Conventional Hippie Author Seeking Target Audience

A candid account of a common author problem: Marketing a book without a clear genre and target audience.

Why aren't we taught at school to first identify our target market whenever we are trying to produce anything that we want other people to like?

Maybe we were and I didn't pay attention, but before I became an indie author I thought that writing, like any artistic endeavour, was free of the confines of convention and expectation - A true unrestricted expression of our every part, thought, and innermost being.

Uh. It is... if you don't care about selling anything and making any money.

Regardless of where you are at in your author/creative journey, at some point, you will likely come to the point where you need to decide:

Do I write for me, or do I write for other people?

Do I care about making money or not?

Am I creating because I need to create and express myself, or am I creating something to appeal to people and make a living from the creating?

Your answers will then shape what you do from that point.

Honestly, I'm still undecided.

I want to live my dream of being a successful author with a decent income and strong readership, but I also want to just write whatever the hell I want, without needing to define *it*, or who *it* is for.

Without needing to fit my creativity in a box with rules and expectations.

So, this brings me back to attempting to define my target market.

I wrote my books with no clear genre or audience in mind, in other words:

I wrote my books for myself.

I hate writing that. It makes me cringe. It sounds selfish, almost narcissistic. I wrote them HOPING that other people would like them too, but I certainly didn't identify what those people like, want, need, and expect before I got stuck into the process.

I write because I want to write and writing makes me happy, but yes, I also want to make money from it.

So, am I my own target audience for the books that I have already written?

Hrmm, okay. Let's do this, um, "marketing homework".

This is me:

• A woman

• A reader

• A middle-aged mother

• A deep thinker/philosophical

• Nature lover

• On a journey of self-discovery - knows they can always grow and get better

• An anxious and self-conscious overthinker who cares deeply about what other people think but tries hard not to

• Creative

• Time poor

• Conventional hippie

What is a conventional hippie?

A conventional hippie is a term that I made up to describe a wannabe hippie who mostly conforms to social norms. eg:

• I'd love to walk around shoeless, but rocks and broken glass hurt

• I'd love to wear pretty, flowy, hippie clothes all the time, but I get cold. All. The. Time. And I have young kids, so I constantly end up stepping on the hem of my dress and yanking it down. And I'm a little self-conscious about the extra curves in my middle.

• I'd love to live off-grid in the middle of the bush, but I don't, for many various reasons

• I'd love to have no TV or electronics, but my husband and kids would hate me, and I work on computers and need the internet and stuff

• I'd love to grow my own food, but my thumb is not green

• I'd love to eat all-natural, organic, raw, vegan whatever, but I don't, because it's expensive and I am addicted to sugar and coffee, and I love the taste of bad things, and I have a family who I would need to cook separate meals for, which is never going to happen

Ya get me? How I picture my ideal life in my head is different from the way that I live, but I am totally okay with that. I'm a practical hippie - a hippie at heart. A conforming dreamer.

Why does all this matter?

Because my books are kinda the same as me - not full hippie, there are just glimpses of conventional hippie throughout.

In my books, you will find some hippie

themes: earthing, moon-bathing, crystals, singing bowls, meditation, and a lot of nature lovin' and philosophical thinking, scattered amongst the regular ole contemporary women's fiction stories.

Are people who are like me and who like the same things as me, my target market?

I have no fricking idea!!

Really. I don't know.

If you are a woman who likes to read and think, and if you don't automatically discount new-aged thinking and natural medicine as 'hippie-dippie woo-woo crap', then you are my people...

Read my books and let me know.

Are you my people?

Much love,

Marley x

* The Silver Sheep is available as an ebook or paperback and is free for Kindle Unlimited subscribers. Find it on Amazon and other good online bookstores.

Help! How Do I Deal With Imposter Syndrome?

How to share your work, loud and proud, and manage that inner beast feeding you lies.

The ultimate guide by a non-professional (and imposter - hah!).

What is Imposter Syndrome?

It is the feeling that I am not good enough.

I am not worthy. What I do is no good. Other people are so much better than me. I shouldn't bother trying. Other people will laugh at me. They are laughing at me. They think I suck. I am a laughing stock. I will fail. I am failing. I don't deserve anything.

That.

If you are a creative, then I know you feel it.

Do you want to know why I know?

Because I feel it too. All of those things, plus the added bonus of: Who am I to write about imposter syndrome? I haven't even achieved anything!

I battle with it so much that I should name it 'Cindy' and reserve it a seat at public events. That would totally work because it makes me want to distance myself and hide away the things I do because I feel like I'm not good enough. So, the empty chair space between me and the next person would totally help it win.

Now, let me tell you something that might just blow your mind:

You are not alone

I'm pretty sure that the only person on the face of the planet who doesn't have imposter syndrome, is Donald Trump, and nobody wants to be that guy, right?! (ooh yeah, I went there!)

Okay, jokes aside, let me give you some hot tips.

These tips will not stop you from feeling imposter syndrome, but, what they might help you do is feel the feelings and do your thing anyway.

So, without further ado, here are

10 tips to help you navigate Imposter Syndrome:

1. Stop comparing yourself

It is so easy to fall into the trap of comparing yourself to other people.

Stop it. Close the Facebook page, and walk away from the screen.

There will always be people who are better than you, and there will always be people who are worse, but we are all different and there is space for us all.

2. Use your support people.

Talk to people who care about what you are feeling and who want you to succeed.

Allow them to help you feel good about yourself and what you do. Let them encourage you.

3. Remind yourself of your wins and celebrate them as they happen

No matter how small. Celebrate that you have started or completed something. Celebrate that sale or the good feedback you got.

Don't forget that you are getting better.

Every time you do what you do, you are learning, growing, and improving. Go you!

4. Ignore the haters (including yourself)

Block. Delete. Hang up. Distract. Change the subject. Whatever it takes.

Now, there is a difference between constructive criticism and hate. Pull from it what you can use, and ignore the rest.

"My four-year-old could write a better story than you." = Hate.

"The dialogue was clunky and unbelievable." = Useful. Painful, yes, but use it to learn and grow.

I made these quotes up, but my time is coming. That, I know.

You suck. This sucks. You're just embarrassing yourself.

Nope. Wrong. Don't go there. Distract yourself, reinspire yourself, rest, talk it out, but don't let yourself stay there.

5. Don't aim for perfect

There is no such thing and you will always fall short.

The best you can do is your best.

6. Take a break

Remind yourself of the other important shit you have going on in your life: kids, house, partner, job, friends, sports, etc. These things matter. This thing that you do that is giving you imposter syndrome is only part of your story.

7. Catastrophise

Okay, a strange strategy here, but it can help me put things into perspective, so it might help you too.

Think worst case scenario. What is the worst thing that could happen? People will laugh at you? You'll look stupid? You'll trip over? And how long will the fallout from that last? A week? A month? So, you write a shitty book that people think is crap. Fine. Who cares? Will people stop talking to you or stop being your friend? They'd be no loss if they did! Nobody buys your paintings? Oh well, it isn't about the selling, it's about the painting, which you did, because you are a creative and you need a creative outlet, and you are a better person for allowing your creativity to flow.

It is about the process. Be creative because you want and need to be creative, because you are a creative. Not everybody is going to vibe with what you do, and that is okay.

8. No pain, no gain

If it doesn't hurt, you're not growing, right? That's what people say, anyway.

Many amazing creatives have felt the same feelings. Use those feelings to drive you.

In the words of My Chemical Romance: 'Thank you for the venom'

9. Put a time limit on it

When it gets to be too much and you can't overpower the imposter syndrome, stop trying to. Put a time limit on it.

Let yourself feel the feelings. Let yourself feel shit. Give yourself rest, space, and time from your creative thing, if you need it. Allow yourself to feel that way for the next hour, or day, then get up in the morning, shove that F***er in a box, and do your thang.

10. Feel the fear and do it anyway

Do it scared and full of doubt. F**k imposter syndrome. Don't let it win. Be creative. Do shit art. You are a creative goddess and you are freaking brave and awesome for letting that creativity out of you and holding it up to the light. You rock!

Out of the billions of people on this incredible planet, there are absolutely, most definitely, WITHOUT A DOUBT, many, many people who will totally love whatever it is that you do. Not only that, but they need it. It will help them. And you doing your thing will help other people feel okay about doing their thing. Ignore the imposter syndrome and do the thing FOR THESE PEOPLE. Stop being selfish. Forget about you. Not everything is about you, Karen! (lol oops, sorry to the 75 Karens that I know. Don't hate me. I love you.) Allow me to correct myself: Not everything is about you, MARLEY!

Read the book that I wrote, and continue to promote, with imposter syndrome by my side:

The Silver Sheep - Available on Amazon as an ebook or paperback.

Much love.

Marley x

How Do I Get All The Things Done?

That is the million-dollar question, right? How do I manage to read and write books, work part-time, and raise 5 little humans? Read on, and this blog post may help you get all your things done too!

Okay, full disclaimer here, because I feel like a total imposter; I was asked to write on this topic, but...

I don't have any secrets.

Come to my house on the right day and you'll see me in a heap on the floor just like anyone else. Possibly crying. Possibly eating. Probably cleaning up a spill of some sort.

I do not have it all together, and I do not have the answers. My house is a hazard, my kids hear swear words, and my prayers often sound something like: 'Lord, help me! Help me be grateful. Help me succeed. Help me be the wife and mother that I wish to be. Help me to shine your light, because I suck at all of it and I'm not finding any of it fun right now.'

Yep. The picture of me above is what I want you to think life looks like for me, but in reality, it's loud, messy, chaotic, hectic, and just downright craziness MOST OF THE TIME.

Okay, so this post probably isn't going to tell you anything that you haven't heard before. There will be no 'so that's how she does it' ah-ha moments, BUT, what I will do is pass on some of the things that I have learned from other people, that help me to do all the things whilst in the midst of the chaos. That's a key point. Don't wait for the right or perfect time.

Story time. In 2020, locked down with newborn twins, I signed up for Leonie Dawson's 40 Days to a Finished Book course and ended up with my first novella, You Are Woman. You know the main thing I remember from that course?

Leonie saying, "Just write the F***ing book." I remember her saying things like: don't think about whether it's any good, whether anyone will read it, how you will market it, whether you should research more, or clean the fridge, or whether you are good enough. Don't give yourself time or permission to get overwhelmed. "Just write the F***ing book."

Just do the thing.

Don't worry about perfect. Done is better than perfect. Don't wait for the right time. "Just write the f***ing book."

Even when you don't want to.

Just do the thing.

And that is how I do things now. I do things messy. I do things loud. I do things less than perfect. I do what I can, with what I have. I don't aim for perfect, or nothing would ever get done - or if they did, I'd never be happy with the result.

So, thanks for your wisdom, Leonie. But now it's time for a little nugget of wisdom from yours truly:

Getting better really is about getting yourself ready to hear the right thing, in the right way, at the right time.

That's why you can hear one thing from your husband and instantly discount it, then hear the same thing from your BFF or mother and be receptive to it (guilty). It's not the thing being said. It's you, and where your brain is at.

Are you getting me?

These points may not be revelational, buuuut, the key to their success (and getting all the things done) is YOU, not me, or anyone else.

Okay, I went off on a tangent before I even began, but mindset is that important. So much so, that I'm going to make it point #1

• Work on your mindset

I am definitely no self-help guru, but I freaking love self-help shit.

The right mindset ensures you know that YOU CAN DO ALL THE THINGS.

You can. Go listen to some Tony Robbins or find some affirmations to repeat, because believing you can is half the battle. Truth.

• Goal setting

What is it that you want to do? What are 'all the things', for you?

Work it out and get clear on it so you know what you want to get done every day, every week, every month, every year, and for your lifetime.

Set short and long-term goals. Write them down. Check them regularly. Cross them off. Add to the list.

I use Leonie Dawson's My Brilliant Year Workbooks. Every. Single. Year. Since I discovered them in 2016. I am an affiliate. They are great. Check them out for yourself. But if they aren't your thing, you could just nut out your own goals, write them on any old piece of paper, stick it on your wall, and look at it regularly. Yessir.

• Be okay with any amount of progress

Any progress is better than none.

Be proud that you are heading in the right direction and moving forward.

Baby steps are okay.

For me, writing 20 words on my work in progress is better than none. Win.

• Prioritising

This is a big one for me. I do all the things because I don't do all the things, hah!

My house is always messy. I can live with that.

We often eat super quick meals, like chicken tender wraps or soup and homemade bread (yay for breadmakers). I am okay with that, too.

Prioritising means working out what you need to do, but it also means working out what you are okay with not doing.

• Listening to inspirational people / Surround yourself with inspiration (and stay focussed)

This goes hand-in-hand with the first point - work on your mindset. But it doesn't mean that you need to listen to self-help gurus.

It means listening to anyone who inspires you to do the things you want to do: authors, mummy podcasters, entrepreneurs, business owners, philanthropists, whatever it is that helps you get and stay clear on the things you want to do, and whoever it is that makes you excited to want to go and do the things.

This extends to surrounding yourself with things that lift you up, not drag you down or cause you to lose focus. Watch inspiring movies, listen to inspiring, upbeat music, and spend time with people who want you to succeed.

• Constant learning and self-development

There are always ways to improve in every single area of your life.

Atomic Habits by James Clear taught me that lots of tiny improvements add up to bigger ones.

If you want to write a book: read lots of books, listen to podcasts by other authors, sign up for other author newsletters, watch grammar videos on YouTube, yes to all of the book-related things, sure. But...

Improving in other areas of your life will also help you do the thing (in this case, write the book). Improvements for you may come in the form of eating better, going to bed earlier, exercising, learning another language, meditating, trying a martial art. You know what you can improve on. Whatever it is that moves you forward as a person, will help you to do all the things, too. It's a domino effect.

• Trying new things

Want to do a thing that you haven't been able to do, yet?

Try it another way.

Want to write a book? Try verbal dictation, try spending a few hours with your laptop in the library, try writing in a coffee shop, try writing in the car, try handwriting in a notebook, try dot points then flesh it out, try plotting, try pantsing, try getting up early and doing it first thing, try writing in bed at night. Try writing a different genre, try writing it as a serial and release one chapter at a time on Wattpad.

If one thing hasn't worked, try another thing, or try another way.

If you are constantly learning and surrounding yourself with the right inspiration, then you will likely get ideas to try.

• Just do it

This is the dot point that nobody wants to read. It should also be #1, but I already had a #1. That's okay though, because I spoke about it even before #1. So, here it is again, in my un-numbered list.

If you want to do the thing. Just go and do the thing.

Or, you could make excuses.

Baby steps, remember? If you write 50 words a day, you will have a 50,000 word book in less than 3 years (if that's your thing). Bonza, mate!

• Look after yourself

If you don't look after yourself then you will never get the thing done. Either you won't start, or you'll burn out.

Make time for self-care. Mental health matters.

Focus on the positives, celebrate your wins, put time limits on your wallowing, and do what is right for you at the time - this will change depending on your season of life and what is going on inside your head. That is okay. You are exactly where you are meant to be, learning the things that you are meant to learn.

Now, go forth and do the things.

Now.

No, really.

Go. Do it.

Much love,

Marley x