Five Lessons Women Writers Can Learn From Beyonce

By Javacia Harris Bowser, See Jane Write Magazine Founding Editor

A few days ago Beyonce turned the world of music, the land of social media and the lives of her fans upside down when she released a surprise album. As a die-hard Bey fan myself, I spent Friday caught between disbelief and elation and couldn’t wait to get home from my day job so I could immerse myself her eponymous fifth studio album.

Coming out of what was supposed to be a month-long hiatus from my personal blog, this weekend I wrote about what Beyonce’s album means to me as a feminist. But I’ve been thinking about what it means to me as a writer too.

When it comes to typical music marketing strategies, Beyonce broke all the rules. And it worked. Just as Mrs. Carter is doing things on her own terms, I want to see more women writers doing things on their own terms too and doing so successfully. Ladies, let’s not wait around to be picked as if we’re a lonely wallflower at the school dance.  It’s time to make our move and get on the floor.

Here are five things I think we women writers can learn from Beyonce’s surprise album release:

Be brilliant. Beyonce’s new release could have been a simple 10-track mixtape and it still would have garnered plenty of attention. But you don’t become the Queen (or the King) through mediocrity. Beyonce’s new album is a cohesive body of work that includes 14 tracks and 17 videos. Who does that?! She does. And you should follow suit. This is especially important for women writers looking to self-publish. Allow me to be frank: There’s a reason self-publishing has been looked down upon for so long. Too often self-published books are of sub-par quality — in desperate need of an editor and a decent cover design. Self-publishing should not be seen as a last resort after your work has been turned down by other publishing houses. Self-publishing should be the route you take when you want more creative control. And whether you’re self-publishing or not, you should always present your very best work.

Be bold. Beyonce’s new album is unlike anything we’ve seen from her and this surprise release is unlike anything we’ve seen before in music. Women writers, don’t be afraid to try something new. That crazy idea you have for a book or blog just might work. That wild story idea you have for your favorite magazine just might be the pitch the editors have been waiting for.

Be tireless. Beyonce didn’t need months or weeks of marketing to promote her new album. Instead she just hit the stage or as she says in the song “Ghost,” — “I don’t trust these record labels/I’m tourin.'” The hard work she puts into her shows was all the promotion she needed. And be honest, can you think of a performer who works harder on stage? Now it’s your turn. What’s the hard work you need to do to set the stage for your success as a writer? Do you need to write every day so you can finish that book? Do you need to pitch publications every week so you can make a name for yourself in magazines? Do you need to launch a book or blog tour of your own? Guest blog for other websites. Be active on social media. Seek out speaking engagements. Build your brand.

Be transparent. Beyonce’s fans love this album, I think, for the same reason we love her documentary Life Is But a Dream and her website Beyonce.com — it gives a glimpse into the life of Queen Bey. We enjoy seeing beyond Beyonce the brand and getting a peek at Beyonce the person. Believe it or not, your readers want the same from you. Don’t pretend you have it all together. Don’t pretend to have all the answers. Be vulnerable in your writing. Be willing to show your scars so others can learn how to heal.

Be a Queen Bee. Beyonce affectionately calls her fans the BeyHive and when this album dropped you better believe we were buzzing. In fact, Beyonce’s surprise album release even surpassed Sharknado in social media buzz. Women writers, we must be the Queen Bee and build beehives of our own. We each need a group of loyal readers — people who are more than followers, but fans. Jeff Goins calls this building a tribe. Regardless of your name for this process, it’s one that must be done. But do so sincerely and selflessly. Focus on building up your readers, not yourself. Consider what can you add to their lives with your writing. Consider how you can make their lives better with your wisdom and skills. You can build your beehive through a blog or even by starting a networking group like See Jane Write Birmingham. Uplift your fans and they will uplift you.