I help writers develop a human-centered approach to marketing and reaching their readers.
Articles by Dan Blank
Powerful Writing is The Perfect Way To Facilitate Change
If you’ve ever tried to change someone’s mind or influence their way of thinking in the heat of a debate, in real life or online, you may doubt that words are enough to facilitate change. People don’t like changing their minds, even if you provide compelling evidence that what they believe isn’t 100% accurate. Presenting new ideas is hard. Often when you use words to argue back and forth, people tend to dig in and become even more entrenched in their beliefs. Things can get nasty, and personal.
3 joyful beginner pursuits
Thank you for being here! If you are a free subscriber and enjoy this newsletter, I would be grateful if you would consider a paid subscription to support my creative work. Back in February, I shared a post on embracing beginner-hood, inspired by a conversation I had with the wonderful . In that post I shared a few things I was considering trying: palette knife cake decorating, learning about gardening and medicinal herbs, and writing a novel.
Sharing stories, sharing yourself
We’re living in an age of sharing—or perhaps of oversharing. We’re not just sharing our stories, we’re also often promoting ourselves, building a personal brand, or creating an “author platform” for our work and our careers. To be a writer is to ask if or how or how much to share. And those can be burdensome questions, especially for those of us who just want to write our stories and be left alone. For many years, I didn’t show anyone my stories.
On embracing beginner-hood
If you could explore a new creative pursuit, what would it be? What, if anything, holds you back from beginning to explore? Last week I released a beautiful conversation with about finding connection and community through creativity. I love Dan’s perspective on why it is wonderful to be a beginner—that the beauty of being a beginner is that you’re forgiven for messing up; that giving yourself the permission to explore is one of the greatest gifts you can give yourself.
Do Less (to create more of what matters)
This year, I’m focusing on doing less. My days are spent talking with writers and creators, which is part of the work I do, but also a part of who I have always been. I grew up as an artist, and have had the pleasure of being surrounded by those who create my entire life. Nowadays, so many writers express to me that they feel stretched too thin, frustrated at their lack of progress, and like time is running out.
Lessons from one year on Substack
January 28 marked my one-year Substack anniversary. I wanted to share the lessons I have learned from this first year—in which I wrote 65 posts—but first, I want to start with thank-yous. And at the end, offer a gift. Unless you do something like Zoom write-alongs, writing may seem like a solitary act. But for me, I often feel company through my storytelling and sometimes have fellow writers on my mind or perched on my shoulder as I string words together.
BIG NEWS
Everyone. I have big, fun news. I’m writing another book!!!!!!! Yes, it’s a parenting book. Because right now, we parents need all the support we can get. Like my first book, and this newsletter, my new book will be a down-to-earth, science-based, non-fear-mongering resource for parents raising kids in this extremely complicated world. It’s called HELLO, CRUEL WORLD!: Science-based Strategies for Raising Terrific Kids in Terrifying Times.
Lessons from Emma Gannon’s Success on Substack
has a powerful story of how writing has not only become central to her life, but the primary way she earns a living. To me, her story embodies the ways that newsletters (and Substack) have empowered writers. Today I want to share some lessons I have been considering as I watch her find more fulfillment, growth, and connection with others through her newsletter.
"It Could Be Worse."
My 12-year-old has been sick all week. Picked up a camp plague, as one does. But, like, he’s been really sick. Fever of 102 while on Advil and Tylenol. Headache. Sore throat. Terrible fatigue. No appetite. (As I write this, he has eaten two tortilla chips over the past 24 hours, and we’re on day four.) Diarrhea. Vomiting. Two nights ago, I had the terrible realization that it could be mono.
The (Bizarre) State of Social Media for Writers
There is little about the state of social media at the moment that feels stable or evergreen for writers. It is all in flux, which is why I thought it might be a good time to talk about my advice for writers trying to navigate social media right now. If you feel like everything is weird right now, you are not alone. But I still believe social media is a powerful way for you to share your writing, connect with readers, and have it lead to a sense of opportunity and fulfillment.
Voetbal IQ - deel 2
Vraag spelers welk lichaamsdeel het belangrijkste is bij voetbal en ze zeggen: je voeten. Maar het zijn je ogen! Slimme spelers zijn steeds aan het rondkijken: als ze de bal hebben, maar ook vóórdat ze de bal krijgen. Zodat ze weten hoe ze moeten lopen en passen. Zodat ze iedereen steeds een stap voor zijn. Dit was het credo van het eerste boek en dat blijft het in deel 2.
How AI may change writing and creating
Maybe you may have seen a lot of headlines recently about artificial intelligence (AI) writing or art. Recently, I’ve seen things with both that are giving me pause.
Finding the time, energy, and confidence to create
(Reminder: Join me for a live workshop today at 12:30pm ET: Creative Clarity: Find More Time, Get More Done, and Live with More Confidence.) This is a photo of my mom from the early 1950s on the street she grew up, in the Lower East Side of New York City: I have dozens of images from this period of her life, most of them out on the streets, which was filled with families, kids, strollers, stores, and a thriving neighborhood. That was the 1940s and 1950s.
Honor your connection to readers
I have seen so much discussion recently about social media and email newsletters. Today, I want to encourage something critical: Focus on your goals as a writer and the experiences you want to have with readers. I worry that focusing too much on what each social network provides (the trends, the algorithms, etc.), has us ignoring our own creative vision.
What does “just be authentic” on social media mean? (podcast)
As a writer or creator, I’m sure you have read that you should connect directly with your potential readers on social media, a newsletter, and elsewhere online. And when you ask “Um, what exactly do I share? How — specifically — do I do this?” You may have heard the advice of: “Just be authentic!” But that isn’t as easy as it sounds.
A window or a gateway?
I recently rewatched the 1954 Alfred Hitchcock movie, Rear Window. I can’t help but feel as though it is a lens into the challenges that writers face in navigating social media. Today I want to talk about how the movie is a metaphor for these challenges. If you are unfamiliar the movie, it takes place in a single room.
Tales from the Hardwood Surviving and Thriving
Are you looking for the perfect blend of leadership, sports, and storytelling? Tales from the Hardwood is the book for you. Andrew Marotta does a masterful job of blending these three passions through 20 years of experience in all three areas. During his time as a Division 1 men’s college basketball official, Andrew learned a great deal about life and leadership through many ups and downs along the way.
What to do a year before book launch
I want to invite you to an online workshop with me this Tuesday May 3rd at 1pm ET. We will discuss what to do a year (or more) before your book launch. Register here. Okay, onto today’s message: In the past couple weeks in this newsletter, I have explored defining your creative voice and creating a sharing system. Today I want to focus on how to prepare for launching your work a year (or more) ahead of time. A year? Yep. This is the work that too few authors consider.
Define your creative voice
I want to invite you to an online workshop with me this Tuesday April 19th at 1pm ET. We will dive deep into what it means to define your creative voice. Register here. Many writers and creators I speak with struggle to understand how they can build a presence in a crowded marketplace. I’ve worked with thousands of writers through the years, and find that their are common challenges that can block someone’s progress. This idea of knowing how to share what you create and why.
Start the year with creative clarity
In helping writers and creators reach their audience, I have found that the first essential ingredient is creative clarity. When you have creative clarity, you: Know exactly what to create. Understand how to use your limited resources for the greatest impact to reach your audience. Feel confident in your creative identity. Focus people’s attention and better communicate your creative vision to others.
Does social media sell books?
There is an article that I have seen a lot of people share from The New York Times this week, where they talk about how Billie Eilish (97 million followers on Instagram) “only” sold 64,000 copies of her book. The implication that many readers walked away with: social media doesn’t sell books. There has been a lot of reaction to the piece. As I look at Billie’s book on Amazon I see 2,678 reviews, with a stellar 4.8 out of 5 star rating.
23 Lessons from The Beatles on the Creative Process (Podcast)
I recently watched a 7+ hour documentary on The Beatles, and kept finding little lessons for writers and artists on the creative process and marketing. In this episode are 23 lessons that I think will address a lot of common challenges that people face when not only creating, but considering how to balance marketing into the mix.
How to Get People to Buy Your Book (Podcast)
I recently spoke with New York Times bestselling author Jessica Lahey, who shared what is essentially a masterclass on the topic of launching a book. In this episode, I reflect on some key areas that Jess shared in my most recent podcast with her.
“How do you get a book to continue to sell? You continue to talk about it.” My Interview with Jessica Lahey
In today’s episode, New York Times bestselling author Jessica Lahey takes us behind the scenes to how she promotes a book. She gets into the details about the hundreds of letters she sends out; the importance of gift-giving and thank you notes; why she hired a publicist; the surprising answer she gave to a “massive philanthropist” when he asked how he can support her work; and so much more! What permeates through every aspect of her methodology is generosity and the personal touch.
Every reader counts
In the mid-1980s, the TV show Miami Vice debuted, and changed the look and sound of what a TV show could be. A young Nicole Blades was home watching, capturing her imagination. She says, “Writing was a way for me to put myself into the story.” What did she do next? She began writing Miami Vice fan fiction, of course! Decades later, she now has three published novels (none of them having anything to do with Miami Vice.) We will get back to Nicole in a moment… This is how writing begins.
The Creative Shift with Dan Blank on Apple Podcasts
40 episodes Dan Blank interviews writers and artists who have taken the leap from merely dabbling with their creative vision, to becoming successful doers whose work has a positive impact on others. Dan Blank interviews writers and artists who have taken the leap from merely dabbling with their creative vision, to becoming successful doers whose work has a positive impact on others.
The creator economy
Today I want to talk about the changing landscape of media, and how that effects the opportunities and potential for an author or creator sharing their work. A photographer named John Abbott shared this image on social media the other day, a newsstand in New York City from July 1986: Of course, magazines still exist today, but their footprint in the marketplace has been diminished. As I looked at this photo, I considered how much magazines were a part of my life when I was younger.
The tools of marketing
What are the tools we have for marketing what we create? For decades, this is what they looked like: We would sit at our desks and type letters to be mailed off. We would pay for long distance calls to try to reach people in other cities and states. Calling overseas would have only been done in very extreme circumstances. We kept tabs on what is working in the marketplace by listening to the radio, and reading the newspaper and magazines.
"I had so much creativity waiting to come out." My Interview Emma Gannon
Emma Gannon is an author and host of the podcast Ctrl Alt Delete. She shares her journey to becoming a writer, and what it is like to switch to writing novels after a successful nonfiction career. Along the way, she was “rejected once a day” from magazines she submitted work to, only to find people loved her writing that she shared on her blog.
Case Study: Behind the Scenes of a New York Times Bestselling Book Launch, with KJ Dell’Antonia
I want to share a case study of the book launch from KJ Dell’Antonia with the release of her novel, The Chicken Sisters. This book represented a huge shift for KJ, from being known as a nonfiction writer to a novelist. The book ended up being chosen as an Indie Next List pick, selected as a Reese Witherspoon book club pick, and becoming an instant New York Times bestseller. She and I worked together for four months on the book launch strategy.
Behind the Scenes of a New York Times Bestselling Book Launch, with KJ Dell'Antonia
Today I talk with KJ Dell’Antonia about the huge creative shift she made from writing nonfiction to fiction. We take a behind the scenes look at her book launch, which she and I began working together on it months before release. She shares specifics of what she did, and how her novel, The Chicken Sisters, came to be picked by Reese Witherspoon’s book club, become an Indie Next List pick, and land on the New York Times bestseller list.
It's not too late
I’ve been thinking about an interview I did with author Kalynn Bayron last year, where she said this: “It’s not selfish to pursue your dreams, and it’s never too late.” When she decided to query agents with her first novel, people told her that her book didn’t have a place in the market. That only a very limited group of people would ever want to read her book. But then, after more than 70 queries, she met her agent who said to her: “This story has to be out there.
Your platform is an experience to create
Your author platform and the marketing you do around your writing is not about a thing. It is not about promoting an object or making sale. Instead, it is about creating an experience for yourself and others that fills us each with a sense of purpose, connection, and possibility. Can that also lead to more readers, more book sales, and big career growth? Yes! This is about the moments that make up our lives.
The courageous act of writing and sharing
This past week, a reader emailed me and asked “Dan, I’ve been waiting for your next book. You mentioned it would be published in June, but I haven’t heard anything since then. Are you still going to finish it?” Now, first I will say that that is every author’s dream, to know that someone is waiting for what you write. Thank you to Bruce for that.
Hugh Howey on Why Writers Need an Author Platform
Hugh Howey on the value of educating yourself in not only the publishing process, but connecting with readers and developing an author platform: “But I only want to write,” you might say. “I don’t want to be a publisher.” Well, good luck.
Anxiety & The Creative Process
I shared a post on WriterUnboxed.com about anxiety and the creative process: “People will do anything to alleviate their anxiety.” This is a quote from a recent episode of Mad Men, that to me, underscores the everyday context that no one talks about publicly. I work with writers, and find that anxiety is a very real and very constant part of their lives. Why? Just a few reasons: The act of creating and publishing invites judgement, especially self-judgement.
This Is The BEST Time To Be A Writer, If You Work For It
There has never been a better time to be a writer. But that doesn’t mean that it is easy to find an audience, or find success as defined by book sales, positive reviews, or bestseller lists. I attended the Writer’s Digest Conference this past weekend, spending my days chatting with writers, literary agents, and many who support authors. Below are the top three things I took away from the many conversations I had at the event. AUTHORS ARE ENTREPRENEURS If you want to “just” write, that is fine.
A Book Launch Case Study, with Author Audrey Monke
Earlier this year, author Audrey Monke and I talked about her plans for her upcoming book launch. I knew that she had been preparing for it for months — even years — ahead of time. But I waited to have her on the podcast, because I didn’t just want to discuss what she was planning, but also the results! Today I’m excited to share with you that conversation.
Dan Blank, Veteran Public Finance Banker, Joins D.A. Davidson Fixed Income Team
DENVER--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jul 7, 2020-- D.A. Davidson & Co. announced today that the firm has further strengthened its public finance team with the addition of Dan Blank, a veteran public finance banker with extensive experience in structured finance and economic development. Blank will work with a range of governmental and non-government issuers across the Midwest.
Success as a Writer is Joy Inside You and a Connection with Readers. My Interview with Monica Bhide
Today I want to share the inspiring story of how one woman followed her dream to becoming a successful writer. Her journey is filled with amazing wisdom for what it takes to find your voice, get published, and truly have an impact in the lives of readers. This is how she describes success as a writer: “People misunderstand that to be a writer, or a creative person and to make a living that you need these gazillion million people to follow you. You don’t.
Take back your creative attention
Recently I was talking with a writing client about how a specific feature of Facebook works. At one point I said, “I don’t have Facebook on my phone, I’ll look at it when I get back in front of a computer.” She stopped and deadpanned, “You are a media specialist, and you don’t have Facebook on your phone?” My reply was simple: “Nope.
A writer is a story
This week, I bought another vintage typewriter. But this one came with a story of a writer. The typewriter is a 1959 Hermes 3000, made in Switzerland: In 2014, the owner had it serviced, a receipt came with it that had their name on it. The name was that of a woman, someone different from who I purchased the typewriter from. I got curious. I Googled her name. It turns out, this typewriter belonged to author Louise W.
What buying a typewriter taught me about writing
They were all used by the same woman who had passed away 20 years ago. I answered an ad for them on Craiglist and went to the home of her son to pick them up. He lived in a large house, which was now empty because he was moving. There was a small pile of furniture in one corner, and in the empty dining room, these three typewriters sitting on the floor.
Writing Spaces: Where You Create Matters
Craft comes first. But when speaking with writers, I often find that they struggle to create. They can’t get in a good writing routine, and other important priorities (job, family, home) distract them from writing. Today I want to talk about how where you create can help you write more. A year ago I took a big leap: I signed a lease on a private studio where I would do all of my creative work and run my company. At the time, it felt like a scary commitment.
The best advice that many writers fail to take
This week I saw a series of Tweets from author Delilah S. Dawson in which she tried to demystify the reality behind what leads to “huge traditional publishing success.” The entire chain of approximately 30 Tweets is amazing, but here are a couple to frame our discussion today: Delilah talks about how our expectations of success can riddle our lives with a feeling of being let down. Instead, you must keep writing and keep sharing.
Conduct an audit of your author platform
I get emails like this all the time from writers: “All the literary agents are telling me: ‘If you had a platform, I would represent you.'” Why do they say this?
What does it really take to succeed?
My days are spent obsessing about the creative process of writers and artists. The photo below is of Danika Massey. She has this amazing channel on YouTube where she goes by the name ComicBookGirl19. Here she is on her couch, crying: She had just got done telling her audience that she is going to have to stop being ComicBookGirl19. That she can’t financially sustain herself by creating YouTube videos anymore. This is after 6 years of making more than 300 videos.
Take Authority Over Your Creative Vision
This past week I met Bruce Springsteen. And it was a direct result of sending out my email newsletter. About a decade ago, Reed Fry joined my newsletter list. He wasn’t an author or artist, my main target audience, but a friend recommended that he would appreciate my take on marketing and digital media. Over the years, he would occasionally email me, sharing kind words about the newsletter. But a couple months back, he sent a more cryptic email: “What are you doing the night of June 1.
Masters of Modern Soccer
How the World's Best Play the Twenty-First-Century Game Narrated by: Grant Wahl Length: 6 hrs and 59 mins 4.5 out of 5 stars 4.5 (185 ratings) 1 title per month from Audible’s entire catalog of best sellers, and new releases. Access a growing selection of included Audible Originals, audiobooks and podcasts. You will get an email reminder before your trial ends. Your Premium Plus plan is $14.95 a month after 30 day trial. Cancel anytime.
Take Back Your Attention: Jocelyn K. Glei on Finding More Creativity and Meaning in Your Daily Work
Today I speak with writer Jocelyn K. Glei about how digital media and technology has created a crisis for many writers and artists. Their days are spent running on the treadmill of digital and social media, chained to their computers and phones, and increasingly unable to break away in order to complete bigger creative projects. You can listen to the entire conversation by clicking ‘play’ above, or via iTunes.
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