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Get famous: you need to promote your name as a Web writer

May 18th, 2007 Subscribe To Our Feed

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I’ve had a lot of interesting feedback from Wednesday’s issue of Fab Freelance Writing Ezine, “get famous”.

The gist of the feedback was - “I’ve never thought of it that way.” So please, start thinking of it now. You must promote your own name as a writer, because if you don’t, you’ll always be an unknown quantity not only to the people who can hire you, but also to readers.

One of the first things a literary agent will tell you is that you must build your “platform” - this is the people who know you by name. A platform means that publishers are more likely to look favorably on you, because they known you know how publishing works. Name-recognition is EVERYTHING to any writer.

It’s vital. Until that knowledge becomes a part of the way you operate as a writer, you’ll always be a dabbler, not a professional. Publishers will not take you seriously, and will be hesitant about committing to you, because you don’t seem serious about your writing.

I’m sorry if this sounds harsh, but it’s true, unfortunately. Aside from anything else, the waters you swim in as a writer are full of sharks, who will think nothing of ripping you off. They’ll take your time and your energy. I’ve written about writing scams before. You make it less likely that you’ll be ripped off if people know your name.

Becoming known costs nothing - but it’s essential for your writing career

I’m constantly amazed by the writer’s Web sites I see on which there’s no mention of the writer’s real name. There’s either a nick name, or no name at all.

If your full-time job is not writing-related, then perhaps you might want to keep your name a secret… but why? Your employer isn’t likely to fire you because you moonlight as a writer. And not publicizing your name takes away from any credibility you have.

If you’re not promoting your own name, start doing so today.

BTW, if you’re not a subscriber to Fab Freelance Writing Ezine, subscribe today. Although the ezine is archived at Fab Writers’ Ezine, the bonus issues are never archived, they’re sent to subscribers only.