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- Aug 9, 2012
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A recurring theme on agents' description of how to query them on nonfiction pieces is to "describe your platform": enumerate your connections within the industry, and with your target audience, what you are willing to do or have already done to help sell your book...
Question A) Is this expected of authors of memoirs in the same way that is is expected of other nonfiction authors? Novelists don't seem to be expected to do this! Yeesh... scary stuff...
Question B) Aside from knowing how to start a LiveJournal blog and see if I can get booked as a guest speaker (insofar as my memoir is indeed "on a topic", i.e., illustrates some stuff that a sociology or psychology NF book could be written on), how does one best do this? "Hi, you don't know me, but I'm a person who has led an interesting life and I'm trying to get my memoir published... anyway, I need a platform, so I thought I'd go on tour... can you round up some people who'd like to hear me speak?"
What contacts do you have in your target markets? Have you already created a website or blog to promote yourself as an author, or to promote your book? Are you scheduled for any speaking engagements at bookstores, colleges, libraries, appropriate conferences? What else are you willing to do to sell your book (go on tour, talk shows, radio shows, book signings)?
etc etcThe Marketing Plan. Yessir, you’re going to sell your own book, and sell it well. The agent wants to see that not only have you built and developed your platform, but that you’ve considered how best to get your book into the hands of readers.
Question A) Is this expected of authors of memoirs in the same way that is is expected of other nonfiction authors? Novelists don't seem to be expected to do this! Yeesh... scary stuff...
Question B) Aside from knowing how to start a LiveJournal blog and see if I can get booked as a guest speaker (insofar as my memoir is indeed "on a topic", i.e., illustrates some stuff that a sociology or psychology NF book could be written on), how does one best do this? "Hi, you don't know me, but I'm a person who has led an interesting life and I'm trying to get my memoir published... anyway, I need a platform, so I thought I'd go on tour... can you round up some people who'd like to hear me speak?"