means that n...I imagine the state of the market now means that no amount of doing what authors are told they're "supposed to" do—branding, social-media noise, etc.—is very likely to get anyone anywhere. So why deviate from writing what you really want to in order to chase an audience that you probably still won't capture? If the goal is selling books, the one thing that really might work (based on what Giselle has told us at various times, and also to a small extent my own experience) is writing books on a very specific fetish topic where demand exceeds supply—and for that, branding is probably irrelevant (beyond using a consistent pen name), because all those readers care about is topic. So you get sales, but not exactly a "loyal readership" who cares about your distinctive personality on the page. That's my impression, anyway.<br /><br />And, of course,, having a recognizable "brand" doesn't get you very far if that brand isn't what erotica readers, by and large, are seeking. For a while, my own "brand"—lighthearted, elegantly written erotica with gentle characters and humor—was pretty well known within erotica circles; but since most erotica readers preferred D/s and erotic romance and paranormal, that was that. The other thing I learned was that no matter how recognizable and reinforced your brand is, people can't necessarily retain that kind of information. I'll never forget the time an editor who had personally published many of my stories went on Facebook asking if anybody knew of an erotica writer who used humor—the implication, in the context, being that she couldn't think of anyone who fit the bill. (:v>Jeremy Edwardshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01980177431018869829noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9156334464585894857.post-76595903671966531782015-11-09T22:53:36.283-05:002015-11-09T22:53:36.283-05:00This post looks very sensible, Lisabet, and it hel...This post looks very sensible, Lisabet, and it helps explain the success of the Big Names in our genre. Although I started out wanting to be a writer, not a teacher (public speaking didn't seem to be my calling), over the years I think I've acquired more of a brand as a teacher than as a writer. In the latest meeting of the English Department, the department head jokingly suggested that not all of my colleagues could pass one of my trademark grammar quizzes. This may be a large part of why I'm reluctant to retire: I'm a known quantity (and popular with a student audience) in the relatively small pond of entry-level English classes in the local university, but I seem to be invisible plankton in the ocean of cyberspace. Then there is a catch-22 that you and Sacchi hint at: statements in social media that attract a lot of attention tend to be controversial, and can stir up flame wars. I wouldn't want to build a brand that way, and I suspect none of us do.Jean Robertahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08805088081675965859noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9156334464585894857.post-25650311497591672512015-11-09T22:38:25.394-05:002015-11-09T22:38:25.394-05:00I'm not on FB as an author, but I can say from...I'm not on FB as an author, but I can say from my personal experience that it's really tough to manage the deluge of information. I actually try hard to comment when something strikes me, because I know how good it feels to be noticed. <br /><br />And yes, I get a little thrill whenever I learn someone new is following me on Twitter, even though I KNOW that he or she probably will never look at most of my Tweets.Lisabet Saraihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05162514190572269660noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9156334464585894857.post-62228434477551321672015-11-09T22:36:00.686-05:002015-11-09T22:36:00.686-05:00Yeah. But I have to say, I just joined Twitter a c...Yeah. But I have to say, I just joined Twitter a couple of months ago, and it's a lot of fun. <br /><br />Helps me curb my tendencies to be long winded!Lisabet Saraihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05162514190572269660noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9156334464585894857.post-31649771836741389892015-11-09T22:35:16.399-05:002015-11-09T22:35:16.399-05:00Actually, your brand IS diversity. I don't kno...Actually, your brand IS diversity. I don't know anyone else who has published entire volumes of both gay and lesbian erotica (not to mention who's straight!)<br /><br />You're a model to me. Keep up the fabulous work! <br /><br />BTW one of my all time favorite books of yours is The Painted Doll. Are you planning a re-release? Lisabet Saraihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05162514190572269660noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9156334464585894857.post-54344427643599707402015-11-09T22:33:48.669-05:002015-11-09T22:33:48.669-05:00Actually, I think Rachel is just being Rachel. All...Actually, I think Rachel is just being Rachel. All her activities and her writing are a true expression of her personality. And maybe that's part of the secret--being genuine. <br /><br />For me that means writing all over the map--M/M, F/F, M/F and all the other permutations. Variety is a compulsion for me!<br />Lisabet Saraihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05162514190572269660noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9156334464585894857.post-59190479164709639732015-11-09T22:31:45.681-05:002015-11-09T22:31:45.681-05:00I'll tell you one thing, Cameron. Quality coun...I'll tell you one thing, Cameron. Quality counts--at least for me. The minute I started reading the excerpt in your guest post on my blog, I was impressed.<br /><br />Of course, I'm probably not typical. Still....Lisabet Saraihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05162514190572269660noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9156334464585894857.post-43273571217887409162015-11-09T22:30:48.791-05:002015-11-09T22:30:48.791-05:00Wow! That's very cool! I notice that K.D. Grac...Wow! That's very cool! I notice that K.D. Grace's "The Initiation of Ms. Holly" is there too, one of my all time favorite erotic novels.<br /><br />Thanks!Lisabet Saraihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05162514190572269660noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9156334464585894857.post-22217736603085311102015-11-09T19:41:50.218-05:002015-11-09T19:41:50.218-05:00Even on social media, you can't make people pa...Even on social media, you can't make people pay attention to a "brand.". Well, you could, but not necessarily positive attention. On Facebook I have a decent number of "friends," and I can get a decent number of comments and "likes" on the rare occasions that I post, say, scenic photos or the occasional bursts of personal angst or joy that break through, but not that much when I post about my books (unless it's a Call for Submissions for a new book, in which case writers perk up and take notice). That's fair enough, since I tend to react in a similar way to posts by others. Sacchi Greenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10801164916418570059noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9156334464585894857.post-2654468209208699672015-11-09T12:23:50.899-05:002015-11-09T12:23:50.899-05:00You need to be 'out there' in the public e...You need to be 'out there' in the public eye, whether the way I was taught, by business cards and a smile, or now on social media. The latter perplexes me.Daddy Xhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12927663248424944119noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9156334464585894857.post-1160586493800947492015-11-09T11:30:24.915-05:002015-11-09T11:30:24.915-05:00(Blush) thanks so much, Daddy! I've actually ...(Blush) thanks so much, Daddy! I've actually always been anti-brand (prefer to have people buy my stuff not because of who I am but what I create) but also believe in "buying the ticket." i.e. the joke that goes "man asks god to win the lottery. god answers 'meet me halfway: buy a ticket." Fortune will always find you working ;-)mchristianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11887406428164757014noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9156334464585894857.post-71620888164613231462015-11-09T11:16:36.818-05:002015-11-09T11:16:36.818-05:00Pity how many great artists never make the big tim...Pity how many great artists never make the big time. Sure, they have followers, and their skills are widely acknowledged but they never "Go viral", even when the term had no meaning in the art world. Some of it's luck. But I must say that Rachel sure does work at it. As you say, she's quite systematic about her brand. Maybe the trick is to get out to the people more. <br /><br />I've been doing every reading I can to try to affect that. Doing M. Christians Leather, Lace and Lust series December 19th in SF. Now that's another guy who understands networking. That fucker sure does stay busy! Can't turn around without seeing his ass somewhere.Daddy Xhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12927663248424944119noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9156334464585894857.post-91318075937099549462015-11-09T11:01:41.861-05:002015-11-09T11:01:41.861-05:00Building a brand is super tough! It's somethi...Building a brand is super tough! It's something I've only come to truly understand recently, and I still haven't exactly figured out how to brand myself... but it's a work in progress. :)Cameron D. Jameshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05825600675668853636noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9156334464585894857.post-69720295981288403512015-11-09T08:11:52.828-05:002015-11-09T08:11:52.828-05:00And congratulations to you both!And congratulations to you both!Jeremy Edwardshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01980177431018869829noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9156334464585894857.post-89469719940935853132015-11-09T07:24:05.300-05:002015-11-09T07:24:05.300-05:00Hi, Lisabet. This is more or less off-topic, but I...Hi, Lisabet. This is more or less off-topic, but I wanted to make sure you and Giselle knew you'd been featured in this Kay Jaybee "top ten" list in <i>ETO</i> magazine:<br /><br />http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EjQ1ufTtjxE/VjoXHKv6MvI/AAAAAAAANcQ/2FYZpc1haXs/s1600/Kay%2BETO%2BXmas.jpgJeremy Edwardshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01980177431018869829noreply@blogger.com