By Janine Rosch, @janinerosche
We’ve all heard it—the advice every aspiring author dreads. If you want to become a successful author, you have to build a platform.
What is a platform? Author Jenny B. Jones describes a writer’s platform as their presence in front of potential readers via social media, blogs, and email inboxes. In fiction, it’s simply a means of communication that tells readers who you are, what you write, and why they need to read it.
Why do we dread it? There are many reasons like:
We don’t like self-promotion
We aren’t “good at it.”
We don’t want to open our personal lives to strangers.
It takes time away from the writing.
Social media is too political.
Social media’s algorithms are out to get me.
There may be some validity to these reasons (and I’ll be breaking each one of these down in a free upcoming training “Social Media for Authors,” but that doesn’t mean platform-building has to be a laborious, painful, humiliating, and time-consuming beast standing in your path to publication. Here are some ideas from authors on how to find joy during the platform-building process:
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Comment on other authors’ post, cheer them on. Exchange posts with readers. Be engaged. Be yourself. Even if you’re just starting your writing career, you can build relationships via social media.
—Rachel Hauck, New York Times Bestselling Author
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Pick what gives you joy and start there. Master that platform with your presence. But if you don’t love it, people will notice. So do what you love. Find the reason you’re there. And go deep.
—Cara Putman, Legal Suspense Author
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Newer authors should focus on a passion of theirs (anything—animals, tea, art, scripture, sewing, underwater basket weaving) and share about that. Then potential readers can learn more about the person and perhaps connect with similar passions.
— Kerry Johnson, Romantic Suspense Author of Snowstorm Sabotage
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Don’t dive headfirst into every social media platform or you’ll get burned out. Find one or two that will help you find your potential readers. Building your platform takes time, so don’t be discouraged.
—Kelsey Anderson, Contemporary Romance Author
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You need [online] presence. But the most important thing to remember is your job is to write the best book you can. So, yes, have a social media presence, but don’t feel like you have to work the equivalent of a part-time job on your “platform.” Have fun, connect with readers, but spend your time on the books.
— Jenny B. Jones, Bestselling Author of There You’ll Find Me & Engaged in Trouble
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Like, share, and comment on what other authors and readers are doing. Even if they don’t return the favor, you can have peace knowing your online presence is positive and encouraging to others.
—Katie Powner, Contemporary Fiction author of The Sowing Season
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Engage in the comment section of your posts. Comment on other people’s posts. Don’t look at your audience as getting numbers/followers but a way to connect to those who share the same interests as you. In our case—books!
— Rachel Scott McDaniel, Historical Romance Author of Undercurrent of Secrets
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Learn how to use your quirks as an asset and not think of it as a hindrance. Believe me, you’ll find your people that way and make friends who can appreciate the quirk even if they don’t have it.
— Toni Shiloh, Author of An Unlikely Proposal
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Get in the habit of taking random and not-so-random photos. Then when you’re stuck for inspiration on social media later, you’ll have some cool things to post about. For me, that’s snapping photos of my devotion time with the Lord, drinking coffee, finding vintage things or enjoying nature.
— Amy Renaud, Historical Romance Author
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Make it fun. If it’s drudgery, people will sense it. So talk about things you love. If you’re feeling particularly stressed, then drag your friends in to do an Instagram reel or Facebook Live with you.
— Janyre Tromp, Historical Fiction Author of Shadows in the Mind’s Eye
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If you’re doing something that is resonating with your audience AND you enjoy it, keep doing it, even if that audience and your target book audience aren’t always the same.
— Amanda Wen, Women’s Fiction Author of Roots of Wood and Stone
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Newsletters don’t have to be a long and daunting task. By having a fun segment, like my “As Seen on TV” purchase review, I look forward to working on my quarterly newsletters.
— Rebekah Millet, Inspirational Romance Author
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Teaming up for promotions, groups, and events helps you build a network and reach new readers. You may need to initiate these connections when you are a new author, and that’s okay. Be truly supportive and celebrate when your author friends have a new release, win an award, or sign a new contract.
— Carrie Turansky, Award-winning Author of No Journey Too Far
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Readers today don’t want another picture of perfection–they connect with the raw and the honest and the real. So don’t be afraid to share your heart and your struggles.
— Betsy St. Amant, Author of Tacos for Two
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Do what comes natural to you, even if that means not jumping into current trends. Stretching yourself is great, but when you create content strictly focused on sales and numbers, people feel that. So don’t be afraid to just give them you—even if it looks different than everyone else.
—Susan L. Tuttle, Author of the Along Came Love series
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Hopefully, this advice encourages you to see platform-building with a new set of eyes. Want more practical advice on how authors can grow their social media presence? Sign up for my free “Social Media for Authors” course!
To protect those most vulnerable, Haven Haviland must trust her heart–and her regrets–to a mysterious newcomer in this moving contemporary romance.
Few in the community of Whisper Canyon have actually met Jace Daring, a handsome recluse who lives at Aspen Crossroads, the farm at the edge of town. But that doesn’t stop the rumors about the multiple women who live with him. He must protect the truth–that his farm-to-table restaurant will provide new livelihoods for women rescued from human trafficking–or he risks the safety and futures of those relying on him. But he can’t do it alone.
Haven Haviland has always been everyone’s safe place to fall until one mistake closes her counseling practice and leaves her open to the town’s gossip. Trusting men has gotten her in trouble before. However, accepting Jace’s job offer to mentor the rescued women seems like the perfect way to right her wrongs.
When the mayor’s campaign to clean up Whisper Canyon targets Aspen Crossroads, the restaurant comes under fire, dangers from the women’s pasts are awakened, and Haven’s sins are exposed for all to see. Jace would sacrifice himself to save Haven and the women under his care, but his efforts might not be enough. And in the end, it might not be the women most in need of saving after all.
Prone to wander, Janine Rosche finds as much comfort on the open road as she does at home. This longing to chase adventure, behold splendor, and experience redemption is woven into her Madison River Romance series and her upcoming release ASPEN CROSSROADS. When she isn’t writing or traveling, she teaches family life education courses to college students, takes too many pictures of her sleeping dogs, and embarrasses her four children and husband with boy band serenades. Chat with her on Facebook and Instagram or visit www.JanineRosche.com for a free Whisper Canyon Romance prequel novella.