Why A Poet's First Book SHOULDN'T Be Poetry

In this episode of the Creative Companionship Book Club, we’re diving back into Daniel Priestley’s Key Person of Influence to challenge the traditional path of publishing. While every poet dreams of their first collection, there are strategic reasons why a "book of influence"—like an essay collection, a workbook, or a book of tips—might be a better move for your professional poetry career.We explore how to build credibility and credentials, use books to clarify your messaging, and why self-publishing small batches can give you more flexibility than traditional routes. Whether you're a fiction writer, essayist, or poet, this video will help you rethink how to use publishing to live on your art.In this video, we cover:How to build professional credentials as an artist.The different types of books poets can create (Thought leadership, Haiku workbooks, Tips books).Defining your "takeaway message" and central question.Why book sales aren't the only metric for success.The power of articles and leveraging other platforms.Poets, novelists, and other writers want to write a first book; however, to really launch a career that lets you live on your art, whether that be poetry or writing, the first book may not actually need to be the form you expect! Let's turn to Daniel Priestley's Key Person Of Influence for help. If you have have not put a book into the world yet, or even if you already have, here is a consideration for your next work that be the first key piece of your writing career. The first episode on Daniel Priestley's Key Person Of Influence for poets who want to live on poetry: https://youtu.be/-6qlOyAL-6IGet a free audio/mp3/podcast version at https://open.spotify.com/show/4vAdMbaunOPziRoovm0K5PWrite with us at the Substation: www.diversespoetry.com/aboutsubstation00:00 - Introduction: Rethinking your first book00:35 - Building credibility and credentials as a poet01:28 - Why books are essential for your professional career02:23 - Generating new thoughts and areas of interest03:21 - Exploring different book types: Fiction, Non-fiction, and Memoir04:13 - Thought leadership and essay collections05:02 - Creating interview-based books06:03 - The power of a "Tips" book06:33 - Artistic and workbook concepts (e.g., Haiku workbooks)07:22 - Defining your takeaway message and central question09:43 - The importance of a strategic title10:30 - Why book sales aren't the only metric for success11:42 - Leveraging self-publishing and small batches12:28 - Using articles to increase findability*Welcome to the Creative Companionship Book Club, where we take business texts and discuss how to use their techniques to create a poetry business we'd be proud to run. This is our third dive into Daniel Priestley's Key Person Of Influence, which is a book centered on finding ways to stand out and provide unique insights and help in our field of interest so that we are competing against no one. *Welcome also to our poetry channel at diVERSES! Whether you're a seasoned poetry enthusiast or just beginning your journey into writing, this discussion will help inform your development in poetry🔍 What You'll Discover:The importance of questioning while reading poetry.Practical tips for asking insightful questions.How questioning enhances comprehension and appreciation.Examples of question-driven analysis applied to popular poems.Strategies for incorporating questioning into your own reading practice.The broader benefits of critical thinking fostered through poetic inquiry.diVERSES was founded by poet Geoff Anderson in Columbus, Ohio to help writers achieve creative and financial independence #poetry #CreativeCompanionship #diverses