As a writer, I struggled with working out my genre, writing a synopsis and coming up with a “professional cover” for my fiction.
As a book reviewer, I discovered one’s genre, synopsis, cover, book design, marketing campaign, title, subtitle, colors implemented, editing (or lack of), etc. are all, each to their own, promises. (Even branding could be considered one’s “essential promise”.)
The agent goes by these promises to pitch the work; the publisher accepts the writing on the assurance it falls under likeminded projects and can sell. Readers trust the word of the author (and, by extension, the publisher) when investing their time or money.
Betraying those expectations, at any point in the process, breeds distrust.
However, it breaks down the issues that hindered me before into something more approachable — by taking care to deliver on each aspect of my “brand” I can keep my promises and build a readership.
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