Comments on: Platform Plateau? – Part 1 http://boughanfire.com/2009/08/platform-plateau-part-1/ Thu, 13 Jan 2022 01:40:01 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Faith http://boughanfire.com/2009/08/platform-plateau-part-1/#comment-5957 Faith Tue, 18 Aug 2009 15:19:49 +0000 http://boughanfire.com/?p=404#comment-5957 Ohhh I can't believe this. Jill, Wordpress ate your comment too. Here's what Jill Kemerer (http://www.jillkemerer.com) wrote: "Such a great subject. The agents I listened to at a recent conference all said to get your craft to the highest level before attempting platform. The agents I read online say platform is vital and to get started now. Who is right? Both. It takes a long time to build a platform, so I think it's a great idea to start one early, that way you'll slowly grow your networking as you work on improving your craft. Why not work on both simultaneously? Right? Thanks for the terrific blog!" Thanks for visiting, Jill! I think that's spot on... do both, so you'll be prepared either way! Ohhh I can’t believe this. Jill, WordPress ate your comment too.

Here’s what Jill Kemerer (http://www.jillkemerer.com) wrote:

“Such a great subject. The agents I listened to at a recent conference all said to get your craft to the highest level before attempting platform.

The agents I read online say platform is vital and to get started now.

Who is right?

Both. It takes a long time to build a platform, so I think it’s a great idea to start one early, that way you’ll slowly grow your networking as you work on improving your craft.

Why not work on both simultaneously? Right?

Thanks for the terrific blog!”

Thanks for visiting, Jill! I think that’s spot on… do both, so you’ll be prepared either way!

]]> By: Faith http://boughanfire.com/2009/08/platform-plateau-part-1/#comment-5874 Faith Wed, 12 Aug 2009 21:15:28 +0000 http://boughanfire.com/?p=404#comment-5874 Stephanie! Wordpress is being wonky and ate your comment... we can't even find it in the system... time to get a coder on it! In the meantime, hopefully I can re-post your comment within mine: Stephanie (http://stephie5741.blogspot.com/) said - "I agree. Until recently, I was a top blogger on MySpace but the blogging section of the site was on a downward spiral and I began to realize I might be popular over there, but it's the wrong environment for me. I was being read widely by 20-somethings and that was great...but this is a much more professional environment and these are the people who will read my books if I can ever get one published. The others were just playing on a social networking site." It's so true... MySpace is like a fun, casual way to talk to people, but when it comes down to it, when you're published people are going to Google you - and if all they find is a MySpace blog, they're going to be less likely to take you seriously. A dedicated site/blog makes all the difference, in my opinion! That must have been such a tough choice to make, but you're right, it probably was the right move in the long run! Stephanie! WordPress is being wonky and ate your comment… we can’t even find it in the system… time to get a coder on it! In the meantime, hopefully I can re-post your comment within mine:

Stephanie (http://stephie5741.blogspot.com/) said – “I agree. Until recently, I was a top blogger on MySpace but the blogging section of the site was on a downward spiral and I began to realize I might be popular over there, but it’s the wrong environment for me. I was being read widely by 20-somethings and that was great…but this is a much more professional environment and these are the people who will read my books if I can ever get one published. The others were just playing on a social networking site.”

It’s so true… MySpace is like a fun, casual way to talk to people, but when it comes down to it, when you’re published people are going to Google you – and if all they find is a MySpace blog, they’re going to be less likely to take you seriously. A dedicated site/blog makes all the difference, in my opinion! That must have been such a tough choice to make, but you’re right, it probably was the right move in the long run!

]]> By: Faith http://boughanfire.com/2009/08/platform-plateau-part-1/#comment-5853 Faith Tue, 11 Aug 2009 14:38:24 +0000 http://boughanfire.com/?p=404#comment-5853 LazyWriter - It's true! But then, it's also a bit of a catch 22... some publishers want to know about your platform before they take on your project, but you kinda need a decent product before you can develop a serious platform... ahh, the endless circle of insanity... CKHB - Makes sense! Then you'll have a dedicated following to push book sales FOR you... and in an industry where authors are now expected to sell at least 60% of their own product, a strong blog following can be absolutely crucial. Katie - You know, she didn't specify, probably because the room was full of all kinds of writers and she only had 4 minutes to speak (according to the symposium format). Now that you mention it though, Gregoire is a non-fiction writer and I think it's easier in some ways for non-fiction writers to build a platform - they have a niche to hook into. I agree that excellent writing is critically important, but when you consider how many mediocre authors have "hit it big" on content alone (as opposed to great writing)... it can cause even the most stalwart novelist-in-training to feel a twinge of despair. LazyWriter – It’s true! But then, it’s also a bit of a catch 22… some publishers want to know about your platform before they take on your project, but you kinda need a decent product before you can develop a serious platform… ahh, the endless circle of insanity…

CKHB – Makes sense! Then you’ll have a dedicated following to push book sales FOR you… and in an industry where authors are now expected to sell at least 60% of their own product, a strong blog following can be absolutely crucial.

Katie – You know, she didn’t specify, probably because the room was full of all kinds of writers and she only had 4 minutes to speak (according to the symposium format). Now that you mention it though, Gregoire is a non-fiction writer and I think it’s easier in some ways for non-fiction writers to build a platform – they have a niche to hook into. I agree that excellent writing is critically important, but when you consider how many mediocre authors have “hit it big” on content alone (as opposed to great writing)… it can cause even the most stalwart novelist-in-training to feel a twinge of despair.

]]> By: Katie Ganshert http://boughanfire.com/2009/08/platform-plateau-part-1/#comment-5842 Katie Ganshert Tue, 11 Aug 2009 00:40:49 +0000 http://boughanfire.com/?p=404#comment-5842 Interesting. Thanks for sharing what you learned. Was she speaking about all writers - or mainly nonfiction? I know fiction writers also need a platform, but I think excellent writing is more important...just my two cents. :) Interesting. Thanks for sharing what you learned. Was she speaking about all writers – or mainly nonfiction? I know fiction writers also need a platform, but I think excellent writing is more important…just my two cents. :)

]]> By: CKHB http://boughanfire.com/2009/08/platform-plateau-part-1/#comment-5837 CKHB Mon, 10 Aug 2009 18:19:45 +0000 http://boughanfire.com/?p=404#comment-5837 Well, that's why I started my blog! I figured if it takes about 2years to build a blog audience, and about 2 years to get a book published, then I should start getting me voice out now so that I'll have a community THEN. And of course, I hope people have some fun reading me in the meantime... Well, that’s why I started my blog! I figured if it takes about 2years to build a blog audience, and about 2 years to get a book published, then I should start getting me voice out now so that I’ll have a community THEN.

And of course, I hope people have some fun reading me in the meantime…

]]> By: Lazy Writer http://boughanfire.com/2009/08/platform-plateau-part-1/#comment-5835 Lazy Writer Mon, 10 Aug 2009 17:07:55 +0000 http://boughanfire.com/?p=404#comment-5835 The only thing I've done thus far is the blogging, and it's more of a way to interact with other writers than it is to build a platform. My focus is on my writing at the moment, but I have to do that before a platform is even necessary, right? :) The only thing I’ve done thus far is the blogging, and it’s more of a way to interact with other writers than it is to build a platform. My focus is on my writing at the moment, but I have to do that before a platform is even necessary, right? :)

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