Aug 5-24: Head over to panelpicker.sxsw.com/vote for my talk: The True Cost of Being a Boring Brand

Think being a great writer is enough to get published today? Think again. In this episode, host Ethan Decker welcomes Melanie Jennings, a novelist on the cusp of publishing her first fiction book, to talk honestly about what it takes to build an author brand in a crowded market. If you’ve ever wondered how to grow your audience without feeling salesy, this is your blueprint—whether you’re an introvert, poet, tech writer, or just getting started.

Melanie shares her real struggles and successes using Substack, freelance journalism, and small steps on social media. Ethan provides actionable advice from the science of branding: why chasing “superfans” isn’t the only strategy, how the “banana curve” of fandom applies to authors, and what practical levers to pull across platforms to become known in your niche. If you need encouragement to showcase your work—or just a nudge to finally start sharing—this conversation will help you find your confidence (and your readers).

Main Topics Covered:

• Real-world branding challenges for emerging authors
• The importance of building an audience before your book launches
• The “banana curve” of fandom: why not everyone will be a superfan—and why that matters
• Using platforms like Substack, freelance work, and Instagram to grow your reach
• Overcoming self-promotion jitters (especially for introverts and private people)
• How to strategically engage in communities related to your genre or subject matter
• Practical experimentation: Trying multiple platforms and approaches
• Leveraging the support of existing networks to showcase your evolving creative identity

Links to Additional Resources:

• Persuasion Magazine — Where Melanie’s essays went viral
• Melanie's Substack — Melanie’s Substack
• Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt
• Educated by Tara Westover
• Emma Cline’s The Girls

Ready to stop hiding your talents and start building your name? Geek out, experiment, and get your work out there—the world is waiting for your voice. Join other writers and creators boosting their brands with Cover Brand’s proven strategies.Subscribe to Cover Brand for more insights into the world of branding and marketing. Share this episode with a friend who could benefit from these strategies, and head over to appliedbrandscience.com to dive deeper into the principles of brand science. Your success starts here!

Castmagic and Descript used to create drafts and then edited with human eyes, ears and hands. Produced by BiCurean.com

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