Visual Branding

One thing any author needs to do is pay attention to their branding. This is their identity, both visually and behaviorally. This also applies to your online identity.

In my early days of being a Full-time Pro Author, my visual identity was pretty bland. Sure, I didn't wear a t-shirt to shows, simply because too many other people did. I always wore a clean shirt and dressed more "business casual" than in any recognized style.

Then I started wearing a necktie, simply to appear more professional and slightly less off-putting to the mundanes around us. However, I walked into a theatrical supply store because it was a neat place to browse. I didn't need a thing in there, this time, but I wanted to see what I might want for a possible stage show later. That's when I saw a bowtie, made of rainbow fabric. I knew it had to be mine! In fact, I bought two so my wife could wear one when we showed up together. And of course, every fan of Doctor Who knows BOWTIES ARE COOL! and I needed all the help with my coolness I could get.

Eventually, I began seeing -- of all things -- fez vendors at various and sundry geek gatherings. No, I didn't have a longing to become a Shriner. I simply thought the hats were cool ... a fact verified by the 11th Doctor, the one who made the pronouncement on bowties.

However, my wife wouldn't let me buy one. Said I didn't need one. Then one day, I'm attending the Superman Celebration in Metropolis, Illinois and as we're strolling down the main street of the event, we realize I left my hat at home. My bald pate had no protection against the burning rays of the summer sun.

I cast a glance over to a vendor who carried Doctor Who material ... including FEZZES! Five dollars, and one spousal agreement later, I owned a fez. At same wife's insistence, I began wearing the fez to shows. By now, I'd also grown my sideburns until they became full-fledged muttonchops. This last item to my visual identity was the result of playing "Crazy Ol' Maurice" in Disney's Beauty and the Beast and I had to grow a mustache and sideburns. The mustache eventually succumbed to the razor, but the sides stayed. Now, people might remember the fez, the bowtie, the Isaac Asimov-like sideburns ... but the point is they know who I am. I try to be as consistent as possible from show to show. Now, I also try to wear my adopted color scheme (think Superman blue, red, and yellow) and incorporate those hues into my appearance as well as my business cards and banners. It's a lot of work, but well worth it.

NEXT WEDNESDAY: The UNnecessary Expenses of Publishing

NEXT THURSDAY: Behaving Online

NEXT APPEARANCES: On April 20-22, I'll be one of the honored guests at CAPE CON. It's Cape Girardeau's premiere pop media show and I'm elated to be there for Ken Murphy and his awesome family. The other guests of honor will be artist Mike Zeck (Captain America, Punisher, Master of Kung-Fu, etc.), Steven Grant (Whisper, Punisher, more), Lou Ferigno (TV's Incredible Hulk), and Reb Brown (TV's Captain America). In addition, my awesome friends will be in attendance, such as Amy Hale, Sean Dulaney, Jason Nugent, Heroes For Kids, Castle, Perilous, Nathan Bonner, Burg Comics, Jay Noel, Costumers For Christ, Brian Rhodes, StL Comics, Cakes Reanimated, Campus Comics, Pense Productions, and Villainous Grounds, and MORE! It's a low admission price for so much to see and do. We'll be at the Osage Center and you can get more information at www.cape-con.com. See you there! Then I'll be at the Salem Comic & Toy Expo in Salem, Illinois. The second installment of this show will be bigger and much better than last year, I promise! Guests will include my friends actor/former WWE wrestler Bishop Stevens, actor WF Bell, Power Ranger Catherine Sutherland, writers Amy Hale, Jeffrey Allen Davis, Cathy Jackson, Kenny Sills, Monica O'Leary, and Sean Dulaney, artists Andy Korty and David Clark, StL Comics, animator Philo Barnhart, Silver Phoenix madman Charles D. Moisant, and lots MORE! Admission is five dollars each day. For more details, go to https://www.facebook.com/events/121563795097593/?active_tab=discussion

SPECIAL NOTE: My newest book, The Haunting Scripts of Bachelors Grove​, is currently on sale. It's part memoir, part grimoire. The first half deals with my entry into writing indie comics and joining Silver Phoenix Entertainment. I print four of my comic scripts for The Haunting Tales of Bachelors Grove, three of which have not been produced yet. Then I add four horror prose tales, three of which are NEW.All this behind a great cover by my Art Sherpa, Trevor Erick Hawkins, over 300 pages of terror and history for only $19.95 in paperback, $2.99 in e-book (FREE if you belong to Amazon Prime).

If you have any questions for me, write to me at Brian@RisingTide.pub. No attachments, please, for security reasons.

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#Writing #Branding #CapeCon #DoctorWho #SupermanCelebration