Let’s Talk about Platforms
Posted By Ann Charles on May 15, 2009
Ann Charles, Author
by Ann Charles
Copyright © 2009 Ann Charles
I’m not talking about the shoes here, I’m referring to your platform. What exactly is a platform you ask? In short, it’s whatever tools you are using to interact with your reading public and increase your fan base. Your platform isn’t the same as your brand (we’ll explain the difference between these two terms in detail in a later article—for now, just focus on keeping those two terms separate in your head).
I first read the term platform in a book by Christina Katz called Get Known Before the Book Deal. In her book—which I highly recommend—she says that your platform includes such things as your website, any workshops or speeches you are giving on your specialty (such as writing genre fiction), and anything else that you use as a way of making a name for yourself to the reading public. Years ago, this was something that you could count on your publisher to help you develop after you signed a contract. Those days are gone. You need to start building your platform as soon as your writing is ready for publication.
Note: Notice those last three words, ‘ready for publication.’ If you’re just starting out, you need to focus on the craft. Without a clean, well-written, professionally packaged product to sell, you are setting yourself up for failure.
I tend to think of my platform as a bunch of dinner plates that I’m spinning. Each plate represents a different element of my platform, and each plate needs me to keep adding momentum to it or it will crash at my feet. This takes continual work, and as I add more plates to my act, the spinning takes more energy, focus, and determination. Each plate also raises my stress level, adds more distraction, and increases the amount of risk I’m taking.
Are we having fun yet?
Well, actually, yes, we are. It’s like building an empire—your very own empire. Where do you want to be in a year (besides published, like everyone else)? In two years? When people hear your name, what do you want them to think of? What do you want them to associate with you?
As you read this, realize you are viewing one of my platform plates that I started spinning a few months back. 1st Turning Point is an example of a platform element. When I asked myself the above questions, one of my answers included ‘I want them to think of an author who gives more than she takes from people.’ I know that sounds corny, but I’ve met many authors who fit this description and I really respect them.
Platform building is fun and exciting, tiring and worrying. I guess what I’m saying here is that like everything else in fiction writing, you need patience and persistence to succeed.
Okay, that’s it for this article on platform. Now you have an idea what we mean when we use this term. We’ll talk more about it in future articles, so stay tuned.
About the author
Platforms!
I desperately want to teach a writing workshop of some sort. My strength and expertise is actually teaching. I’m a high school English teacher and I’m currently doing my National Boards.
I would love to organize a writing workshop using all of the techniques I regularly use in my classroom… but I’m not sure what my topic would be! I’m best equipped to give a workshop on how to give a workshop… but that seems a little too “meta” for me (and how many people would really want to attend?)
Hey Kate,
You know, I don’t think I’ve ever heard of a workshop at a conference that covers how to give workshops. You may have hit on something there. Maybe you could hone it a little to help “sell” it to would-be attendees. For example, what about focusing on people just starting to build their platforms? Include topics like how to organize a workshop that will not put attendees to sleep (I’ve sat in some dry, boring workshops in my time); what to do with your hands while you’re in front of everyone; the importance of NOT reading from your notes line-by-line; how to get an audience engaged in what you’re saying, how to gain confidence enough to stand in front of a group of people, etc. Heck, I’d attend a workshop on sewing on buttons if the presenter was fun to listen to and watch.
Ann C.
I think a workshop on how to give workshops is a fantastic idea. One of the Crew, Laron Glover, wrote a proposal for the RWR on that subject–don’t remember whatever happened with that.
My dh gave a workshop on how to use a microphone but it wasn’t very well attended. Only those who use the mic relatively well came, unfortunately. And this, after hauling in 1,000 pounds of equipment to demonstrate.