It's interesting how different stages of your life can build upon each other and give you all the tools you need for the later stages. I'm referring to a master plan I set in motion as a junior in high school.
The setting: Fall 1999. As I was walking through the “green room” study hall (Franklin High School alumni know this space), I had a brief flash of clarity. I knew what I wanted to be when I “grew up.”
I saw myself on the big screen, a larger-than-life projection of a starry-eyed future. I saw myself starring in countless films, taking multiple trips down the red carpet and making guest appearances in theater productions back in Milwaukee.
A professional actor. A lofty goal, but it wasn’t the only dream I had. I also saw myself burning the creative midnight oil as words rapidly appeared on a computer screen. Those words morphed into printed pages, which transitioned into hardcovers on the shelves of every major bookstore. I witnessed book signings, conversations with book clubs and quiet nooks as I plotted my next bestseller.
An author. Another lofty goal. Two visions of grand futures, both missing a critical element. How would I bridge the gap between my junior self in that empty study hall with the future version in the limelight? That answer came not too long after those daydreams.
Somehow, I had the wherewithal to realize that chasing either of those dreams outright would put me in the category of starving artist. I could move to Los Angeles and follow the cliché blueprint of waiting tables in between auditions. It’s not a bad strategy, but the odds weren’t in my favor, even if I had Oscar-worthy talent.
What about writing novels? The location wouldn’t matter, but there were plenty of obstacles in the way of this lifestyle. First, I’d have to establish myself in the publishing world by breaking through with my first novel. Writing a novel takes time, energy and an abundance of patience, all without the guarantee of a flourishing (or even sustainable) revenue stream to live a decent life. Even a bestseller post college wouldn’t be enough.
The next part has a hint of comedic value. I decided I would need to build a career in something with a sustainable income while chasing one (or both) of these dreams on the side. So naturally, I settled on journalism (insert laughter here).
It’s safe to say I wasn’t focused on financial security when I made this choice, but looking back, it was the smartest move I made at this stage of my life. I knew chasing either of these dreams outright would be a struggle with no guarantee of catching a big break. But I loved writing and had no problem talking to or being in front of people. Journalism seemed like a logical choice. I could sharpen my writing skills in a stable job (at the time at least) and chase my dreams on the side.
As an author, it’s interesting to look back on that choice and how it shaped my career path. What’s even more interesting is how my career path has given me all the training I could ever need for these next steps. It’s almost like I’ve been building toward this moment most of my life.
Journalism taught me how to think critically, organize my thoughts, write concisely and clearly, research complex topics and consider multiple perspectives.
When I left journalism and jumped into the trade magazine space, I used my journalism skills to produce a monthly publication. Part of this role also involved promoting the magazine at trade shows and similar events. I would visit booth after booth to search for story ideas and build relationships. Those same skills proved useful here too. Striking up conversations and connecting with strangers is a daily occurrence for a reporter, making the trade show circuit feel familiar and comfortable.
After this job, I joined my current employer, DeanHouston, a boutique marketing firm based in Covington, Kentucky. Here, I learned about the value of publicity and how to market our clients’ content.
So how does this relate to the novel and the next steps? After I signed my contract in June with Rowan Prose Publishing, they sent me a guide on the best practices for promoting a novel. While mine doesn’t publish until next fall, I’ve already started spreading the word in different ways. For example, you’re reading this blog post on my author website. My novel and this additional blog content are made possible by the skills (writing, critical thinking, research) I learned as a journalist.
Another step I’ve taken is establishing and building my social media platforms. While I’m not a huge social media person, I understand its importance in creating hype and engaging with an audience. I helped establish and build some of the social platforms with the trade magazine CompressorTech2. Watching DeanHouston handle our clients’ social media has also been useful.
Recently, I ordered bookmarks as another means of spreading the word and creating hype for my novel. But how do you go about distributing them? You start a conversation with someone and gauge their interest in horror. If they aren’t a fan, you appreciate the brief chat and carry on. If they are, you discuss the novel and leave them a bookmark. The sequence feels close to my days covering stories for the Wausau Daily Herald and meeting new faces at trade shows.
With DeanHouston, I’m continuously learning all the ways we promote our clients, which helps me understand the best ways to promote my novel. As a publicity coordinator, my role is to take our clients’ editorial content and find a place to publish it, such as in a newspaper, magazine or similar outlet.
The principles I use to promote our clients’ work is parallel to how I promote my own with some minor variations. I’m not looking to get my novel in a magazine. Instead, I’m making a list of local bookstores to see if they are interested in carrying my novel next fall. Instead of sending out a press release for a client, I’m visiting local libraries to see if I can do a book signing or live reading.
It's remarkable to think how much weight the decision to study journalism had in my life. It didn’t seem like a defining moment at the time, but it set my life in motion. It was the first building block to a larger goal – a dream – that will come true next September.
I say this because we are all building toward something as we live our lives. Perhaps it’s a short-term goal or something much larger. Every day we make choices and those decisions shape how our lives play out. In my case, my plan played out well. I chose a career path that allowed me to make a living and chase a dream on the side.
But what about the acting dream? Well, I did recently get back into community theater. You never know.
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