Platform is Not a Four Letter Word

Platform is Not a Four Letter Word
Wednesday, December 7, 2016 by Andy Lee

“Your platform isn’t large enough.” The pretty blonde editor closed my proposal and handed it back to me with a small smile.

I attempted a smile, thanked her for her time, stood up, held back the tears, and walked out of the room as gracefully as possible—holding my breath. When I reached the fresh air outside, I wanted to scream.

Ugh! I despised that word, platform—the illusive golden ticket. I refuted this modern publishing precept for big platform with the thoughts . . . but what if a book is amazing? What if an author is really talented? God is a big God! He can do anything.

But now that I’m on the other side of publication with two books recently released, I’ve learned a few things, and I have a better understanding of the importance of platform.

Talent and a unique idea can land you a contract with a small publisher. Many of us don’t care the size of the publisher, we just want to see our baby in print. (Am I right?) There are small to medium size publishers who will take a chance on a new writer with a small platform. And we are so thankful for them. I’ve been blessed with such publishers.

But after the release of two new books in less than two months, I can tell you that I’m thankful for the platform, though not large, that I began to grow with the launch of my blog seven years ago.

Day in and day out I’ve consistently written for my followers.

I’m so glad I stayed the course and kept on writing even on days when the views were low and no comments or shares surfaced. Honestly, I’ve felt compelled to blog, and I know that God alone has been behind that grace to do so. In the consistency, perhaps the monotony, I’ve gained loyal followers. I have my tribe—a small tribe, but they are mine.

I am proof that everything the industry professionals tell you is true. Platform, a place to get the word out about your book, is paramount. Blogging, speaking, and social media are three venues to build your platform.

Social media is a gift. We must embrace it as authors in the twenty-first century. But I do give this rule:

Use it socially, not just as a tool to promote your book and blog.
We must share others’ joys and concerns, cheer people on, allow people into our lives, and share our books and articles for the edification of others.
Share other author’s books and blogs too.

I have been amazed by how fast a post about your book’s release can spread through social media simply because your friends and followers love you.

But they don’t just love me, they have become familiar with my writing. They know what to expect. I am so thankful I started working on platform years ago. It takes time. If an author doesn’t start blogging or social media(ing) until after her book comes out, it’s too late. There’s not been enough time to grow it.

You’ve got to start NOW. Start building your platform before the contract, not just because the publishers demand it, but because you will greatly depend on that platform when the time comes for your book to release.

You’re not selling you. You’re sharing the story God gave you to share. He’s given us wonderful tools in this modern era to generously love others across the country and the world with our words. He has called us to employ the written word to bring life to a dying, hurting world.

Build your platform, if not for the industry, for God.

Andy Lee is an award-winning writer, blogger, Bible teacher, and author of two books, A Mary Like Me: Flawed Yet Called (Leafwood 2016), and The Book of Ruth Key Word Bible Study: A 31-Day Journey to Hope and Promise (AMG 2015). She is the managing editor of the FCWC blog, the president of the Wilmington Word Weavers, and mom to three grown kids, one son-in-law, and a kitty named Hank.

Andy digs into the ancient languages under our Bible translations for fresh insight on her Facebook Live broadcast, Bite of Bread, which airs at 8:20 ET, Monday through Friday. And she ministers faith inspiration and fresh “Bread” on her blog, Daily Grace at www.wordsbyandylee.com. She is teaching two classes at FCWC, Hermeneutics for Writers and Blogging for the Soul and Making an Impact.

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Comments

Cherrilynn From East Greenwich, RI At 12/10/2016 7:02:28 AM

Andy, This is a poignant post. I will share it on Almost an Author. I work with an agent and this is the #1 issue that plagues a writer. The #2 pride. Yikes, I said it. Writers get offended when we tell them that platform is vital for sales. Thank you for shining the light on this important topic.