Author Platform
I have been busy these last few days trying to get my professional Facebook page up and running. Success! I added the link to this website. I knew I could do it inefficiently after many Google searches. If you feel so inclined and are a user of Facebook, please like my page.
I have been active on Twitter (@kcolbywrites) for a few months now. I’ve connected with many other indie writers through that medium. And would love to connect with more awesome people. Hint, hint.
As my readers know, I diligently attend writer conferences. I officially signed up for the Jody Lynn Nye Writer’s Workshop at DragonCon 2015. Who’s joining me?
I am an active member of the Houston Writers Guild. The connections I’m making there are meaningful and fun. I am considering starting a critique group after the beginning of the school year when the summer activity slows down.
Some of you may have noticed that I amended my name to include Lynn. Publishers, or so I’m told, like to Google the author names that fall upon their desk, or stream across their inbox in modern times. “Kelly Colby” already has a presence online… and it’s not me. I’m sure she is a very nice lady, but I did not want the competition. Therefore, my writer name will be Kelly Lynn Colby. When you search for that (go ahead and try it, I’ll wait), ta dah! You get me: my blog, pictures of me, my family and my colleagues, my Twitter account, my Facebook account. Pretty cool!
I don’t have my first book published; I’m only halfway through the revising stage. So, why do I have my name splattered all over the place?
Author Platform.
Yes. I am told it’s not just about social media. You must make a connection with your audience. Show the world your message! Bring down the… Oh wait, that might be a bit far.
I AM showing the world who I am. I AM learning from experts in the industry. I AM motivating and being motivated by fellow struggling writers. Hopefully, these people will like me or be intrigued by what I have to say or feel sorry for me (I’m not proud) or be amused by my ramblings. Whatever results in them exploring my novel for their pleasure and adventure.
If I don’t stand up and wave my arms, how will they know I’m here among the thousands of indie writers flooding the market place? If I don’t offer bits of my work and world for people to freely peruse, why will they choose my book over the millions of others offered?
When I finish the revising and the beta readers return with their grim (yes, always the optimist) feedback, I want the agents and editors to SEE how hard I’ve worked before sending the complete manuscript to them. Hopefully, they will extrapolate to see how hard I will continue to work to produce more content, both in my made-up world and in the virtual one. It has been said that the best seller of your first book is your second.
What does your author platform say about you?
My book recommendation today is for all those writers who are still learning their craft and need a bit of help ridding themselves of the “very”s and the overused adjectives: happy, sad, angry. The showing, not telling, part of being an author can sometimes be a challenge, especially when you are still experimenting and finding your style. My dear friend, Carrie, gifted me The Emotion Thesaurus: A Writer’s Guide to Character Expression by Angela Ackerman and Becca Puglisi. This user friendly guides takes the writer through common emotions such as “dread”, “nostalgia” and “pride”. First, the emotion is defined, then a page of physical symbols that can be used to describe what the character is doing. The essence of showing! This book was perfectly timed as I began the revising of my first manuscript. Thank you, Carrie! You can thank her too, after you have taken advantage of this resource.
Read more books!
