Let's face it, the publishing industry is, at its core, still a business. As such, it can be tremendously difficult for a new author to get themselves out into the world. It's like, if you don't have a name, then you don't have an identity, which from a business standpoint, makes the risk of gambling on you high. How then does one go about forming an identity when they're completely unknown so agents and publishers take notice and perhaps (and hopefully) are more willing to take that risk? Fear not intrepid writers! There are measures you can take to alleviate your anonymity.

You may have heard the phrase "Author Platform" before. If not, no worries, I'll explain. Your platform is the network you use to reach your readers, and can be comprised of many different things. Think of it like your own little town, at the center of which you stand. Each aspect of your platform is like an avenue, leading off in a different direction. Those avenues may turn into other lanes down the road (see what I did there?) which further expands your town.

Which avenues you choose to start with as you begin populating your town are yours to decide, but I will touch on some basics along with a few less-conventional options.

Website

Having your own website is an invaluable asset, and with all the free do-it-yourself, drag and drop options available, there's really no excuse for NOT creating one. If you really don't have the time to invest in the endeavor, or maybe visual arts and graphic design just aren't your thing, you could still pay someone else to do it for you.

This website is part of my own platform. It serves as a home-base where anyone who might become interested can come to learn more about me. It can also serve as a handy place for updates about upcoming events, new releases, or anything else you may want to include, and one of the aspects that appeals to me about this is the ability to track everything in a chronological order, which isn't always so easily achieved through other venues. I also enjoy the individual design and flair that can be incorporated into a website.

At the very least, your website should have a bio section, a way to contact you, and once you gain some traction, I would advise a section for upcoming events or engagements such as book signings or announcing a writing conference you will be attending. Think of your website like your online home--decorate it however you see fit.

Social Media

There are so many avenues for digital communication these days, it can sometimes be overwhelming, but this is definitely an area you should utilize to your advantage when developing your platform. Facebook is of course a big one. You don't necessarily need to have a personal profile if you'd rather not. There is an option to create a business page there, which is something I myself decided to do. It's a great way to network, further develop a following, and announce important updates. Other social media platforms you may want to explore for networking include Twitter and LinkedIn, and sites like Pintere'st or Instagram may be useful for posting things like design work or illustration samples. Even platforms like Tiktok or Snapchat could be effective, depending on what sort of content you intend to create. It's okay to be creative. Use what best suits your purpose.

Writing Groups

Joining a group of writers provides an opening for a host of things. Readership is always the end goal here, and you may find people willing to critique work for you or act as beta readers, or maybe the group you join is for the sole purpose of developing a fanbase. Depending on the type of group you've joined, it may lead to further networking opportunities. That friend who knows a friend who knows such and such agent whom they think would just love your work. While this is not a guarantee, of course, the occurrence still exists within the realm of possibility. I utilize wattpad for the sole purpose of writing horror shorts, more for my own enjoyment, but I've also toyed with the idea of releasing part of my novel there just to see what happens.

Blogging

Blogs are great for a lot of things. As a writer, you can use this to advertise updates regarding your career but you can also do so much more with this. Posting useful and helpful information will attract more visitors. Keep the information you post relevant. If you're able to, post once per week so you have a continuous stream of content. (Yes, I admit that I'm a hypocrite in that regard, with my tendency to post content elsewhere more frequently.) Keep your titles specific so they can be easily located in search engines. You can use this for networking too, by linking to other blogs similar to your own, on your social own media platforms or on message boards to help drive traffic. Also, if someone comments on your blog, do them a kindness and respond. Everyone likes to feel acknowledged.

Writing Contests

This isn't an area where you would be providing consistent content, however writing contests will help boost your credentials with publishers and agents if you win. Even if you don't, you may still generate further interest in your work, and depending on the type of contest, you might even get some invaluable feedback. One that I've posted about before and highly recommend is the Ink and Insights contest. Check out their website for entry information and contest details. I earned a permanent spot on their winners page myself in 2019. I have a running list of contests I've researched on Publishing 101.

Newsletters

This is another great way to retain the interest of your readers. You can offer exclusive content unavailable elsewhere to your subscribers and use it as a homebase for promotional giveaways.

Email

This may seem like common sense, but it is smart to establish a "business only" email account. It just doesn't look professional to have cutesy nicknames grandma gave you, strings of numbers which may be significant to you but will be meaningless to the rest of the world or whatever other variables have gone into your personal email name. You're pitching your work as a professional and presumably would like to be taken seriously. You want to be taken seriously. A simple email address clearly indicating who you are will go a long way.