THE CHILDREN'S BOOK ACADEMY
  • Home
    • THOH KidLit Creative Retreat
  • WRITING
    • Craft & Business of Writing Childrens Picture Books
    • The Chapter Book Alchemist
    • New!! Middle Grade Mastery Instant Access
    • Mastering Graphic Novels
    • 2022 Kidlit Palooza >
      • 2022 Palooza Program
      • 2022 Palooza Faculty
  • ILLUSTRATION
    • NEW!! Craft & Business of Illustrating Children's Books Instant Access
    • Never a Dull Moment Workshop
  • TECH
  • About Us
    • Why Us?
    • Meet the Faculty, Lives & GT Judges
    • Testimonials
    • Books by Students
    • Our Bookshop
    • As Seen In
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact Us
  • Blogfish
  • MN Course Access
  • Community
    • Our Bookshop
    • Come Play With Us!
    • Resources
    • Course Scholarships >
      • Yuyi Morales Picture Book Scholarship
      • Andrea Davis Pinkney MG CB Mastery Scholarship
      • Rafael Lopez Illustrating Childrens Books Scholarships
      • Larissa Marantz Merit & Need Scholarship

Bitsy Kemper shares about Creating a Writer or Illustrator's Platform

5/16/2013

0 Comments

 
Picture
Q. Someone “in the know” tells you to work on your writer’s platform. You immediately:

a.     Nod, smile politely, then go back to searching for a sale on cute cat outfits

b.     Nod, smile, then furiously Google “writers’ platform” hoping you’re not the last to know

c.     Bone up on your Facebook, Twitter, blog and website

d.     B or C but definitely not A (unless it was a really good sale)

Correct answer: D

The term “writer’s platform” is a less-commercial way of saying “author branding.” It means how you present yourself to the public, and how you are seen/viewed by readers, agents, editors, fellow writers or illustrators, and anyone else paying attention. It’s a way of showing your unique qualities that “brand” you as a person, as a writer or artist. Writer’s Digest explains a platform as your visibility as an authora creator, utilizing your personal ability to sell books through who you are, the connections you have, and the media outlets you use.

How is that done? Your personal platform is created through every public forum you create or use, such as your website, blog, newsletter, author visits, media interviews, conference presentations, and whatever social media you are using, be it Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, etc. Don’t think of it as your “image,” though, because image implies something perceived.  You’ll be putting the real, flawed you out there, just like you did for your main characters.

Notice it’s not called a “book platform.” We aren’t talking about branding your book, because you are more than one book! Your book is but one tangible manifestation of who you are. If you brand yourself too closely with one title, on the next book you’ll have to do it all over again. That confuses people. They can handle lots of books, but they only want one you. Brand yourself correctly and all your books will easily fall under that umbrella.

The more people know and like you, the more willing they’ll be to listen to what you have to say, and ultimately more likely to buy what you write/create, or come hear you speak, etc. It’s hard to break through the noise these days. People that like you are bound to give your work a chance… which gives you a head start with any new titles. Your established readers/followers will be more open to liking your next book, preordering it, and creating buzz for you before it even hits the shelves. In addition. If you have a huge following, it can also influence publishing acquisition decisions (welcome to the 21st century).

You won’t please everybody, no one does, but those that stick around will want to know more and more about you. The more consistent with every form of public participation, the more they know they can rely on you.
That’s not to say everything you do and say needs to go on record. You have a personal life that deserves to stay personal. Some writers have no Twitter account but instead have their characters Tweet. That’s fine. A little weird, maybe, but it allows you to get away with saying stuff the real you couldn’t. It certainly brands your character and your book. Does it brand you? To some extent. But not as effectively as your own account can.

Imagine if Johnny Depp had a Twitter account for Captain Jack Sparrow, his Pirates of the Caribbean character. That would be fun. I’d know that Johnny Depp is the man behind the curtain and would enjoy hearing what his character is thinking.
Picture
Picture
But I’d rather have Johnny Depp’s direct thoughts (and his direct contact, but I digress). His “actor platform” is different than his “character platform.”

Do you see the difference?

It’s perfectly fine to have a website or a Facebook account for your friends and family, and a separate one for your readers/fans/professional peers. Even if your personal website and your author website have two different URLs, they reflect the same person. They just cater to different audiences.

You don’t have to wait until you’re published to start. Remember, you’re branding yourself, not a product. It’s never too early to get your name out there. No one will do it for you, and if they did, it wouldn’t be as good.
You’re the only you there is. Now get out there already!
Bitsy Kemper is the author of six picture books, her own website, three Facebook and two Twitter accounts. You may have seen Bitsy on CNN, heard her on national radio, noticed her quoted in anything from Parenting Magazine to Writing Children's Books For Dummies, or seen her work in countless newspapers, radio and TV stations across the U.S. Maybe you drove past her on the freeway and didn't even know it... Busy with three kids (four if you count her husband), she finds time to present at writer conferences and author visits from L.A. to N.Y. Wander over to www.BitsyKemper.com or follow her on Twitter (under, understandably, BitsyKemper).
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Meet the Friday Blogonauts

    First Fridays will feature Bryan Patrick Avery, published writer , man of mystery, and professional magician among other things.

    Second Fridays will feature  awesome multi-award winning author Marsha Diane Arnold who will be writing about character-driven and/or nature-based books and/or anything she likes :)

    Third Fridays
    will feature independent Aladdin/Simon & Shuster editor Emma Sector who has helped bring many books into the world.

    Fourth Fridays will feature the great Christine Taylor-Butler who has published over 70 award-winning fiction and non-fiction and nonfiction books including the acclaimed new middle grade series - The Lost Tribes.

    Fifth Fridays will feature the fabulous Carl Angel award-winning multi-published Illustrator and graphic designer.


    Join our Tribe

    and receive 7 Steps to Creative Happiness, access to free webinars, and lots more!

    Your email addresses are always safe and respected with us.
     
     

    Follow our Blog!

    Enter your email address:

    Delivered by FeedBurner

    Archives

    January 2019
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013

    Categories

    All
    Art Technique
    Authorartist
    Author Platform
    Author Visits
    Bitsy Kemper
    Book Marketing
    Books For Children
    COPPA
    Creative Flow
    Digital Books
    Diversity In Children's Books
    First Voice Multicultural Children's Books
    Illustrating Your Own Story
    Independent Publishing
    Magic In Books
    Marketing
    Maya Gonzalez
    Middle Grade Novels
    Picture Books
    Picture Books And Death
    Print-on-demand
    School Visits
    Self-publishing
    Understory
    Writer Platform
    Writing
    Writing Exercise
    Writing For Children

    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
Picture
Discover
Why Us?
Courses
Blogfish
Book Shoppe
About Us
Meet the Academy Faculty
Community
Contact Us

Privacy Policy
Join Us
Social Media
Join our Community and receive a fabulous free gift, yummy newsletters, scholarship info, contests, and more!

Like us on Facebook 
Join our interactive FB Group  
Find us on Twitter 
Follow us on ​Instagram  
Look for us on Pinterest
​
Watch us on YouTube
© 2012-2021  All content on this website is copyrighted. Sorry, all courses are non-refundable.
  • Home
    • THOH KidLit Creative Retreat
  • WRITING
    • Craft & Business of Writing Childrens Picture Books
    • The Chapter Book Alchemist
    • New!! Middle Grade Mastery Instant Access
    • Mastering Graphic Novels
    • 2022 Kidlit Palooza >
      • 2022 Palooza Program
      • 2022 Palooza Faculty
  • ILLUSTRATION
    • NEW!! Craft & Business of Illustrating Children's Books Instant Access
    • Never a Dull Moment Workshop
  • TECH
  • About Us
    • Why Us?
    • Meet the Faculty, Lives & GT Judges
    • Testimonials
    • Books by Students
    • Our Bookshop
    • As Seen In
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact Us
  • Blogfish
  • MN Course Access
  • Community
    • Our Bookshop
    • Come Play With Us!
    • Resources
    • Course Scholarships >
      • Yuyi Morales Picture Book Scholarship
      • Andrea Davis Pinkney MG CB Mastery Scholarship
      • Rafael Lopez Illustrating Childrens Books Scholarships
      • Larissa Marantz Merit & Need Scholarship