Jeff Goins wrote a spot-on article about the differences between amateurs and professionals in any profession.
The main points that struck me were:
- Pros take action almost every day, if only for a short period of time, even half an hour, or perhaps fifteen minutes. Every day.
- Pros keep working to get better, even after they’re famous.
- Pros accept failure as a given and learn from it, then carry on.
- Pros build a body of work. This improves their work.
To get the full article, go here:
https://medium.com/@jeffgoins/the-7-differences-between-professional-and-amateurs-ab6850c25c61
What it did for me:
I realized that I needed to work harder at being a professional marketer for my work. I need to spend time every single day on that goal, just as I spend most every single day on my writing.
If you really think about it, most of us need two main areas where we shine, usually one helping the other. For example, business manager and employee relations. Or better, wife and mother; husband and father. And yeah, writing and marketing that writing
Do you have two areas you think are complementary? If so, are you spending about equal time on both? Or do you disagree with any of this?
Good summary of the other post. I don’t know if I have two skills/abilities I’m equally good at–I’ll have to think about that. I like blogging and writing fiction, but I think the marketing one would be better.
Susan, it actually took my reading Jeff Goins post for me to have this eureka moment. I’m trying out one hour of marketing for every hour of writing/editing fiction. And hoping for four hours a day, total, for both.
Like Susan, I wish I had more of a talent for marketing. These days publishers don’t feel it’s their responsibility although they make most of the profits.
I consider myself a professional writer since I am paid for my work. I am always trying to improve the quality and depth of my writing. I’ve been a teacher, a librarian, a wife, mother and grandmother. All of these have contributed to my writing.
What I’m aiming for is being a professional marketer. If I think I’ve made it, I’ll blog about it right here. LOL And it will be a miracle because I don’t like marketing much. I’m going to try to use my writing to promote my writing instead of using myself. Much more comfortable that way.
Excellent points, and I was amused by the illustration of a hat that accompanies it. Writers these days must keep their marketing hat handy and be willing to put it on and wear it with pride! A hat is something you wear when you go out in public. Not the same thing at all as the pajamas you’re still wearing at noon, glaring at the computer screen, lost in the struggle to get the words to come out right!
Hi, Viocki, you’re the first to comment on my writer’s hat. You’re right–our public face needs to be a bit different from our writing face. Thanks for stopping by and commenting.
Jan, I think your summary of four items prettymuch says it all. Well done. I wish someone would come up with a magic formula for becoming an expert at promoting.
Earl, if you come up with that magic formuala for expert promoting, please let me know. It’s become a very tough slog for me
Good summary, Jan. Commitment and persistence. I think we need to have both. It would be nice if someone else did the marketing. But, like it or not, it’s up to us.
Yes, John, I’ve found out that no matter how we’re published, the marketing is our second job. Wish it were a lot easier!