All you have to do is scan the Connect page of my website to see I'm into social media. Sure, I could claim I interact on these sites because I'm building a fiction platform. Or I could talk about how being active on Facebook helps sell books. Both are true, but the real reason I'm active on multiple sites is because I believe in doing everything possible to make my name recognizable.
Sometimes I wonder if all the fun I'm having on Twitter, YouTube, Pinterest and all the other places I check-in with will have an impact on my future book sales. Yesterday, I found this fabulous blog post (Steve Laube's blog, News You Can Use, provided the link) by Penny at Author Marketing Experts, Inc. titled "Why Your Book Isn't Selling." Catchy title, isn't it? The full article is linked.
Penny urges authors to have seven access points for readers to see their books.
"The rule of seven: You need to be everywhere. A lot." She says that seven different avenues of sharing news about your book is the amount most marketers recommend.
In her words, "Count the ways: How many different ways can a reader access you? Count them. I’m serious. You should have at least seven access points. Maybe you are syndicating articles, maybe you are on YouTube, maybe you are on Facebook, Pinterest, whatever it is it’s an access point. If you don’t have seven of them and aren’t sure where to start, go back to bullets two and three."
Most likely, you're reading this post because you're a believer too. You're probably on at least three sites, possibly twenty. One thing Penny doesn't say is that you have to spend time equally at all seven venues.
If you love Facebook, spend the majority of your time there. Just make sure you post a book trailer on YouTube too. If you aren't comfortable committing to a blog schedule, work hard to guest post at other people's blogs around the time of your book release (of course, provide links on these guest posts to your website and where to buy your book).
Get creative! Regina Jennings's sister recently created a beautiful Pinterest board about Regina's debut book, Sixty Acres and a Bride. Creating a Pinterest board doesn't have to take tons of time, and it can be left up forever.
If you're contemplating sending out a newsletter, look into services. I use MailChimp, which is extremely user friendly and free up until you hit 12,000 subscribers. I'm not in any danger of having to pay!
There are tons of low-time-commitment ways to hit seven access points. Have fun with it!
As always, I love helping writers dip their toes in blogging, Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, etc... If you have any questions, feel free to ask them! You can also leave your e-mail address if you have a detailed question or need help. I enjoy this. I like helping. Don't be shy!
What stresses you out about author platform? Please share. I'd like to write a post addressing your concerns.
5 Easy Questions will return next Wednesday.
Have a fabulous Wednesday!
Showing posts with label fiction platform. Show all posts
Showing posts with label fiction platform. Show all posts
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Friday, September 2, 2011
Preparing For Success Part 3: Standing Out
Preparing for Success is a three-part series targeted to aspiring writers. Any writer who decides to pursue publication, whether through self-publishing, e-publishing, or traditional publishing enters a crowded, competitive field. For most of us it will be a long, bumpy, confusing ride. If we use our unpublished time wisely, we will stand out from the crowd and our hard work will pay off.
Standing Out
At some point on our journey from aspiring writer to published author, we become aware that half the human population seems to be trying to get published. Agents’ in-boxes are full—they request few manuscripts and take on fewer new authors. Traditional publishers have a limited number of slots to fill each year. New e-publishers pop up monthly, but some are better than others, and many, many writers are self-publishing with mixed results. For every author claiming to make thousands of dollars every day, there are many more who’ve sold less than fifty copies.
So how do we stand out from the crowd? How do we get our manuscripts requested? How can we position ourselves to appeal to publishers? Or if you're considering self-publishing, how can you stand out from the thousands of other books emerging each month?
The most important thing we can do to stand out is to write a good book. That’s why the first two installments in this series are so vital. Without a good book, none of our efforts will matter. The majority of our effort should be on writing, learning, revising, and improving.
Eventually, our writing becomes publishable. We aren’t making newbie craft mistakes. We’ve figured out how to write sympathetic characters and strong plots, and we maintain high tension, fast pacing, and create unique premises. But will this be enough?
By studying blogs, reading articles by industry professionals, and talking to other writers, I’ve found five areas we can use to stand out from the crowd.
- Querying
* Research agents and editors. Verify they represent your genre. Read interviews, take notes on their blog posts, and find out who they represent. Follow their query instructions precisely.
* Before you send a query letter for a novel, ask yourself the following:
1. Is my book complete? An agent might request your full the afternoon you send the e-mail. You will look very unprofessional if your book isn't done.
2. Have I gotten feedback on my novel? If you're the only one who has read it, don't query yet. Find a critique partner or hire a freelance editor first.
3. Is my query letter personalized? Do not send a form query to multiple agents.
The Query Letter: Basic Tips
a. Use an easy formula such as Hook, Book, Cook.
* The hook is the paragraph where you write your basic premise in an engaging way. The goal is to make the agent or editor want to read more.
* The book is a paragraph sharing important details such as word count, genre, if it’s one in a series, and if it is completed.
* The cook is a paragraph listing your qualifications to write the book. Include previous writing credits, writing organizations you belong to, if you’re in a critique group, and any other fact that establishes your authority to write the book.
b. Personalize the query. Be specific. Use the agent’s name and give a brief reason why you are querying her.
c. Proofread the query thoroughly before sending it. If possible, have another writer critique it for you.
d. Follow the agent’s query instructions exactly.
- Conferences
If you’ve been querying without getting requests, or you aren’t sure who to query, head to a conference. Choose one that offers agent and editor appointments, and research the agents and editors first. Pitching in person increases your odds of getting a request. Even if no one requests your book, they’ll often give you a reason why. This information is priceless! Conferences allow you to make a more complete impression on an industry professional. Plus, the workshops are great places to learn about craft, career, and the industry.
- Social Media
a. Many agents write blogs, have Facebook pages, and are active on Twitter. If you aren’t following your target agents, why not? Hundreds of other writers are interacting with your dream agent. Who do you think the agent will notice on a query letter—the writer who comments regularly on the agent’s blog and retweets her posts? Or the complete stranger?
- Platform
a. Whatever publishing route you travel, a platform is vital. Platform is basically your audience—the people you can sell your products too.
b. Your product is not just your current book. Your product is your current and future body of work. In some ways, the product is you.
We don’t want to sell just one book, right? We want readers to purchase our future books, pick up our novellas, and spread the word about our writing. This is why I recommend all aspiring authors to build a platform early. Join Facebook, chat on Twitter, read and comment on blogs, start a blog, publish a website, practice speaking in front of your local writer’s group. With time, these will add up to a solid platform.
We don’t want to sell just one book, right? We want readers to purchase our future books, pick up our novellas, and spread the word about our writing. This is why I recommend all aspiring authors to build a platform early. Join Facebook, chat on Twitter, read and comment on blogs, start a blog, publish a website, practice speaking in front of your local writer’s group. With time, these will add up to a solid platform.
c. Today’s publishers want to see numbers. They prefer authors who have an audience, even if that audience is small and growing. They also want a great book written on deadline, and they want the author to play a prominent role in selling it.
d. Unfortunate fact: Many agents will not request aspiring writer’s books if the writer does not already have either a website or a blog. Blogs are free, easy to work with, and simple to re-post across social networks. Think about starting one if you haven't already.
d. Unfortunate fact: Many agents will not request aspiring writer’s books if the writer does not already have either a website or a blog. Blogs are free, easy to work with, and simple to re-post across social networks. Think about starting one if you haven't already.
e. If you’re considering self-publishing, you need a platform more than the average writer. Hundreds of thousands of books have been self-published on Amazon, Smashwords, and other sites. Few review sites exist, and your book will not be sold in a Walmart, Target, Sam’s Club, or major bookstores. Traditional sales techniques don’t work well when it comes to selling books. You can tweet about how great your book is ten times a day, but you’ll only turn people off. It takes time to understand how social media can help sell your books. And it takes time to build relationships online.
f. If you want to build a platform, but everything about it overwhelms you, read my post, “17 Simple Steps To Build a Fiction Platform.”
- Generosity
Publishing is a very small world. You’ll be amazed at how often the same names pop up in blogs, articles, e-mails, conferences, and social media sites. Every day, we have an opportunity to share something good with the world. Be generous, be kind. Every writer is plagued with problems—maybe not every minute—but each phase has its own challenges. We need to support each other. And when we support each other, we can’t help but spread our joy for other writers. Generosity and joy always stand out in the world.
Preparing for success in today's publishing world takes unique skills. It takes courage, confidence, humility. It takes strong writing ability. And it takes being able to market yourself as an author. Many writers have taken these steps and have found the success they longed for. It isn't easy, but it's worth it.
On a happy note, I'm so excited to share this good news with you! Wendy Paine Miller, my dear friend and critique partner, signed with Rachelle Gardner of WordServe Literary Agency this week!! If you get a chance, stop by her blog and congratulate her. She's an amazing writer, and I'm excited to see where her journey takes her! Congratulations, Wendy!
Also, Sarah Forgrave, one of my favorite bloggers, just announced she signed with Mary Keeley of Books & Such Literary Agency! I'm thrilled for Sarah and extra happy to have another agency-mate! Congratulations, Sarah!
Do you have any tips to stand out in this crowded field?
Have a fantastic weekend!!
Friday, July 22, 2011
Do Telemarketing Tactics Build Readership?
Every weekday I log onto my Twitter account and check for new followers. I scroll through a few of each of their tweets to get a feel of who they are. Lately, I've noticed a marked increase in authors using telemarketing tactics.
Telemarketers cold call people to either sell a product or to obtain a donation for a charitable cause, and they use a targeted list of potential consumers. While telemarketing a legitimate product is not illegal and can be successful, many people on the receiving end of the call are angered to have their time wasted.
I loathe picking up the phone to a telemarketer.
Like telemarketers, some authors are targeting a list of potential consumers on Twitter (it's simple to find like-minded folks through hashtags and profiles) to promote their books. Nothing wrong with that. However, the relentless sales pitches hurt them.
For example, this morning I reviewed the first three tweets of an author who recently followed me. Every tweet was a variation on the same:
#Nameofbook is #2 on Kindle. Who will be the first to review #good #fiction #nameofbook on #Amazon? Go to bit.ly now! #Crime #Readers
#Shortstory on #Smashwords. Guaranteed you'll love it. #Books Only 99cents! #Buyit!! #Share this!
This is not effective. It makes me want to run and hide.
If the author is trying to spread news about his book through Twitter to increase sales, he needs as many followers as possible to help him share the message. By treating people on Twitter as wallets instead of friends, this author loses his chance for people to connect with him, and he loses avenues to help him promote his book.
You know the old adage--for every criticism you give, you should give five compliments? We can apply the same strategy on our social networks. For every self-promotion post, write five conversational posts.
Frankly, I'd caution even less shameless plugs. The majority of what we share on social networks should be conversational or informational. By this I mean, we're either talking to someone (@coolauthor Thanks for the coffee! What are you working on today?) or sharing information (Great tips! RT @coolauthor 5 Writing Helps bit.ly #amwriting).
The thing about social media is if we're doing it right, we only have to post a "look what I did, Ma" type of message once, and our followers do the rest for us. It's the power of re-tweeting and re-sharing. If we get the message out, our friends help spread the good news. I routinely re-tweet and re-share other authors' celebrations, whether they're announcing a book contract, landing an agent, winning a contest, hitting a best-seller list, or even finishing a first draft. I'm excited for them, and I want everyone else to get excited too.
What's more effective? One telemarketer calling a stranger, or a fundraiser attended by thousands of people?
People buy books from people they like. Telemarketing tactics don't build a readership.
What makes you want to follow someone on Twitter, Facebook, or blogs? What turns you off?
Have a fabulous Friday!
Telemarketers cold call people to either sell a product or to obtain a donation for a charitable cause, and they use a targeted list of potential consumers. While telemarketing a legitimate product is not illegal and can be successful, many people on the receiving end of the call are angered to have their time wasted.
I loathe picking up the phone to a telemarketer.
Like telemarketers, some authors are targeting a list of potential consumers on Twitter (it's simple to find like-minded folks through hashtags and profiles) to promote their books. Nothing wrong with that. However, the relentless sales pitches hurt them.
***
I do not follow back people who are solely self-promoting.For example, this morning I reviewed the first three tweets of an author who recently followed me. Every tweet was a variation on the same:
#Nameofbook is #2 on Kindle. Who will be the first to review #good #fiction #nameofbook on #Amazon? Go to bit.ly now! #Crime #Readers
#Shortstory on #Smashwords. Guaranteed you'll love it. #Books Only 99cents! #Buyit!! #Share this!
This is not effective. It makes me want to run and hide.
If the author is trying to spread news about his book through Twitter to increase sales, he needs as many followers as possible to help him share the message. By treating people on Twitter as wallets instead of friends, this author loses his chance for people to connect with him, and he loses avenues to help him promote his book.
***
I do follow back people who carry conversations and self-promote.You know the old adage--for every criticism you give, you should give five compliments? We can apply the same strategy on our social networks. For every self-promotion post, write five conversational posts.
Frankly, I'd caution even less shameless plugs. The majority of what we share on social networks should be conversational or informational. By this I mean, we're either talking to someone (@coolauthor Thanks for the coffee! What are you working on today?) or sharing information (Great tips! RT @coolauthor 5 Writing Helps bit.ly #amwriting).
The thing about social media is if we're doing it right, we only have to post a "look what I did, Ma" type of message once, and our followers do the rest for us. It's the power of re-tweeting and re-sharing. If we get the message out, our friends help spread the good news. I routinely re-tweet and re-share other authors' celebrations, whether they're announcing a book contract, landing an agent, winning a contest, hitting a best-seller list, or even finishing a first draft. I'm excited for them, and I want everyone else to get excited too.
What's more effective? One telemarketer calling a stranger, or a fundraiser attended by thousands of people?
People buy books from people they like. Telemarketing tactics don't build a readership.
What makes you want to follow someone on Twitter, Facebook, or blogs? What turns you off?
Have a fabulous Friday!
Friday, July 1, 2011
Social Media Panic? Chill!
Just when you feel comfy-cozy with your platform efforts, something happens--like say Blogger goes offline for three days--and uneasiness sets in. Every new blog you head to seems to be powered by Wordpress. Someone mentions their site got tons of hits from StumbleUpon, and you don't even know what StumbleUpon is or how it's used.
Panic sets in.
All of your hard efforts now look shabby, worn, as out of date as pinafores. You wonder if you should switch to Wordpress even though you may lose many of your followers. You consider looking into StumbleUpon and Tumblr and a shiny new Facebook Page.
The panic morphs to stress.
Can I just say "Stop the Insanity!"? (Anyone else remember Susan Powter's work-out mantra?)
I realize we all want to do the right things--the smart things--to grow our platforms, and maybe switching to a different blog service or learning a few more social networks is the right thing to do. But I'm not going to, and here's why.
Jill Kemerer Opinion alert!!
Blogger has been good to me. It's free, simple to use, and terrific for networking. I've made countless connections through its use of Google Friend Connect, Blogrolls, and ease of subscribing. My pages load quickly, and I love how simple it is to post and update. It's a gem for non-technical bloggers. (Disclaimer: I've never used Wordpress, but it has terrific features also.)
As far as the slew of other promotional sites like DiggIt, StumbleUpon, Tumblr, and such--I'm sure they're fabulous. I, however, took a hard look at my schedule, realized I have too much on my plate right now, and won't be utilizing them. Will it hurt my platform? I don't think it will.
The bottom line?
It's easy to feel competitive with other authors, but jumping on every bandwagon doesn't necessarily help our platform or fit into our life. Does the average reader find our book if it's been Stumbled? Will the reader buy more books if our website looks more up-to-date? Will the reader find our blog quicker if we use Wordpress or Blogger? I can't answer these questions. I don't know.
I do know that search engines find my blog without any problem. My website and blog are the first things that pop up if you type my name into search engines. I'm easy to find on Facebook and Twitter. And that's good enough for me.
There isn't one best way to build a platform.
Do what you're comfortable with. Weigh the benefits and costs of any major decision, whether it's switching blog services or trying a new social media network. But most of all, sit back and chill. We're building name recognition, not saving the world! (My apologies to you if you are saving the world. I'm writing romance novels. Big difference. :)
Do you ever feel pressure to expand your platform? How do you react?
Enjoy your Friday!
Panic sets in.
All of your hard efforts now look shabby, worn, as out of date as pinafores. You wonder if you should switch to Wordpress even though you may lose many of your followers. You consider looking into StumbleUpon and Tumblr and a shiny new Facebook Page.
The panic morphs to stress.
Can I just say "Stop the Insanity!"? (Anyone else remember Susan Powter's work-out mantra?)
I realize we all want to do the right things--the smart things--to grow our platforms, and maybe switching to a different blog service or learning a few more social networks is the right thing to do. But I'm not going to, and here's why.
Jill Kemerer Opinion alert!!
Blogger has been good to me. It's free, simple to use, and terrific for networking. I've made countless connections through its use of Google Friend Connect, Blogrolls, and ease of subscribing. My pages load quickly, and I love how simple it is to post and update. It's a gem for non-technical bloggers. (Disclaimer: I've never used Wordpress, but it has terrific features also.)
As far as the slew of other promotional sites like DiggIt, StumbleUpon, Tumblr, and such--I'm sure they're fabulous. I, however, took a hard look at my schedule, realized I have too much on my plate right now, and won't be utilizing them. Will it hurt my platform? I don't think it will.
The bottom line?
It's easy to feel competitive with other authors, but jumping on every bandwagon doesn't necessarily help our platform or fit into our life. Does the average reader find our book if it's been Stumbled? Will the reader buy more books if our website looks more up-to-date? Will the reader find our blog quicker if we use Wordpress or Blogger? I can't answer these questions. I don't know.
I do know that search engines find my blog without any problem. My website and blog are the first things that pop up if you type my name into search engines. I'm easy to find on Facebook and Twitter. And that's good enough for me.
There isn't one best way to build a platform.
Do what you're comfortable with. Weigh the benefits and costs of any major decision, whether it's switching blog services or trying a new social media network. But most of all, sit back and chill. We're building name recognition, not saving the world! (My apologies to you if you are saving the world. I'm writing romance novels. Big difference. :)
Do you ever feel pressure to expand your platform? How do you react?
Enjoy your Friday!
Monday, June 6, 2011
17 Simple Steps to Build a Fiction Platform
Way back in 2008 when I started this blog, I knew next to nothing about how to build a fiction platform. It's a good thing I don't embarrass easily because as I kept my eyes open and learned more, I realized how many things I could be doing better.
We have so many fantastic, free media sites to help us with our networking, but we don't always understand how to use them. Fear and ignorance hold us back. And I can only speak for myself, but I was overly cautious. I wanted to build a platform but didn't understand the fundamental mindset behind one.
If you're unsure where to start or how to grow a web presence, I'd like to help.
With that in mind, here are 17 simple ways to build a fiction platform:
1. Decide on your author name. Real name or pen name? Your author name is the foundation of your fiction platform.
2. Get a good head shot of yourself smiling. Use this picture on all social media sites.
3. Fill out a Blogger profile under your author name even if you don't have a blog. Include an e-mail address. Create a new e-mail address if necessary, but include one. Upload your fab picture in your profile. Why do this? Many blogs are hosted by Blogger. When you leave comments, you want your pen name and your picture to be associated with your comments. Also, if the blog host or someone else wants to contact you, they can e-mail you.
4. Start reading author and agent blogs:
a. Leave comments on blogs (use your author name--an anonymous comment won't help you)
b. Read the other comments--there's a wealth of info in them
c. Click on the commenters you enjoy and check if they have a blog
d. Read the blogs of commenters you enjoy
e. Go ahead and follow blogs either through Google Friend Connect or by clicking on the RSS feed.
5. Purchase a domain name with your author name. Ex: http://www.jillkemerer.com/
6. Brainstorm topics you consider your strengths. If you decide to start a blog, this will help you narrow down what to focus your posts on.
7. If you decide to blog, weigh the benefits of using Wordpress or Blogger. Go to blogs using these services, do an Internet search of Wordpress vs. Blogger, or ask bloggers their opinion. We all like to share opinions.
8. Create a Facebook page under your author name for networking and accept all friend requests (keep your personal info out of this account)
9. Whenever you log on to Facebook, friend request one or two people it suggests to you. Easy way to grow your network! Don't be offended if not everyone accepts your requests.
10. Create a LinkedIn account under your author name.
11. If you create a blog, use your author name in your URL (http://jillkemerer.blogspot.com/)
12. Check out your favorite author's websites and analyze what you like and don't like about their sites. Take notes on the types of pages they feature, the wording and length of the biography, and the overall look and theme of their site. Bookmark the sites for future reference.
13. Write a short author bio to use on your social media sites
14. Determine how much time you can devote each day or week to building your platform (if you only have 10 minutes a week, stick with a Facebook account. If you have three hours, consider blogging.)
15. Join a national writing organization and attend local chapter meetings. Romance Writers of America has given me priceless information, great contacts, and plenty of opportunities to "get my name out there" by networking in person.
16. Willing to speak at a local writers group? Draw up a list of possible topics. It's never too early to plan for speaking engagements. Remember, a fiction platform doesn't have to be contained to an online presence.
17. Create a Twitter account under your author name. If this terrifies you, see my articles Twitter 101: Creating an Account and Twitter 101: Beginner's Tips. And e-mail me with any questions (jill(at)jillkemerer(dot)com) I'd love to connect with you on Twitter!
Breathe. You don't have to build a platform over night. Just add to your knowledge, add to your social media sites--and keep learning!
I've recommended her book before, and I'll recommend it again. Kristen Lamb's We Are Not Alone: The Writer's Guide to Social Media is my favorite book on social media and building a platform. She's also created a hashtag on Twitter to connect the We Are Not Alone tribe--#MyWANA. Just do a quick Twitter search and you'll find tons of like-minded writers plus oodles of great links!
What is your best tip on building a fiction platform?
Have a super Monday!
We have so many fantastic, free media sites to help us with our networking, but we don't always understand how to use them. Fear and ignorance hold us back. And I can only speak for myself, but I was overly cautious. I wanted to build a platform but didn't understand the fundamental mindset behind one.
If you're unsure where to start or how to grow a web presence, I'd like to help.
With that in mind, here are 17 simple ways to build a fiction platform:
1. Decide on your author name. Real name or pen name? Your author name is the foundation of your fiction platform.
2. Get a good head shot of yourself smiling. Use this picture on all social media sites.
3. Fill out a Blogger profile under your author name even if you don't have a blog. Include an e-mail address. Create a new e-mail address if necessary, but include one. Upload your fab picture in your profile. Why do this? Many blogs are hosted by Blogger. When you leave comments, you want your pen name and your picture to be associated with your comments. Also, if the blog host or someone else wants to contact you, they can e-mail you.
4. Start reading author and agent blogs:
a. Leave comments on blogs (use your author name--an anonymous comment won't help you)
b. Read the other comments--there's a wealth of info in them
c. Click on the commenters you enjoy and check if they have a blog
d. Read the blogs of commenters you enjoy
e. Go ahead and follow blogs either through Google Friend Connect or by clicking on the RSS feed.
5. Purchase a domain name with your author name. Ex: http://www.jillkemerer.com/
6. Brainstorm topics you consider your strengths. If you decide to start a blog, this will help you narrow down what to focus your posts on.
7. If you decide to blog, weigh the benefits of using Wordpress or Blogger. Go to blogs using these services, do an Internet search of Wordpress vs. Blogger, or ask bloggers their opinion. We all like to share opinions.
8. Create a Facebook page under your author name for networking and accept all friend requests (keep your personal info out of this account)
9. Whenever you log on to Facebook, friend request one or two people it suggests to you. Easy way to grow your network! Don't be offended if not everyone accepts your requests.
10. Create a LinkedIn account under your author name.
11. If you create a blog, use your author name in your URL (http://jillkemerer.blogspot.com/)
12. Check out your favorite author's websites and analyze what you like and don't like about their sites. Take notes on the types of pages they feature, the wording and length of the biography, and the overall look and theme of their site. Bookmark the sites for future reference.
13. Write a short author bio to use on your social media sites
14. Determine how much time you can devote each day or week to building your platform (if you only have 10 minutes a week, stick with a Facebook account. If you have three hours, consider blogging.)
15. Join a national writing organization and attend local chapter meetings. Romance Writers of America has given me priceless information, great contacts, and plenty of opportunities to "get my name out there" by networking in person.
16. Willing to speak at a local writers group? Draw up a list of possible topics. It's never too early to plan for speaking engagements. Remember, a fiction platform doesn't have to be contained to an online presence.
17. Create a Twitter account under your author name. If this terrifies you, see my articles Twitter 101: Creating an Account and Twitter 101: Beginner's Tips. And e-mail me with any questions (jill(at)jillkemerer(dot)com) I'd love to connect with you on Twitter!
Breathe. You don't have to build a platform over night. Just add to your knowledge, add to your social media sites--and keep learning!
I've recommended her book before, and I'll recommend it again. Kristen Lamb's We Are Not Alone: The Writer's Guide to Social Media is my favorite book on social media and building a platform. She's also created a hashtag on Twitter to connect the We Are Not Alone tribe--#MyWANA. Just do a quick Twitter search and you'll find tons of like-minded writers plus oodles of great links!
What is your best tip on building a fiction platform?
Have a super Monday!
Friday, February 18, 2011
Aspiring Authors DO Have Something to Offer
Every Friday I like to chime in on social media, and today we're talking about a major concern many unpublished authors have about starting a blog before they're published.
Aspiring authors get conflicting advice about blogging. It's a hotly debated topic, one which writers, agents, and editors have differing opinions. Since the publishing industry stirs many personalities together, there can be no one right answer. Ultimately, starting a blog is an individual choice and should be made with care.
The two worries I hear over and over from authors who haven't taken the plunge to build a platform are:
1. If I start a blog, what do I, as an unpublished author, have to offer?
2. How can I find the time to do all that social media stuff and still write? (I'm not answering this today, but time is a big factor in building a platform and should be considered before signing up for a blog, Facebook, Twitter, and any other site. Check out Jody Hedlund's When Social Media Becomes a Time Suck for advice on not letting it overtake your life.)
Honestly, I get sad--my heart actually hurts--when I hear that anyone would think an unpublished author does not have anything meaningful to offer. Yes, I know there are some uninspired blogs (or blogs still finding their sea-legs, as I like to think of them), but the vast majority of blogs I read are written by aspiring authors, and the posts make a difference in my life.
Whether I'm reading an author's opinion on a writing technique, a personal essay about her writing struggles, a funny breakdown of the Grammy Awards, or a quick two-sentence line that the author is busy and promises to be back next week, I'm connecting with that author. I'm reading in someone else's viewpoint, and I'm learning from it.
The aspiring authors' blogs I come back to over and over offer three valuable things:
1. Friendship
They follow me back, and even if we can't read each other's posts all the time, we chat on Facebook and Twitter to stay connected.
2. Support
We shout out congratulations to other bloggers, we interview our friends during book releases, and we reach out when life throws grenades.
3. Information
I've learned grammar tips, conference ettiquette, agent news, contest information, writing craft nuggets, inspirational quotes, motivational devotions, and any number of items that have helped me on my writing journey.
You have so much to offer.Please, if you are an aspiring author and you think you will have nothing to offer until you're published--throw that thinking out. Seriously, erase it. That's like telling a student in high school she shouldn't volunteer at the local hospital until she's finished with her nursing degree. Or telling an eight-year-old not to enter the fair with his art project because he's not a real artist yet.
Here's another fact--many of the blogs I started following two years ago were written by aspiring authors. Now they aren't. They're written by authors who have gotten agents, sold books, and entered the realm of published authors. Do they have more to offer now than they did two years ago? No. They have something different to offer now. How fortunate to have received their wisdom all this time!
What do you think? Do aspiring authors have anything to offer?
Have a fantastic Friday!
Aspiring authors get conflicting advice about blogging. It's a hotly debated topic, one which writers, agents, and editors have differing opinions. Since the publishing industry stirs many personalities together, there can be no one right answer. Ultimately, starting a blog is an individual choice and should be made with care.
The two worries I hear over and over from authors who haven't taken the plunge to build a platform are:
1. If I start a blog, what do I, as an unpublished author, have to offer?
2. How can I find the time to do all that social media stuff and still write? (I'm not answering this today, but time is a big factor in building a platform and should be considered before signing up for a blog, Facebook, Twitter, and any other site. Check out Jody Hedlund's When Social Media Becomes a Time Suck for advice on not letting it overtake your life.)
Honestly, I get sad--my heart actually hurts--when I hear that anyone would think an unpublished author does not have anything meaningful to offer. Yes, I know there are some uninspired blogs (or blogs still finding their sea-legs, as I like to think of them), but the vast majority of blogs I read are written by aspiring authors, and the posts make a difference in my life.
Whether I'm reading an author's opinion on a writing technique, a personal essay about her writing struggles, a funny breakdown of the Grammy Awards, or a quick two-sentence line that the author is busy and promises to be back next week, I'm connecting with that author. I'm reading in someone else's viewpoint, and I'm learning from it.
The aspiring authors' blogs I come back to over and over offer three valuable things:
1. Friendship
They follow me back, and even if we can't read each other's posts all the time, we chat on Facebook and Twitter to stay connected.
2. Support
We shout out congratulations to other bloggers, we interview our friends during book releases, and we reach out when life throws grenades.
3. Information
I've learned grammar tips, conference ettiquette, agent news, contest information, writing craft nuggets, inspirational quotes, motivational devotions, and any number of items that have helped me on my writing journey.
You have so much to offer.Please, if you are an aspiring author and you think you will have nothing to offer until you're published--throw that thinking out. Seriously, erase it. That's like telling a student in high school she shouldn't volunteer at the local hospital until she's finished with her nursing degree. Or telling an eight-year-old not to enter the fair with his art project because he's not a real artist yet.
Here's another fact--many of the blogs I started following two years ago were written by aspiring authors. Now they aren't. They're written by authors who have gotten agents, sold books, and entered the realm of published authors. Do they have more to offer now than they did two years ago? No. They have something different to offer now. How fortunate to have received their wisdom all this time!
What do you think? Do aspiring authors have anything to offer?
Have a fantastic Friday!
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