I've known for just about forever that God made me to write. I've known it even before I really knew it. Know that feeling? Anyway, sometimes it's a lot harder than I ever thought it would be. Worth it? Absolutely, one hundred percent. But easy? Nope. Especially when it comes to developing a writing platform. I've been blessed to have a mom who ran her own business for over a decade, so she's been super helpful when it comes to the marketing side of my writing. I'm taking an online writing workshop currently as well that has given me tremendous advice for platform-building. But it can still be so overwhelming. However, by God's grace I've learned quite a bit over the years of my writing adventure on how to develop your platform, and I want to share just a few easy tips with you today. Sometimes, I think writers avoid this topic of platform-building for two reasons. Number one--they're afraid that if they focus on building their platform they will become prideful or come across to others as prideful and pushy. Number two--they want to keep their writing focus on God and not getting as many readers as possible. Before diving into the purpose of this article I would just like to briefly address both these concerns. First, platform-building can be done with a humble and graceful attitude. You must evaluate your heart regularly to make sure you're keeping the right mindset, and it could be helpful to also have accountability partners to keep your head where it should be. But growing your platform does not mean you're being prideful, nor does it mean you have to be pushy with your writing, if you do it tastefully and respectfully, with the purpose of serving your readers. Second, no matter what, your focus in writing should always be on God. However, I feel in my heart that growing your platform is also a way to honor God. And let me explain that. If God has given you a gift of writing, He gave you that gift for a reason. He wants you to use that to honor and glorify Him through it. But if you keep that gift to yourself and do not seek ways to share it with others, for His glory, you are not honoring God fully with that gift. (Matthew 25:14-30) Of course, that's just my opinion, but I feel that when I expand my platform and reach more people with my writing, I'm letting God do more of His work through my words. Just remember that through all of it, keep your eyes on Jesus and do it to serve Him and His people. Serving God and your readers should be your first concern. Alright, with that being said, let's dive into my four easy platform-building ideas that you can start working on today. 1) Create an email list. I've been learning so much about why email lists are valuable, especially if you want to publish a book someday. So consider starting one today. Don't focus so much on the number of subscribers right now, but instead focus on how you can bless your subscribers. Is there anything you can give to them as a free gift for signing up for your email list (such as a special article you wrote, an e-book you published, etc.)? Is there a fun way you can get them involved in your writing journey (surveys, giveaways, etc.)? Email your friends and family and ask them if you can add them to your email list and let God work on growing it! 2) Submit guest posts. This could be really big for your platform. The more you get your writing out there for readers to view, the better you're able to reach people. Some popular websites that accept guest submissions are The Rebelution, KingdomPen, and (in)courage (they only accept certain times of the year). Submitting guest posts is also a great way to develop your writing skills. You may face rejection or constructive criticism and the honest truth is that, even though those things may hurt, they are making you a better writer. Just don't give up and keep submitting! For anyone wondering, I do accept guest submissions occasionally for my blog. However, I don't accept many. If you are interested in guest posting here, contact me. My online magazine ministry, The King's Princess, also accepts guest submissions more regularly. 3) Start a blog. Blogs are a super fun way for readers to get familiar with your writing style without the commitment of paying for anything! If you hope to publish a book someday, a blog would probably do you a lot of good. It helps you develop your craft, while getting dedicated readers in the process. Always a good thing. :) I'll be writing another post about launching your first blog soon. 4) Launch a Facebook page. Especially if you're younger, you may not be allowed to use social media. And when it comes to social media, always talk to your parents first before creating an account. However, if you are allowed to develop a Facebook page for your writing/blog/book, go for it. A Facebook page can be difficult to grow at first, but if you keep at it, eventually you'll see results. I used to have about 50-100 views per post on my author Facebook page, but the more I promoted it and shared the page, the more views I got per post. One of my more recent posts had over 4,500 views! So keep at it and don't give up. I know platform-building can be hard and frustrating at times. The key is to keep being faithful to share your gift with others for God's glory, and trust Him for the results. He'll get you where He wants you in His timing. Trust me. <3 |
About this page:
This page of my blog is dedicated specifically to writers. I've been writing for over half of my life. I live and breathe writing. Because of that, I'm passionate about helping other writers grow, develop, and succeed. This section of my blog will include blog posts dedicated to writing, encouragement, and resources. Feel free to read through some posts and my contact form is always open if you ever have any questions or need encouragement! ♥ Archives
April 2018
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