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About the author and blogger ...

Anne Goodwin’s drive to understand what makes people tick led to a career in clinical psychology. That same curiosity now powers her fiction.
A prize-winning short-story writer, she has published three novels and a short story collection with small independent press, Inspired Quill. Her debut novel, Sugar and Snails, was shortlisted for the 2016 Polari First Book Prize.
Away from her desk, Anne guides book-loving walkers through the Derbyshire landscape that inspired Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre.
Subscribers to her newsletter can download a free e-book of award-winning short stories.

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From writer to author: claiming the authority of your book.

16/6/2015

10 Comments

 
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A couple of years ago, I published a post on the four criteria that make one a writer. Although I can appreciate the differing perspectives offered in the comments, I’m still happy with my description of a writer as someone who edits their work; understands the “rules” (although doesn’t necessarily follow them); has served their time; and has attracted readers beyond their immediate friends and family. Conveniently, this definition of a writer enabled me to claim the title for myself.

I didn’t really consider the word “author”, and certainly not as a stand-alone title (as opposed to “author of” such-and-such a work), until I joined The Society of Authors last summer. Even then, it was because I needed advice on my publishing contract rather than to club together with other “authors” – such an old-fashioned term, I thought, that ought to be abandoned in the way that “artists” have now rebranded themselves as “painters”. That changed when, last month, I attended an event on working with the media, led by the award-winning former BBC TV reporter, Alistair Macdonald.

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To be fair, I’d been paving my way towards the epiphany I experienced at the workshop, without realising it, for several months. Way back in September, I was able to observe my Inspired Quill stablemate, Tracey Scott Townsend, at a local book signing, where I was impressed with her professional approach to engaging with the public. While I imagined myself holding back, almost apologetic for taking up space in the bookshop, Tracey was able to reach out to potential customers in a positive (but definitely not harassing) manner and elicit their curiosity about what she had to offer.

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More recently, Eve Makis, who I met at the launch of her novel The Spice Box Letters (recently longlisted for the Jerwood Fiction Uncovered Prize), allowed me to shadow her at one of her library events. Eve’s message for this novelist-in-waiting was similar to Tracey’s: connect with your audience by making eye contact and addressing them directly, and be confident about the book you’re promoting.

Ah, but how to be confident when you’re quaking inside? How to at least appear to know what you’re talking about?

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Alistair Macdonald recommends treating it as a performance, requiring preparation and practice prior to meeting one’s public (or interviewer), and then perfecting that performance by responding to feedback both during and following the delivery. Preparation entails deciding on the (limited number of) key messages you want to get across and scripting them into an interesting and entertaining story, with beginning, middle and end. Important information needs to be repeated if it is to be remembered by the audience, as well as placed where it will have most impact: at the opening and conclusion of the talk. How you look and how you sound is the vehicle for the content, which should be delivered with energy, enthusiasm and enjoyment (and a smile, even on radio). Knowing your audience will assist engagement, and practising your spiel, rather like editing, will help sharpen up the content and, most importantly, ensure it fits into its allocated time slot.

Although I felt the workshop was geared more towards writers of non-fiction (especially regarding responding promptly to news items related to one’s area of expertise), I found the event inspiring, and I expect I’ll have more to share about it when I come to put in the advice into practice. But what interests me at present is how merely being addressed as “an author” enhanced my belief in my “right” to promote my book.

I don’t know if it’s all those years of being told (often kindly, but not always experienced that way) that one’s writing isn’t good enough that makes me fear being outed as an impostor when I finally get to ask people to buy my book. I don’t know if it’s having to go right back to basics in learning to write fiction that somehow disconnects me from what other skills I might possess. Certainly it was reassuring, in the workshop, to be reminded of the basic psychology of memory in considering what people will take from the presentation. But it also brought back what I learnt fifteen years ago (gulp!) about the nature of authority.

When I was studying organisational consultancy, one of the recurring themes was the problems arising from individuals at all levels of the organisation (and not just management) failing to take up the authority of their roles. I learned to think of authority in terms of, not only the capacity to influence others, but also confidence in carrying out one’s own particular role, however limited that might be. Problems with authority could arise both from organisational structures and from within, stemming from one’s experiences with authority figures in the past. Isn’t it interesting that, unlike the label “writer”, the word “author” has such an overlap with a term associated with power and influence?

In a hierarchical organisation, authority is deemed as coming from managers above, staff below and from within. The world of books is not so rigidly structured, but parallels may still be detected. An author gains authority from “above” in the publisher’s investment in the title (hence the greater complexity for self-published authors and those published by small presses like me) and in the endorsements from more experienced writers in the field. Potential readers will approach our books with an assumption of our right to write them, perhaps with an eagerness to meet “a real author” (even if it’s only me), and it’s our job not to let them down (and, as Claire King points out, these followers will, if we let them, lead other readers into the ring). But most importantly, we authors need to believe in ourselves and conduct our interactions with the public in a way that bears this out.

My definition of a writer, as outlined at the beginning of this post, seems to be dependent on behaviours and outcomes; my developing definition of an author, while certainly dependent upon having a book to be “the author of”, seems to be largely about a state of mind. I’m not sure how much I want to use the title, but I feel I owe it to my novel to harness the authority, however fraudulent that might feel. I’ll let you know how I get on.


Thanks for reading. I'd love to know what you think. If you've enjoyed this post, you might like to sign up via the sidebar for regular email updates and/or my quarterly Newsletter.
10 Comments
geoff link
16/6/2015 04:19:25 pm

So much to ponder here Anne. Your definition is very appealing and difficult to fault. And satisfyingly I too fall within it! But the piece on accepting the authority of one's role. I can exactly see ow that worked in my old law firm and how, when some one shied aware from their role the trouble would start. And I can see exactly what you mean about the author role, wand how I have failed to be brave enough to adopt it as my own and do it justice. Food for thought there. I'll be watching carefully at your launch to see how you measure up!

Reply
Annecdotist
22/6/2015 06:39:30 am

Glad you could identify with this, Geoff. Perhaps though taking our authority can be a process that develops over time. I was at another event last week where a very successful local author was chatting over lunch about freezing up when it came to speak at his first launch fifteen years ago, but then such a contrast seeing him in his session in which he was so confident and eloquent in telling the story behind his stories. I do hope you can learn from my launch event and see how you can do it better for your next book!

Reply
sarah link
16/6/2015 08:56:11 pm

Just a quick note...you can call yourself an "author". You are about to publish your book. Geesh! :-) I think most (if not all) writers feel like an impostor at some point in their career. Some more than others. When I refer to you, I will be saying, "Author, Anne Goodwin". Just so you know.

Yes. I can see myself the same way: "holding back, almost apologetic for taking up space in the bookshop". How awful. I'd be quaking right there with you. But a shaky arm is better than none. I'm supporting you from across the pond.

Reply
Annecdotist
22/6/2015 06:41:44 am

Thank you, Sarah, I'll definitely take your kind words to heart. Though I'm sure I'll continue to struggle with my confidence, it's kind of reassuring to think that people want us to behave authoritatively, as long as we're not too cocky. and hope you can watch my struggle and do it for yourself.

Reply
Charli Mills
19/6/2015 03:00:53 pm

In one way or another, I think writers encounter doubt that stems from credibility. Professionally, it can help to align oneself with associations to be recognized as as a clearly defined writer or author. Once you get to the level of achievement of actually shelving a published book in a bookstore, by all means get comfortable with your new profession. Perhaps like many of us, you are more willing to write than promote, but another criteria might be that an author is one who accepts accountability for the sale of his or her books. Yet, I'm also intrigued by your knowledge of authority in workplace roles. I have seen that happen in organizations. So you are well armed with knowledge to take your rightful place and do the best you can to partner with your publisher to see your book to success. May you entertain beyond 20,000! :-)

Reply
Annecdotist
22/6/2015 06:46:38 am

Thanks, Charli, but yeah it's still going to be a hurdle actually getting my book into a bookshop (unless it's just to do a signing session, and even those are had to get). I think you make a good point about accepting accountability for the success of our books beyond the writing. While so much of this is out of our control, we still have an important role to play in promotion.
I loved the course I did on organisational consultancy, although, interestingly, wasn't so good at taking on the authority of that role. But the application of psychoanalytic theory to organisations, is so fascinating. You'd probably enjoy it.

Reply
Norah Colvin link
20/6/2015 01:08:14 am

I love reading your thoughts about your status as a writer and an author. You are indeed an authority and have every right to claim the title! I think your four criteria still stand and they certainly confirm that you qualify, on both counts. I enjoyed reading about the performance aspect of a book launch talk, and of the importance of a smile. Of course it is very true. It is not unlike the way teachers perform in front of a class each day. It is amazing that a voice portrays a smile to the listener just as efficiently as the vision of it is transmitted, so it's importance can not be overstated. I wish you well with your launches and great success with your book. It is all very exciting.

Reply
Annecdotist
22/6/2015 06:50:28 am

Thanks, Norah, interesting the links you make with teaching, which of course is so similar. I remember the video you shared about you being interviewed about your community education project (sorry if that's the wrong terminology but I hope you know what I mean) where your authority and enthusiasm came over so well.
We've just acquired a camcorder, so will be doing some videos of the launch (just snippets, don't want to bore people to much) but it will be good to be able to share those with people unable to travel halfway round the world to attend!

Reply
Ian Wilkinson
8/7/2015 08:31:30 am

I also attended the event; like Anne, I found Alistair MacDonald's talks very useful, particularly for his tips on how to approach and engage with media people. But I think Anne's point about the need to assume some authority in the role of author even more interesting. This requires confidence in your own role which can be tricky if you are a newcomer to writing fiction. No matter how expert you have been in other fields, in our cases as psychologists and authors of non-fiction, it's hard to manufacture confidence as you step into in a new role. It takes time and experience to develop. But what helped was Alistair pointing out (indirectly) that the roles may not be that different, when it comes to talking about your work. (Though you have to use a very different style of language).

Reply
Annecdotist
13/7/2015 03:48:27 am

Thanks, Ian, I think it's interesting discovering what we can carry over from one rule to another and what we can't – I think I've found surprises both ways. It's very difficult going back to being a novice after being expert in another field but, as you point out, we are experienced in talking about our work. Although I enjoyed speaking at conferences as a psychologist, I was always very nervous – I hope now I'll remember the pleasure and not the nerves as I take that forward into a new role.

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