Saturday, October 22, 2016

When A Writer's Platform Numbers are Low

by Katy Kauffman @KatyKauffman28


I heard at a writers conference that 10,000 was a good number. The question was how many readers need to be in your audience for a major traditional publisher to consider publishing your book. 10,000?!

About that many people attended my former church, and for my original publishing dream to come true, every person in my church would have to like my writing and follow me online. The thought left me breathless.

I started my first blog in one of James Rubart’s marketing classes, and I remember being happy that I had 12 followers after a while. I joined the Facebook and Twitter frenzy pretty late compared to friends my age, and when I reached 300 followers, I did a happy dance on the inside.

I know my numbers are low compared to some authors, but every time I get a notification about a new “follow” or “like,” I smile. But you know what? 10,000 readers may be a long time in coming, but I will trust it will come.

So when your numbers are relatively low and you wonder when you will ever hit the coveted 10,000 mark, what are you supposed to do? Keep writing. Keep blogging. Keep doing what you know to do.

Blogging takes time.
I know, I know. Blogging takes time. Every week. Books take more time. Social media promotion takes additional time and steals precious minutes from writing. You can drive yourself nuts trying to keep up with everything an author has to do these days. But it’s worth it.

This year I was growing weary trying to keep up with it all, and then I heard a sermon by Dr. David Jeremiah. With a shepherd’s heart, he explained that if we stop planting now, we won’t reap a harvest later. There will be a gap, and we’ll regret it.

So don’t stop planting. Take in God’s Word to refresh your soul, and spend time with the Author of our faith. Then sit at your desk or on your back porch, and pour your heart out on paper. Seek God’s guidance for what topics to write about or what stories to share with the world. As a diligent farmer, work day by day, and don’t stop. Don’t let there be a gap in the harvest. It will matter to someone now (and down the road) that you’ve worked hard to write. It will matter to God that you’ve faithfully followed Him and His plan for you.

Then the numbers may grow. Editors and agents may take notice. You may be asked to write things you never thought of before. Dreams may start to come true that you didn’t know were possible. I’ve seen it happen. But it takes hard work and God’s blessing. Don’t give up. 

TWEETABLE
Thoughts when a writer's platform numbers are low - @KatyKauffman28 (Click to Tweet)

Katy Kauffman is an award-winning author and a co-founder of Lighthouse Bible Studies, a ministry which seeks to connect people to God through His Word.

She has taught the Bible to women and teens, and has two published Bible studies for women, 2 Timothy: Winning the Victory and Faith, Courage, and Victory which won the 2016 Selah award for Bible studies. She is an editor of Refresh Bible Study Magazine and the designer of Broken but Priceless: The Magazine. She makes her home near Atlanta, Georgia.

16 comments:

  1. THANK YOU Katy! Have you been eavesdropping on my worried thoughts lately? You have set me back on track this morning with your encouragement. Blessings to you today.

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    1. I'm so glad to hear that it encouraged you, Danetta. I prayed that you would keep doing what you know to do. God bless your hard work!

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  2. Thanks Katy. You've nailed it. While the demands of the publishing world may be overwhelming, if we simply honor God by pressing on, He will take care of the results. Yes, we must do our part. He never promised an easy path. But He does promise to take our hands and show us the way to go, if we will just ASK Him. I love your spirit. Keep fighting the good fight.

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    1. I agree, Bruce! Thank you for sharing that and for your kind words. Praying for you as you fight the good fight!

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  3. Enjoyed this article very much. I will share it with my writers' group. Many of them are finding it hard to make time to write. I will tell them what Dr. David Jeremiah said too. I will start following you on Twitter and ask you to be my friend on Facebook. I have been writing devotions and poems for over thirty years and had my first book published by Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas at the age of 80 three years ago. "Double Vision: Seeing God in Everyday Life Through Devotions and Poetry. Blessings on your writing and your ministry.

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    1. I'm glad you liked it so much that you're going to share it with your writers group, Frances! Thank you for wanting to connect on Twitter and Facebook. Your book sounds wonderful. I also like to write poetry, and I have plans to publish a series of books on poetry and prayers. I hope we can chat more online. God bless you and your writing!

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  4. Katy,

    Your thoughts have come just when they've been most needed. God is good all the time.

    All the time, God is good!

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    1. Amen! He is. I am so glad it was the right timing, Carrie Lynn!

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  5. Such great words! I was getting ready to shut my lap top and park myself in front of the TV but you've given me hope. Instead I think I'll spend time seeking Him and His will for me.

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  6. Awesome! May God give you guidance, Michelle. Keep writing! (And then watch some tv when you need a break.) :)

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  7. Thanks Katy, I think we all have the "I have better things to do with my time if no one is going to read it anyway" feelings from time to time. The problem is we were not called by people to do what we do. God did the calling and we must be faithful. Watching a seed sprout is tedious business, but when that first little bit of green peeps out of the ground. . . We plant, God waters and grows the harvest. It is His but we get to be in on the celebration. Thanks for your words.

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    1. You said that beautifully, Patty. I especially like the part about getting in on the celebration. Thank you for sharing, and let's continue to serve God and be useful to His plan together!

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  8. Beautiful post and right on time!

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  9. Thank you for your encouragement.

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    1. Don't give up, Cindy! Thank you for reading this post. May God bless you as you write for Him.

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