Comments on: Why Authors Need a Platform More than Ever

By: The Local Beet: Chicago » The Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Month

The Local Beet: Chicago » The Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Month — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 03:48:57 +0000

[...] with a bang. On March 1, I received news so disappointing that I’m not the first person to blog about it and it’s only gone downhill from there. Several friends have noted that I look tired. Others [...]

By: diannejacob

diannejacob — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 17:39:45 +0000

Absolutely. The book does not come first. First, build a platform. Then a publisher will want you when you write the book based on it.

By: David Leite

David Leite — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 00:57:48 +0000

A platform is as important to a writer as his talent. Without one, chances of making a good living is slim. My agent and editor considered my platform before taking me on. Some of the best “platformers” I know spend almost as much time building and strengthening it as they do writing. But I don’t think it has to be a national TV show or radio show. People such as John T. Edge, the amazingly talented and well-respected food writer on all things Southern, teaches at a university and has the Southern Foodways Alliance as a platform. Others have blogs, Web sites, etc. But in the end, it’s not impossible to build one. But my advice is START NOW. Don’t wait. Even if you think you might want to write a book, someday, somewhere. I started my site 10 years before my book was published because I knew back then getting a built-in audience would help sell me and the book to a publisher. And it did.

By: diannejacob

diannejacob — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 21:06:48 +0000

Thanks for the link, Sally. I often read Jane Friedman’s blog. Now, yes, as you say, back to work. For me too!

By: sallypvargas

sallypvargas — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 18:23:31 +0000

Ah, the dreaded platform. Hi ho. Hi ho. Building a platform requires more than a little heavy lifting. I agree, it’s the REALITY. But I better get back to work on it instead of writing something here.

On the memoir subject, some readers might be interested in Jane Friedman’s post from writer’s digest. http://blog.writersdigest.com/norules/2010/03/10/YourNo1ChallengeIfYoureWritingMemoir.aspx

By: diannejacob

diannejacob — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 15:53:54 +0000

Terrific website, Kendra. Lots of practical info for women writing memoir.

By: Kendra Bonnett

Kendra Bonnett — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 08:27:53 +0000

This is a great article. I’ve been writing a lot about platform myself. In fact, I’m in the middle of a series of articles exploring platform. I’m taking my readers through the process of first finding a platform and then building it during the writing process. Unless you have a platform in place and well populated with readers/buyers, you’ll have to be working on this all the time you’re writing your book. My favorite line is, start your blog the day you start writing your book. But be careful not to steal from your book content to develop blog content.

Now I have a question. Would you be interested in participating in Women’s Memoirs writing contest. All you need is a recipe and a story. You’ll find details here: http://womensmemoirs.com/contests/

Thanks again for this excellent piece on platform.

By: diannejacob

diannejacob — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 01:09:15 +0000

Or have connections. I’ve seen chef memoirs based on who owns the restaurant, or whom they’re related to.

By: Jill O'Connor

Jill O'Connor — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 00:55:25 +0000

I love food memoirs, but feel the market is a little saturated with the ” incandescent memory of the day I tasted my first wild strawberry” stories. It just takes one person to make that innovative and creative leap from cook book to a new, and great story. I think you’re right, that either the author or the subject matter needs to be particularly riveting to sell these days.

By: diannejacob

diannejacob — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 23:24:45 +0000

Leticia, there is an exception to every rule — the rare person who’s worth the gamble, and that appears to be you! Plus, Brazilian food is hot. Congratulations. Readers, her publisher was Kyle Books.