Welcome to the October edition of the Merry Go Round Blog Tour.\u00a0 I’m happy you’ve decided to visit, and I hope you’ll make time to wander around (if you haven’t been a regular visitor to the site already) and make yourself at home.\u00a0 Our topic for this month is Writing Platform — What have you done or what will you do?<\/p>\n
First, what is a writing platform?\u00a0 Simply, it’s the things a writer does to introduce others to their work. Chuck Sambuchino, author of Create Your Writer Platform, <\/em>suggests the following building blocks to platform:<\/p>\n A website and\/or blog with a large readership I have a website\/blog and an email newsletter — large is a nebulous term, but I don’t think it applies for my readership — yet.\u00a0I’m working on it.\u00a0Have you signed up for my bi-monthly Fiction Club newsletter yet? If not, just enter your email below, and you’re all set:<\/p>\n
\nAn e-newsletter and\/or mailing list with a large number of subscribers\/recipients
\nArticle\/column writing (or correspondent involvement)\u00a0for the media\u2014preferably for larger outlets and outlets within the writer\u2019s specialty
\nGuest contributions to successful websites, blogs, and periodicals
\nA track record of strong past book sales
\nIndividuals of influence that you know\u2014personal contacts (organizational, media, celebrity, relatives) who can help you market at no cost to yourself, whether through blurbs, promotion, or other means
\nPublic speaking appearances\u2014the bigger, the better
\nAn impressive social media presence (Twitter, Facebook, and the like)
\nMembership in organizations that support the successes of their own
\nRecurring media appearances and interviews\u2014in print, on the radio, on TV, or online<\/p><\/blockquote>\n