So what you're saying is I should write a book about a cat who gives up her baseball career to serve in WW2 and not focus so much on building my platform?
not asking you to buy my book, however... i've just signed up to this platform & published a poem. to me your click, albeit financially futile, means a great deal across the other multitudes of my existence.
This provides much to think about and is extremely useful, as always—greatly appreciated, Kate.
I’ve failed at writing regular blog posts and newsletters, but have started rebuilding my website with articles such as the history of children’s books, Australian wildlife facts, and how-to. However, now I’m wondering, are extensive legacy websites currently deemed old-fashioned—is other real estate considered more valuable, and after creating a basic version, is it better to spend time elsewhere? Time is limited. The original was launched in 2002 and had more than 70 pages, but looked tired. But I will try 'a bunch of engagement stuff'.
On the old site, the page that attracted most traffic was ‘How to Draw a Koala’, though a thousand or more views a month were from Russia, presumably bots. I’ve no idea if the page helped to sell copies of the related picture book—a significant number were bought by schools and public libraries before the Australian imprint was closed (sigh!) by its European owner. I'd completed the standalone sequel they asked me to write, too.
I did have an agent for ten years, until she retired. We sold copyright for one calligraphy book, knowing the publisher would reuse the content...and since it was released in 2010, they have edited it to create several smaller books, most included in spin-off art kits (at least ten, three this year), with no expectation of promotion from me. We added a clause to the contract to stipulate that my name has to appear on each new book. I hope these are good for my platform...but am I correct in thinking, only useful if I write another papercrafts book—not a YA historical?
I can still write more calligraphy books (and have already had another published), as you can't own copyright on Italic or Gothic writing styles, or the technique for applying gold leaf.
So what you're saying is I should write a book about a cat who gives up her baseball career to serve in WW2 and not focus so much on building my platform?
.
not asking you to buy my book, however... i've just signed up to this platform & published a poem. to me your click, albeit financially futile, means a great deal across the other multitudes of my existence.
https://robertbruwer.substack.com/p/ode-to-hopelessness-65f
thanks for that. have a nice one
This provides much to think about and is extremely useful, as always—greatly appreciated, Kate.
I’ve failed at writing regular blog posts and newsletters, but have started rebuilding my website with articles such as the history of children’s books, Australian wildlife facts, and how-to. However, now I’m wondering, are extensive legacy websites currently deemed old-fashioned—is other real estate considered more valuable, and after creating a basic version, is it better to spend time elsewhere? Time is limited. The original was launched in 2002 and had more than 70 pages, but looked tired. But I will try 'a bunch of engagement stuff'.
On the old site, the page that attracted most traffic was ‘How to Draw a Koala’, though a thousand or more views a month were from Russia, presumably bots. I’ve no idea if the page helped to sell copies of the related picture book—a significant number were bought by schools and public libraries before the Australian imprint was closed (sigh!) by its European owner. I'd completed the standalone sequel they asked me to write, too.
I did have an agent for ten years, until she retired. We sold copyright for one calligraphy book, knowing the publisher would reuse the content...and since it was released in 2010, they have edited it to create several smaller books, most included in spin-off art kits (at least ten, three this year), with no expectation of promotion from me. We added a clause to the contract to stipulate that my name has to appear on each new book. I hope these are good for my platform...but am I correct in thinking, only useful if I write another papercrafts book—not a YA historical?
I can still write more calligraphy books (and have already had another published), as you can't own copyright on Italic or Gothic writing styles, or the technique for applying gold leaf.
Thanks and best wishes—enjoy the holiday season!