Get Known Before The Book Deal: Use Your Personal Strengths To Grow An Author Platform »

Christina Katz is the author of Writer Mama. She started her platform "for fun" seven years ago and ended up on Good Morning America. She has been encouraging reluctant platform-builders via her e-zine Writers on the Rise and has been covering the topic for the past two years. She recently launched the e-course, Platform Building Basics for Writers, and writes a monthly column on platform development for The Willamette Writer.

www.christinakatz.com

Becoming visible is more crucial to landing a book deal than ever, according to agents and editors in every facet of the publishing industry. Simply churning out a book isn't enough. Aspiring authors need to develop a marketing platform in order to get noticed. This book empowers writers to take charge of their writing careers and partner with agents, editors and publishers. Introverts and extroverts alike will find effective and diverse strategies for growing their platform in their areas of expertise in ways that complement their own style and pace of working. From developing a readership, to increasing the odds of a book deal, to having a greater impact on book sales, this book is every aspiring writer's guide to success in the world of publishing.

Introduction What's Your Platform? 3

Pt. 1 Platform Ready 8

1 Become Visible 9

2 Quiz Yourself 16

3 Swap Shoes 21

4 Handle the Truth 25

5 Cultivate Your Expertise 31

6 Craft Your Niche (for Fiction Writers) 37

7 Meet Your Readership 42

8 Align with Your Audience 49

9 Get Geisty 54

10 Delve into Integrity 58

11 Think Productive 62

12 Ditch Your Resistance 66

13 Act from Passion 70

14 Get Some Input 77

15 Style It Real 84

Pt. 2 Platform Set 92

16 Join in 93

17 Connect with Others 97

18 Volunteer Up 106

19 Teach to Learn 114

20 Step Outside Your Comfort Zone 124

21 Make an Appearance 130

22 Host Something 139

23 Get Articles in Print 147

24 Offer a Service 159

Pt. 3 Platform Grow 168

25 Name Game 169

26 Identity Quest 175

27 Tag-a-Long 180

28 Sign Off with Style 184

29 Build a Bio 190

30 Mission: Possible 196

31 Be Camera Friendly 201

32 Tally Up Testimonials 207

33 Broadcast Your Blog 213

34 Hang Your Web Shingle 229

35 Relay the Latest News 238

36 One-Page It All 244

Afterword: An Inside Job 252

Recommended Resources 257

Index 260