This was a really great read, thanks so much. You consistently help me feel a lot better about eventually being published :)
My secret main motivation for starting my Substack was trying to build a platform for my novel. I’m not really on social media or anything and I wondered, “who is going to read this?” Well, this is my attempt to find them.
Thank you for not calling it "X" (anyone else read L'Engle's Wind in teh Door? Echthroi, I say to you). And for this wise and calming advice. I too cannot deal with TikTok. My kids already tell me that I text like an old person (apparently punctuating is *so* old-fashioned) so TikTok would be ridonkulous. But in terms of "platform," another thing to think about is how to be yourself a good literary citizen, so that when you start selling your wares, you've established a strong good-karma bank. Help broadcast other people's work & build connections that way, too, so that when your book comes out, that person wants to have you as a guest on their podcast or newsletter or whatever.
Thank you so much for expanding on my question, Kate. I almost deleted it from your other post because I thought you thought it was a silly question!
I contemplated it more, and if I had all the time in the world, I think I'd actually love social media. It's the time constraint that makes it first on my list to go because it feels like a waste when I could be working or writing an essay/book. So it's primarily a time management issue.
Another big problem is that the more followers I get, the more my engagement decreases because so many annoying bots or scam people keep following and not engaging. I once went through and deleted over 300 non-engaging followers, but then my follower growth slowed down a lot. So it's a double edged sword. How do you deal with this issue?
You probably can’t stop the bots. I don’t know if I would waste time blocking them, except for the really scammy/porny ones. Just focus on the engagement you DO have.
I was literally listening to a podcast about this very subject today. The importance of having a few different 'platforms' such as substack, that are not social media related and therefore could vanish overnight taking all your 'stuff' with it! Gasp! This podcast also talked about the importance of having your own website. This is something I've been thinking a lot about and am considering (not that I've got a lot to share as yet.) What are your thoughts on this?
I thought Substack was considered social media?? The writer has their email list, but otherwise it seems like it to me. Also, besides other newsletters, I can't think of other platforms like this...
A platform connects you to readers. Sometimes that leads to sales. This is the point of a platform, on any site https://dino-game.co and for any author.
Thank you for this. It's such a relief that I can repeat myself. I've never given myself permission to and it was putting extra pressure on me to always create something new. That is not only hard, but sometimes impossible. But it makes so much sense to recycle my content because not everyone has seen it. You made social media, that tiny bit less daunting.
Yes, to all this. I think it's so important top also engage authentically, meaning you're not just forcefeeding your book to people. Addressing a need feels more important than shouting BUY MY BOOK.
Great post and so much good info. Totally agree about platform building ahead of book. I started years before my current novel went into preorders on August. It paid off. The book got on the Amazon Hot New Release list in three days. It was a combination of efforts including email blasts but the socials did the heavy lifting. I’m doing a few videos which get quite a lot more comments than still images and that’s an interesting stat to consider although I also dislike doing them. Posting my Kirkus review did well too. I’m learning each day about what works and what doesn’t so much. Thanks for this corral of knowledge.
I really appreciate the guidance here. I also feel so discouraged about building a platform that I could throw up.
You aren’t alone!!!! But you have to start somewhere. Baby steps.
This was a really great read, thanks so much. You consistently help me feel a lot better about eventually being published :)
My secret main motivation for starting my Substack was trying to build a platform for my novel. I’m not really on social media or anything and I wondered, “who is going to read this?” Well, this is my attempt to find them.
Yes, a great read and useful. I also refuse to call it X. Too many fools and narcissists have co-opted letters of the alphabet. Not one more!
Thank you for not calling it "X" (anyone else read L'Engle's Wind in teh Door? Echthroi, I say to you). And for this wise and calming advice. I too cannot deal with TikTok. My kids already tell me that I text like an old person (apparently punctuating is *so* old-fashioned) so TikTok would be ridonkulous. But in terms of "platform," another thing to think about is how to be yourself a good literary citizen, so that when you start selling your wares, you've established a strong good-karma bank. Help broadcast other people's work & build connections that way, too, so that when your book comes out, that person wants to have you as a guest on their podcast or newsletter or whatever.
"I am not calling it X" should be put on a tshirt!
Great advice to not do what you don’t wanna/hate. No TikTok for me either!
Super insightful takeaways! I really enjoyed reading this!
Hi Kate. Another great read and your enthusiasm and love of all things published shines through in every sentence.
Social media is a necessary (and very important) part of building your author brand. Love it or hate it, it’s a necessary evil.
Thank you so much for expanding on my question, Kate. I almost deleted it from your other post because I thought you thought it was a silly question!
I contemplated it more, and if I had all the time in the world, I think I'd actually love social media. It's the time constraint that makes it first on my list to go because it feels like a waste when I could be working or writing an essay/book. So it's primarily a time management issue.
Another big problem is that the more followers I get, the more my engagement decreases because so many annoying bots or scam people keep following and not engaging. I once went through and deleted over 300 non-engaging followers, but then my follower growth slowed down a lot. So it's a double edged sword. How do you deal with this issue?
You probably can’t stop the bots. I don’t know if I would waste time blocking them, except for the really scammy/porny ones. Just focus on the engagement you DO have.
I was literally listening to a podcast about this very subject today. The importance of having a few different 'platforms' such as substack, that are not social media related and therefore could vanish overnight taking all your 'stuff' with it! Gasp! This podcast also talked about the importance of having your own website. This is something I've been thinking a lot about and am considering (not that I've got a lot to share as yet.) What are your thoughts on this?
Yes to an author website! Think of it like a business card until you have more things to put up there.
I thought Substack was considered social media?? The writer has their email list, but otherwise it seems like it to me. Also, besides other newsletters, I can't think of other platforms like this...
It kinda is I guess! I think I just separate general newsletter writing from social media in general.
Thank you for sharing all of this wisdom here. I appreciate the information and the tone equally.
A platform connects you to readers. Sometimes that leads to sales. This is the point of a platform, on any site https://dino-game.co and for any author.
Thank you for the repost - and the permission ❤️
Thank you for this. It's such a relief that I can repeat myself. I've never given myself permission to and it was putting extra pressure on me to always create something new. That is not only hard, but sometimes impossible. But it makes so much sense to recycle my content because not everyone has seen it. You made social media, that tiny bit less daunting.
Yes, to all this. I think it's so important top also engage authentically, meaning you're not just forcefeeding your book to people. Addressing a need feels more important than shouting BUY MY BOOK.
Great post and so much good info. Totally agree about platform building ahead of book. I started years before my current novel went into preorders on August. It paid off. The book got on the Amazon Hot New Release list in three days. It was a combination of efforts including email blasts but the socials did the heavy lifting. I’m doing a few videos which get quite a lot more comments than still images and that’s an interesting stat to consider although I also dislike doing them. Posting my Kirkus review did well too. I’m learning each day about what works and what doesn’t so much. Thanks for this corral of knowledge.