“To be a successful author you need to have a platform.” That’s what every writing magazine, book, and course tells me. So, despite finding this bit of advice a little odd, I decide to follow it. After all, I do want to become a successful author.
My latest copy of Writer’s Magazine in hand, I go to Home Depot to get all the supplies I need for this mysterious platform. I’m pretty nervous since I’m not a handyman, or a handywoman, of any sort. I can be pretty good with my hands if I put my mind to it though. But that’s a different story.
Back to the platform story now. I’m in Home Depot. I look around for any “Writer’s Platform DIY” books. Nothing! I finally decide to ask one of their sales associates for help.
“Excuse me … uh…” quick glance at his name tag, ”Mike. Could you please tell me what things I need for building my platform? I’m a writer, you see.”
Do you know what I get in return? A blank stare, that’s what. It lasts a good ten seconds or so. Then comes the laughter. It’s even worse because he can’t be more than 18 or 19 years old. It sucks when kids laugh at you! Smart aces.
Finally the laughter stops. “Ma’am, do you know what a writer’s platform is?”
“Of course!” I say, all rightful indignation. “It’s one of those things you stand on to read your books or talk about them to an audience … Right?” In my mind though, I’m starting to think that Home Depot might have been a bad choice. That’s what I get for following other people’s advice!
“No, ma’am,” he says, big smirk on his pimpled face. “A writer’s platform is what you do to build an audience. It’s what you do to make people like you, follow your writing, look forward to your books. It’s your online presence and your offline one for that matter. That’s what a writer’s platform is.”
This time it’s my turn to give him a blank stare. Only mine lasts a good twenty seconds or so and no laughter follows. I purse my lips and try to stare him down, which is impossible of course, since he’s almost a foot taller than I am. “Listen, kid! What makes you an expert? Are you a writer? Are you Stephen genius King, or something?”
He doesn’t say anything. He just gives me a kind smile and lets me vent. Kids nowadays … they really can be annoying!
Since he’s not fueling my angry fire, I’m starting to calm down and see some reason. He’s still annoying, all right … but maybe he’s smart too.
“OK, kid. You’ve had your laugh. Now tell me more about this audience building platform. You tell me what I need to know and I give you the first signed copy of my first book. You don’t tell me what I need to know, I tell your manager that you’re too smart for this place. You might even be some kind of undercover journalist trying to expose Home Depot’s darkest secrets. I’ll blow your cover! Capisci?”
“Ahhhh, so you’re a … funny … comedy wanna-be writer?” he says, another big smile on his face.
“No, kid. I’m an as-serious-as-a-heart-attack kind of wanna-be writer. Now tell me what, when, where, and how. Then I can be friendly again.”
Long story short, I now have a better understanding of what a writer’s platform is. The problem is that I liked it better when I thought it was what the Merriam Webster dictionary told me it was: “ a flat surface that is raised higher than the floor or ground and that people stand on when performing or speaking.”
Since Merriam Webster lead me the wrong way, I find myself overwhelmed by all the things I need to do to build my platform. I really wish I could have that kid on my team. Only, he’s fictional of course. He’s a figment of my imagination. I created him to release some of the frustration I have with understanding the ins-and-outs of a writer’s platform.
Now that I’ve spent some time doing what I enjoy so much … writing fiction that is … it’s time to trudge back to platform building. It’s not all boring, just so you know. But, as I’m just starting this process, it truly is overwhelming.
I found a short but well done video on YouTube that talks about 3 steps you need to take when first getting started with your platform. I’ll list them below and put a little of my own spin on them.
- Choose your brand. Decide what kind of author you want to be (e.g. children’s books, romance, non-fiction, magazine articles, etc). If you have multiple personality disorder and want to dabble in more than one genre, set up a different online presence for each one of you;
- Set up an online hub. This should be the main way to attract people to you and your work. It can be a blog, a Facebook page, a Twitter account, a YouTube channel, or your very own star you buy from NASA. Uhhh … never mind the star thing. I’ve just been told that’s not a good online hub. Whatever! It sounded good to me.
- Choose one social network and focus on it. This is what you’ll be using on a daily (or nightly – if you’re an insomniac) basis to gain followers and point them towards your main hub. Does that have a cultish, creepy sound to it … “build your following?” Hmmmm … I’m not so sure I want to build a following now.
Creepy or not, I ‘ve actually set up 4 social media accounts so far: Facebook page, Twitter account, Reddit account, and Google+ account. I’m planning on using FB mainly to drive traffic to my blog, which is, by the way, my online hub.
This is the link to the YouTube video I got the three steps from. It was created by Joanna Penn from TheCreativePenn.com. Watch it and learn something useful from it. My writing might have just confused you more.
I’ve already added Joanna Penn to the people I follow on Facebook. She’s fun, bubbly, and seems to know what she’s talking about. I don’t care much for bubbly people, but she’s all right!
Ada Ireland is a pen name I came up with for myself. Unashamed Writing is a name I came up with for my blog.