Tuesday, December 16, 2014

What We Can Learn from Taylor Swift by Jacqueline Seewald

Taylor Swift was labeled by Barbara Walters as one of “The Ten Most Fascinating People of 2014.” There is no doubt that she has an amazing following of teens and pre-teen fans who adore her and her music. She is also ubiquitous—one sees and hears her everywhere.  I recently watched my ten-year-old granddaughter performing one of Swift’s songs, in perfect imitation down to the hair toss, for her seven-year-old sister and six-year-old cousin.

Swift’s life story and incredible success at only twenty-five years of age is well-known. She recently had the cover story for TIME Magazine. The journalist praised her highly. Swift knew from an early age what she wanted to do with her life. She convinced her parents to move to Nashville where she signed with a country label. She had and had the courage of her convictions and the determination to work hard at her career. I think Taylor Swift is an excellent role model for young girls.

As a writer, I also see Swift’s energy and effort as an example for those of us who write and pursue careers in publishing. As in music, there is stiff competition. If you want your writing well-published it is necessary to have focus, drive and expect to work hard, just as Taylor Swift has done. A “can do” attitude is required.

In my writing I create such heroines, women of strong character. For instance, in my YA novel THE DEVIL AND DANNA WEBSTER published by Astraea Press, Danna is a girl who is searching for her own identity and must build the self-confidence needed to choose the right path for her life. The novel is romance, allegory, and coming-of-age, a good choice for the holidays and for mothers to share with their daughters.





If there’s anything we can learn from Taylor Swift’s phenomenal success it is that we need to express what is unique to ourselves in our own way. By writing an exceptional work that stands out from the herd, I believe writers can also gain recognition and acclaim.

Your views welcome here.



25 comments:

  1. Jacqueline,

    Great post. You're right about Taylor Swift: She gets it. Create a quality product, then personalize your marketing campaign with social media.

    And having the boundless energy of a twenty-something can't hurt....

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    1. Mike,

      You've summed it up perfectly. I also wish I had Taylor Swift's energy for promotion.

      Delete
  2. Taylor has an amazing amount of confidence for someone so young. Hopefully her brand of confidence will treat her better than Miley Cyrus' brand. We could all learn a lesson from her new song "Shake it Off" when it comes to reviews.

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    1. Hi, Lily,

      I agree with you. I think Swift's approach to celebrity is much more professional than Cyrus's and sets a better example for teens.

      Delete
  3. Taylor Swift has enormous drive, and she was fortunate to have a supportive family. Talent, drive, and backup. And some luck thrown in for good measure.

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    Replies
    1. Napoleon said: “Luck occurs when preparation meets opportunity.” A good description for Taylor Swift.

      Delete
  4. Even reading about Taylor Swift makes me tired! I think I'm too old for the world of promotion. Sigh.

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    1. Alice,

      Luckily, you don't have to push hard. You've already established an excellent reputation as a writer and an editor.

      Delete
  5. Interesting post. I think it's important to add that Taylor Swift would have been an amazing role model even if she hadn't soared to the top of the charts because she was doing something she loved, followed her passion, and knew who she was without compromising her talent.

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    Replies
    1. Hi, Linda,

      Your point is well-taken. Taylor Swift hasn't compromised. She's been true to herself and her talent.

      Delete
  6. Great post, Jacqueline, and a good idea for parents to find good role models for their children, and good books for them to read, like yours.

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  7. Jan,

    Thank you for the lovely comment, particularly since you're someone who has read my work.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Interesting post, Jacquie. It does take enormous energy and passion to acquire a dream. We all have passion to write, but it takes a great deal more energy to market!

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    1. Betty,

      I agree with you. The writing is a joy. The marketing is much more demanding and often discouraging.

      Delete
  9. Great tie-in. Even if you don't like Taylor, it's nice to see a young lady not exposing herself all over (in the clothing sense) and not cheapening herself to sell music. Good for her. She's working with some smart people too!

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    1. There's no doubt that Taylor has it together. I agree that she's got good advisers, but I think this is mostly her own doing which is impressive in one so young.

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  10. I absolutely detest Taylor Swift and her inane lyrics. I think what she's just done to country fans is crap. Build your base on the backs of country fans, then jump to pop when its convenient. Ugh. I have nothing good to say about this bimbo.

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    1. I'd add that it is the same as a writer building a base in romance, then dumping those fans to write Sci-fi or whatever. And Taylor is surrounded by a HUGE team. No way did she do this on her own like so many of us are trying to do.

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    2. D'Ann,

      Thanks for adding to the discussion. I don't personally think it's wrong to try different types of music or different types of genres in writing. It makes you grow as an artist.

      Delete
    3. I wish I had half the marketing savvy of this "bimbo."

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    4. That bimbo has an enormous marketing team...think I said that.

      Delete
  11. I recently watched Taylor Swift as a guest mentor on The Voice. She didn't hesitate to share what she knew about stage presentation. I applaud her confidence and her across the board appeal. We should all be so lucky. I've even found myself trying to stand like her at my speaking engagements to ramp up my own energy and personal power.

    Good topic, Jacquie!

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  12. Maggie,

    Thanks for commenting. It is helpful when successful people like Taylor Swift share information.

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  13. Clearly I'm not keeping up with the youth of the day. Time to do my homework.

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  14. Don't feel badly. I hardly know the latest popular groups.

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