tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2907737240492304428.post5041097926321525085..comments2024-03-28T13:28:51.891-04:00Comments on The Write Conversation: Does Platform Trump Writing Ability - Who Wins the Debate?Edie Melsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03902312441667526147noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2907737240492304428.post-27157638878776634832016-11-06T21:34:01.278-05:002016-11-06T21:34:01.278-05:00Jeff you ask a good question. It's short, but ...Jeff you ask a good question. It's short, but it's not a short answer. I'm going to list some blog posts at the end of this reply, but here's my short answer. <br /><br />First, people don't follow us because we have things published. They follow us because we have something interesting to share. An author has to be truly famous before they begin to pick up followers because they write books. <br /><br />I built this blog and my platform years before I had a book published. I got that first book published because it was good AND because I had a solid platform. <br /><br />Here are some posts about platform building:<br />http://thewriteconversation.blogspot.com/2016/03/the-basics-of-building-author-platform.html<br />http://thewriteconversation.blogspot.com/2015/09/so-what-do-i-blog-about.html<br /><br />This post is the last one in a series on building a social media platform:<br />http://thewriteconversation.blogspot.com/2015/08/do-you-have-unrealistic-expectations.html<br /><br />I hope this helps! Blessings, EEdie Melsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03902312441667526147noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2907737240492304428.post-18630478365141636422016-11-06T20:47:27.761-05:002016-11-06T20:47:27.761-05:00Building a platform when you're just starting ...Building a platform when you're just starting out seems like a Catch 22 situation. I understand you need an audience ready and willing to buy your book, but how do you build an audience when you don't have published material to promote? What's the best way to build a platform for an unpublished author? Flashback Friday Christian Music Reviewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10948045649194999368noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2907737240492304428.post-64952283686544340872016-10-21T11:55:05.637-04:002016-10-21T11:55:05.637-04:00Jennifer, remember those big name leaders already ...Jennifer, remember those big name leaders already have a platform, so sometimes we must take that into perspective. If we don't have a platform, we must build one through diligent and relentless perseverance. :)<br /><br />So keep building that audience. :)Cyle Younghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17815133484757908853noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2907737240492304428.post-2139064101100187412016-10-21T11:53:25.363-04:002016-10-21T11:53:25.363-04:00Carrie, I like that you are finding the right mix ...Carrie, I like that you are finding the right mix for you in percentages. :)Cyle Younghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17815133484757908853noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2907737240492304428.post-1945574181555211882016-10-21T11:51:59.330-04:002016-10-21T11:51:59.330-04:00That quote is so true in today's world!That quote is so true in today's world!Cyle Younghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17815133484757908853noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2907737240492304428.post-66355180468718239092016-10-21T11:51:15.484-04:002016-10-21T11:51:15.484-04:00Edie mentions often about taking a specific amount...Edie mentions often about taking a specific amount of time each day and setting it aside to build platform, that's a great method and a great way to start.Cyle Younghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17815133484757908853noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2907737240492304428.post-23892491769673357112016-10-21T11:50:21.774-04:002016-10-21T11:50:21.774-04:00Hint: Mailing list is most important right now :)Hint: Mailing list is most important right now :)Cyle Younghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17815133484757908853noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2907737240492304428.post-69901112070541765912016-10-21T11:49:23.304-04:002016-10-21T11:49:23.304-04:00I wonder this also. I doubt some of them would be ...I wonder this also. I doubt some of them would be published today, solely based on platform alone. It's a sad thought, but living in today's society brings a wealth of opportunity for a writer to create platform and get their book or message an audience.Cyle Younghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17815133484757908853noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2907737240492304428.post-29758755049097729302016-10-21T11:47:28.245-04:002016-10-21T11:47:28.245-04:005,000 is a good number. :) More of course is alway...5,000 is a good number. :) More of course is always better. Cyle Younghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17815133484757908853noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2907737240492304428.post-696113906653433002016-10-20T12:46:31.886-04:002016-10-20T12:46:31.886-04:00Amen to that!
My husband says I'm a contraria...Amen to that!<br /><br />My husband says I'm a contrarian. My knee-jerk response to most things is to go the opposite direction. If the crowd is doing it, I don't want any part of it.<br /><br />The problem is that I've been an artist for a lot longer than I've been writing and I KNOW that art is 20% creativity and 80% marketing. The same is true for any business.<br /><br />My problem is that I spend so much time fretting over doing social media (or which avenues to use), that all creativity goes clean out the window. Platform may be important, but it's pointless if you have nothing to promote!<br /><br />So I'm less interested in doing what's popular or what's seen to "work" than in finding the right mix for me, the books I write (and the art I make), and my overall goals.<br /><br />Platform plays a big part in that.<br /><br />Social media plays a very small part.<br /><br />My suggestion is to learn everything possible from people who know the business (like Clyde and Edie), then analyze the information. Find the things that work for you, change them as appropriate, and don't stress about the rest.<br />Carrie Lynn Lewishttp://www.carrielynnlewis.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2907737240492304428.post-21679071499279363692016-10-20T12:41:02.884-04:002016-10-20T12:41:02.884-04:00I see big name women leaders saying, "Stop tr...I see big name women leaders saying, "Stop trying to build platform...." I get it, we need to concentrate on our audience needs. But if I don't do the work of platform, I won't have an audience. <br />Jennifer Hennhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11742102451822520705noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2907737240492304428.post-55334979623751951712016-10-20T09:30:15.147-04:002016-10-20T09:30:15.147-04:00Somehow the fact that platform trumps writing abil...Somehow the fact that platform trumps writing ability brings to mind a quote by John MacArthur: "People no longer ask is it true, but does it work." Martha Hynsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07131287520879129803noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2907737240492304428.post-54683882572487162852016-10-20T07:39:13.067-04:002016-10-20T07:39:13.067-04:00Eye opening! 60% of your time building your platfo...Eye opening! 60% of your time building your platform. It leaves me speechless trying to figure out how to revamp my time to consistently write, revise, and edit AND platform build). The keyword here is consistently.Time to get back to work on social media.Wendy C Bostonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06806887883295034546noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2907737240492304428.post-31573583504608640052016-10-20T07:38:31.564-04:002016-10-20T07:38:31.564-04:00Eye opening! 60% of your time building your platfo...Eye opening! 60% of your time building your platform. It leaves me speechless trying to figure out how to revamp my time to consistently write, revise, and edit AND platform build). The keyword here is consistently.Time to get back to work on social media.Wendy C Bostonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06806887883295034546noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2907737240492304428.post-63819558228508079022016-10-20T06:59:11.046-04:002016-10-20T06:59:11.046-04:00Thank you for the encouragement! Working tirelessl...Thank you for the encouragement! Working tirelessly on platform : )Inspiring Soulshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13117257616561237263noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2907737240492304428.post-54122245262789705542016-10-20T06:45:52.898-04:002016-10-20T06:45:52.898-04:00A slightly different twist on this issue is whethe...A slightly different twist on this issue is whether platform trumps message. Too often (IMHO), the message is secondary to platform. That's why the market is cluttered with "fluff" stuff but little real substance. I often wonder how famous writers of yore, who by today's standards had no platform--but whose messages are recognized even today and whose books are still bestsellers--would manage in today's marketplace.Dennis L. Petersonhttp://dlpedit.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2907737240492304428.post-14241958970415123972016-10-20T06:13:32.250-04:002016-10-20T06:13:32.250-04:00Cyle, Great post. Thank you for your honesty. I ha...Cyle, Great post. Thank you for your honesty. I have learned first hand that platform trumps writing ability. When I pitched my book the agents wanted to know how many books I could sell. The number 5,000+ seemed to be the correct answer. Writing is a job not a hobby. I schedule time for platform building. I've also learned to get my name out there by writing articles for free. truthtoshine.blogspot.comhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05911184699045569514noreply@blogger.com