Years ago, I first came across the terms "writer brand" and "writer platform," and they confused me like nothing else had. Why would a writer need a brand? Should I have a logo and a catchphrase? What does it mean?!
Well, after much research, I can honestly say, I still have no freaking clue. I know it involves:
1) Networking
2) Building a readership
3) Getting people excited about what you have to say
But just how do you go about doing that? It seems simple enough. Oh you can write a blog, much like this fine example. Become active across social media, attend writer conferences, etc. The topics and content, however, are what confuse me.
First off, my goal is to build that coveted readership so agents, and eventually, publishers, will be more willing to take a risk. So, how do I do that with a blog? I can only guess.
I started by trying to write about what I knew best, writing. However, my intended audience, aren't likely to care much about word counts, editing struggles or fun writing quips. The readership I want to build are those who would find the most enjoyment out of my novels. That age group between YA and Adult. The college crowd and recent grads, who are, I must say, grossly under represented in fiction.
But how do I build a brand around that? What topics, style, and what not can I use in my humble platform building to reach my readers? Oh, there are a number of things I could do, but none of them have anything to do with my novels, my stories, the words I have to say. What is a writer to do?
Well, after much research, I can honestly say, I still have no freaking clue. I know it involves:
1) Networking
2) Building a readership
3) Getting people excited about what you have to say
But just how do you go about doing that? It seems simple enough. Oh you can write a blog, much like this fine example. Become active across social media, attend writer conferences, etc. The topics and content, however, are what confuse me.
First off, my goal is to build that coveted readership so agents, and eventually, publishers, will be more willing to take a risk. So, how do I do that with a blog? I can only guess.
I started by trying to write about what I knew best, writing. However, my intended audience, aren't likely to care much about word counts, editing struggles or fun writing quips. The readership I want to build are those who would find the most enjoyment out of my novels. That age group between YA and Adult. The college crowd and recent grads, who are, I must say, grossly under represented in fiction.
But how do I build a brand around that? What topics, style, and what not can I use in my humble platform building to reach my readers? Oh, there are a number of things I could do, but none of them have anything to do with my novels, my stories, the words I have to say. What is a writer to do?