Nope, I’m not talking about that old school game show What’s My Line? I’m mean what you do or have done that might help you sell books, something sexy and exciting you can put in query letters.
Query letter: those two words probably brought on a few groans from writers out there. I’m with you. I’ve always hated writing query letters, just about as much as I dread writing a synopsis. More groans. If you’re not groaning please give me your secret to loving the “Q” and “S” process. Please!
Break for definitions:
Author Brand- identifiable hook that distinguishes you from other writers, a concept that tells readers what to expect from you (thrillers that rack up the stakes, laugh out loud romantic comedy, nail-biting creepy horror stories, etc.). Your website, promo items, blog should all reflect your “brand”.
Author Platform- method to build and reach your audience or a platform can be how you’ve already built up an audience that might rush to order your book. Think celebrities who write books, they’re famous therefore already have a “platform”. Or a reporter on CNN who writes a book. Big time platform. But you can also have a profession or other association that means you have a big potential audience. Give advice on love and relationships on some media outlet that’s popular? Write a romance and bingo- you can impress the agent or editor with your “platform”.
So here I am, once again looking for an agent and thinking about the mean streets of the publishing biz these days. And now I’m realizing that the query letter has to hook ‘em, sparkle with my ability to write, be concise and give them my platform. Oh, Lawd.
See I’m the cliche writer type- happy being alone writing or doodling around at the other stuff I enjoy. No podcasts of mine or archived anywhere. Took me awhile to jump into blogging. I’m way late on having a Facebook page. Never did do a MySpace page. Don’t ask about Twitter. See, social networking is a great way to build a platform. The problem is I’m a hermit writer. No one could accuse me of being a social butterfly. I’ve been neglecting my platform big time.
So here’s my behind the curve, so out of the loop strategy: I’m gonna wait it out. Yeah, see MySpace is not considered so ten minutes ago. Bam! Didn’t waste time building a page and now it doesn’t matter! Podcasts aren’t the big thing anymore. No prob since I didn’t do any! I have blogs, but those took me a minute to create. Presto! Once they’re out of trend I can dump ‘em. Maybe I can out-last this platform thingy. Ya think?
Hmm, maybe not. Better put some sticky content on my Facebook page. Hey, give us your savvy tips on building author platforms. What’s your line?
I started my "platform" in 2005 by creating the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance. I now have 200+ book reviewers in my organization.
Last year I added to that by creating Christian Fiction Online Magazine where I have 40 of the best and brightest in Christian fiction as columnists.
I also teach workshops on blogging and microblogging at both the Colorado Christian Writers Conference every May, and at the Greater Philadelphia Cristian Writers Conference every August.
There are a lot of other things I have done to grow my platform like becoming a Zone Director for ACFW and all of these things worked together to get me my agent Terry Burns from Hartline Literary, and to get me the two book contract I just got from Abingdon Press.
Oh…and I guess I forgot to say that I also became a web designer along the way, so that helps too!
I think platform is totally necessary for large and growing name recognition.
Hi Bonnie! Thanks for sharing. My but you've been busy. Congrats on making things happen!
LOL…thanks Lynn. Soon I will be adding in an appearance schedule for speaking! It is literally a 24/7 job when you add in writing too!
Lynn,
My platform has been blogging (either on my site or on my entertainment blog http://www.espot.wordpress.com). I love it. I've been doing it for years. When I get tired of blogging or too busy, I take a break and then I come back to it when the desire hits me again.
I love twitter because I can access it from my cell phone and be anywhere doing anything. I don't use myspace as much; although I'm on myspace. Most of my friends and network of people seem to be on facebook and/or twitter. I finally got an updated facebook page so give me a little time to figure out if it's working for me as a platform. Then again, when I had my last event, some people did show up because they saw my announcement on facebook
Check out Building An Author's Platform by Cheryl Donovan over at SORMAG today.
FYI – SORMAG ONLINE CONFERENCE is going on all week and it's free.
http://sormag.blogspot.com/2009/08/workshop-building-authors-platform.html
You're right Shelia! And that conference is a great resource tool!