Several years ago, the writing world buzzed about the concept of “author platform.” Here I’ll briefly define the term, state the purposes of these platforms, describe mine, and offer thoughts on yours.
There are many sites where you can get a good definition of author platforms, notably here, here, and here. Basically your platform consists of the ways you use to stand out in the crowd, the methods you use to attract a fan base of readers.
An author platform starts with your stories, your books. From a platform point of view, it’s best if they have something in common—genre, theme, style, etc. But the other aspect of the term platform is how you connect with readers. Not just how you connect books with readers, but how you connect you with readers.
There are many ways to do that, including appearances at conferences and other venues, interviews, and your web presence. Web presence includes blogs, social media, e-mailed newsletters, etc.
What’s the purpose of this platform? In the ‘old days’ publishers would build a platform for the author. No more. Now it’s expected the author will take out saw and hammer and construct it herself. If a publisher or agent sees that a writer has an existing platform, that represents a low business risk, an established product that’s ready to sell to already-waiting customers.
Readers don’t need to know about platforms, but they do enjoy connecting with authors they like. When they take delight in a book and do a web search for the author and find a rich and varied web presence, they feel they can join the author’s circle. When they find the author has other books just as good and similar in some way, they feel comfortable shelling out money for them because there’s a familiar consistency there, a set of established expectations.
For authors, the platform serves the purposes of connecting to both readers and publishers in the modern, web-based world.
As for me, my platform is still under construction. I’ve mainly been working on writing stories, as many as I can. Although I’ve dabbled in different genres, I’ve found I enjoy writing about the problems of people dealing with new technology, especially in historical and foreign settings. The stories in the series What Man Hath Wrought, put out by Gypsy Shadow Publishing, are the best examples.
My web presence is slowly increasing, by means of this blog, Twitter, and my author page on Amazon. I’m still working on Facebook and other venues.
What about your platform? My advice is to do what works for you. Start with writing stories; hone your writing skills. If you can get some of them published, even at non-paying markets, that at least gets your name out there. Then work on the various marketing methods. As you try things, pay attention to sales and spend more time on things that increase sales and less time on things that don’t.
As with any trend or movement, a backlash is forming with respect to platforms. See section 3 of this entry. I think Jane Friedman’s advice to new fiction writers (for whom I write my blog) is sound. Just write. Think about writing, focus on writing, enjoy writing, and let the marketing develop later.
What are your thoughts on author platforms? Feel free to leave a comment and let me know. In the meantime, see that guy trying to erect some sort of raised dais there in the middle of the internet, using two-by-fours and bailing wire? Don’t laugh, that’s—
Poseidon’s Scribe