“I’d love to hear from you once your platform reaches the level that traditional publishers are looking for.”
That’s so frustrating, isn’t it? You’ve crafted a great book proposal and your critique group assures you that your writing is strong. Yet, when an agent or publisher breaks the news that your platform needs to grow, well that moment feels like someone tossed a stinky wet blanket on top your rose-petal covered bed of sweet publishing dreams. Gross.
As far as many writers are concerned, platform is kissing cousin of a curse word. As I talk with authors, whether hopeful or established, I’ve noticed that attitudes toward platform-building fall into one of three categories:
- Creative Curiosity– Embracing risk, flexibility and innovation
- Cautious – Willing, but worried or skeptical about time, effort or impact
- Crushed – Feeling defeated/unable to visualize path to success
Which one of these best fits your attitude around platform-building?
Earlier this week, I asked a webinar audience to share their platform-building attitude. While a healthy segment of the group chose “creative curiosity,” a sizable number courageously admitted to “cautious” and even “crushed.”
Many see platform as a giant brick wall that they can’t climb over. However, it might be helpful to reframe that perspective. I think that publishers see platform like a tank of gas. The bigger and fuller the tank, the more mileage they can get out of the project, which means the greater likelihood of success for the author. This isn’t a guarantee, but it’s a solid indicator. Therefore, platform isn’t a curse or a barrier keeping you from your dreams. You don’t have to agree with what I’m about to say, but here it is: Platform protects your dream if you’re pursuing a traditional publisher.
Securing a healthy platform, which I define as a combination of influence and engagement, is a powerful fuel that drives the potential of your dream. Now, am I saying that traditional publishing is the only way to make your dream of authoring a book come true? Absolutely not! However, if you pursue traditional publishing, platform is a protection against your dream from starting off with a big, exciting contract signing before puttering out shortly after a lackluster launch and slow sales.
How can you hold onto a productive and positive attitude when you feel tired of or discouraged by building platform?
Let’s face it, you can work on your growing platform with a bad attitude. You can complain about writing blog posts. You can get annoyed about posting on social media. Absolutely. But the burden of a bad attitude is like going on a diet to improve your physical health and getting angry at the food you now have to eat to reach your wellness goal.
For this post, I dug out my old copy of Michael Hyatt’s best-selling book, Platform: Get Noticed in a Noisy World to see if what he wrote back 2012 is still relevant nine years and at least ten iPhone model releases and one whole pandemic later. We can pick up a few practical nuggets if we need to push our platform-building attitude back into the positive territory.
In Chapter Nine, entitled, “Think Big…Now, Bigger,” Hyatt tosses out a pithy, yet striking axiom: Before you can find your way, you must discover your why. (And every Simon Sinek fan said, “Amen.”) This is a great question to revisit, especially when your writer heart is weary or you’re feeling the sting of rejection.
Hyatt ask readers to answer four questions to solidify the “why” behind their pursuit of platform. He proposes that when you know the answer to these four questions, they “provide the intellectual and emotional power to keep going when the path becomes difficult. (And it will.)” Here are the four questions that you can think through today:
- Why is this goal (platform-building) important to you?
- What will achieving it make possible?
- What is at stake if you don’t?
- What will you have to give up in order to achieve it?
As you answer these questions for yourself, I want to close with the story of Malawian Legson Kayira, author of the best-selling book, I Will Try.
In 1958, a 16-year old Kayira left his village in East Africa with his Bible, a copy of Pilgrim’s Progress, five days of food, an ax for protection, and a blanket. His goal? He wanted to go to America to college, even though he had no money and he would have to travel almost 3,000 miles to catch a boat across the ocean. The people in his village scoffed at Kayira’s dream, but he put some shoes on his dreams and set out for America.
Eighteen months later, Kayira had traveled 1,000 miles. He’d been sick, hungry and destitute, but he didn’t give up. While working in a large city for six months, Kayira wrote Skagit Valley College in Washington State, and they wrote back offering him admission and a full scholarship. However, Kayira had no passport or the money to travel to America.
Yet, as people found out about his story, they showed up to support Kayira. Two years later, Kayira arrived in America. He attended Skagit Valley College and later taught at Cambridge University in England.
Like Kayira’s long journey, you might feel a desirable platform is 3,000 miles away, yet his story is a reminder that success is possible with a can-do mindset, why-driven perseverance, and one step at a time.
JOIN THE CONVERSATION: How do you maintain a positive attitude as you are building your platform? Do you have encouragement that you’d like to share with others?
Haha this post makes me feel seen! Thank you for these transparent and encouraging words. I think I I hang in between the creative/curious and cautious. Sometimes it feels like such a huge mountain to overcome but I am encouraged when I think that, yes, I can and will put forth effort but ultimately I don’t have control over who follows or engages. And if that’s the case, I need to trust how and when God gets the message out. My responsibility is obedience. Thankful for these blogs and everyone’s insight.
Jenny, I love that you feel seen in this post! I know that you can do it!
To reach the shores of Platform
across that sea so broad,
through dolrums and the raging storm,
you must set sail with God,
and He will take His station
beside the compass rose,
but know His destination
may not be one you chose,
for He knows the meaning
of words placed in your heart,
so leave to Him the gleaning
and humbly play your part,
and when you walk that golden beach
you’ll find who you were meant to reach.
“You must set sail with God” – Andrew, you nailed it! Well said.
I love this, Andrew. “You’ll find who you were meant to reach.” Even if only yourself. Thanks, my brother. Still praying for you.
I love the story about Kayira and Skagit Valley College. That’s in my state. Yay, Washington! I have actually let the things that I enjoy sharing about and blogging about steer my writing. I love to take and post photos of the forest, my Newfoundland dog, and write about all the crazy things my 3 sons are up to. After many years, I realized that perhaps one or two book manuscripts that incorporated these elements wouldn’t be a terrible idea. We shall see what happens, but I’m sure having a lot of fun writing them!
Kristen, how fun and productive! Thank you for sharing how you keep as positive attitude as you pursue a growing platform.
The questions you raise, as well as the topic itself, are spot on. I plan to spend some time answering them. Thank you.
Hi Patricia, I’m glad that these questions are helpful to you! Thanks for stopping by today and sharing your comment.
I think platform building is the great experiment in discovering how we naturally effuse the joy from our own journey. If it’s draining, it’s not sustaining. We keep forging ahead until we find the path of progress. Each step we take is a step forward, even if it feels like it hasn’t gone anywhere. For in that moment we discern a different direction for the next step.
Love this, Barb!
I needed to hear this today. Thanks, Barb!
Barbara, I enjoyed reading your timely topic on platform. To some it’s an interruption of their writing time. Others feel it’s self promotion. I see it as an insurance policy. If an agent and publisher are confident in their client’s writing ability then platform is like an endorsement on an insurance policy. It’s additional coverage above the basic. “Added insurance that your book will sell in this case.” Therefore benefiting all parties involved.
Thanks for the post. Platform building is daunting for me as a pre-published writer with a dream to reach people with the stories God has put on my heart, but with the “why” in the forefront of my mind, I can do this! It’s slow going, but slow and steady wins the race, right?
I love the “pre-published” designation. With that mind-set, and your deep love for God, you will go from “pre” to “published.” Keep going, my friend.
Great encouragement. I needed it!!
Thank you for this inspiring post. It reminds me of the quote I have handing on my office wall, “Rome wasn’t built in a day.” Great things take faith, a commitment to excellence and time. Perseverance leads to character and character hope; there is so much to learn in that process.