The Most Important Question You Can Ask About Your Author Platform

(The section below is excerpted from a book I am currently writing on how to take a spiritual and common sense approach to author platform) 

One day I had the privilege of sitting down with a chaplain who wanted advice on writing a book proposal. He was writing a book about his experiences working as a chaplain with people in hospice. He had been in my “How to Write Your Book Proposal” workshop and was daunted by the concept of platform, which I stressed as important for the Publicity and Promotion Section. He felt he had couldn't write the section because he had no big stage on which to stand.

Suddenly, without consciously choosing them, I found these words coming out of my mouth:

“If you had the book in your hand right now, what would you do with it?”

Nina Noir, Fictional Editor and Case of the Strange Thing that Actually Works for Aspiring Authors

I'm Nina Noir, Fictional Editor. 

Last week I introduced you to aspiring paranormal romance novelist Buffy Armstrong, whose novella The Dark King's Lover finalled in the 2nd Annual Novellas Need Love, Too contest sponsored by the Celtic Hearts Chapter of the Romance Writers of America in the Paranormal category.

That led up to what I called the "strange thing" I see working for aspiring novelists that has nothing to do with virtuosity, decades of craft development, or industry connections. Believe me, I have an array of clients who run the gamut, but over the years I've started to pick up on a pattern of publishing success that may be truly surprising to you.

So, what is it?

First, let's take a look.

I have some clients who will spend a half-year doing targeting submissions and then give up when their twelve or fifteen queries catch no fish. Other clients who will spend years perfecting a manuscript then submit to a handful of their favorite agents, get no responses then put the manuscript away.

But then there are Buffy ad Lori, one who just finalled in a novella contest, and the other who just landed her first publisher. Of all my clients, these two have seen the greatest Return on Investment for their writing over the past year. 

So, how did they do it?

First, let's look at what they have in common:

• They both happen to be woman doing well in the business world 
• Both spend their days working with deadline-driven project goals 
• Both love to spend their evenings and weekends writing
• Both finish a project and immediately think "Where is this going to go?"
• Both are smart about submitting to publishers in their niche
• Both are willing to invest money in editors, auctions, and contests
• Both women have been submitting their manuscripts, and reworking them based on the feedback they receive, for over a year

Here is what they do differently from each other:

Buffy writes paranormal romance, has an online author platform, and focuses on specific goals: a contest, a pitch session, a submission deadline. And she works on her novels, but she also knows when to kick them out of the door. 

Lori writes romance-suspense, has no author platform, and sends her work out to multiple freelance editors to get a wide array of editing and publishing advice. Then she bids on agent/editor auctions to get her manuscript IN FRONT OF agents and editors who can actually make things happen.

Here is what they do differently from my other clients (and me)

Both Buffy and Lori are competitive, like many of my other clients, but have a more methodical, prolific, and proactive approach to submission. They focus on specific goals and keep on chugging forward. They don't get too bogged down in self-doubt over rejections, or put manuscript away to sulk for years. Maybe it's because their first identities aren't as writers, so they have less ego to wound. 

Either way, what does it all add up to?

Endurance. That's it.

They both set specific publishing goals and don't give up until they meet them.

It goes like this:

You work toward a contest or submission deadline then, when a rejection comes, immediately move on to the next goal. Don't stop after a year of rejections. Keep perfecting the manuscript, but also keep submitting.

So, what can you do?

Find a contest (specific to your genre and subject matter is best) where you can submit your next poem, short story, or novella. There are literally dozens taking place at any given time and can be easily located online with a quick search. Give up the $10 or $25 it will take to enter. The fire that an objective deadline will light in your belly is well worth the cost.

If you have hundreds or thousands of dollars laying around, bid on an editor/agent auction. If you win, they HAVE to look at your manuscript. They might still say no, but you'll be that much closer to getting industry feedback and then you can just try it again. Just as "writing is rewriting," "submitting is resubmitting."

You don't have to spend lots of money, but you do have to keep your eyes on the prize. That is what I see working for my clients anyway. Determination and endurance. It will outstrip everything else. 

And join me in the future for new installments of Nina Noir, Fictional Editor.

Now get outta my office. This dry, dirty vodka martini isn't gonna drink itself.

Buffy the Novella Slayer (Because She Kills It)

Meet The Buff.

Part of being a writer is having friends who write. The Buff is one of mine. I call her my "Writing Buffy" instead of "Writing Buddy," which I think is hilarious and wonderful. She's a good sport about it. She's a good sport about most things. And recently she got some great, well-deserved news.

After a year of submitting her first novella "The Dark King's Lover" to a number of contests and presses with no success (DKL is a book I edited last winter, a cheeky, sexy, enjoyably dark love story between a witch and a vicious fairy king), Buff finally got GREAT news:

She finalled in the 2nd Annual Novellas Need Love, Too contest sponsored by the Celtic Hearts Chapter of the Romance Writers of America in the Paranormal category. The finalist submissions will not be sent to an editor for the final round and we'll find out in December (around Christmas) where she placed.

So, is Buffy just having a good year?

I don't think so. As someone who teaches writers marketing and platform development, and thinks a lot about what really works and what really doesn't, I'm fascinated when a friend seems to come out of the woodwork and really make something happen.

And I have worked with enough aspiring writers to start seeing real patterns in what works.

So, join me in the next installment NEXT WEDNESDAY, when I talk about the strange thing I see actually working for aspiring novelists that has nothing to do with virtuosity, years of focused dedication, or industry connections.

And say hi to Buffy on twitter. She'll say hi back and what's more, she'll be genuinely interested unless you are an arrogant d-bag. Even then, she'll find you hilarious.

Seeking Smart Zombie Novel Publishers/Agents

And no, I don't mean smart publishers/agents; I mean publishers of smart zombie novels.

Emm... smart novels. Not smart zombies.

See how slippery these adjectives can be?

Here is the thing: I have the pleasure of editing a truly kick-ass zombie novel written by a client who also happens to be a good friend. This is a pure joy for any freelance fiction editor.

But I'm not sure where to help him submit. It isn't the pulpy genre stuff. It isn't super literary like Colson Whitehead's Zone One, although it does do some experimental things with POV and is very well-written.

As I said, this zombie novel is not just a zombie novel. But it's also not just a "thinking man's" zombie novel. It's a coming-of-age story, a love story between a boy and his dog, it's a commentary on the force of connection that keeps us sane in the midst of insanity, even if it's with someone from a different species.

I keep searching for publishers and agents of "thinking man's" horror, but that isn't quite right. The book is thoughtful, yes, plays with point of view, yes. It even uses the dog's POV charmingly and in a way that actually seems like dog-think. This is a guy who really knows his dogs, thirteen-year olds, and zombies, and approaches them with the wonder of an adolescent.

It is more like Salem's Lot - horror that has more to do with a world turned upside down than lots of gore.

My friend is a first-time novelist but he's polished this thing to a shine. He's a talented and emotionally intelligent storyteller and if I could publish him with a strong force of marketing and distribution, I would. I would be on him.

I think it would be a great pick-up for a medium-sized publisher. An agent or publisher who isn't just publishing pulpy zombie stuff, but looking for genre fiction that transcends itself.

Any thoughts, leads, comments, dear writers and editors and friends?