Stand Out in a Good Way

I looked up other phrases for “stand out from the crowd “and smiled at this definition: stand out in a good way.

Who wants to stand out in a bad way?

The underlying message for writers is this: they want to be noticed, seen, and heard among the many voices beckoning you and me to hear them. It’s what prompted me to start sharing these ideas on how to make your words unique. From the way you frame your book all the way through each chapter of carefully crafted words. The question I run through my mind each time I read a book proposal or sample chapters is: “How does this stand out”? And this is also the question that publishers ask when they are considering new writers.

I would say this is the most important question you can ask about your writing. You may have a great platform from which to connect with your readers. Or you may not have much of one. But the biggest thing that will attract agents and publishers to you will be “how is your message different”?

Now, I don’t mean just the topic itself. I mean how you write it. Your words, your phrases, your images. It’s not enough just to have a differing viewpoint. It’s how you say it.

Ever notice how a child can slant his or her words to actually mean the same thing but they say it differently so as not to convict themselves of something they did wrong? They are masters at retelling and trying to get you to come to their side! They stand out, I suppose, not in such a good way in this case.

But masterful storytellers they are. And this is what sets us apart as writers. When we can write on a topic that has been written about dozens of time but through your storytelling and words that cause readers to say, “I’ve never thought about that perspective before”—that’s the ticket.

In our upcoming Declare Equip class, I’ll be sharing “how” to think like this and what this looks like as you attempt this in your writing. It’s not an easy skill. It takes time of tinkering, reworking, nuancing, and writing some more. It’s a skill that, like any, takes work.

Of course your writing is a key piece in what attracts you to publishers. And being in touch with the audience for your book before the book is even written is also key. But I really want to focus on the aspect that I come across on a daily basis when I interact with writers is: what are you saying that no one has said?

Because if you want to “stand out for good” this is what is required. Are you ready to tinker, tweak, and write some more? I hope so!

If this post resonated with you, check out our upcoming Declare Equip Class with Instructor Blythe Daniel:

What Makes Your Book Eye-Catching to Publishers

Publishers are on the hunt for stellar writing, a unique and compelling idea, and an author’s reach to the intended audience. But how do you actually accomplish those things? How do you write toward a theme that no one else is saying? What makes your project stand out from every other manuscript? What practical things are publishers looking for and how can you offer it to them? Literary Agent Blythe Daniel will speak to these questions and more as she provides examples on how to take a topic and create an angle that will differentiate your book in the publishing world.

Who should attend?

The audience for this class is for new authors and even those who have published before but want to know how to make any book a win for a publisher or agent. We will cover how to write an appropriate book proposal and will cover in detail three things agents and publishers look for in book concepts. It needs to 1) stand out, 2) be sellable, and 3) show it’s a “must-have” book. The workshop is for anyone interested in traditional publishing since we will talk about what is eye-catching for both agents and publishers.

Click here to learn more.