| 1 year ago :: Dec 09, 2008 - 7:58PM #1 | |
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There's a lot of buzz on the blogs about developing a platform if you want to get published these days. As a writer who seriously wants to get a first novel published, I'd like to hear from those who have experience developing a platform. What are the essential steps? How do you determine your audience and what are ways you can begin reaching them even before the book is finished, much less published? It sounds like in today's economy getting a book published will depend heavily on establishing marketing plans and a platform before any publisher will consider your work. So, while I'm rolling up my sleeves and getting ready to revise my rough draft, I'd like to simultaneously plan my marketing strategy to ensure the novel has a fighting chance when it's done. Any suggestions on where to begin? |
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| 13 months ago :: Mar 16, 2009 - 8:43PM #2 | |
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I don't have personal experience with building a platform, but as someone with a Public Relations and Marketing background, I understand the concept very well. These days, building a platform is heavily reliant on the Internet. For examples of this, look to someone like Tucker Max, who wrote "I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell." He started off as a blogger, as the blog grew in popularity there eventually was a book -- and apparently soon to be a movie as well. Other examples of books through a success on the Web are Stuff White People Like and I Can Haz Cheezburger. They both released books of their, again, blog-style posts. My only problem with the thought of having to build a platform to get published is that it is just another in a long list of things that agents -- or atleast the talking heads -- are putting out there that puts more of the work in the writer's hands before they ever sign an agent. If this is what you want to do then you need to find a way that you can market you. Building a platform isn't about the work you want to sell, it's about what you can give away for free now. |
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