{"id":1725,"date":"2012-02-16T04:07:08","date_gmt":"2012-02-16T12:07:08","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.matilijapress.com\/publishingblog\/?p=1725"},"modified":"2012-02-16T04:07:08","modified_gmt":"2012-02-16T12:07:08","slug":"your-authors-platform","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.matilijapress.com\/publishingblog\/?p=1725","title":{"rendered":"Your Author’s Platform"},"content":{"rendered":"

This is excerpted from my book in progress, Talk Up Your Book<\/em>:<\/p>\n

You\u2019ve probably heard the word platform<\/em>. It is commonly used within publishing circles to indicate an author\u2019s following (who would buy a book by this author?), connections (who can he count on to help him reach his audience?) and way of attracting readers (the author\u2019s popularity, expertise and\/or credibility in the topic or genre). <\/p>\n

There are numerous ways to establish your author\u2019s platform and to build on it. Basically, it\u2019s a matter of becoming known in your field or genre. You are strides ahead of the competition if you enter into the publishing realm with a solid platform. One way to do this is through public speaking and other activities that put you in front of your audience.
\nWhy build a platform before your book is a book? For one thing, this would go a long way toward impressing a publisher. Traditional publishers are interested in an author\u2019s marketing plan, and a solid platform can be a deal maker. If experience and exposure as a public speaker is part of that platform, all the better. <\/p>\n

Additionally, no matter your publishing choice, once your book is launched, if you\u2019ve established yourself as a speaker on your topic or in your genre, you already have a reputation and credentials. You know how to talk to people about your book, and there are at least a few people who trust your expertise in your field or appreciate your skill as a writer in your genre. <\/p>\n

Conducting workshops and\/or getting out and speaking on your topic before your book is a book will help immensely with name recognition. People are more willing to purchase your book if they already know who you are. If you also provide a signup sheet where you speak, you\u2019ll have a leg up when it comes to promoting your book. Depending on when you start the process, you could conceivably collect the names and contact information for hundreds of people who are interested in reading your book. You will have a following even before you have a book to sell.<\/p>\n

Note: If you are new to publishing, you may not know how difficult it is to promote and sell books and how much time and effort it takes on the author\u2019s part. Believe me (and other publishing professionals) it is hugely time and energy-consuming. Anything you can do during the writing process of your project toward establishing and building on your platform, the greater chances you\u2019ll have of success.<\/p>\n

See Patricia Fry\u2019s array of books for authors at her website:
\n http:\/\/www.matilijapress.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Learn more about Patricia\u2019s services and online courses:
\n http:\/\/www.patriciafry.com<\/a> <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

This is excerpted from my book in progress, Talk Up Your Book: You\u2019ve probably heard the word platform. It is commonly used within publishing circles to indicate an author\u2019s following (who would buy a book by this author?), connections (who can he count on to help him reach his audience?) and way of attracting readers […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[5,20],"tags":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t