3 Steps to Start Building Your Author Platform
by Stephanie Oswald, Ph.D. - Co-CEO, Mindset & Accountability Coach for Writers
Coffee shop writing and planning is the best!
If you’re writing a book, you might not be thinking about what comes next. The thought of marketing your book isn’t on your radar because you’re just hoping you can finish writing your book. Also, one of the biggest misconceptions is that book marketing is only for those who publish independently. The truth is, even if you go with a traditional publisher you still have to put book marketing on your agenda.
Building your author platform needs to be on your “to do” list. You want to treat it like a business. If you want to make money writing books then you’re the CEO of your writing life and that starts with thinking about your author platform.
Why?
It doesn’t matter if you have a traditional publisher or you decide to go the independent publishing route. You’re going to have a big hand in promoting your book. So, why not start early and give yourself time. Give yourself the gift of a long runway to prepare for your book launch. You want to let readers know you exist. If you’re not talking about your book, you’ll be met with crickets when you finally publish. If you’re like all of the writers we’ve talked to about getting published, you want people to buy your book, but at the heart of this is talking about it early and often.
Here are 3 steps to get you started:
Define your core message:
Who are you as a writer?
What’s a theme, idea, or common thread that weaves through your book?
What will you say if you’re invited to talk about your books?
Your core message doesn’t have to be restricted to your book. While Elizabeth Wilson talks about it as a foundational point of focus for the Memoir Master Plan Cohort when you’re starting to think about your book, it’s relevant to defining your writer business identity too.
You have a core identity.
Specific aspects of who you are made you find your way to the blank page and start writing your story. Your core message, both in you book and your writing business, is a way for you to connect with readers. When you’re clear about your writer identity your readers will find you. So ask yourself, how do you want readers to find you and connect with you?
Decide where you want to show up online:
You don’t have to be everywhere, but you do need to decide on at least ONE platform.
You want to be where your readers will find you.
For example, you might decide between jumping into the #BookTok trend on TikTok or the #Bookstagram community on Instagram.
If you’re not a fan of always having to create visual content, then Threads is a great option. You’ll find editors and publishers to follow to help you keep up on what’s current in your book market.
You might decide to start your own Substack. It’s become a popular space online for writers to showcase their writing and connect with others.
At the end of the day, deciding where you’ll show up consistently is the key. You don’t have to have a book published to start. In fact, it’s recommended you start before you’re ready.
Brainstorm Topics to Connect with Readers
Once you decide where you want to show up online, you’ll need to brainstorm topics that are relevant to your writing to connect with readers.
So, get out a notebook or a Google Doc (though I have to say I’m partial to a notebook because there’s such a great creative connection between writing by hand and generating ideas) and get ready to do a brainstorming sprint.
Give yourself 5 minutes to write down everything that comes to mind to share with readers.
You don’t have to act on it right away, but now you have a start for when you’re ready to start showing up online.
If all of this feels overwhelming and you’d like support send Stephanie an email at hello@inspiredwritercollective.com
