Necessity of Platform?

Kyla Laufreyson · Nov 8, 2010

I'm just full of questions when it comes to NF

What I need to know this time is: how vital is it for a first time author to have a platform? I am well-aware that there is a market for my NF project, but my platform is basically non-existent...because I don't think having a ton of friends on the cosplay.com forums qualifies as a platform, no matter that it's related and I wholly intend to use that site for marketing.

Even without a platform, I can still sell as long as my proposal is otherwise great, right?

Thanks,

Arianna S.

(And as usual, if this has been answered before, my apologies.)

Stijn Hommes · Nov 8, 2010

Can you be considered an expert in the field of your NF manuscript?

Kyla Laufreyson · Nov 8, 2010

That would depend on the definition of expert. You can't exactly "study" this field in an official way (it's the one at the bottom of my signature). No such thing exists. But I am an expert in that I've grown up watching anime, attend conventions as frequently as possible, and all-around know what it is to be an anime obsessed person in the United States.

underthecity · Nov 8, 2010

It can be difficult, but not impossible. You would want to write a solid, thorough proposal that demonstrates why this book is needed and why you're the best person to write it. Research the market and identify the audience. Contact like-minded fans of anime and get informal surveys to determine how much interest there is in the topic.

Depending on the subject, a platform is almost mandatory (say, you're a doctor writing a book on treating heart disease). But for other nonfiction subjects, not so much.

If you're an expert, you need to show that you're an expert in the proposal.

And there's still a thread I started in this forum on how to write a proposal.

veinglory · Nov 8, 2010

If you have written the book, make as much of a platform for yourself as you can. And yes, a strong online presence may well be a large part of that for pop culture topics.

johnrobison · Nov 9, 2010

IN this day, I think it's essential that you identify who the readership is, how many they number, how they can be reached, and why you are the person they will look to with your book.

You might also answer this question: How can my topic get national TV coverage? What's the angle the publicists can use to sell it?

Kyla Laufreyson · Nov 10, 2010

All right. Awesome.

Thanks, guys

dclary · Nov 10, 2010

Yeah, my platform for my book (on how to play a Facebook game) is simply that I'd played it and done well at it.

If you know more than your audience does, that makes you an expert -- to them. Work that to your advantage.

bluelight2 · Nov 11, 2010

good.

Thanks for the tips

, it was very helpful

i appreciate it

Kyla Laufreyson · Nov 11, 2010

dclary said:
Yeah, my platform for my book (on how to play a Facebook game) is simply that I'd played it and done well at it.

If you know more than your audience does, that makes you an expert -- to them. Work that to your advantage.

This piece of information just made me cheerful.

Laurie PK · Nov 17, 2010

My agent told me that platform is vital to getting a book published, now more than ever. I'm sorry to be the bearer of bad news -- I'm usually the optimistic motivating one! -- but a writer's platform is really important.

Necessity of Platform?

Kyla Laufreyson

Oops

Stijn Hommes

Know what you write...

Kyla Laufreyson

Oops

underthecity

Finestkind

veinglory

volitare nequeo

johnrobison

A Free Range Aspergian

Kyla Laufreyson

Oops

dclary

Unabashed Mercenary

bluelight2

Kyla Laufreyson

Oops

Laurie PK

Fulltime blogger & freelance writer