Building a platform -- a how-to guide
The lovely and talented Pamela Ross writerross recently attended a conference for adult writers -- that'd be folks who write for putative grown-ups, rather than those of us who write for more discerning readers. One of the issues that came up repeatedly was the need for writers to have a platform.
The concept of a platform is something I know about from my foray into writing nonfiction. In nonfiction, part of your book proposal is supposed to be an explanation of your platform. It encompasses the idea of "what qualifies you to write this book, what contacts do you have in the wide world that will enable you to sell this book, and how can we be sure that you are a wise marketing risk for us (because, really, we don't intend to put all that much effort into making your book a break-out success). That last part is implied, but you get the idea.
I should add that I don't think this is all that big of a deal in children's writing yet, nor may it become a big thing. Still, I'm guessing that if you did this a bit when trying to find, say, an agent, it might be helpful, so here are my tips (gleaned from reading, online courses, and the aforementioned preparation of a nonfiction book proposal).
Think about selling your book as being equivalent to launching a rocket into space. In order to get the rocket ready to launch, you need a platform from which to launch it.
Say that you've written a book about, um, gargoyles. Sure, gargoyles. Why not?
What is your platform?
Let's say that you've written a magazine article about statuary. That counts. One about gargoyles counts more. Then again, tons of research should also count. And/or your college major in, I don't know, architecture or your experience in stone-carving.
Let's say that you are considered an expert in differentiating between old, authentic gargoyles and reproductions because you were the caretaker at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris for ten years. Holy cow -- you've just established a rock-solid platform. But is it big enough?
You need not only a tall platform (one that reaches all the way to the ground, that's based on actual knowledge of your topic), but one that's wide enough to launch your rocket from.
Do you have a newspaper or magazine column? Have you had other items published? (Bonus points for if the items are on a related topic and/or in a major national publication.) Are you a member of the National Gargoyle Lover's Society? All of these sorts of things will widen your platform.
Here are a few other superficial platform-building devices: Do you belong to any organizations? Do you have connections with people or places that would be interested in your book? Are you articulate in person? Are you moderately attractive (or even HOTT?)? If so, these things make doing press more likely and therefore you have the potential to attract more readers. Or so goes conventional wisdom. Go ahead -- ask anyone in a book publisher's marketing department. They are extra happy when the authors are photogenic. Seriously.
There are things you can do to gain expertise in a particular field, thereby garnering you more of a platform from which to launch your book:
1. Write about a related topic and get it published. Even local papers (you know, the ones that get sent to you for free) count. Or newsletters of organizations that are somehow related. Sticking with Gargoyles -- does the National Gargoyle Lover's Society have a newsletter? What about the Cathedral Fanatic's Association? (Sure, I'm making these up, but if you think about your own subject/topic, you'll figure it out.) Getting published in a newsletter or magazine that is devoted to your topic or at least encompasses it is a Very Good Platform-Building Device (VGPBD).
2. Join an organization or two that is related. Again, sticking with gargoyles -- the National Cathedral in Washington DC is rife with them (and they're wicked cool, too). Mayhap you could become a "friend of the cathedral" or write up something for the National Cathedral. That'd be another VGPBD. So would joining the International Association of Gargoyle Afficionados.
3. Get someone to ask you to speak about the topic. The local Rotary, the church/synagogue Men's or Ladies' Club, whatever. There -- you're officially a speaker. Another VGPBD. If they give you a small stipend (or free lunch) for it, even better. Bonus points if you get to speak at an event hosted by one of those related organizations we discussed.
4. Remember the art of writing. It's a spin thing, as cynthea might say. If you've collected gargoyles since you were a child, say so. But don't say "I've collected gargoyles since I was a child." Say, "I've had more than twenty years of hands-on experience with gargoyles." See?
If you've got a nice sturdy platform because you can claim some actual knowledge of the topic, and a nice wide platform because you know the head of the Gargoyle Museum who would be only too happy to stock your book (or whatever), then you are in a much better position to successfully launch your rocket than a writer who hasn't built up the right platform -- even if the other writer has the better rocket. (And as an aside, I hear you're likely to get more money for your rocket if you have a nice, big, shiny platform, which is usually a good thing.)
The concept of a platform is something I know about from my foray into writing nonfiction. In nonfiction, part of your book proposal is supposed to be an explanation of your platform. It encompasses the idea of "what qualifies you to write this book, what contacts do you have in the wide world that will enable you to sell this book, and how can we be sure that you are a wise marketing risk for us (because, really, we don't intend to put all that much effort into making your book a break-out success). That last part is implied, but you get the idea.
I should add that I don't think this is all that big of a deal in children's writing yet, nor may it become a big thing. Still, I'm guessing that if you did this a bit when trying to find, say, an agent, it might be helpful, so here are my tips (gleaned from reading, online courses, and the aforementioned preparation of a nonfiction book proposal).
Think about selling your book as being equivalent to launching a rocket into space. In order to get the rocket ready to launch, you need a platform from which to launch it.
Say that you've written a book about, um, gargoyles. Sure, gargoyles. Why not?
What is your platform?
Let's say that you've written a magazine article about statuary. That counts. One about gargoyles counts more. Then again, tons of research should also count. And/or your college major in, I don't know, architecture or your experience in stone-carving.
Let's say that you are considered an expert in differentiating between old, authentic gargoyles and reproductions because you were the caretaker at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris for ten years. Holy cow -- you've just established a rock-solid platform. But is it big enough?
You need not only a tall platform (one that reaches all the way to the ground, that's based on actual knowledge of your topic), but one that's wide enough to launch your rocket from.
Do you have a newspaper or magazine column? Have you had other items published? (Bonus points for if the items are on a related topic and/or in a major national publication.) Are you a member of the National Gargoyle Lover's Society? All of these sorts of things will widen your platform.
Here are a few other superficial platform-building devices: Do you belong to any organizations? Do you have connections with people or places that would be interested in your book? Are you articulate in person? Are you moderately attractive (or even HOTT?)? If so, these things make doing press more likely and therefore you have the potential to attract more readers. Or so goes conventional wisdom. Go ahead -- ask anyone in a book publisher's marketing department. They are extra happy when the authors are photogenic. Seriously.
There are things you can do to gain expertise in a particular field, thereby garnering you more of a platform from which to launch your book:
1. Write about a related topic and get it published. Even local papers (you know, the ones that get sent to you for free) count. Or newsletters of organizations that are somehow related. Sticking with Gargoyles -- does the National Gargoyle Lover's Society have a newsletter? What about the Cathedral Fanatic's Association? (Sure, I'm making these up, but if you think about your own subject/topic, you'll figure it out.) Getting published in a newsletter or magazine that is devoted to your topic or at least encompasses it is a Very Good Platform-Building Device (VGPBD).
2. Join an organization or two that is related. Again, sticking with gargoyles -- the National Cathedral in Washington DC is rife with them (and they're wicked cool, too). Mayhap you could become a "friend of the cathedral" or write up something for the National Cathedral. That'd be another VGPBD. So would joining the International Association of Gargoyle Afficionados.
3. Get someone to ask you to speak about the topic. The local Rotary, the church/synagogue Men's or Ladies' Club, whatever. There -- you're officially a speaker. Another VGPBD. If they give you a small stipend (or free lunch) for it, even better. Bonus points if you get to speak at an event hosted by one of those related organizations we discussed.
4. Remember the art of writing. It's a spin thing, as cynthea might say. If you've collected gargoyles since you were a child, say so. But don't say "I've collected gargoyles since I was a child." Say, "I've had more than twenty years of hands-on experience with gargoyles." See?
If you've got a nice sturdy platform because you can claim some actual knowledge of the topic, and a nice wide platform because you know the head of the Gargoyle Museum who would be only too happy to stock your book (or whatever), then you are in a much better position to successfully launch your rocket than a writer who hasn't built up the right platform -- even if the other writer has the better rocket. (And as an aside, I hear you're likely to get more money for your rocket if you have a nice, big, shiny platform, which is usually a good thing.)