5 Things Every Poet Or Storyteller Should Know Before Going Professional
What are the things that every poet or storyteller should know before and after going professional? 1) Marketing is the key to getting your work out there.
Most of the time poets and storytellers focus a lot of their energy on publishing the book or getting the CD done.
But what happens when that is done? How will you get your products into the hands of the reader or audience member? How are you going to reach people who can afford to buy your work? It is really tempting to sometimes leave marketing to someone else, but it is really important to be involved in this process because it is your work and you understand it better than anyone.
2) You may have to make up the rules as you go along.
Since you are already writing and performing professionally or full time you are going to have to be unique and see what works for you.
You may have to work a freelance gig once in a while and do a huge show every 6 months or you may decide to go on tour for 6 months.
It's all up to you.
3) You have to keep writing.
I believe that it's really normal to feel lost when you start anything new like writing a book or performing full time.
I was speaking to some friends and they asked me to really stress the point that this is totally normal and that sometimes you will hit a road block and feel alone, but the important thing is walk through the fear and not let it overwhelm you.
I keep getting told that no matter what you have to keep writing.
Even when there is no work and you are convinced everyone hates what you turn out, force yourself to write a sentence a day because the more you write, the better you become at what you do.
4) Think of yourself as a sole proprietor.
If you are a self employed artist, then you really need to think of yourself as an art entrepreneur.
A lot of professional poets who are actually selling their books have told me that you have to learn the business and see yourself as someone that produces a product.
What you do as a poet or storyteller is important and it may not seem like work to some people but it is.
You may have to get an agent or manager or someone to help you book your shows, manage your accounting or coach you so that you can keep getting booked for events.
Whatever you do as a poet or storyteller please get business cards so that people can reach you and book you for shows or else forward your details to someone else.
5) Learn to negotiate on your own behalf.
This point is very closely tied to the previous point.
Negotiation is uncomfortable for just about anyone, but you have to see what you do as important and make sure that you can negotiate on your own behalf.
Note that everyone you deal with -including publishers and agents-are negotiating for what's best for themselves.
You need to do the same.
The shy writer's guide to successful negotiation is a good resource.
Most of the time poets and storytellers focus a lot of their energy on publishing the book or getting the CD done.
But what happens when that is done? How will you get your products into the hands of the reader or audience member? How are you going to reach people who can afford to buy your work? It is really tempting to sometimes leave marketing to someone else, but it is really important to be involved in this process because it is your work and you understand it better than anyone.
2) You may have to make up the rules as you go along.
Since you are already writing and performing professionally or full time you are going to have to be unique and see what works for you.
You may have to work a freelance gig once in a while and do a huge show every 6 months or you may decide to go on tour for 6 months.
It's all up to you.
3) You have to keep writing.
I believe that it's really normal to feel lost when you start anything new like writing a book or performing full time.
I was speaking to some friends and they asked me to really stress the point that this is totally normal and that sometimes you will hit a road block and feel alone, but the important thing is walk through the fear and not let it overwhelm you.
I keep getting told that no matter what you have to keep writing.
Even when there is no work and you are convinced everyone hates what you turn out, force yourself to write a sentence a day because the more you write, the better you become at what you do.
4) Think of yourself as a sole proprietor.
If you are a self employed artist, then you really need to think of yourself as an art entrepreneur.
A lot of professional poets who are actually selling their books have told me that you have to learn the business and see yourself as someone that produces a product.
What you do as a poet or storyteller is important and it may not seem like work to some people but it is.
You may have to get an agent or manager or someone to help you book your shows, manage your accounting or coach you so that you can keep getting booked for events.
Whatever you do as a poet or storyteller please get business cards so that people can reach you and book you for shows or else forward your details to someone else.
5) Learn to negotiate on your own behalf.
This point is very closely tied to the previous point.
Negotiation is uncomfortable for just about anyone, but you have to see what you do as important and make sure that you can negotiate on your own behalf.
Note that everyone you deal with -including publishers and agents-are negotiating for what's best for themselves.
You need to do the same.
The shy writer's guide to successful negotiation is a good resource.
