A writing platform is a way to engage readers with the life story writing you are doing.
Unless you are super-famous and have no problems selling tons of books, you need to constantly keep your readers interested.
In today’s digital age, a writing platform is synonymous with online readership.
Building this network is especially important when submitting your book proposal to a traditional publisher.
Publishers want to see good numbers.
The higher the numbers, the better chances of marketing and selling your book.
As writers of memoir, we have many tools to help us build this platform.
This platform should include at least some if not all of the following:
1. Start a Blog and Blog Regularly
Blogging your memoir is becoming more popular nowadays with many writers seeking to engage a wider audience.
Many writers have received book contracts by blogging.
Each time you blog, you share a segment of your journey.
The posts do not have to be perfect and they can be largely unedited.
Be strategic.
Post consistently to your site.
Try to connect each segment to a previous post for consistency.
Don’t wait for your story to be perfect to begin blogging.
Blog as early as you can.
At the early stages, your story can’t be super-polished.
The important thing is to engage your readers.
2. Hang Out with Your Readers on Social Media
Find out where your target audience is generally “hiding” and start hanging out with them.
You can start by doing a general search of your memoir’s key words.
You can also refine this search by setting up Google alerts with key words.
For example, my memoir is about leaving New York City to volunteer for the Israeli Defense Forces.
So I have set up Google alerts with “Israel, memoir, Israel Defense Forces along with “Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter.”
I have not only found matching groups, but also other writers who wrote on similar themes.
This information will be super helpful when it comes time for me to explain in my book proposal how the themes of my memoir are different than those of my competitors.
Find out what these readers are “chatting” about and contribute to the discussion in a meaningful way without being salesy.
If you find matching groups and associations, offer to guest blog for these sites. (check their sites first)
3. Host Your Own Radio Show
You don’t need to be an expert speaker to start spreading the word.
There are many shows hosted by writers and writers who are looking to interview other writers.
Starting at 12pm EST, I will be hosting my radio show over at Creating Calm Network on giving voice to one’s story.
Once you’ve targeted your outlets, the next step is to find ways to engage your readers.
Ask questions, pull out an extract from your memoir and ask your readers to predict the next scene or have them brainstorm possible chapter titles.
About Dorit Sasson
Dorit Sasson, The Story Mentor, is founder of Giving Voice to Your Story and Market Your Compelling Story with Passion System that shows you exactly how to attract more clients using your compelling story.
Thanks, Dorit, for a good article.
The emphasis on being consistent really hit where I am. Obviously, by your progress, it is very important for a writer striving to be known.
I’m looking forward to reading (and listening to) more of your tips.
Hey ya Good stuff here too Dorit… I would love to have my own tv show maybe for my home. re: memoir… keep going love your example. thank you donna marie