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Figuring out your greatest strength in Audiobookland INTRODUCTION I’ve been meaning to get to this topic for some
Source: publishersweekly.
I’ve been meaning to get to this topic for some time. I’m not sure why it’s taken me so long; maybe I just needed to think on it, because it is tricky.
It’s a question that is narration-specific, but also can be part of any creative’s journey.
What makes you different?
OR
What is your greatest skill?
Here is the original note I received from a reader:
I recently had the opportunity to do APA’s Quick Pitch and they send a list of questions that you can answer as a part of your presentation. One got my mind churning a bit because I didn’t have an answer:
What is your greatest strength as a narrator?
I know objectively that I must be doing okay as a narrator as I am working pretty steadily with publishers who continue to send me opportunities. What listener reviews there are of my work are generally positive. But I still can’t help but feel a bit unsettled that I can’t answer that simple question for myself.
I’m more curious as to your thoughts on whether that’s a question that a narrator (or any creative, really) SHOULD have an answer to. I feel like if I better understood my own strengths I could maybe lean into them a bit more and help shape how I market myself.
But does it really matter? Should I be content to just keep doing the work that’s brought me success thus far and not spend mental effort on such ‘naval gazing’, as it were?
There’s a lot to unpack here. So, let’s unpack.
Should creatives need an answer to define what makes them great? In our souls, in our gut, I don’t think we need to answer this. It is enough to know we feel drawn to this work of storytelling. That is purpose enough. But…
Dammit. There is always a but isn’t there?
BUT…this is a business in which you have to sell yourself. YOU are the product. So, you do need to market yourself. You do need to share how you are different and what you offer so that casting can, well, cast you.
In the above email, the writer asks if it’s naval gazing (narcissistic self-absorption) to talk about how great we are. I get that feeling. It feels yucky to talk about our strengths because it feels like bragging, and we’re taught not to brag.
Here’s the thing though: stating facts is not bragging.
You have accomplishments. You have experience. You have strengths. That’s not bragging; it’s just telling the truth.
So I think the first step in talking about your strengths is to set aside that yucky feeling of bragging. Focus instead on what is factual.
It can be really hard to answer “What is your greatest strength as a narrator?” First, it feels limiting. There’s a lot that goes into this job, so saying just one thing that makes you a strong performer doesn’t tell the whole story.
But simplifying this idea so casting thinks of you is important.
How then do you do this?
Make a list of your experience, your background, your travels. (This helps with reach-outs too.) Circle anything that is interesting or different.
Now, make a list of what you LOVE about narrating. Maybe you love character voices and accents. Maybe you love figuring out difficult text and making it clear to a listener. Maybe you love being immersed in a story.
In your experience, your background, your travels, and what you love about narrating, you will find clues as to what your strengths are.
For example, I have a background in teaching and writing. My immediate family were all therapists or social workers, so I have an interest in and understanding of psychology. I have weird experiences meeting all sorts of people in my life and seem to attract colorful people into my sphere. I love twisty stories. I love thrillers and mysteries.
Looking at that, I can see a way to spin what I’m good at:
I’m good at connecting emotionally with characters. I’m good at educating and inspiring. I love mysteries.
And you know what?
I’m really, really good at narrating cozy mysteries.
Why? Because I can take my understanding of people and their quirks and let that inform my performance. I have a natural warm voice and approach that I used in teaching, that gives listeners a cozy feel when I perform.
You see?
If you can figure out what you love about narrating, chances are you are already talking about what you are good at.
When thinking about this question, remember that to tell people what your greatest strength is, doesn’t mean it’s your only strength. Reframe it this way:
Sharing my strength is simply me stating a fact. It’s just a starting point. It gives casting something to hold onto. A place for me to wiggle into their consciousness.
CASTING THINKS: I need to cast this complicated nonfiction text about pychology. Who should I reach out to with an audition?
CASTING REMEMBERS (or searches their emails): and finds narrators who have been teachers/professors, love nonfiction, and have an interest in psychology.
We want ALL the work…but you can’t get ALL the work until you get SOME of the work.
Use this idea of what is your greatest strength to begin the conversation. To get your foot in the door. To get on that treadmill of work. (Insert whatever other cliche you can think of here.)
Think of what you love and what you offer that is a good place for casting to start.
Once you’re working with them, you can expand how they think of you. You can take your greatest strength and add to it by saying “Did you know I’ve been a Dungeon Master with my D&D group for 20 years and I’d love to record some fantasy?”
Everything in this industry builds on itself. It’s like a snowball rolling downhill and getting bigger and bigger.
You meet one person, then a group of people, then you meet casting and producers and authors.
You get one job, and then you get another with the same company. Casting may go to you for one thing, but in the development of that relationship, they realize you are good at many things, and the work offered to you expands.
Spend some time thinking about this question. Make a list of what you are good at and list them as facts. Then review the facts and see if there are any themes in there, anything that repeats. Craft what is your greatest strength from that information.
Use your strength to help you with branding and marketing.
And another trick? You can tell a publisher and casting team that your greatest strength is “performing historical fiction with nuance and empathy,” and you can tell another publisher and casting team “I have an ease with accents and characterizations, and I especially love working on books that require world and language building.”
Remember, that your greatest strength isn’t your only strength. It’s just a key you use to help unlock those casting doors.
Have a question you’d like Tanya to write about? Please let her know.
Tanya Eby loves and is really good at performing cozy mysteries, mostly because she loves that in cozies, people will eat cookies and brownies while Aunt Martha goes through rigor mortis in the living room. Tanya also thinks she’s funny, so this helps in cozies.
Tanya is good at a lot of other things and hope you will discover those things as you get to know her.
FOR FURTHER READING
Last week, I gave a presentation to PANA on the necessity for established narrators to continue shaping their career, and the usefulness of rebranding and pivoting.
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