Promoting your art
Plus Bonus! Rejection rituals to ease the pain of No.
No one wants to feel pushy or swarmy when promoting their writing or art. Most of us have little training or experience with sales. Add on that incredibly vulnerable feeling that comes with sharing our creative work. Yep, this is the hard stuff for many of us.
It helps me to delve deeper into what my project is about and what I want for readers. When I published my debut novel, I focused on the themes of the book. Regardless of the topic or overall story, there are themes that everyone can connect with. The themes are tied to my values.Â
You’ll want to go back to the processes you went through with Your Creative DNA. Your values and themes underpin your work. This is what you can discuss when you seek to share your work. Tell the story underneath the work. There will be some discussion of the craft, for sure. People are curious about the medium you chose. Or the genre you wrote in. I am always curious to know how an artist chose the medium.Â
INVITATIONÂ
Dig deeper into your artist’s work to access language you can use when promoting your work. Use these prompts to do reflective writing.
What motivates you to make? Link your values to the themes that emerge in your work.
What do you love about your medium or genre? Revisit the love section to illuminate your passion so you can share it with others.
Who do you want to connect with and buy your art? Tap back into your mindmap of your network.Â
What skills, qualities and style can you use to put your work out there?Â
Affirmation: I choose the path that’s right for me.Â
In the comments: If you are selling your work, please leave a link so we can check it out!
Rejection ritualsÂ
How well do you cope with rejection? Â
Putting your art out there means coping with ‘nos’. Rejection hurts – there’s no doubt abut it. But there are ways to deal with it so you don’t feel like a victim. Shifting your perspective about rejection can help. Actually doing something about rejection can make it even easier to bear the pain of having your writing rejected. Here are a few rituals, or acts, that you can do to move forward from the big bad No!.
Here are a few suggestions to help you design your own rejection rituals with your artist.Â
1. Write a letter that expresses your emotions to the rejector (then throw it away).
2. Revisit your artist inventory to soak up a former creative success such as a contest won or a prior publication. Gloat over your previous victories and know that they are just the beginning of your success.
3. Spend some time free writing on your experience with rejection. Really let your emotions out…the pain, the disappointment, any potential shame. Give your heart over to your ink. Start with the prompt, when I was rejected….
5. Throw a tantrum. Grab a big pillow and pummel it with all the force of your disappointment and anger behind it. Rant and rave about the unfairness of it all.
6. Exercise. Go for a walk or a run or a bike ride, or whatever you do to get into your body. Offer up your sweat to the rejection.
7. Some people save their rejection letters. You may want to add it to a file or…
8. Burn the rejection letter, and with it, all the disappointment.
9. Call a sympathetic friend and tell them about the rejection. You may ask them to recount your strengths as a writer and a person. Make sure this friend is able to offer unconditional reassurance as part of your rejection ritual.
Affirmation: Others’ opinion of my art does not stop me.
In the comments: Tell us one rejection ritual that helps ease the pain.