Branding the Author Within: Inspired by Romy’s WA Exercises

byJDGresham

804 followers

3 months ago

Creative Writing for Entrepreneurs | Exercise 2 | If Your Business Were a Character

Romy started these exercises to help the WA community become better writers. She’s drawing from creative writing courses she’s taken before. I’ve never taken anything like that beyond high school, so I saw this as a chance to push myself in new ways.

👉 CREATIVE WRITING FOR ENTREPRENEURS: The series that will make you fall in love with writing!
(Insert link to Romy/Suomii’s Exercise #1 post so readers can follow the series from the beginning.)

Forward Statement:
I want to share upfront how I approached this branding exercise. I worked through the steps with the help of my AI collaborator, ChatGPT. Its role wasn’t to do the work for me — it acted more like a coach or Dungeon Master, asking guiding questions, framing options, and keeping me from stalling out. Every choice, word, and scene here came from me. The AI simply provided structure and accountability so I could finish the process. I’m sharing this because I know others here at WA are also experimenting with tools like this, and I believe it’s important to be transparent about how they can support us without replacing our voice.

My Author Brand Character

Values:

• Authenticity
• Integrity
• Creativity

Traits:

• Authenticity → Vulnerable, Steady
• Integrity → Honest, Reliable, Respectful
• Creativity → Imaginative, Playful, Visionary

Physical Signs:
61 years old, steady presence, denim and T-shirts, simple amethyst necklace always worn, steady gaze until the sparks fly when ideas take hold. Pauses before answering, but grows animated when imagination kicks in.

Voice & Language:

• Often says: “Let’s play with it.” / “Tell it straight.” / “Be practical.”
• Forbidden words: Perfect, Trendy, Whatever
• Typical “No”: “No, that won’t work. Let’s adjust.”

Mini Scenes

Scene A – Book Fair
A reader asks, “Why should I try your stories when there are so many authors out there?”
I meet their eyes steady and warm. “I don’t know. I just hope you will, and like what you read.” When they press me further, I tell them straight: “It’s not just the characters or stories — it’s my voice.”

Scene B – Wealthy Affiliate
A discouraged writer posts, “The market’s too crowded. Should I even bother?”
I reply, “I get where you are coming from. We all do. The truth is, if you want an easy way to make money, this isn’t it, starting out. You have to put in the work, day in and day out, consistently. But you’re not alone. Other members have been exactly where you are. WA is not just a platform — it’s a community, a family, even.”

Scene C – The Hollow
A neighbor asks, “What does Words from the Hollow really mean?”
I answer, “The Hollow is the echo of one’s self. It’s the place within everyone where the four winds are still, so inspiration can be born. It’s the cradle of imagination, creativity, and wonder. I show up every day, even when it is hard, because the Hollow whispers in the echoes and wants to be heard.”

Reflection

What I discovered in doing this exercise is that it helped me focus on “who JD is.” It stripped away the noise and narrowed me down to the values and traits that define my voice as an author.

Closing

I’d love to hear your thoughts. Try the exercise yourself, share your own brand character, or give me feedback on mine. Even just reflecting on your own brand identity can be valuable. We’re all learning and growing together here at WA.

JD

👉 Creative writing for entrepreneurs | exercise 2 | if your business were a character
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