author platform

Do I Need a Platform and If So, How High?

November 1, 2019 By Anne Brown

In 2010, when I first dipped my toe into the publishing world, the biggest mystery to me was—besides figuring out the difference between a query and a synopsis—this thing called a “platform.”

At the time, I was writing about killer mermaids. I didn’t know how I was going to go about becoming enough of an expert on the subject that a potential editor would take me seriously. Imagine my utter relief when I learned that it was only the non-fiction writers who required a platform. All we fiction writers had to prove was that we had an imagination, a way with words, and that we understood the shape of a story.

That blissful world is no more.

These days, even debut fiction writers are being asked by would-be editors about their platforms. What they’re really asking is: [Read more…]

Everyone’s Getting Into Video. Should You?

May 23, 2016 By Jane Friedman

Unless you’ve been garreted away working on the Great American Novel—and maybe you have!—you've probably noticed that video is becoming a big deal. There’s high market demand for it, and we’re all spending more and more time watching video online, which means more advertising money is moving to video. Trend reports indicate that video advertising is now growing faster than social media advertising. As a result, Facebook is now paying big bucks to celebrities and others to produce high-quality … [Read more...]

Let’s Address a Common Misunderstanding About Author Websites

February 22, 2016 By Jane Friedman

For nearly five years now, I've taught classes on how to build and optimize author websites. Every single class, here’s the most common question I receive: Is it OK if I publish my book on my website? This question gets expressed in a multitude of ways, such as: What if I post full chapters of my book on my website (or blog)? If I serialize my book on my website (or blog), is it considered published? How can I charge a subscription fee for work I publish at my website? My first … [Read more...]

‘Social’ Media: Your Shadow Career?

July 28, 2012 By Porter Anderson (@Porter_Anderson)

Sometimes, when we're terrified of embracing our true calling, we'll pursue a shadow calling instead. And how does a shadow career relate to a real career? That shadow career is a metaphor for our real career. Something that supports what I meant to do. Good training? Yes, it sure is. This will come in handy. After all, I have to prepare, lay some groundwork, ramp up, get my eye on the prize, reach out, share, connect, engage, interact, throw around some more clichés. Because it wasn't … [Read more...]

A Comic About The P-Word

May 5, 2012 By Debbie Ohi

The comic above was inspired by a recent discussion in Writer Unboxed as well as Juliet Marillier's recent post. Last time, I posted a cartoon caption challenge for an image featuring an editor at a desk and an Easter bunny. Lots of great responses! John Monahan's caption suggestion got the most thumbs up: "We’ve had some complaints, so from now on you’re going to be called The Non-denominational Spring Festival Lagomorph-American." Heh. Also, some big news in my life since last time. I … [Read more...]

Seven Out-of-the-Box Author Blogging Ideas

May 4, 2012 By Guest

Therese here. Please welcome today's guest, Shari Stauch. Shari is the CEO of Shark Marketing Co. and has been involved in publishing, marketing and PR for 33 years. As president of Charleston's Center for Women, she moderates the Women Writers Forum, and conducts seminars on website marketing and image branding. Under her leadership the Center for Women now heads the federally funded Women’s Business Center for the entire state of South Carolina. Stauch also serves as Secretary for LILA: … [Read more...]