Write, Live, Revent, Repeat

One challenge I’ve regularly faced is how to ‘brand’ myself online, despite working in marketing & communications for my day job.

In work, I know there’s one product type to sell. One category. Maybe some variations and choice in between, but one main message to produce and put out there. For me personally, however, there are too many possible categories to fit into one neatly.

First, there’s the writer in me. In truth, I don’t give enough nurture or attention to this figure, because it’s not my day job, and I get easily distracted by other projects, or just by enjoying my life. Still, writing is often where I’m most at peace, most centred, most aligned with my own energy or spirit, most me. I’m proud in the various works I’ve written, and even though I should probably lend my marketing energies to promoting my work as a writer a little more, I am nevertheless content. That being said, I feel like I can’t ‘brand’ myself as just as writer; it feels too monodimensional to me.

Then, there’s the political persona. I’ve tried to develop this since getting into politics around 2017, using my past experience in broadcasting to adopt a public-facing front, but it’s not one that comes naturally to me. The political activists I know and admire are usually passionate about various policy issue, but in truth, I’m not. I can talk with confidence in front of a microphone or camera, but I can’t fake interest in a topic or issue that doesn’t inspire me. In all honesty, I had been inspired by episodes of Borgen and annoyed enough by Brexit to let myself think that I could be good in politics, but eloquence without substance is not a better solution for anyone. It’s best to leave that arena to those who are passionate about what they believe in, and inspire others in their message instead.

Finally, there’s the social media persona that isn’t a brand at all, but can often be in conflict with any attempt to develop a brand; one’s own social life. I’m never going to turn my Instagram feed into a series of literary quotes or interviews as a writer; instead, I’ll post photos of my dog, my various trips abroad or around Ireland, my rugby club and friends, my gym progress, or other random bits from my life. Still, maybe Twitter is a good place for the odd blog or interview.

I’ll try out this new approach to personal branding as I get back into writing; chapters 1-8 of Scandals in Suburbia are now available to read for free on Wattpad, and I’ll be adding more to the story over the coming weeks. Keep an eye out here for new literary updates, and get in touch if you’ve any feedback for me on any of my stories.