Have you thought about your platform, lately? If you are writing a book or even thinking about writing one, your platform should be primary in your mind. Well, your audience is of vital importance, too. Whether you’re writing fiction or nonfiction, you need to write for your audience. And you’d better start establishing your platform.
For nonfiction, become known in your topic/field. How?
• Write and submit articles to appropriate magazines, ezines and newsletters.
• Conduct workshops on the topic of your book.
• Establish a website related to your subject and provide resources for your audience.
• Start blogging at your own blog site and also comment at others.
• Join organizations focused on your book’s topic and participate.
• Find ways to network with others in your field or area of interest.
• Start producing booklets or pamphlets of interest to your readership and distribute them in a variety of interesting ways—through your website, to workshop attendees, at trade shows/conferences related to your subject and book festivals.
In other words, find ways to be visible to your audience as an expert in your field.
Here are some ideas for developing a following for your fiction book.
• For name recognition as a fiction writer, submit stories in your genre to magazines and ezines—lots of them.
• Enter your short stories in contests.
• Establish a website and keep adding interesting things that make potential readers coming back.
• Blog about your characters, plot, etc. Get readers interested in your story before publication.
• Comment on some of the most popular blogs related to your genre.
• Get involved in appropriate writers groups and organizations.
• Teach a class or course on some aspect of fiction writing.
Don’t wait until you are published to begin establishing your platform. If you want to come out of the gate selling books to eager readers, you’ll have to prime the pump. This means become known as a writer in your topic or genre before your book is a book.
For additional help establishing your platform, understanding your publishing options, choosing the right publisher for your project, writing a book proposal, devising a marketing plan and so much more, order your copy of Publish Your Book, Proven Strategies and Resources for the Enterprising Author. It’s at Amazon.com and most other online and downtown bookstores. It’s also on Kindle and Nook. Amazon is currently bundling Publish Your Book with Promote Your Book, Over 250 Proven, Low-Cost Tips and Techniques for the Enterprising Author. Order both and get a deeper discount.