What is meant by Platform

The term platform if taken  literally  needs no  further explanation. However,  literal  definitions are not always enought to achieve maximum potential from your platform as an author. So having a deeper understanding  of its meaning within the context of the publishing industry is vital.

A good break down of  what the term Platform should mean to a author,  is in short  the author’s credibility .

What do I mean by this?  Bill O’Hanion ( The Publishing coach)  breaks its down  into  three  clear parts:

• How credible are you in your field -(this is more applicable to non -fiction writers ). Are you an experts in your  field, have you life experience , qualifications, etc . If the answer is yes ,start putting this  information together .
• Accomplishment – have you had articles or books published, , have you  been interviewed etc. List all your accomplishments.
• What are your marketing channels , how big is the  audience you have access to.  Basically,  whatever you can do to make you and your book  marketable, will be of great interest to agents  and publisher . Proving to them them that you understand what is required from an author in todays publishing environment, will help them to see you as a potential investment. This will hopefully raise you on a platform that put you above the rest.

Start Building Your Platform

In my last blog I mentioned the importance of researching the publishing industry, as a way to give you a clearer understanding of what lies ahead. That said, we can now move onto the next phase while you are still undertaking your research. It’s all about building a platform for yourself and that’s even before you finish your manuscript. Due to this area covering a wide range of activities, I intend  break to up the subject of building a platform  into a numerous blogs.

Set up an internet presence and get your name out there. The media industry has seen a number of dramatic changes and none as big as the growth of the internet. With this in mind, it is vital to be part of it .  So why not start a blog, pick a subject that you can write on and even better if it relates to the subject of your book that’s great.

Get known, build a name and start building your platform. But don’t expect it to be success over night.  I’ve  just started this blog and expect it to  take a while for me to get known. But the key thing is to start the process.

There are lots of sites you can go to such as wordpress or blogger. They have all the templates you need to get started.

I’ll  be back with some more on blogs on this subject .

Bye for now and keep writing

What you need to know

In my last blog  I talked about how tough it can be for a writer looking to become a published author . However, what I also mentioned was how vital it is for an author to have a clear understanding of what he/she is getting into.

Okay, talk is cheap,  so  how does a newbie know where to start .

• The internet – learn the basics about the  publishing industry , check out publishing blogs, and sign up to a few good ones and keep up to  date with the news.  Then there are online magazines, another great source of knowledge. Basically the internet is a treasure trove of publishing information, so don’t ignore what it can offer.
• Do you have a iPhone or an MP3 player? If yes  check out the amazing podcasts out there . Use search terms like publishing, authors and books etc. Once in the podcast section of  iTunes, or  any similar databases you’ll  find all you need , And don’s worry if most of the  podcast are talking about the USA publishing industry, as there are many transferable points and listening to these  podcasts will give you a realistic insight into this complex environment. They of course need to  be good, and trying to find the gems among the costume jewelry  can prove time consuming. However , here are a few suggestions.

1. Publishing Coach Podcast
2. Author marketing Experts
3. London Book Fair

The above list is far from complete, but it is somewhere to start.

Give the internet and the podcast a try and let me know what you think and if you find your own gems, why not let me know and we can share the knowledge.

So bye for now and keep writing

JFR

Know What You Are Getting Yourself Into

I’ve heard it said, over and over again, how writing a book is possibly the most mentally draining exploit ever undertaken by a writer. And having gone through the process, I would have to agree.  However, what I did not expect was how hard it would be after completing the manuscript.

The adage forewarned is forearmed, is an approach I would recommend to all new writers about to embark on their maiden voyager to become a published author. Learn about your craft and your industry. Take note of lessons learn and adapt positives to suit your needs.

It is important, to realise that writing your book, will not be just about how talented a writer you are. It’s about learning the tricks of the trade, knowing how best to promote your work in today’s publishing market, knowing what’s required from you outside of writing and breaking down myths and mis-perceptions about writing, PR and the publishing industry.

I hope to have left you with some food for thought, as next I intend to examine areas of publishing a writer should look at even before the manuscript is complete.

Bye for now, and keep writing.