September

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Traditional publishers and agents expect a full platform typically, before they even look at an author. Don’t you suppose, even if you are an Indie publisher, you should also have this set up?

So, what is a full platform?

To begin with, you need at least the top five social networking sites. (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest, and Instagram) Then, add in GoodReads which is specific to books, and while you are at it, you should add an Amazon Author Central account.

Once you have those, you need an author website, and all of these places should interact with each other automatically. That means if you make a post on Facebook, it will also appear on your website and other compatible platform areas. (Facebook will play with Twitter, although Twitter doesn’t play well in return.)

I know some of you have book websites rather than an author website. I want to caution you here though. If you write more than one book, now you must go build a new website and push lots of marketing there. With an author site, you can simply add the new book to the home page and continue marketing to the same site.

I realize you may not be inclined to do all of this, although I must ask you this. Do you want the kind of infamy that E.L.James has? She didn’t become an overnight success because she had a great book. She did so with the use of this technique. The day she published her book, she had connections through social media with thousands of people, to which she sent word to go buy her book. In her first month she sold thousands of copies. This was all done with the use of a well integrated and well used platform. Then, because she sold so many, so quickly, she received a traditional contract in a few short months.

So it’s time to bite the bullet and get out there. YouTube is a great place to learn about all these things. It is where I go whenever something new is on the rise.

Tim Jacobs

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Q: Tell us your story…

CIP-7-ZF-8518-56360-1-012Tim Jacobs:

I’ve been a member of the Gulf Coast Writers Association since 2004. When I first joined, the membership was still under 50 members and a “large” meeting was about 25 people showing up. The organization has come a long way over the past eleven years of my membership. I’m grateful that I got to be the speaker twice during that time and I have also given back by serving on the nominating committee for three years, and also held the positions of Program Director, Vice President, and President on the Executive Committee, and currently serve on the Corporate Board.
 
Each meeting I’ve always walked away with something, whether it be a new contact, a new lead, another story idea, or simply left the meeting with the inspiration to go home and write some more. I’ve made some great friendships and even some business partners.
 
What I truly love about GCWA is that when you’re at a meeting, everyone is on the same level. Everyone is there to help a fellow writer get to that next level in their writing. It’s a joy to be a part of the enthusiasm of other writers when they get published or win an award for their work.
 
Also the speaking guests and workshops over the years have been wonderful. Regardless of what kind of writing you do, or what stage you’re at, you get something from each speaker. The same goes for the Special Events that take place throughout the year.
 
With this group, the education of writing is a fun process!

Artis Henderson

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Artis Hendersonartis-henderson

I have been a proud Gulf Coast Writers Association Member for almost a decade. Between the monthly meetings, my GCWA critique group (go Hurricanes!), and the writing friends I’ve made, it’s hard to imagine my life without Gulf Coast Writers.

My first book, Unremarried Widow, a memoir about my husband’s death in Iraq, was published by Simon & Schuster last spring. It was featured in the New York Times, Elle and People magazines, and on NPR, and it appeared on more than ten Best of the Year lists.

That book began here, with Gulf Coast Writers. I brought early pages to my monthly critique group, and their helpful advice guided me through the creative process. When they suggested that I enter GCWA’s writing contest, I felt more confident about my work. Writing a book can be a lonely business, and I was glad to have the support and encouragement of other writers.

Today, I’m working on fiction. Writing a novel feels very different than writing a memoir, and I’m always surprised at the challenge of it. I also teach classes – including one at the Alliance for the Arts in January – and do private book coaching and manuscript editing. I love teaching, and I’m constantly humbled and inspired by my students.