Updated August 16, 2021.
You mean I have to build a platform at the same time as I write my book? you ask.
Yes.
And as I look at what September, October, and November hold for me—teaching at 3 writers conferences, a trip for book research, finishing book 2 of my Her Inheritance series, maintaining two blogs, launching new CrossRiver books, and somewhere in between all that, paying the bills, cooking meals, shopping for groceries, doing laundry, and keeping my apartment clean—I totally understand the writer’s dilemma of finding time not only to write, but also to build one’s platform.
The publishing world demands authors have a platform. Without it, it’s almost impossible to get picked up by a traditional publisher. They want those numbers up in the thousands, because after all, those numbers represent potential book buyers, and for most publishers that’s really what it’s all about—selling books.
But even as an indie-published author, you need a platform. It’s how you reach potential buyers of your book. If they don’t know you, how will they discover your books? Ads, you say? Yes, that’s one way, but can your budget manage it? If so, go to it. But your platform allows you to keep your reader fans updated on what you’re currently working on and your upcoming releases. You can have buyers for your newest book before it ever launches.
All too often, building your platform can seem more like working to become one of the popular crowd—I never was a part of that crowd. And I have to admit, I’m balking at what I feel social media has made our world into today—a world of fake, sterile relationships.
I wonder if Jesus ever had His disciples counting the crowd.
“Hey, Peter, how many visitors did we have today?”
“Five thousand! Last month we only had 200.”
No, Jesus was all about the one. For example, the woman with the issue of blood, Jairus’s daughter, Zacchaeus in the tree. In fact, Jesus took His disciples clear across the lake just to minister to one man (see Mark 5).
As you look at the demands of your life, don’t get caught in the comparison trap. We all have the same 24 hours in a day, but we all don’t have the same circumstances in our lives. So, the time we have for building platform will be different for each one of us. Culture would have us think it’s all about the numbers, but it’s really all about relationships.
How to Maintain Motivation for your Platform
- Remember the Sabbath. The Christian world has equated Sunday with the Sabbath, but they’re not equal. The Sabbath was designed to be a day of rest away from the demands of the other six days of the week. Unplug! Take at least one day away from social media and your computer/laptop/iPad. Have fun and relax!
Take stock of the demands in your life—spouse, children, job, volunteer work, personal goals, etc. Are there things in your life God never asked you to do? If so, stop doing them as soon as you can responsibly step away from them.
Cut away the chaff. Stop doing the things in your life that take your time, but do not support the priorities in your life. Of course, this means you need to know what your priorities in your life are. (Recommended reading: Hero on a Mission by Donald Miller, 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey, [affiliate links])
Remember the one. John the Baptist spoke to huge crowds, but he baptized one at a time. Jesus spoke to crowds, but He healed one at a time. Building a platform is about building relationships, not simply faceless followers.
Besides observing the Sabbath, get away from all it now and then. Even Jesus got away by Himself to refresh and recharge (see Matthew 14:23).
Let this Teddy Roosevelt quote guide you:
Do what you can, where you are, with what you have.
It’s all too easy to let the expectations and demands of the world open the door to discouragement and burn out. The constant barrage of numbers and desire for success is like having a maniac screaming in your face.
As Christian writers, we write what we do because we want to bring good into the lives of others, whether it’s clean entertainment or a road to healing their wounds or the truth of the gospel.
Keep an eternal perspective on your work and let the Holy Spirit guide you in all you do.
“For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?” (Mark 8:36 NKJV)
I was feeling a little guilty about making my writing a priority and choosing to do some of the things you mentioned. This was confirmation to me to hold fast, trust God and do what He has put in me to do.
Vicki, I’m glad you found this helpful. When we are aware of the voices in our head trying to drive us, we can take control of those voices and make the proper choices.
This is so helpful, Debra. Thank you.
No doubt there are those who would say this is making excuses for lack of success or numbers, but God chose the foolish to confound the wise. If I let the world dictate to me, I will forever be controlled by the world, chasing after what they say is important. As Jesus says in Matthew 16:25, “If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it.” He followed that with the verse quoted in my graphic.