Linda Sandifer on Platform

Thanks to Linda Sandifer for providing this Guest Post.
Linda Sandifer is author of thirteen novels in various genres, mostly western romance. She is a member of Western Writers of America, Women Writing the West, and Idaho's Blue Sage Writers. Her latest release, The Last Rodeo (contemporary fiction) is available at Amazon and Barnes and Noble online. It is also available in the Kindle Store. Learn more about Linda's books at her Web site.

Build Your Platform Today © 2010 Linda Sandifer

We writers continually face the challenge to keep our writing fresh for today's readers and also to be knowledgeable about new technology and marketing trends. We are expected to be able to describe our book and its concept in one line and to state our platform right up front. The platform has, in fact, become increasingly important to agents and editors before they will consider a contract. They want a ready-made audience and a way to create a buzz for your book. In this tough market, it isn't sufficient anymore to assume the publisher will handle the marketing so you can sit back and write your next book. They want you involved.

So what is a platform for a writer? According to Merriam Webster, a platform is simply "a plan, a design." It is: (1) "a declaration of the principles on which a group of persons stands," (2) a "device or structure incorporating or providing a platform," and (3) a "place or opportunity for public discussion."

We spend months, sometimes years, plotting our books. When the book is finished, it's time to take a good hard look at ourselves. What have you got going for you--other than having written a marvelous book--with which to get readers' attention? If you look through Writer's Digest Magazine, you'll see some of the "Breaking In" writers state their platforms as social networking; i.e., a blog and an audience on Twitter and Facebook. This might also include doing guest blogs and having a website. Some writers write articles for magazines, ensuring a byline. Other writers speak at conferences and talk to writers' and readers' groups, or they teach writing classes. It's always smart to join a writer's organization that reflects your genre. This will open more doors with which to reach readers. If you have special expertise pertaining to your book it will give you more credibility. For example, you're a doctor and you've written a medical thriller.

What if you feel you don't have any particular expertise with which to build your platform? No title behind your name. No Masters or PhD. Does it doom you and your book? No, just dig deeper. Be creative. Perhaps you did an incredible amount of research for your book. Perhaps you spent a year talking to locals and exploring the Australian outback where your book is set. Is there a way you can "brand" yourself? To identify yourself in some unique way?

A platform boils down to any means you have to get your name and your book out there. Start building your platform early on, even before your book is finished. A solid platform will help you get published and maybe even become a "name brand" writer. But, first and foremost, write the best darned book you can! Everything else aside, your book will stand on its own legs. It will be the foundation for your platform.

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Here are two of Linda's platforms: her blog and her Web site

Redundancies

A redundancy is a profuseness that exceeds necessity. In writing, this is an overflow of words that leads to lengthy and sometimes silly sentences. To an editor and many readers, redundancies mark a writer as amateur.

Adjectives often lead to redundancies, as with, "Not now!" he yelled loudly. The verb yelled means to speak loudly, so the use of the adjective is superfluous. The use of the exclamation point reinforces the redundancy.

Here's another redundancy: She ran at a quick jog, which is probably intended to mean she jogged; but the use of JOG as a noun implies she ran at something--in this case, at a...jog (whatever that might be).

Reporters and business people seem fond of saying and writing, "He has a great future ahead of him." Where else would the future be? Another common redundancy is tuna fish. This will probably be in our language forever, but think about it. Does anyone ever say they had trout fish for dinner?

By eliminating redundancies your writing will be tighter and much more professional.

Overuse of Words

Some authors have a propensity for repeating certain words throughout their work. At times this is done intentionally to enhance a visual impact, but often it is merely a bad habit.

A manuscript I recently read had an overuse of the word flew. "She flew to the door...", "The papers flew across the room...", "Ideas flew through his mind...". It was quite distracting.

In nonfiction a tendency is to overuse so as a transition word, or to give declaratives such as It is obvious. It's not so much that these writing tendencies are wrong, but they make a piece seem unprofessional.

Do a global search for sentences beginning with So. Other words and phrases to cull are there was, and then, and Soon. These weaken a piece, fiction or nonfiction, and would be better served with more descriptive and creative words.

Flaws Okay? NOT!

I was visiting another writer's site a few days ago, and in his "Writing Tips" he suggests "when writing popular fiction: the stuff that ordinary people buy. Write a wonderful story and editors will probably want to buy it even if it's got some flaws. Poor grammar or the odd writing flaw can be fixed, but if there's a lousy story beneath your scintillating prose, no editor will touch it."

An interesting concept; and I agree that a smashing story is essential to grab the reader (and the first true reader will probably be at a magazine or book publishing house). But poor grammar and writing flaws will usually have even the unique story quickly in the reject pile. Even this writer site hinted this when later was written, "More than 90% [of manuscripts] are rejected on the first page, and 99% by the end of the first chapter, so your absolute best writing has got to be up front, just to get the book read."

I see way too many manuscripts that read like they went from the author's brain to the keyboard through the printer and then to my desk. No rewrites, some with no spell check. "absolute best writing" can't be achieved that way.

Oh, did you noticed the infelicity in the quoted material? :-)

Infelicities

When proofreading your manuscript, be on the lookout for infelicities. Often these are misplaced modifiers, or phrases that were hastily written. You might know precisely what you're describing, but a reader will have to struggle.

For instance, it would be awkward to write, "He walked the hill up"; so why say, "He turned the light off". It should be, "He turned off the light."

Here are more examples: -o- "His hand reached for the glass." His hand...as opposed to his foot or elbow or nose? It should be "He reached for the glass." -o- "She dropped her eyes from his face." Too physical! The action is more correctly given with, "She lowered her gaze," or "She looked away." Let's keep those eyes in her head where they belong. -o- "He hurried through the fence to the house." We need a gate in this fence. "He hurried through the fence gate…"

Most editors are on the lookout for infelicities, but you'll help your publishing chances if you catch them before sending out your manuscript.

Credibility Extras

© 2009 Get It Together Productions

For many of us, marketing our titles is one of the most tedious tasks of being an author. Even authors who published with large New York houses are expected to take part in marketing and promotion. Many articles and several books have been written to give us guidelines. One thing all marketing experts stress is the importance of being professional.

Here are several extras that other industries use, and we authors should too, to boost our professional credibility. Remember consumers are your clients. Treat them as such.

LOGO: What kind of logo for an author? Pens, stacked books, computer keyboards? Think more of your product and develop something that reflects the subject of your books. This is not something to use when you query for publication or representation, but AFTER you have a finished, marketable product.

PAPER GOODS

• Invest in professional letterhead. Use your logo and give concise contact information, including e-mail and web sites. It should be 24# paper with matching envelopes. Use this for regular letters, and for any invoices you send out.
• Along with this letterhead, you should have attractive or matching business cards--again using your logo. Do not put your address on the business cards. Telephone, e-mail and web site is enough. Hand out these cards to anyone who glances your way.
• Do you have bookmarks? Many printing companies and copy centers have templates to make these, or you can do you own: using colorful card stock. In eitiher case, one side put your logo, list your contact information (P O Box is recommended) and perhaps a friendly comment; on the reverse side, list your titles and a short (25 words max.) review by a third party. Use them for handouts, and include them with every book you sell.

It's also important to make certain your books are in the public eye. An easy way to do this is with fliers. Keep at least two varieties in your car (along with a tin of push pins): A flier for your local region should advertise your book, your web site and you as a commodity (speaker, workshop leader, et cetera). It should list the places your books can be purchased. AND A flier for when you travel away from home will highlight your titles and where they can be found online.

Design the fliers with thoughts to the time of year, the region or some other feature that will make them stand out. On both fliers, be certain all the contact information is in large non-frilly type. Mention any specials you can think up. FREE GIFT could mean an inexpensive bookmark thrown in, and you can encourage buyers to your site by featuring autographed books.

Put these fliers on bulletin boards in libraries, churches, supermarkets, colleges--any facilities that relates to your subject matter. Drop them off with local radio and TV stations, especially if you're available for interviews. Send copies to your regional newspapers.

Developing fliers isn't difficult with today's basic computer software. The best size is 5"x7". You can enhance a simple, white-paper printout by mounting it on a larger sheet of colored construction paper.

Fifty of each flier is a good start, and shouldn't cost more than $5.00 (for black and white)—a bit more if you use commercial facilities.

FOLLOW UP: If you have negotiated for your titles to be carried in independent bookstores and gift shops, it is a nice touch to send a thank-you note right after the books are placed. Also send thank-you notes to the coordinators of any book festivals or bazaars you attend. And don't forget these helpful people during the holidays. Send a greeting card—and tuck in your business card.

These professional touches will keep your name fresh in the minds your the public and help build a larger clientele—your fan base. The cost is slight, and if you're persistent with these easily done extras, your returns will be considerably higher.