PLATFORM
What is a platform? You ask. I certainly did. It turns out that a platform is the base audience a writer creates even before a book is published and, get this, sometimes even before you sign with an agent.
Once upon a time an author only really needed a platform for non-fiction (i.e. in my case the fact that I'm a college professor creates a ready-made platform for my academic writing), but today fiction writers are also in need of their own buzz, a presence beyond that on the pages they write.
Don't panic! I know that for we writerly folk this idea is daunting at best, but in today's digital friendly age creating a platform is much, much easier than you'd imagine.
Facebook, Twitter, and blogs I think are the best ways to dip your toes in the platform pool. More intrepid folk might consider starting vlogs (Jackson Pearce is the queen of vlogs). I'm toying with this idea, but have not yet made that plunge. If I do, you'll be the first to know!
You can start small. Believe me, the early days of tweet and blogs can feel pretty lonely.
But readerships and followers grow over time, and soon they become a big part of your life...one that needs to be managed so that it doesn't interfere with all that writing that started this platform business in the first place!I'm sure some of you are thinking - does this platform stuff really matter?
YES.
More than I would have guessed. I've been incredibly fortunate of late to sign with some amazing foreign publishers *waves, blows kisses, Hi Lyndsey!!* and in the offers there have been many mentions of my online presence.
When I first read their comments I had a "whaaaaa???" moment, because unbeknownst to me my blogs and tweets had been followed by some truly fabulous editors and publishers. And it's my impression that my growing platform has had a significant impact on the response of publishing houses to NIGHTSHADE. EPIC WIN!
So don't be shy. The benefit of online platformdom is that it's a great venue for writers - it's all about writing!! Each author has to find the way to the world that best suits them, so test the waters, see what format is the right fit for you. But don't stay hidden in the shadows, let the world see you shine.
Interesting post, I had not a clue what a platform was!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing.
Great post, and I agree. :) Platforms are so great, and so important to have.
ReplyDeleteVery true! I always get a little annoyed when I find an author that doesn't have an online presence. I use author websites all the time as a librarian and point my teens to author sites, blogs, Facebooks, etc. I think in today's social networking world, it's important to get your name out there early! When I find an author who is not online, I'm always surprised.
ReplyDeleteHmmm, well I have my blog platform and I have some outstanding platform shoes tucked away in the back of my closet that I may never walk in again but they are works of art. Perhaps I should put them in a display case instead. Perhaps they are a blog post. :) Hmm, again.
ReplyDeleteBecause of your prompt above about the early days of writing posts in obscurity, I decided to read some of your early ones. I think some of them are so interesting you should go ahead and re-post. That would be particularly useful when, for instance, you go on book tour and are too busy to post often. Your platform is secure.
Thanks, everyone. You know what's strange? I tried to set this up to post tomorrow (Monday) because I usually take the weekend 'off' from blogging, but it's up anyway - yet with a Monday's date pub tag at the top. How weird.
ReplyDeleteTricia - Re: reposts in the future *rubs hands* Excellent...
Working on it! But in some ways it feels like I am just reaching out to other authors, not the actual consumers of picture books.
ReplyDeleteWell said! I read HOW TO GET KNOWN BEFORE THE BOOK DEAL earlier in the year. It really made me think about the approach I wanted to take with my blog. Always love what you have to say, Andrea.
ReplyDeleteThanks for this post, Andrea. I wondered about the importance of establishing some kind of web presence and opted to start a blog, suffering spates of self doubt along the way, so thanks for reiterating the importance of putting oneself out there and the inevitable lonliness of being a rookie. I didn't realize, however, that web presence (following) can be important even before you have an agent. If your blog has anything at all to do with foreign publishing houses taking an interest in your books, every writer should have one. The confidence expressed by the publishing community in your books must be a tremendous shot in the arm. One more thing though....I have wondered about the amount of time some seem to spend "blogging" vs actually writing, which you also touched upon. I mean...do you ever feel tweeted out?
ReplyDeleteI'm up late building a website right NOW (when I need to be grading final papers) and hoping for that epic win.
ReplyDeleteIt is beginning to feel like an epic fail....
Suzy: Believe me it is an EPIC win! I love your writing. And don't think the irony is lost on me when I say it's just a matter of patience (I don't have a drop of patience in my bones).
ReplyDeleteYvonne: That's a great question. I actually really like 'tweeting' and I was a serious Twitter skeptic before I tried it. For me, Twitter is just fun and I don't really spend time with it, except in the case of participating in #yalitchat and #kidlitchat, which I consider great networking time well spent.
ReplyDeleteThe writing itself absolutely must remain the top priority. Blogging and whatever other social media you choose to participate in should enhance your writing, but if it's impinging on your ability to get pages out, then I think it's time to scale back.
Hope that helps!
True. Plus, I love hanging out with you on-line!
ReplyDeleteSo are we going to NYC or what?
And there must be something in the air - check on Maggie Stiefvater's interview on Shelli's Marvelous Marketer blog:
ReplyDeletehttp://faeriality.blogspot.com/2009/12/marvelous-marketer-maggie-stiefvater.html
This has been a sore subject for me, because I was under the impression that the content was really the decisive factor. It's NOT! :( Platforms and marketting plans appear to be equally important for authors, which is sad, because some of us aren't necessarily the bestest at that. :(
ReplyDeleteVoid: Do not despair! At the end of the day it is STILL the writing that publishers get excited about. The platform is much more a way for you to prove that you are not some scary hermit who will be utterly unable to interact with the outside world should you be published.
ReplyDeleteI don't think that the platforms and marketing are equal to the content of the writing, but they are important in this digital age.
Very interesting post. I have actually been struggling with whether or not to keep up with my blog lately. I find myself wondering if it's worth all of the effort.
ReplyDeletebtw, your novel sounds very intriguing! Congrats on the sale. :)
Thanks, Renee!
ReplyDeleteI'm thinking since you ignored my comment, we're NOT going to NYC?
ReplyDeleteThanks for the encouraging words. It can be easy to feel defeated when one tries to stand up in the face of mighty-mountain-publishing-industry :P
ReplyDeleteLOL Lisa, I'm not ignoring your comment I am just easily distracted :) And I don't know, I'm still waiting to hear from the Powers That Be about the NYC trip, so I think you'll have to plan without me and we can cross our fingers that the schedules coincide
ReplyDeleteWhat an excellent and valuable post. You're right, but why does it have to be so hard? Ugh! :)
ReplyDeleteInformative post. Since I've started my blogging adventure in September I have learned so much. I had thought I knew a good bit about marketing, but I'm seeing that being an author entails some other marketing approaches I had not thought of before.
ReplyDeleteLee
http://tossingitout.blogspot.com/
Shannon - It's gets easier :)
ReplyDeleteLee - Agreed, I'm always learning new approaches too!