Catching up on homework and getting it done! Where do I post this anyway????
Does anyone really read these long posts? I am having PTSD from years of grading papers 🤦
How to Create an Author Brand
Homework For Thomas’ Talk
Step 1 - Look in the Mirror
What are your strengths?
● My husband tells me that my greatest strength is my faith.
● I don’t give up because I trust that God has a plan and He is much smarter than me
● People tell me that I am able to explain things in a way that makes it relatable to them and puts their own ideas into easy to understand words that they have a hard time coming up with.
What are you the best in your world at?
● My life story has been consistently challenging so I have real and raw personal experiences.
● I have personal experience and I also have professional experience
● My degrees legitimize me and give me permission to be an expert that others can trust
Why do readers pick other authors over you?
● NA
Why do people read other similar stories rather than your story?
● NA
What do you do that exhausts you?
● Everything that I am doing right now exhausts me. After assisting my daughter with her 7 children as she cared for her husband during a 15 month battle with leukemia, I am completely exhausted. My husband and I left everything to jump up and go when the call came. 2 months after my son in law passed, I was diagnosed with kidney cancer. Doctor appointments exhaust me, medical tests exhaust me, going home for a quick trip to check on things exhausts me, moving 7 children to 3 different homes during this ordeal has exhausted me, planning a wedding for my son in the midst of all of this exhausted me. Yes – everything exhausts me – this class exhausts me yet I keep moving forward a step at a time. (My husband does not exhaust me – he is my super hero and partner in the all of craziness of our life together)
What are your unfair advantages?
● I raised 5 kids, I am helping to raise 7 grandchildren, I am a former school teacher, I listened to God’s prompting and went back to school in my 50’s to become a marriage and family therapist. I graduated summa cum laud. I love working with my clients. I love my family fiercely.
What gives you the authority to write on the subject you’re writing on?
● Sher Morris, MA, MEd, LMFT
● These degrees make me an expert by the world’s standards
● My experiences make me an expert by my own standards
What gives you the authority to explore the themes in your writing
● I have raised very busy children of my own and I am raising 7 grandchildren. I have taught public school, private school, homeschooled, and tutored online. I have worked with clients of all ages including children and parents. I was raised by educators who had 7 children of which I am the 4th child – putting me right in the middle of it all. I was born to write these books.
Step 2 - Look at Your Readers
Who is your target reader?
● Parents and grandparents of children between the ages of 3 to 7
What does your target reader read currently?
● Parenting books and read aloud books for their children
How is your target reader different from other readers?
● My books are read aloud parenting books aka self help books for kids. Who does that? I do that!
Why does your target reader read books?
● Parents are looking for ideas on how to raise their children. The children are wanting to be entertained.
How can you thrill your target reader?
● My first and second books take the struggle out of basic routines and turn them into a game like feeling where kids want to get up and get going instead of whining and complaining. My third book reminds kids of their inner power and strength.
Step 3 - Listen to Your Readers
What do readers like about you?
● I am still a newbie but everyone that I have shared my book ideas with want to know when and where they can purchase the book(s).
What are the themes and topics that come up?
● Parenting, routines, making life a bit easier to manage
What words do they mention in their reviews?
● Verbal reviews – I need this book
What do people say about you when they talk to each other?
● I hope good things
Step 4 - Look in Your Reader’s Mirror
What does my brand let my readers say about themselves?
● I can be trusted in their quest to raise great children
What tribe does this brand give me access to?
● Young parents and grandparents who like to spend money to help their children
Who are your outsiders?
● Uncles, aunts, cousins, older children,
Homework For Jim’s Talk
What is the promise you are making your readers?
● I am the expert
What comes to mind when people think of you?
● Educated and experienced
What is the empathy you have for your readers?
● Parenting is the hardest thing that you will ever do and I am so proud of you for wanting to be incredible at it
What is the authority you have for your readers? What gives you the authority to write on the subject you’re writing on?
● This is my professional title Sheri Morris, MA, Med, LMFT
What gives you the authority to explore the themes in your writing
● I have raised very busy children of my own and I am raising 7 grandchildren. I have taught public school, private school, homeschooled, and tutored online. I have worked with clients of all ages including children and parents. I was raised by educators who had 7 children of which I am the 4th child – right in the middle of it all.
Find a website that makes it about them, and brainstorm how you would change that website to make it about the website visitor. What are two things you would change?
● My friend builds websites for business owners. She especially works with therapists and life coaches. The websites show a picture of the business owner with a bio and their specialties. When she built mine – we argued, but I finally convinced her and came up with this: https://sherimorrisfamilytherapy.com
Who is your target reader? Describe them in one sentence:
● Parents who want to be the best parents that they can be.
To stand out, we must shock/surprise/delight Broca on a regular basis. How have you, or how are you going to, shock/surprise/delight Broca during the next three days?
● My website for my therapy practice is not the typical website https://sherimorrisfamilytherapy.com
● My author website is not live yet but I included games and activities to make it kid friendly and welcoming
You know your brand has to be organic. What is different, unique, quirky, surprising about you that can/does define you as a person? How are you organically compelling?
● I raised 5 great kids who have kept me young so I am not the typical grandmother – I am an encourager who is not afraid to play and notice the joy in the crazy
In what areas do you need to give yourself permission to be you?
● The imposter syndrome is real, but I am working on it and finding greater confidence with each client and each child as a strive to touch and change lives.
In what two areas are you going to focus on where you’ll make your content surprising/entertaining/provocative/engaging?
● My books are basically self help books for little kids. Who does that? Me! I do that! I have the first book in my series almost ready to go and am tweaking the next two books. I want the books to be fun and light hearted while teaching basic skills in an easy almost game like way.