Several of you have asked about the platform aspect of getting a book published. So, I think we should start here with this discussion on writing a book and getting it published.
The reality is that ultimately, most publishers decide on whether or not to publish a book based on a formula that involves numbers. It is a business decision that combines their editorial, marketing, and acquisitions departments in meetings often referred to as PubCo--- or publishing committee.
Publishers like to find authors who have some type of platform- meaning they have an avenue by which they can help get the message out about the book and thus hopefully help sell it. A platform that publishers find attractive usually consists of the author doing a number of speaking engagements a year, writing for magazines on a very consistent basis, or someone who works for an established ministry that has a good size constituency. Just this past Friday, I talked with a vice president of a large publishing company and she said she thinks that blogs with high amounts of traffic can also be considered a good platform.
Platforms are tricky things that beg a few questions:
Which comes first- the platform or the book?
Wouldn't having a book published first, help create opportunities to speak and write for magazines?
Usually, a platform created by the authors own hard work has to come before the book. Now, there are exceptions to this. Sometimes, a writer's idea is so fantastic that the publisher feels there is a market for the book based on the title and subject matter alone. But most of the time someone who wants to be an author needs to lay some groundwork first. Here are some things you can do to help build a platform:
* Pray and ask God what message might be inside of you that is something you feel passionate about and that could add value to other people's lives.
* Look for opportunities to share this message in both the spoken and written form.
* Start in your own home church. Talk with your pastor and or women's ministry leader about what is stirring in your heart and how you might be used to fill a need in your church.
* If your message is Biblical in nature- lead a Bible study in your home for your friends and neighbors.
* Build your blog. Shannon over at Rocks in My Dryer has some great advice on this here.
* Be willing to invest in going to conference that can help clarify your calling and give you the tools you need for speaking and or writing. There are several conferences you can consider of this nature. But I am a little biased toward the Proverbs 31 conference called "She Speaks." I'll be posting more about this later this week- so stay tuned.
* Don't get discouraged about starting small. I started small. Very small. But over time small can grow. For me, writing and speaking has been a whole lot more about what God needed to do in me rather than through me. He would never let the size of my opportunity be bigger than what my spiritual maturity could handle. And I praise Him for that.
* Each day, ask for your assignment from God. Today, your assignment might not look like it is accomplishing much toward your goal of writing a book. But if you ask God and follow His lead, His assignment is the exact right thing for you. I've said it and lived it for years--- "God's shortest route to His richest blessing is paved with one obedience decision after another."
I hope this is helpful for you. I'll post more answers tomorrow. And I'll have some pretty cool experts weighing in on some of your questions too. Some well- known publishers, agents, and other published authors will be joining in our discussions here this week--- so stay tuned!
For the comments today--- why don't you post the topic of what you are interested in writing about. It will be a fun way for us to encourage one another.
The reality is that ultimately, most publishers decide on whether or not to publish a book based on a formula that involves numbers. It is a business decision that combines their editorial, marketing, and acquisitions departments in meetings often referred to as PubCo--- or publishing committee.
Publishers like to find authors who have some type of platform- meaning they have an avenue by which they can help get the message out about the book and thus hopefully help sell it. A platform that publishers find attractive usually consists of the author doing a number of speaking engagements a year, writing for magazines on a very consistent basis, or someone who works for an established ministry that has a good size constituency. Just this past Friday, I talked with a vice president of a large publishing company and she said she thinks that blogs with high amounts of traffic can also be considered a good platform.
Platforms are tricky things that beg a few questions:
Which comes first- the platform or the book?
Wouldn't having a book published first, help create opportunities to speak and write for magazines?
Usually, a platform created by the authors own hard work has to come before the book. Now, there are exceptions to this. Sometimes, a writer's idea is so fantastic that the publisher feels there is a market for the book based on the title and subject matter alone. But most of the time someone who wants to be an author needs to lay some groundwork first. Here are some things you can do to help build a platform:
* Pray and ask God what message might be inside of you that is something you feel passionate about and that could add value to other people's lives.
* Look for opportunities to share this message in both the spoken and written form.
* Start in your own home church. Talk with your pastor and or women's ministry leader about what is stirring in your heart and how you might be used to fill a need in your church.
* If your message is Biblical in nature- lead a Bible study in your home for your friends and neighbors.
* Build your blog. Shannon over at Rocks in My Dryer has some great advice on this here.
* Be willing to invest in going to conference that can help clarify your calling and give you the tools you need for speaking and or writing. There are several conferences you can consider of this nature. But I am a little biased toward the Proverbs 31 conference called "She Speaks." I'll be posting more about this later this week- so stay tuned.
* Don't get discouraged about starting small. I started small. Very small. But over time small can grow. For me, writing and speaking has been a whole lot more about what God needed to do in me rather than through me. He would never let the size of my opportunity be bigger than what my spiritual maturity could handle. And I praise Him for that.
* Each day, ask for your assignment from God. Today, your assignment might not look like it is accomplishing much toward your goal of writing a book. But if you ask God and follow His lead, His assignment is the exact right thing for you. I've said it and lived it for years--- "God's shortest route to His richest blessing is paved with one obedience decision after another."
I hope this is helpful for you. I'll post more answers tomorrow. And I'll have some pretty cool experts weighing in on some of your questions too. Some well- known publishers, agents, and other published authors will be joining in our discussions here this week--- so stay tuned!
For the comments today--- why don't you post the topic of what you are interested in writing about. It will be a fun way for us to encourage one another.
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