by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig
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| MorgueFile--Crass |
I read a post recently (yes, I’m about a
month behind in my Feedly reader) that I thought was a very interesting
read…and I found myself wincing in sympathy for the writer. The post is “Floundering”
by Stevie Libra, guesting on Robert Lee Brewer’s My
Name is Not Bob blog.
month behind in my Feedly reader) that I thought was a very interesting
read…and I found myself wincing in sympathy for the writer. The post is “Floundering”
by Stevie Libra, guesting on Robert Lee Brewer’s My
Name is Not Bob blog.
Stevie seems to be relatively new to
writing and to platform-building. She
stated that she’d participated in Robert’s
30-day
Platform Challenge in 2012, which resulted in setting up a presence on
different sites. As she put it, getting
established on these sites created “a monster that required daily feedings of
intensifying proportions.”
writing and to platform-building. She
stated that she’d participated in Robert’s
30-day
Platform Challenge in 2012, which resulted in setting up a presence on
different sites. As she put it, getting
established on these sites created “a monster that required daily feedings of
intensifying proportions.”
It’s an interesting post because Stevie
analyzes some of the problems she was experiencing while trying to keep up with
her platform building. These included
email collection for newsletters, fighting spam on her blog, what to blog
about, and finding the time to do any of these things when she was struggling
with her writing.
analyzes some of the problems she was experiencing while trying to keep up with
her platform building. These included
email collection for newsletters, fighting spam on her blog, what to blog
about, and finding the time to do any of these things when she was struggling
with her writing.
Stevie reports that she solved some of
her problems by cutting back and simplifying what she’s doing online.
her problems by cutting back and simplifying what she’s doing online.
I was glad to see that she was cutting
back. As Jane Friedman put it in a post
entitled “Industry
Trends Requiring Every Writer’s Attention” on the Writer
Unboxed blog, she stated:
back. As Jane Friedman put it in a post
entitled “Industry
Trends Requiring Every Writer’s Attention” on the Writer
Unboxed blog, she stated:
If you’re a totally new, unpublished writer who is
focused on fiction, memoir, poetry, or any type of narrative-driven work,
forget you ever heard the word platform. I think it’s causing more damage than
good. It’s causing writers to do things that they dislike (even hate), and that
are unnatural for them at an early stage of their careers. They’re confused,
for good reason, and platform building grows into a raging distraction from the
work at hand—the writing.
focused on fiction, memoir, poetry, or any type of narrative-driven work,
forget you ever heard the word platform. I think it’s causing more damage than
good. It’s causing writers to do things that they dislike (even hate), and that
are unnatural for them at an early stage of their careers. They’re confused,
for good reason, and platform building grows into a raging distraction from the
work at hand—the writing.
Therefore, build your platform by writing and
publishing in outlets that are a good fit for you, lead to professional growth,
and build your network. The other pieces will start to fall into place.
publishing in outlets that are a good fit for you, lead to professional growth,
and build your network. The other pieces will start to fall into place.
I think that’s fantastic advice. I will say that I think it’s important to set
up a few basics, even for new writers:
up a few basics, even for new writers:
A professional email address (your name,
perhaps) with gmail, outlook, or another free provider.
perhaps) with gmail, outlook, or another free provider.
A home base of some sort, as a
writer. For me, it’s the blog. My blog is the one place online where I
consistently interact with other writers.
That’s been a critical source of support and encouragement for me as a
writer. For you it might be some other
site you enjoy: Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, etc.
writer. For me, it’s the blog. My blog is the one place online where I
consistently interact with other writers.
That’s been a critical source of support and encouragement for me as a
writer. For you it might be some other
site you enjoy: Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, etc.
For the harried, published writer:
If we regularly update our website/home
base (blog, etc.), and we need to cut back…I can’t see the harm in it. I used to blog every day until my schedule
got so crazy that I cut back to four days a week. I know several successful “slow bloggers” who
post once a week, but are very consistent and have large followings. Again, I think it’s important to stick with
what we enjoy…if we enjoy Facebook more than blogging, then that’s what we
should focus on. The important thing is
having a way for readers to connect with us, if they want to.
base (blog, etc.), and we need to cut back…I can’t see the harm in it. I used to blog every day until my schedule
got so crazy that I cut back to four days a week. I know several successful “slow bloggers” who
post once a week, but are very consistent and have large followings. Again, I think it’s important to stick with
what we enjoy…if we enjoy Facebook more than blogging, then that’s what we
should focus on. The important thing is
having a way for readers to connect with us, if they want to.
Eventually, I’m imagining (and it’s
already technically possible, but I haven’t seen it employed in any ebooks that
I’ve read) that eventually we’ll get to the point where our platform is located
inside our digital books. Honestly, it
seems to me where this makes the most sense to connect with our readers…through
the books themselves. I’ve seen live
links to authors’ Facebook and Twitter accounts, but it seems like we could have
more of an interactive book club type thing…forums, discussion boards, etc. in
the books.
already technically possible, but I haven’t seen it employed in any ebooks that
I’ve read) that eventually we’ll get to the point where our platform is located
inside our digital books. Honestly, it
seems to me where this makes the most sense to connect with our readers…through
the books themselves. I’ve seen live
links to authors’ Facebook and Twitter accounts, but it seems like we could have
more of an interactive book club type thing…forums, discussion boards, etc. in
the books.
How do you juggle social media and
writing? Have you cut back your time
online?
writing? Have you cut back your time
online?
Elizabeth – You’re raising one of the most important questions a writer needs to face: how you do you juggle writing and brand-building. It’s not easy. I think it’s critical to focus your attention on what you like most and do best. For instance, I spend lots more time on my blog (my ‘home base’) than I do on my Crimespace page. I have a presence on Crimespace, Goodreads and so on, but I really focus on the blog. I’d also say that I do my best to streamline my online presence, so that it’s easier to manage. For instance, I’ve set my blog posts to feed automatically to Facebook, my Goodreads page, my Amazon Author page, my Linked-In page and so on. It really makes it easier for readers to keep up. And everything is connected to the same email account, so that wherever readers ‘find’ me, they can reach me. Even with doing that though, it does get busy!
I think sometimes I get to involved in blogging, and I don’t write. I need to work on my writing and not blogging. :)
I’ve cut back my blogging from 5 days to 2. I don’t Tweet or do any other social media for my writing. I am on Facebook to connect with family and friends. I suppose when I finish and publish my current WIP I’ll have to think about this a bit more, but frankly, it exhausts me just thinking about it. Sigh!
I tend to do things in ‘spurts’ (and as you can tell by my prolonged absence here, doing my morning blog-hopping fell off my to-do list.)
You can’t do it all, and as you wisely point out, you have to find what you enjoy and what seems to work, and focus on doing a little at a time.
Terry
Terry’s Place
I’ve been thinking about writing a book called “The Lazy Writer’s Guide to Non-Annoying Platform Building” (except it would probably just be about Twitter).
Our problem, I think, is that all the advice and “shortcuts” in marketing for writers comes from MARKETERS, who love this stuff and want to do it all day long, and want maximum everything.
Hi Elizabeth .. I don’t know how people cope – I don’t read and only post ‘occasionally’ – I guess if I decide to do some serious writing or compilation from my posts then I’ll have to have worked a way round the social challenge.
Stevie, as the Maven, knows what she’s doing – just going at it with a new subject and new approach ..
Cheers – Hilary
I’m with you. I didn’t do anything online until I’d written a few books. At that point, I decided to start a blog, which I enjoyed (and still enjoy!), which led to gradually adding other pieces of my platform.
It doesn’t feel overwhelming to me at this point because I spend less time tending my accounts. The only thing I wish I could do more of is read blogs. I love reading blogs, but it’s my biggest time suck. :(
Located in our books – that’s a cool idea.
I focus on my blog and Twitter and Goodreads when I think about it. I don’t want to be stretched any thinner.
Platform, to me, is just cool novel by Michel Houellebecq >:)
Cold As Heaven
OMG I love your idea of platform connected to ebooks! I’m new to the Kindle thing, so I’m still getting my feet wet with all of that.
I did cut back on blogging. I used to post twice a week, but now I regularly post every Wednesday. Didn’t even cause a ripple on the blogosphere, and freed up important writing time.
Margot–Automation is a blessing, isn’t it?
Teresa–I know what you mean…blogging is too much fun!
Hilary–I think you do a good job!
Jill–I *love* reading blogs! I could seriously do that all day. No time, though!
Karen–I think you’re doing enough, even with another book out. Maybe just have a free website (hosted by Word Press or something?)
Alex–Goodreads is sort of a scary place to me. :) But I do have a presence there.
Terry–So true, isn’t it? If it’s a chore, we’re not going to want to do it (whether it’s Facebook, Twitter, or Google+).
The Daring Novelist–Ha! Do you need a co-author for that book. :) And you’re right…it’s all about Twitter.
CA Heaven–Haven’t read it! Will need to put that on my TBR. :)
Julie–I think the technology is all in place to do something like that and have it really, genuinely be a reader-centric platforming experience. For me, I mostly reach out to authors. :) That’s intentional, but not exactly effective in terms of promo. Using the books themselves as ways to connect makes a lot more sense. The only thing would be getting readers onboard with that idea…..I think, for many readers, they want their reading time to be *reading* time and not be reminded to “like” something or to have the time be online time. But I think the idea will catch hold.
I focus on twitter and Facebook groups. It’s what I enjoy. I blog once in a while. Social media is suppose to fun not hours of tortuous activity.
I’m a fiction writer. Platform has never made sense to me. It started with the non-fiction writers, who lectured us on getting a platform — easy for them because they were usually writing from a business standpoint where platform was important. I write fantasy. What’s my platform? Unicorns?
I was just at a con, and the comment on a panel was that social media is “indirect marketing.” I think everyone imagines the “direct marketing” version for social media: Person goes to your blog, sees there’s a book out, clicks on the link, and buys the book. What’s more likely to happen is they visit your blog regularly and enjoy the posts. They go to a con or a bookstore, see a book that catches their eye. Name looks familiar because they’ve seen it multiple times on the blog. They buy the book.
In the last few months, I’ve finally said enough with Twitter. I’ve never liked it — the cocktail party aspect of it reminds me all too much of all those parties I was directed to go that and participate and hated. I was trying to do ten tweets a day to keep up, and it wasn’t fun at all. Instead, much more limited time on Twitter and more time spent blogging (which is to say, 90 minutes for blogging a week). My goal is simply to keep pushing my name. In the meantime, I’m writing stuff and sending it out.
I do get a little tired from keeping up with social media sometimes and this year I’ve cut back a fair bit. More quality interactions, less quantity.
I love your idea of connecting within the digital book. Brilliant!
Writers who learn to love marketing will have more fun in the long run.
Check out the tool Hootsuite. Allows you to simultaneously post content on multiple social networks. My wife uses it in her virtual assistant business, and in marketing my books and services.
Consistency and focus are key. Better to do a few things well then a lotta things poorly.
Though, if you can do a few things well, and then use automation like Hootsuite to spread those well-done things to a wider audience, that’s what tech is for.
Hi Elizabeth!
Thanks for writing this, I love when writers seriously explore the challenges of all that is “expected” of them. I had responded to Jane’s advice with a post of my own back in March, titled: “The Dirty Secret of Author Platform (Hint: It’s Difficult)” This was the basic premise:
——-
Why Jane is right about author platform, but why she may be misinterpreted.
Jane is not saying author platform is unimportant, but rather, she is saying that the conversation around it needs to be elevated. This is a topic for serious authors who are ready to make a commitment to their writing career and establishing connections with readers. For those who are struggling to even find the time and focus to even write, it may be premature to fill up their days Tweeting and blogging.
I feel that Jane may be misinterpreted because authors are frustrated with all that is on their plate. If you only care about the sound byte of “author platform is dead,” then you are only doing yourself a disservice as a writer. You, as a writer, are not off the hook for understanding and developing your audience.
——-
What I think rubs writers the wrong way is that a lot of “platform” is positioned as just saying things on blogs and social media. To me, platform is VERY much about doing the messy hard work of understanding who one’s audience is, connecting with them, aligning your messaging, considering online/offline and where they connect, developing relationships, and crafting true marketing strategies, not just Tweets.
Are some writers overwhelmed at the concept of that last paragraph, and perhaps have an immediate reaction of: “um, I’m a writer Dan, not a marketer.” Yep, definitely.
The beauty of the web is that there is the OPPORTUNITY to reach readers with compelling work that you craft. And because of that, there is a perception that you are just one-Tweet away from becoming a bestseller. The reality is that this is work.
Each writer can choose how they want to develop their own career as a writer, and many (MANY!) writers can (and should) clearly choose to just write for the sake of writing. It is art, it is an outlet, an expression. That’s great.
But many other writers do have greater aspirations. And the craft of developing one’s platform can be a powerful way to ensure they reach readers.
It’s an individual choice, and an individual responsibility.
Thanks for the great conversation here!
-Dan
Here is the full post (if you don’t mind me sharing the link here) http://wegrowmedia.com/the-dirty-secret-of-author-platform-hint-its-difficult/