Talk Like Your Sh*t Don't Stink

Love him or hate him, you've gotta admit President Trump knows how to talk. No matter the topic, he's the best, he's the biggest, he's the one who sold it for the most. Even if it's not totally true, he talks like it is and sells himself that way anyway. I've adopted a similar mindset since setting out on my publication journey with my books. I've done my best to craft an image for myself that I can sell unabashedly as if I've already "made it". I speak like I've sold a million copies rather than a couple hundred, and thus far, I've had some considerable success because of it.

I recommend anyone trying to carve their niche in the world, particularly in a place as competitive as writing or art, work on puffing themselves up. Ask yourself before you go into a contract negotiation "How would Donald Trump handle this?" You might need to tone it down a little bit since he does have some established clout that you don't (yet), but that should set you in the right direction until you refine your new and improved persona!

Here are some ways to sell yourself if you're unsure of how to start:

1. Speak as if you're speaking to an audience the size of JK Rowling's fanbase. As if everyone will take whatever you're saying seriously and fangirl over it. One day, they will. This will take some practice, but you'll slip into the role pretty quickly through social media.

2. Exaggerate, but don't lie. Sold 101 copies of your book? You've sold over 100 copies, rapidly approaching 200! Had a few good reviews from friends and family? Your work has been reviewed positively by many readers on [X] site! Have your work placed in a couple bookstores? You've already managed to establish recurring contracts with established and well known stores! You get the idea. Most people won't question you or ask for specific numbers when just trying to sell to individuals. This will change as you move up into more corporate atmospheres where boardrooms are full of people who only respond to graphs. But, while you're small, you need to pump up your audience!

3. Realize where your true support is. As an indy author, your followers on social media are your customer base. You are selling not only your work, but your personality. They want to get behind you, get invested in you, know when you're working on stuff and get involved with the development! Speak to them as if you're some big shot and they're all important enough to earn replies and comments. Have a conversation and thank them for their help advertising. If you can make them feel like you're a big shot and they're a big shot alongside you, you'll earn more and more support until you genuinely are a big shot.

4. Celebrate the little things. When you're small and building up, you need to hype the community. You can do this with a lot of stuff through the power of the internet! Giveaways for significant milestones, big exclusives on certain dates (6month and 1yr milestones are good ones!), and even just little celebrations thanking supporters for sticking with you. I recently hit 100 subs here on Minds and plan on doing a week long giveaway of my ebook to celebrate and have had some awesome support because of it.  Something to give back to the people who have been helping me so much. Acknowledging these significant, if not small in the grand scheme, milestones is a big part of increasing your influence.

5. Know your worth, but know when to concede. Acting like a big shot can take you a great distance, but sometimes you need to realize when you're not going to get a better offer and concede some points. Do you really want your book in your favorite local store but they're kind of anal about the consignment? Maybe you allow for some minor points, but try to get something in return. Also know when you're asking too much. A company will only want to work with you if you're giving them something to work with. No one wants to work with an asshole. It can be difficult to find the appropriate balance in this regard, but once you do, you'll excel in the market!

I should mention, you have to make sure your work is refined and professional before attempting this kind of persona. A prospective company may love the way you present yourself, but then read/analyze your work and realize why you're not published traditionally. Make sure your work holds up to the persona you're putting forward. Be critical and reflect upon your work as an outsider would before setting out on this journey. If you feel it holds up to the standards of a professional, hit it hard.

Thanks for reading! If you have anything to add or want to dispute any of my point, please leave a comment!