I’m excited to finally share details on my first book. It’s called: Be the Gateway: A Practical Guide to Sharing Your Creative Work and Engaging an Audience, and it will be released on March 7th.
This book is the result of years of working one-on-one with creative professionals, and it takes you step-by-step through the process I have developed to help share one’s work and engage an audience in a meaningful way.
In the coming weeks, I hope to provide resources that help you:
- Turn frustration and overwhelm into simple ways to feel fulfilled in reaching your audience.
- Take you behind-the-scenes with this process with examples and case studies.
- Provide a step-by-step look at the creation of the book itself, and what I learned about writing and publishing in the process.
- Make myself available to answer your questions and share my best advice as it relates to your work.
If you have a moment, go check out the book on Amazon, then let me know: what are the biggest challenges you face in sharing your creative work and engaging an audience.
I will use your answers to shape the resources I share in the coming weeks.
Thanks!
-Dan
Dan, Your book likes a great source. Looking forward to reading it when it comes out.
My biggest challenge right now is creating enticing posts for my newsletter. Just recently launched my website and newsletter, so I’m new to the process. I’m sure as I get going it will become easier.
Riding lessons for your son…pretty cool!
Thank you so much Dave!!!
Congrats, Dan. Very much looking forward to this (in fact, I pre-ordered!). My biggest challenge in both areas is getting over my fear of being visible.
Thank you for pre-ordering the book. WOW — I love how you put that “fear of being visible.” I will address this in the coming weeks.
Thanks!
-Dan
Congratulations on the book!
My latest challenge around sharing my work was about discerning between fear and intuition. I did a reading at a venue that specializes in writers doing readings. Usually three writers per event, fifteen minutes each. They have a big mailing list and usually get a good turnout, so I thought it was a great opportunity. I love doing readings, but from the minute I applied for a spot on their calendar, I didn’t want to do this one. I chalked it up to fear/stage fright. There was lots of prep work for this–editing my pieces, practicing, more editing. And then packing my books and give-aways, loading and unloading, schlepping. Every step of the way, I didn’t want to do it, but it was, you know, a great opportunity. And I kept telling myself it was just me being scared. As it turned out, the audience (not the usual good turnout) was not with me. No exchange of energy, no connection. This event didn’t facilitate sharing my work with my readers, because none of the folks in the audience were my readers, the core of whom are my newsletter subscribers. And all the prep time stole time away from writing the essays that my newsletter subscribers love. If I’d only paid attention to my gut…but how do I tell it’s my gut?
Dawn,
Thanks for the kind words on the book, and for sharing this story! I’ll address this question in the coming weeks. The context you shared REALLY helps.
-Dan
I heard you on the ALLi Fringe podcast today, and I’m so glad to see you have written a book. Your advice on the podcast was helpful and thought-provoking. I can’t wait to read more of your insights.
My challenge: I haven’t begun to share my writing or find an audience. Will the result be worth the work? Social media interactions disappoint me; I prefer real life conversation that builds a real life connection. How can virtual relationships be valuable to me personally?
Even this comment is a step out on a limb… 🙂
Emily,
Thank you for the kind words! My short answer is: “YES.” That is actually what I explore in the book: how to share and engage an audience in a way that feels meaningful and fulfilling. I agree, many — MANY — people find social media engagement to the the opposite. In the book, I focus on the opposite of “going viral” — what it means to truly be able to share your message, understand your audience, and reach them in a way that feels human. Sorry, I don’t mean for this to be a book pitch, but your comment just resonated with it. Thank you for taking a step out on a limb with the comment!
-Dan
I am going to order this book in a minute. Let me say first that I haven’t fully recovered from my dissertation disease: the fear that I’m a fraud and it takes just one single smart person to figure it out. Wow. I finished that thing 15 years ago! And here I am, still fearing putting down what I have to say.
And, by the way, I miss your podcast!
Thank you so much Niels! I talk about imposters syndrome in the book, that is such a pervasive challenge for people. I appreciate your sharing that here. Thanks for the kind words on the book and podcast. Have a good day!
-Dan
I can’t wait to read the book. I also understand that the podcast was a project for a season. I just started one with my partner and we love doing it. But to make it happen is already a challenge. Enjoy your weekend.