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Create Your Writer Platform: The Key to Building an Audience, Selling More Books, and Finding Success as an A uthor
Creating a platform isn't just beneficial--"it's essential"!In today's world of blogging, websites, Twitter feeds, and Facebook updates, building a writer platform from the ground up can seem a daunting task. Never fear--author and editor Chuck Sambuchino provides expert, practical advice for increasing your visibility, selling more books, and launching a successful career. In "Create Your Writer Platform," you'll learn: The definition of a platform--and why you should start building one "now."How to harness the 12 Fundamental Principles of Platform."Old School" and "New School" approaches to platform, from article writing and conference speaking to website development, blog posts, and social media avenues.How to develop a platform for nonfiction, fiction, and memoir. In addition to Chuck's invaluable insights, you'll also find 12 case studies from authors with effective platforms, as well as professional advice from literary agents. If you're serious about building a platform tailored to "you" and "your writing"--a platform that's going to help you succeed as a writer--look no further than "Create Your Writer Platform."
224 pages, Paperback
First published October 26, 2012
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 74 reviews
August 19, 2013
There are a lot of books out there with a "call to action." They want us to work harder or better, to be stronger, thinner, nicer, to learn how to cook vegan, under 500 calories, etc. This book says if you want to get published, you need to make a platform.
My idea of a good call to action book is, when I'm done with the book - even better when I'm in the midst of the book - I actually do something!
Sambuchino's got it. Maybe it's all the blogging under his belt but he knew how to write a book without a big fuss. This book has a distinctive feel to it. It seems to say, "Hey, I'm an expert, but not because I'm better than you, it's because I jumped on the bandwagon before you. Let me give you a hand."
That's truly what I felt about Sambuchino's style. He wanted to help me - which was great, because I need some help.
Let me get to the pick ups/put downs.
Pick it up for:
- The darn good sense
- Easy, understandable writing style
- Quick and informative read
- Unique ideas
- Multiple opinions giving support to the claims
Put it down if:
- you already have a platform
- you're only planning on writing fiction
I'd say the Pick Ups are self explanatory. It's a good book with expert opinions from agents and author interviews. I can't argue with the logic they present - and I don't think I should, either!
The Put Downs are really just time savers. I think anyone interested in writing should at least skim this - if only to get some motivation to plug out some more posts. As a fiction writer myself, I found the emphasis on non-fiction a bit tiresome. There's a lot of talk of niche and in-depth topic research, which is very smart, but as an author who will cross many genres, I know I'll need a different approach. It made parts of the book irrelevant for me. Also, I found it helpful because I currently have no platform to call my own. But if you already are pretty savvy in the traditional areas of Facebook, Twitter, and Blogging, you'll probably find Sambuchino more of a cheerleader for you than a guru.
Overall rating: 4/5 stars
Recommendation: Pick it up!
More reviews at The Roaming Reader
My idea of a good call to action book is, when I'm done with the book - even better when I'm in the midst of the book - I actually do something!
Sambuchino's got it. Maybe it's all the blogging under his belt but he knew how to write a book without a big fuss. This book has a distinctive feel to it. It seems to say, "Hey, I'm an expert, but not because I'm better than you, it's because I jumped on the bandwagon before you. Let me give you a hand."
That's truly what I felt about Sambuchino's style. He wanted to help me - which was great, because I need some help.
Let me get to the pick ups/put downs.
Pick it up for:
- The darn good sense
- Easy, understandable writing style
- Quick and informative read
- Unique ideas
- Multiple opinions giving support to the claims
Put it down if:
- you already have a platform
- you're only planning on writing fiction
I'd say the Pick Ups are self explanatory. It's a good book with expert opinions from agents and author interviews. I can't argue with the logic they present - and I don't think I should, either!
The Put Downs are really just time savers. I think anyone interested in writing should at least skim this - if only to get some motivation to plug out some more posts. As a fiction writer myself, I found the emphasis on non-fiction a bit tiresome. There's a lot of talk of niche and in-depth topic research, which is very smart, but as an author who will cross many genres, I know I'll need a different approach. It made parts of the book irrelevant for me. Also, I found it helpful because I currently have no platform to call my own. But if you already are pretty savvy in the traditional areas of Facebook, Twitter, and Blogging, you'll probably find Sambuchino more of a cheerleader for you than a guru.
Overall rating: 4/5 stars
Recommendation: Pick it up!
More reviews at The Roaming Reader
April 24, 2015
SO MUCH FILLER (what is Facebook? how do tweets work? Google+: the next big thing)
If you are completely new to social media, Western media technology, or the 21st century,this may be useful to you. Otherwise I'd suggest following a couple of good blogs will give you more useful information.
If you are completely new to social media, Western media technology, or the 21st century,this may be useful to you. Otherwise I'd suggest following a couple of good blogs will give you more useful information.
Read
February 23, 2017I thought this book would be pretty different from the one I previously read (Social Media for Writers), but it isn't different enough for me to read this whole book. I read certain parts of it (really only the beginning and the chapter about platform for fiction writers) but I don't plan on reading further any time soon.
I'm not saying that this is a bad read. It is very helpful. Just not to me since I recently read something similar.
Definitely give this a shot if you're a writer that doesn't use social media and isn't sure how to start a "platform."
www.ashleyearley.com
www.ashleyearleybooks.tumblr.com
www.ashleyearleywrites.blogspot.com
-Ashley Earley
I'm not saying that this is a bad read. It is very helpful. Just not to me since I recently read something similar.
Definitely give this a shot if you're a writer that doesn't use social media and isn't sure how to start a "platform."
www.ashleyearley.com
www.ashleyearleybooks.tumblr.com
www.ashleyearleywrites.blogspot.com
-Ashley Earley
November 23, 2016
This book was published in 2012 so in digital era parameters it is a bit out of date. It is also more geared to the non-fiction writer and the US market. Some useful points, confirms some things I have acquired in my digital development and given me some ideas. However, a lot of the info can be obtained online though I myself do prefer hard copy as it is not so tiring on the eyes. I do feel the writers tone is genuine and he wants to help though more up to date stuff is available
January 16, 2013
You mean, we have to write the book AND create this slippery thing called "platform"? Ugh. But Chuck Sambuchino's newest gives writers the rubber booties to slip no more. Let me quote from one of the early pages: "Think about what platform is--it's visibility. So a book without a platform is just the opposite: invisible."
That carries the tone of the work: it sets out in a step-by-step fashion (with a you-can-do-this directive) what platform is, how it can work for different types/personalities of writers (fiction writers too), how to begin establishing a platform, how to extend it and how to manage your time in that extending.
Another quote: "You are your book's best marketer because no one on the plane loves or understands it as much as you do. No one can assist your career as much as you can. And that's why being in charge of promoting yourself and your brand isn't such a raw deal after all." The book doesn't tell you you have to skirt the work, but that the work, if applied, isn't that burdensome.
One of the essentials Sambuchino emphasizes is "It is in giving that we receive." There's lots of solid coaching on how to promote your work by giving information, being helpful, providing samples and freebies. The network effect is real, and it's a two-way conversation that works. Speaking of conversations, one of the books best features is the wealth of advice from agents, editors and people in the publishing industry on the whys and wherefores of platform--and how you can avoid screwing up your platforming efforts. Besides being chockablock full of strong industry advice, there are a bunch of author case studies on platform building at the book's conclusion.
And if all this platforming sounds exhausting, here's another quote: "You should not dive in everywhere ... It's much like firing in all directions without really aiming--and it's a surefire way to accomplish less and run yourself ragged." He provides a measured approach to building your platform in an organic way, no rags necessary.
Platforms? Who knew? Now you do.
That carries the tone of the work: it sets out in a step-by-step fashion (with a you-can-do-this directive) what platform is, how it can work for different types/personalities of writers (fiction writers too), how to begin establishing a platform, how to extend it and how to manage your time in that extending.
Another quote: "You are your book's best marketer because no one on the plane loves or understands it as much as you do. No one can assist your career as much as you can. And that's why being in charge of promoting yourself and your brand isn't such a raw deal after all." The book doesn't tell you you have to skirt the work, but that the work, if applied, isn't that burdensome.
One of the essentials Sambuchino emphasizes is "It is in giving that we receive." There's lots of solid coaching on how to promote your work by giving information, being helpful, providing samples and freebies. The network effect is real, and it's a two-way conversation that works. Speaking of conversations, one of the books best features is the wealth of advice from agents, editors and people in the publishing industry on the whys and wherefores of platform--and how you can avoid screwing up your platforming efforts. Besides being chockablock full of strong industry advice, there are a bunch of author case studies on platform building at the book's conclusion.
And if all this platforming sounds exhausting, here's another quote: "You should not dive in everywhere ... It's much like firing in all directions without really aiming--and it's a surefire way to accomplish less and run yourself ragged." He provides a measured approach to building your platform in an organic way, no rags necessary.
Platforms? Who knew? Now you do.
September 15, 2014
I've read quite a few novels about writer platforms. Unfortunately, this wasn't the best one or even a helpful one as a fiction writer.
If I were writing non-fiction, this would be an amazing book. There was very, very little in here that applied to me or hasn't been said a hundred times in other novels and often said better.
If I were writing non-fiction, this would be an amazing book. There was very, very little in here that applied to me or hasn't been said a hundred times in other novels and often said better.
October 8, 2019
This book was very helpful to me in many ways. It's given me an extra push that I need to continue doing what I'm doing. Two big things that made it three stars for me were that it's a little outdated (Google+ is dead, Jim) and it honestly could have been a shorter, pamphlet style book and no value would have been lost. However, I do appreciate that author interviews and agent comments added to the length of the book.
January 22, 2015
This book is a very thorough guide through the platform building process for both fiction and nonfiction writers. Platform is something that always made me nervous because I wasn't sure HOW to go about building one. Sambuchino's guide shows you how to start small and build your audience over time. He offers many ideas and ways to create a system that works for you. Some of his ideas I'd seen other authors doing on Twitter and Facebook, but it wasn't until reading this book I had that "Aha!" moment and realized how it all ties together. After reading this book, I feel more confident in my ability to take my writing career to the next level. Thanks, Chuck!
March 3, 2019
This was an assigned text for a BA in English & Creative Writing class.
The layout of this book was engaging and easy to follow. It makes a good argument for the importance of a writer's platform.
However, like some other commenters have mentioned, this book serves nonfiction writers a bit more than fiction. It glazes over the benefits of building a website, instead favoring blogs. It doesn't acknowledge building a website from the ground up and using shared server space for hosting (and I'd assume there's a lot of writers either willing to learn, or already knowledgeable, in using HTML5/CSS3).
The book also has some good tips, though brief, for social media, but falls prey to a common enemy: obsolete technology. Sambuchino says in the book that "At the time of writing this, Google+ has yet to go uber-popular, but I think it will soon." The downside of these types of predictions is looking silly four years later, when Google+ was a flop out of the gate, and is shutting down in April 2019.
While this book had some highlights, overall it is information you can find on the blogs of authors and publishers. If you're a writer without any clue how to connect with a potential audience online and want some general tips, this might be the book for you. Anyone else, I'd suggest saving those dollars to buy yourself a few coffees.
The layout of this book was engaging and easy to follow. It makes a good argument for the importance of a writer's platform.
However, like some other commenters have mentioned, this book serves nonfiction writers a bit more than fiction. It glazes over the benefits of building a website, instead favoring blogs. It doesn't acknowledge building a website from the ground up and using shared server space for hosting (and I'd assume there's a lot of writers either willing to learn, or already knowledgeable, in using HTML5/CSS3).
The book also has some good tips, though brief, for social media, but falls prey to a common enemy: obsolete technology. Sambuchino says in the book that "At the time of writing this, Google+ has yet to go uber-popular, but I think it will soon." The downside of these types of predictions is looking silly four years later, when Google+ was a flop out of the gate, and is shutting down in April 2019.
While this book had some highlights, overall it is information you can find on the blogs of authors and publishers. If you're a writer without any clue how to connect with a potential audience online and want some general tips, this might be the book for you. Anyone else, I'd suggest saving those dollars to buy yourself a few coffees.
April 13, 2018
This is a very informative book that all aspiring writers should read. Chuck breaks down the key components of a writer's platform and explains them in easy to do steps. You just have to commit to doing the work. One of his key themes is the more you can offer, the more people will follow you, and the more good things will come to you. You can read this as hard work pays off. The author case studies are wonderful examples of how regular aspiring authors put in the time, produced great work, and became successful. You can do it too.
March 11, 2022
This is a useful book for authors who are published traditionally or independently and does with goals and dreams to publish. It’s a good overview of what you need to find your audience, and sell more books. The book is organized well so that you can find solutions to current challenges and has many examples and sources. Your work is only half complete when you finalize your manuscript. Book marketing is next. This book shows how.
March 30, 2018
Technology continues to evolve and change, but basic marketing principles remain the same. Even though this was written in 2012, the advice is timeless. Authors who need confidence to tackle their platform will be glad they read this book.
July 15, 2018
I found this book to be very informative. It was a required reading for my New Media: Writing/Publishing class, and I'm so thankful it was otherwise I might never have heard of it. If you are an aspiring writer I highly suggest you read this book.
August 18, 2018
Very good book on creating writer platform. Could be highly overwhelming and discouraging one minute and get me all pumped and excited the next. Bottom line it had a lot of helpful info and was well-organized. Would recommend.
November 7, 2023
Checked out from my local library. Not much help for me at this point in my writing. Other authors may find something of interest in this book. Designed more for literary agents and those seeking them - which is not me.
August 22, 2017
This book is packed full of great, practical advice on building a platform. There are plenty of real-world examples as well.
Read
September 10, 2019This book is packed with information. It was helpful
July 24, 2020
As a fiction writer this held only a small amount of information that I needed. It did however clarify the need for a platform and gave me some hope that I'm on the right path.
December 25, 2014
I was asked in a writers group to prepare a presentation on what is a writer’s platform and why it is important for writer’s to have one. After a little research I found three books that were recommended on the topic, (1) “We Are Not Alone: The Writer’s Guide to Social Media” by Kristen Lamb, (2) “Create Your Writer Platform: The Key to Building an Audience, Selling More Books, and Finding Success as an Author” by Chuck Sambuchino, and (3) “Platform: Get Noticed in a Noisy World” by Michael Hyatt. Sambuchino’s book is the newest of the three to be available to readers and had the least information available about it. I have previously read Lamb’s “We Are Not Alone” and found it to have many good ideas about building a writer’s platform using social media. Sambuchino’s book is the newest of the three books as is targeted specially to writers and lists new school and old school platform building blocks.
This book lists the author’s opinion on what is the 10 most common building blocks of a writer’s platform and then gives details on each of the building blocks.
• Website/blog with large readership
• An impressive social media presence (Twitter, Facebook, and the like)
• E-newsletter and/or mailing list with a large number of subscribers or recipients
• Guest contributions to successful websites, blogs, and periodicals
• Public speaking appearances
• Article/column writing for the media
• A record of strong past book sales
• Individuals of influence that you know – personal contacts or organizations
• Membership in organizations that support the successes of their own
• Recurring media appearances and interviews – print, radio, TV, or online
The book also has several test cases that describe successful author platforms. I found this section to be interesting and beneficial since it showed that no two platforms are the same. That what was successful for you author was not was successful for another author. Each author had a customized platform that met his or her needs given the author’s target audience (demographics), genre and goals.
I thought the book is a great introduction to what a writer’s platform is and why it is important. Also, what are the most common building blocks of a successful platform are described with enough detail to understand the building block but not so much that you get lost in the details.
The author provides quotes of agents, publicists, and other publishing industry professionals about different elements of writer’s platform. The case studies in the back are very informative and provide examples to substantiate the author’s claims.
I highly recommend this book to all writers whether you are a newbie just starting your writing platform or an experienced professional with an established writer’s platform. There is so much information in this jewel that all will find something that can be of benefit to them. I especially recommend reading the author case studies to see what others have done to build a successful platform.
Other books I’ve read by author
None
Quotes from the book
“… [Platform] All the methods the author has of reaching the buyer “
Gina Panetteri (Talcott Notch Literary Services)
“I think it is extremely difficult to sell a nonfiction book by an author without a platform.”
Shawna Morey (Folio Literary Management)
“Great marketing only makes a bad product fail faster.”
David Ogilvy
“When considering the best URL for your website, the commonsense option is your full name – in my case, chucksambuchino.com.”
Chuck Sambuchino
“An e-newsletter … allows us to directly reach a base of our most dedicated supporters.“
Kathleen Boyle and Therese Walsh, founders of WriterUnboxed.com
“If a writer can convey that she or he has media connections, has the writing chops to be accepted by the big boys, and is interesting, editors feel more confident {to buy his or her book].”
Laurie Abkemeier literary agent – DeFiore and Company
“Whenever we start building our author platform, we need to honestly look at our strengths and acknowledge what we are and aren’t willing to do.”
Lisa Hall-Wilson
This book lists the author’s opinion on what is the 10 most common building blocks of a writer’s platform and then gives details on each of the building blocks.
• Website/blog with large readership
• An impressive social media presence (Twitter, Facebook, and the like)
• E-newsletter and/or mailing list with a large number of subscribers or recipients
• Guest contributions to successful websites, blogs, and periodicals
• Public speaking appearances
• Article/column writing for the media
• A record of strong past book sales
• Individuals of influence that you know – personal contacts or organizations
• Membership in organizations that support the successes of their own
• Recurring media appearances and interviews – print, radio, TV, or online
The book also has several test cases that describe successful author platforms. I found this section to be interesting and beneficial since it showed that no two platforms are the same. That what was successful for you author was not was successful for another author. Each author had a customized platform that met his or her needs given the author’s target audience (demographics), genre and goals.
I thought the book is a great introduction to what a writer’s platform is and why it is important. Also, what are the most common building blocks of a successful platform are described with enough detail to understand the building block but not so much that you get lost in the details.
The author provides quotes of agents, publicists, and other publishing industry professionals about different elements of writer’s platform. The case studies in the back are very informative and provide examples to substantiate the author’s claims.
I highly recommend this book to all writers whether you are a newbie just starting your writing platform or an experienced professional with an established writer’s platform. There is so much information in this jewel that all will find something that can be of benefit to them. I especially recommend reading the author case studies to see what others have done to build a successful platform.
Other books I’ve read by author
None
Quotes from the book
“… [Platform] All the methods the author has of reaching the buyer “
Gina Panetteri (Talcott Notch Literary Services)
“I think it is extremely difficult to sell a nonfiction book by an author without a platform.”
Shawna Morey (Folio Literary Management)
“Great marketing only makes a bad product fail faster.”
David Ogilvy
“When considering the best URL for your website, the commonsense option is your full name – in my case, chucksambuchino.com.”
Chuck Sambuchino
“An e-newsletter … allows us to directly reach a base of our most dedicated supporters.“
Kathleen Boyle and Therese Walsh, founders of WriterUnboxed.com
“If a writer can convey that she or he has media connections, has the writing chops to be accepted by the big boys, and is interesting, editors feel more confident {to buy his or her book].”
Laurie Abkemeier literary agent – DeFiore and Company
“Whenever we start building our author platform, we need to honestly look at our strengths and acknowledge what we are and aren’t willing to do.”
Lisa Hall-Wilson
March 28, 2014
(originally posted at www.jaclynpaul.com.)
Want more people to see your writing? Start by keeping Create Your Writer Platform within arm’s reach of your desk. Even if you think your work will stand on its own without self-marketing, this book should give you a firm-yet-friendly nudge in the right direction.
Chuck Sambuchino covers all the major platform avenues — website, blog, e-newsletter, non-fiction articles, public speaking, and social media — in just under 250 pages. While that length doesn’t allow for a deep exploration of each topic, it provides plenty to get you started.
Likewise, even if you already know some basics — like how to use Facebook or set up a blog — you won’t need to skip anything. As a former public relations and social media professional who has built several websites, I still gained valuable insights into how these tools should serve me as a writer. Create Your Writer Platform also introduced me to key social media analytics tools to quantify my progress.
Sambuchino crafts his message so readers grasp the importance and magnitude of the task at hand, yet don’t feel so overwhelmed they don’t know where to begin. Perhaps some of this approachability stems from the fact that Create Your Writer Platform reads like a blog: more like listening to a friend than reading a textbook. I couldn’t pick it up without my notebook close at hand — not just because I was taking notes for this review, but because I kept jotting down ideas and next steps for my platform-building efforts.
The only big disappointment came with Sambuchino’s treatment of Facebook. He presents readers with a choice: accept every friend request and use your Facebook profile as a professional tool, or keep it closed off and miss an important platform opportunity. Facebook pages bridge that gap, allowing you to create a professional presence for yourself without opening your personal profile to the public. I was disappointed that this feature received only a cursory mention while Sambuchino described the personal profile as an ideal platform tool.
pull quote - create your writer platformI was tempted to gloss over the case studies at the back of the book, but I’m glad I gave them a thorough read. Fiction writers may struggle with Create Your Writer Platform’s bias toward non-fiction platforms, but will find themselves well-represented in the case studies. The presentation will be familiar to anyone who reads blog interviews: answers to a standard list of questions are included, largely unedited, in the interviewee’s own words/voice. This makes even the bestsellers feel human and relatable and will leave the reader thinking “hey, this is something I can do, too.”
It would be easy to finish a book like this feeling like I could never rise to the level of the case study authors, or like there was simply too much to do, but I felt just the opposite. Create Your Writer Platform will leave you feeling energized and ready to get started, even if your niche hasn’t fully revealed itself to you yet.
Want more people to see your writing? Start by keeping Create Your Writer Platform within arm’s reach of your desk. Even if you think your work will stand on its own without self-marketing, this book should give you a firm-yet-friendly nudge in the right direction.
Chuck Sambuchino covers all the major platform avenues — website, blog, e-newsletter, non-fiction articles, public speaking, and social media — in just under 250 pages. While that length doesn’t allow for a deep exploration of each topic, it provides plenty to get you started.
Likewise, even if you already know some basics — like how to use Facebook or set up a blog — you won’t need to skip anything. As a former public relations and social media professional who has built several websites, I still gained valuable insights into how these tools should serve me as a writer. Create Your Writer Platform also introduced me to key social media analytics tools to quantify my progress.
Sambuchino crafts his message so readers grasp the importance and magnitude of the task at hand, yet don’t feel so overwhelmed they don’t know where to begin. Perhaps some of this approachability stems from the fact that Create Your Writer Platform reads like a blog: more like listening to a friend than reading a textbook. I couldn’t pick it up without my notebook close at hand — not just because I was taking notes for this review, but because I kept jotting down ideas and next steps for my platform-building efforts.
The only big disappointment came with Sambuchino’s treatment of Facebook. He presents readers with a choice: accept every friend request and use your Facebook profile as a professional tool, or keep it closed off and miss an important platform opportunity. Facebook pages bridge that gap, allowing you to create a professional presence for yourself without opening your personal profile to the public. I was disappointed that this feature received only a cursory mention while Sambuchino described the personal profile as an ideal platform tool.
pull quote - create your writer platformI was tempted to gloss over the case studies at the back of the book, but I’m glad I gave them a thorough read. Fiction writers may struggle with Create Your Writer Platform’s bias toward non-fiction platforms, but will find themselves well-represented in the case studies. The presentation will be familiar to anyone who reads blog interviews: answers to a standard list of questions are included, largely unedited, in the interviewee’s own words/voice. This makes even the bestsellers feel human and relatable and will leave the reader thinking “hey, this is something I can do, too.”
It would be easy to finish a book like this feeling like I could never rise to the level of the case study authors, or like there was simply too much to do, but I felt just the opposite. Create Your Writer Platform will leave you feeling energized and ready to get started, even if your niche hasn’t fully revealed itself to you yet.
February 20, 2016
In Create Your Writer Platform, Chuck Sambuchino is better at addressing the needs of nonfiction than fiction writers and the concerns of authors who are seeking an agent rather than those who have chosen to go indie. Getting an agent is his area of nonfiction expertise. However, the book is still useful for an indie fiction writer. His target readers, new and midlist traditionally published authors, have to do a tremendous amount of their own marketing and platform-building, almost as much as self-published authors do. At four years old, some of the content is dated, and he makes an error in one suggestion about how to get names for a mailing list, but aside from that, if you approach the book with reasonable expectations and a tolerance for too much Chuck-stuff, it’s worth reading.
The case studies in the back are valuable even if the authors are not in your genre. Their insights on what made their blogs successful can apply to all writers. After saying elsewhere in the book that tipping points are mostly beyond our control, Sambuchino nonetheless asks each of these authors to describe their tipping points. For those who have not yet read Malcolm Gladwell’s The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference, which I recommend, this term refers to the way in which ideas, fashions, books, etc., become major trends. It’s not a book on marketing, but a study of influence and influencers. Sambuchino’s book can help writers learn to build a platform, but not necessarily to “tip.”
Key ideas:
• Blog to give, not to get. Share something of value. It can be humor, experience, insight, advice, or resources. You will connect with readers more by giving value than by asking them to buy your book. Ideally, whatever it is you give builds your platform by having a thematic relationship to your books and creating connections with people who share that interest. The same applies to what you tweet. Ten percent of your social media posts should promote your books. The rest should be either genuinely social (Facebook) or content of value (blog and Twitter).
• Platform—the subject of an author’s expertise—is both specific and essential for nonfiction writers. It is variable for fiction writers. If you write cozy mysteries with a culinary theme, you probably have a cooking platform. If you write more traditional mysteries, maybe your setting is your platform. Perhaps expertise on writing is your platform.
• Focus on the aspects of platform-building you enjoy and do well.
• Never whine in public. Do your venting offstage.
These few main points in no way substitute for the small details. I recommend this book for authors, published or unpublished, who want to get their platform act together.
The case studies in the back are valuable even if the authors are not in your genre. Their insights on what made their blogs successful can apply to all writers. After saying elsewhere in the book that tipping points are mostly beyond our control, Sambuchino nonetheless asks each of these authors to describe their tipping points. For those who have not yet read Malcolm Gladwell’s The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference, which I recommend, this term refers to the way in which ideas, fashions, books, etc., become major trends. It’s not a book on marketing, but a study of influence and influencers. Sambuchino’s book can help writers learn to build a platform, but not necessarily to “tip.”
Key ideas:
• Blog to give, not to get. Share something of value. It can be humor, experience, insight, advice, or resources. You will connect with readers more by giving value than by asking them to buy your book. Ideally, whatever it is you give builds your platform by having a thematic relationship to your books and creating connections with people who share that interest. The same applies to what you tweet. Ten percent of your social media posts should promote your books. The rest should be either genuinely social (Facebook) or content of value (blog and Twitter).
• Platform—the subject of an author’s expertise—is both specific and essential for nonfiction writers. It is variable for fiction writers. If you write cozy mysteries with a culinary theme, you probably have a cooking platform. If you write more traditional mysteries, maybe your setting is your platform. Perhaps expertise on writing is your platform.
• Focus on the aspects of platform-building you enjoy and do well.
• Never whine in public. Do your venting offstage.
These few main points in no way substitute for the small details. I recommend this book for authors, published or unpublished, who want to get their platform act together.
January 10, 2024
[First Glance]
It's going to sound silly as I write out a blog post that will be shared across various social media channels, but... this book had me both intrigued and a bit leery. I'm not into the Influencer culture, the idea of success being measured by social media reach. However, I recognize that I follow people I like online; they've built the kind of communities and online interactions that leave you feeling good when they're done. So clearly, a writer can benefit from using social media to interact with their readers, other writers, and the bookdragons of the world at large.
[Positive Bits]
Sambuchino made a lot of sense in his instructions. He gave concrete measures for recognizing successful social media platform creation, rather than generalizing. I like numbers and goals; it's part of why I like NaNoWriMo's 50K in 30 days, because it's a concrete goal and timeline. This book has many examples of ways to track your platform growth.
My favorite suggestion (with tangible focus) was to Google yourself. If you're the majority of the first page results, then you're doing it right when it comes to social media and building a platform. I've done it, and my years of blogging and sharing poems have led to a large number of my posts coming up in Google Images in particular. It's kind of neat!
I also appreciated the recognition of how important community can be. You don't have to be a writer all alone; in fact, online writing groups can be ridiculously helpful in giving you inspiration, constructive criticism, and opportunities to give back.
[Less Enjoyable Bits]
A large portion of the advice in this book focused on the kinds of writers who want to run in certain circles. The authors who give paid speeches in various conventions and college events. The writers who become a household name in their field.
The focus made on networking made sense, but sometimes it pushed the boundaries of realistic choices for a person to make. For example, Sambuchino mentions working in your desired field (in relation to nonfiction writers) even if it means accepting a pay cut. That's not terrible advice... except people who are already scraping by paycheck to paycheck can't just switch jobs for fun. No one needs to actually choose to become a starving artist to succeed.
I felt like the section on Facebook usage was oddly out-of-date for such a recently published book. I've had pages for various groups and topics over the past decade, and you don't have to friend people to interact with them on a page you manage. So the entire description of how to use Facebook effectively was out of sync with the reality of Facebook.
It's going to sound silly as I write out a blog post that will be shared across various social media channels, but... this book had me both intrigued and a bit leery. I'm not into the Influencer culture, the idea of success being measured by social media reach. However, I recognize that I follow people I like online; they've built the kind of communities and online interactions that leave you feeling good when they're done. So clearly, a writer can benefit from using social media to interact with their readers, other writers, and the bookdragons of the world at large.
[Positive Bits]
Sambuchino made a lot of sense in his instructions. He gave concrete measures for recognizing successful social media platform creation, rather than generalizing. I like numbers and goals; it's part of why I like NaNoWriMo's 50K in 30 days, because it's a concrete goal and timeline. This book has many examples of ways to track your platform growth.
My favorite suggestion (with tangible focus) was to Google yourself. If you're the majority of the first page results, then you're doing it right when it comes to social media and building a platform. I've done it, and my years of blogging and sharing poems have led to a large number of my posts coming up in Google Images in particular. It's kind of neat!
I also appreciated the recognition of how important community can be. You don't have to be a writer all alone; in fact, online writing groups can be ridiculously helpful in giving you inspiration, constructive criticism, and opportunities to give back.
[Less Enjoyable Bits]
A large portion of the advice in this book focused on the kinds of writers who want to run in certain circles. The authors who give paid speeches in various conventions and college events. The writers who become a household name in their field.
The focus made on networking made sense, but sometimes it pushed the boundaries of realistic choices for a person to make. For example, Sambuchino mentions working in your desired field (in relation to nonfiction writers) even if it means accepting a pay cut. That's not terrible advice... except people who are already scraping by paycheck to paycheck can't just switch jobs for fun. No one needs to actually choose to become a starving artist to succeed.
I felt like the section on Facebook usage was oddly out-of-date for such a recently published book. I've had pages for various groups and topics over the past decade, and you don't have to friend people to interact with them on a page you manage. So the entire description of how to use Facebook effectively was out of sync with the reality of Facebook.
May 2, 2013
I picked this book up at Chapters on a whim. I was looking for a book on writing and came across this because it looked different and helpful.
'Create your Writer Platform' is an excellent resource for any author looking to build a platform for their writing online. A platform helps you to sell books, helps you to self promote, and helps you to become more widely known. Sambuchino does an excellent job going through each and every step you need to take to set up a platform. From websites to public speaking, Sambuchino provides examples and helpful hints to help the reader slowly piece together their own writing platform. With agent advice, as well as testimonials at the end of the book, the reader gets a good idea why a platform is a good idea and why it can help you sell books.
However, one problem I found is the platform's use for fiction writers. This book is very geared towards non-fiction books. This means a lot of the advice that is given seems pointless if you are a fiction writer, and it makes it hard to pay attention to advice that is very relevant to a fiction writer's craft. Though Sambuchino does point out time and time again that fiction writers can benefit from what he talks about, the general feeling I got from him was that fiction writers do not need platforms. (which is at odds with the three fiction writers who give examples of their platforms at the end of the book) A lot of what Sambuchino says for non-fiction writers is very relevant to fiction writers. Though he may gloss over fiction writing, a reader can easily pick out the points that will benefit them.
That said, I would highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in writing, fiction or non-fiction. If you are indeed writing something that is non-fiction, like a 'How To' guide, then definitely pick this book up, and I would then give it a 5 star rating. For fiction writers like myself, there is a lot of helpful tips, but it was hard to shake the feeling that this book was trying to drive me away, as if I were an alien among strange people. Still, even for fiction writers, this book will be a good help to helping to promote yourself and to build your platform.
So if you are a writer, pick this book up. Even if you are doing most of what is suggested in this book, there are small pointers that will definitely help you out and strengthen your platform.
'Create your Writer Platform' is an excellent resource for any author looking to build a platform for their writing online. A platform helps you to sell books, helps you to self promote, and helps you to become more widely known. Sambuchino does an excellent job going through each and every step you need to take to set up a platform. From websites to public speaking, Sambuchino provides examples and helpful hints to help the reader slowly piece together their own writing platform. With agent advice, as well as testimonials at the end of the book, the reader gets a good idea why a platform is a good idea and why it can help you sell books.
However, one problem I found is the platform's use for fiction writers. This book is very geared towards non-fiction books. This means a lot of the advice that is given seems pointless if you are a fiction writer, and it makes it hard to pay attention to advice that is very relevant to a fiction writer's craft. Though Sambuchino does point out time and time again that fiction writers can benefit from what he talks about, the general feeling I got from him was that fiction writers do not need platforms. (which is at odds with the three fiction writers who give examples of their platforms at the end of the book) A lot of what Sambuchino says for non-fiction writers is very relevant to fiction writers. Though he may gloss over fiction writing, a reader can easily pick out the points that will benefit them.
That said, I would highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in writing, fiction or non-fiction. If you are indeed writing something that is non-fiction, like a 'How To' guide, then definitely pick this book up, and I would then give it a 5 star rating. For fiction writers like myself, there is a lot of helpful tips, but it was hard to shake the feeling that this book was trying to drive me away, as if I were an alien among strange people. Still, even for fiction writers, this book will be a good help to helping to promote yourself and to build your platform.
So if you are a writer, pick this book up. Even if you are doing most of what is suggested in this book, there are small pointers that will definitely help you out and strengthen your platform.
March 4, 2014
Chuck will be pleased to know I purchased his guide precisely because of the writing/publishing information he creates for Writer's Digest and then posts on Twitter.
That's Chuck's platform working to expand his reach and sell books.
I didn't just purchase the guide to read. I had a nebulous idea of what platform meant, and knew I had to understand it. I plan on using the advice for my own sake in advance of my debut novel due November 2014. As a new writer, I know I need a website, and am aware of the importance social networking sites like Twitter, Facebook and Goodreads. A blog also seems
essential for writers of fiction and nonfiction. But how to effectively use them is another matter. You can't expect people to magically find you.
You've got to give them a reason to seek you out, and it's up to you to keep them coming back for more.
So as of this writing in early March, my website's near completion and will launch the first week of April. And I'm not just sitting around. I'm reTweeting other author's blog posts I think might be helpful to others (I've gotten 20 more followers in a week--that might not sound like a lot, but it's a start.) I'm creating and stockpiling posts for my blog, which
includes me reaching out to established horror/supernatural thriller (my genre) authors for interviews/tips I can post when the time comes (and give them credit, of course). It's all reciprocal. And Chuck goes out of his way
to say platform building takes time (it never ends, really), so don't expect magic to happen in a matter of days or weeks. It takes work.
Chuck gives his own examples and those of nonfiction and fiction writers to illustrate what may work if you properly employ the tips. (And you can't go at it half-heartedly or it will show.)
Chuck's writing is conversational and to the point. Nonfiction writers might find this book of more use since an author platform is more essential to landing a coveted contract. But he includes fiction authors who've also found success. (My only complaint: I would like to have seen more.)
But for those of us starting out, the guide serves a valuable purpose to help get us working in advance of a book release to hopefully gain more attention and more sales.
That's Chuck's platform working to expand his reach and sell books.
I didn't just purchase the guide to read. I had a nebulous idea of what platform meant, and knew I had to understand it. I plan on using the advice for my own sake in advance of my debut novel due November 2014. As a new writer, I know I need a website, and am aware of the importance social networking sites like Twitter, Facebook and Goodreads. A blog also seems
essential for writers of fiction and nonfiction. But how to effectively use them is another matter. You can't expect people to magically find you.
You've got to give them a reason to seek you out, and it's up to you to keep them coming back for more.
So as of this writing in early March, my website's near completion and will launch the first week of April. And I'm not just sitting around. I'm reTweeting other author's blog posts I think might be helpful to others (I've gotten 20 more followers in a week--that might not sound like a lot, but it's a start.) I'm creating and stockpiling posts for my blog, which
includes me reaching out to established horror/supernatural thriller (my genre) authors for interviews/tips I can post when the time comes (and give them credit, of course). It's all reciprocal. And Chuck goes out of his way
to say platform building takes time (it never ends, really), so don't expect magic to happen in a matter of days or weeks. It takes work.
Chuck gives his own examples and those of nonfiction and fiction writers to illustrate what may work if you properly employ the tips. (And you can't go at it half-heartedly or it will show.)
Chuck's writing is conversational and to the point. Nonfiction writers might find this book of more use since an author platform is more essential to landing a coveted contract. But he includes fiction authors who've also found success. (My only complaint: I would like to have seen more.)
But for those of us starting out, the guide serves a valuable purpose to help get us working in advance of a book release to hopefully gain more attention and more sales.
February 18, 2017
Very helpful in giving you ideas on how to get going. Mr. Sambuchino's book a good read for writers and authors who want to start building a platform and have no idea on how to go about it. I will be implementing some of his advice into my own platform.
August 3, 2013
A well-organized, concise, get-down-to-business book for writers looking to start, or enhance, their author platforms. I understand that agents and editors push for author platforms mainly from non-fiction writers, and as a fiction writer I was skeptical going into this book about getting any usable info out of it. I was proven wrong, though - I gleaned a LOT of useful tips. I follow Chuck Sambuchino (the author) on all his social media (blog, Twitter, Facebook), and he always has enlightening things to say about writing, publishing and marketing/platform.
He begins the book by describing platform, and telling you why you need it, helping you decide on your niche, and outlining the differences between non-fiction platform versus fiction or memoir platform (which I truly appreciated, since so many books and articles I read about platform assume a non-fiction audience only).
As I read the book, I was impressed that, though there is a huge amount of information in it, it never seemed overwhelming. Chuck breaks everything down into do-able sections and explanations, and even stressed throughout that there is no need to tackle everything at once. Choose one or two platform avenues (i.e. blog, Twitter, Facebook, website, etc.) and concentrate on them - don't let yourself drown trying to do everything.
He then goes over in detail each aspect of each platform avenue, in a very down-to-earth, non-techy way (and again, I appreciated this, since I am so NOT tech-savvy).
The book left me with a sense of excitement to get out there and enhance my platform, and empowerment that made me feel it is not beyond my reach! Yay! Thanks, Chuck!
He begins the book by describing platform, and telling you why you need it, helping you decide on your niche, and outlining the differences between non-fiction platform versus fiction or memoir platform (which I truly appreciated, since so many books and articles I read about platform assume a non-fiction audience only).
As I read the book, I was impressed that, though there is a huge amount of information in it, it never seemed overwhelming. Chuck breaks everything down into do-able sections and explanations, and even stressed throughout that there is no need to tackle everything at once. Choose one or two platform avenues (i.e. blog, Twitter, Facebook, website, etc.) and concentrate on them - don't let yourself drown trying to do everything.
He then goes over in detail each aspect of each platform avenue, in a very down-to-earth, non-techy way (and again, I appreciated this, since I am so NOT tech-savvy).
The book left me with a sense of excitement to get out there and enhance my platform, and empowerment that made me feel it is not beyond my reach! Yay! Thanks, Chuck!
January 15, 2013
Chuck Sambuchino's Create Your Writer Platform: The Key to Building an Audience, Selling More Books, and Finding Success as an Author is an absolute must-have How-To for today's writers. This comprehensive guide takes veteran and fledgling writers alike through the chaos that is writer platform and visibility. No matter if you're a best-selling novelist or an unpublished freelance journalist, this book has something for you.
As a fiction writer, I've struggled with balancing the development of my stories and the development of my platform. Chuck Sambuchino takes a candid, straight-forward approach the to subject that absolutely showed me how to scaffold the different social media outlets and other visibility mediums into a sturdy platform to present my writer self. If found his action plan and suggestions to be both wildly informative and practical.
He presents the Principles of Platform in a very easy-to-read style, then develops the Mechanics behind it all in a very detailed manner. The book goes on to present 12 case studies, with authors hailing from multiple genres, that demonstrate the principles and mechanics at work. It covers not only Non-Fiction, but also Fiction and Memoir. The interviews with authors that are interspersed throughout the chapters provide valuable insights to the publishing world and lend credibility to what is being presented.
I would wholeheartedly recommend this book for any beginning of established author who finds the world of platform building mystifying.
As a fiction writer, I've struggled with balancing the development of my stories and the development of my platform. Chuck Sambuchino takes a candid, straight-forward approach the to subject that absolutely showed me how to scaffold the different social media outlets and other visibility mediums into a sturdy platform to present my writer self. If found his action plan and suggestions to be both wildly informative and practical.
He presents the Principles of Platform in a very easy-to-read style, then develops the Mechanics behind it all in a very detailed manner. The book goes on to present 12 case studies, with authors hailing from multiple genres, that demonstrate the principles and mechanics at work. It covers not only Non-Fiction, but also Fiction and Memoir. The interviews with authors that are interspersed throughout the chapters provide valuable insights to the publishing world and lend credibility to what is being presented.
I would wholeheartedly recommend this book for any beginning of established author who finds the world of platform building mystifying.
March 16, 2013
If you’re a writer, do you have the following questions in mind: How do I get started? Am I on the right track? What more can I do?
If so, then ‘Create Your Writer Platform’ is a book you’ll enjoy. Chuck Sambuchino narrows it down to twelve simple fundamentals of platform building that are achievable.
What’s great about ‘Create Your Writer Platform’ is that not only does he supply the opinions and input of agents, but he also gives the success stories of current authors at the end of the book. This is very valuable information for aspiring, new and established writers.
This book is very realistic and the points of view are upfront and forthcoming; there’s no fluff in there.
The examples given in ‘Create Your Writer Platform’ apply to both fiction and non-fiction writers and authors who have a book deal. The only thing I wish there was more of in this book is advice for self-published authors without a book deal. Despite that, the information given still applies, since it is about platform creation and not about striving to obtain agents and/or publishers.
After reading this book I feel more inspired and have more ideas in mind to help boost my platform. I do not feel overwhelmed and above all I feel like I’m headed in the right direction with all the actions I’ve taken in my writing career.
Well done Chuck! I look forward to reading more of your helpful advice, and maybe someday I’ll have the opportunity to meet you at one of your speaking engagements!
If so, then ‘Create Your Writer Platform’ is a book you’ll enjoy. Chuck Sambuchino narrows it down to twelve simple fundamentals of platform building that are achievable.
What’s great about ‘Create Your Writer Platform’ is that not only does he supply the opinions and input of agents, but he also gives the success stories of current authors at the end of the book. This is very valuable information for aspiring, new and established writers.
This book is very realistic and the points of view are upfront and forthcoming; there’s no fluff in there.
The examples given in ‘Create Your Writer Platform’ apply to both fiction and non-fiction writers and authors who have a book deal. The only thing I wish there was more of in this book is advice for self-published authors without a book deal. Despite that, the information given still applies, since it is about platform creation and not about striving to obtain agents and/or publishers.
After reading this book I feel more inspired and have more ideas in mind to help boost my platform. I do not feel overwhelmed and above all I feel like I’m headed in the right direction with all the actions I’ve taken in my writing career.
Well done Chuck! I look forward to reading more of your helpful advice, and maybe someday I’ll have the opportunity to meet you at one of your speaking engagements!
May 14, 2013
Easily one of the most important books about writing that I have ever come across. Here’s the deal, you can write great books, but in today’s world, if your book is not viewed by people then it is invisible. Remember the question from philosophy class: if a tree falls in the forest, does it make a sound? In talking about platform, you need to think of this question: if your great book is not seen by anyone, will it make a dime?
You can breathe easily lads because if you are a fiction writer, a platform is not necessary. However, a platform will not harm the sales of your book. In fact, it will augment it.
Sambuchino’s book is a must-have because it doesn’t only discuss social networking programs such as Facebook and Twitter, he also discusses fundamental principles of platform building that will withstand future evolutions of social networking programs.
The second part of the book explores multifarious cases: authors of different fiction genres, writers of various nonfiction genres, as well as agents. You get to see individual experiences with platform building. And throughout the book, these writers and many more, offer their ideas and opinions on certain topics. For instance, agents’ opinions on whether they will prefer a fiction writer with a platform over one who lacks visibility.
Maybe the scariest part of the whole book is the numbers; how many blog readers, Twitter followers, Facebook likes/friends, or newsletter subscribers truly impress an agent?
Excuse me while I nurse my heart attack.
You can breathe easily lads because if you are a fiction writer, a platform is not necessary. However, a platform will not harm the sales of your book. In fact, it will augment it.
Sambuchino’s book is a must-have because it doesn’t only discuss social networking programs such as Facebook and Twitter, he also discusses fundamental principles of platform building that will withstand future evolutions of social networking programs.
The second part of the book explores multifarious cases: authors of different fiction genres, writers of various nonfiction genres, as well as agents. You get to see individual experiences with platform building. And throughout the book, these writers and many more, offer their ideas and opinions on certain topics. For instance, agents’ opinions on whether they will prefer a fiction writer with a platform over one who lacks visibility.
Maybe the scariest part of the whole book is the numbers; how many blog readers, Twitter followers, Facebook likes/friends, or newsletter subscribers truly impress an agent?
Excuse me while I nurse my heart attack.
August 7, 2014
This book introduces the importance to writers of building a platform, and gives a description of what this platform might be. It gave me the understanding of how a writer should develop an internet presence, and some methods to go about doing that. I got some good ideas from this book, but also quite a bit of discouragement. A lot of the author's suggestions seem overwhelming to me, and simply saying that one might have to go out of one's comfort zone, and giving other glib suggestions, don't seem especially helpful. Just as I was about to despair of the whole deal, he did say something really helpful, which was a recognition that not everyone is able to present themselves well in every manner, say in giving a public speech, and that one should concentrate on those things that one is able to do effectively. One can concentrate on one or two strategies at a time, and if done well, that might be enough. I still feel a bit miffed about his emphasis on public speaking, and his glib suggestions about overcoming one's fears. I happen to already have done a lot of public speaking. I can do it, maybe others even think I do it well, but this is not an area I am strong in, and cannot develop. Even so, I got some good ideas of things I can do (maybe) from this book.
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