A Question Frequently Asked
By Linda Glaz
How can I build platform before my book is even published?
I am so glad you asked. First, let’s
look at why publishers want you to have a strong platform. They need to know:
- You can help market yourself.
- You know your topic and are qualified to write about it.
- You're able to go a level above other authors writing in the same genre or on the same topic.
So how can you achieve all of this
success? Let’s look at a historic author who is not published but wants to
connect with potential readers. She can blog, write a newsletter, or use You
Tube/Podcast consistently on topics that relate to the era she’s writing in.
Let’s say once a month she blogs or sends out videos on clothing of that
period. She might have samples or, if a seamstress, might show how to construct
those clothing pieces. Another time she might talk about recipes from that era.
Or books about that era. Maybe share some research from the era. So many opportunities
to share. Then, when the book releases, she has a ready-made group to present
it to. And in the meantime, she’s impressed potential publishers that she can
reach the readers. So, here she is, building those potential connections with
booklovers that will help her find her audience long before the book is
published.
If you think it’s not important, let me
put it this way: a publisher, XYZ, might have five slots for books coming up.
If a bestselling author or substantial author from another house comes along
because her publisher, ABC, stopped handling her genre, the XYZ is probably
going to snatch that author up like a Venus fly trap snatches a fly. And maybe
a couple other well-known authors as well. Now, maybe only two slots left. One
is filled by an author they’ve been considering for some time. Lo and behold,
only one slot left. Two amazing authors have proposals for a topic
they’d really like to see come to life. One author has been busily building his
or her platform. The other author has actually told her friends, agent, anyone
who’ll listen, that she’s a writer, not into marketing. Need I ask who
Publishing House XYZ will want to work with?
You see, like everything else, there
are often aspects of our jobs that aren’t our favorite parts, but still, like
it or not, they’re part of the job description! And we simply have to learn to
do them. Once you start, you’ll be surprised, and you might even like this new
thing you’re involved in called platform.
(Photo courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net and winnond.)
She’s a speaker, presenter, and searches her emails each day to find that one nugget of gold. Writing so stellar from a teachable spirit. What more could she ask for?
Dear Linda. I've been reading a great deal about writers sending out blogs on different subjects, and that's a great idea. But to whom (and how) do they send these articles out? To those already on their email lists? (mine is pretty slim). Or can you just post it on the web and sent it out there? I learned to type on a manual typewriter, so that's telling you how much I know about techie stuff. But I'm eager to learn. Please explain the above to me. Thanks in advance.
ReplyDeleteGreat wisdom from a great agent. :-)
ReplyDeleteWell, thank you, ma'am!!!
ReplyDelete