Writer's platform for a book proposal

May 29, 2017 11:15 AM

I'm working on my first book proposal, and questions abound. I've been reading about the importance of building a platform before submitting a proposal, and I want to get a sense of if I've done enough already to build a platform or what more I could do that wouldn't be a waste of time/distraction from the actual writing.

The vaguefilter version of my book is that it's a nonfiction book about a certain music scene. (Apologies for withholding more; I'm still a little paranoid, and I don't think specifics matter that much for this question.)

Most of my platform comes from having done music journalism for 9 years. I've written for a number of outlets (Salon, bandcamp, No Depression, The Week, The Quietus, The Rumpus, PopMatters, Drowned in Sound, VenusZine, She Shreds, Big Shot, and others I'm forgetting). I've already interviewed a lot of the artists I'll be featuring in my book (some of them multiple times). For a while I ran my own blog devoted to artist interviews in which I conducted, transcribed, and posted everything myself.

But is it enough? I've been thinking of ways to enhance my platform, but I'm not sure what some good ways are that won't eat too much into the time I need for writing and research. As an example, I had been thinking of doing a podcast on my topic, but once I read more about everything involved and exactly how saturated that realm is, it didn't seem like the most effective use of my time. I could start a blog, but how much would that add to what I've already published?

Or, what are some other ways to bolster my platform? I'm up for inside and outside the box alike. Thank you.

posted by mermaidcafe to Media & Arts (7 answers total)

Are you on Twitter? When I was trying to do this kind of thing I found that "platform" often reduced to "Do you have a social media audience who's interested in this topic that you're in active contact with?"

The other stuff you mention will definitely help, especially if you're still in a position to write for (or be written about in) some of those bigger outlets.
posted by Polycarp at 11:18 AM on May 29, 2017 [1 favorite]

I'd say Twitter, yes. If you're on there already, take a little extra care to be active and engage people on the topics in question. You don't have to be over the top, just, you know, remember to launch your Twitter client every day, say. If you think it makes sense to be on Instagram and FB (professionally, aside from any personal presence), I'd stake your claim there too.

But probably your time will be best spent writing for those outlets you mentioned. Doesn't have to be a ton, but keeping yourself out there as an authority on this topic and getting some publicity for the topic will be a good thing. At the end of every piece, you can have a little blurb about how you're working on a book about X ... or your book on X will be out in 2020. And they're probably more likely to review/mention your book when it happens.

It's true that writing for those outlets will be time you can't spend writing the proposal/book, but it could pay off in establishing you as a recent and active authority on the subject.

It's hard for me to think of any platform-building you could do that would be likely to outperform writing for established sites. I think if you want to set a stretch goal, it might be expanding your presence to other sites with even bigger footprints.
posted by veggieboy at 11:46 AM on May 29, 2017 [3 favorites]

You should definitely be on Twitter, if you're not. (Podcasts are a giant time suck in a way that Twitter isn't and in order for your podcast to help you move books, you're going to have to spend A LOT of time on it, that would be better put toward your writing.) Your writing career will certainly help as well -- you are already an expert on this topic. But a healthy Twitter account is probably the quickest "extra" you can do that will actually help.
posted by Countess Sandwich at 12:40 PM on May 29, 2017

Response by poster: Jumping in to say that yes, I already use Twitter. Thanks.
posted by mermaidcafe at 1:00 PM on May 29, 2017

Basically, someone at the publisher will look at how many Twitter followers you have, and read the paragraph in the proposal where you list all your press contacts who might review the book. So make your Twitter bio appealing--link to your blog there--and go @ follow more fellow music people.
posted by Scram at 1:18 PM on May 29, 2017 [1 favorite]

As I'm sure you already know, agents and editors look at your platform to determine if you already have an audience listening to what you say who will then turn around and buy your book. So, you've got the right start with your music journalism background and twitter. Did you ever keep track of the numbers related to your blog: followers, unique daily visitors, geographical reach, etc.? Definitely get, if you don't have one already, an Instagram account branded to your interest and involvement in this particular music scene. Everything will come down to numbers.
posted by weeyin at 3:57 PM on May 29, 2017

A month or so ago, I came across a woman who seemed to have a good, up-to-date handle both on book proposals and what exactly it means when people say platform.

I admit I'm no expert; I learned to write book proposals long before social media existed. When a big-deal NYC agent couldn't get anybody interested in my book, I ended up publishing it myself (through three editions so far; currently I'm wondering if I want to bother with edition #4). And because I'm in charge, it's still in print (and still selling) 23 years later. I wonder, if you've got the large enough number of faithful followers you need to attract a publisher – plus experience already in assembling and posting much of the material – why do you need the publisher in the first place?
posted by LeLiLo at 9:26 PM on May 29, 2017