51. Building Your Author Platform Before You Publish

In today’s publishing world, authors aren’t just storytellers—they’re also the CEOs of their own brand. That responsibility can feel overwhelming, but the good news is, you don’t have to do everything all at once.

In this episode, Gretchen Schaffer and I break down the three core "Why’s" of building your author platform. Our goal is to help writers take intentional next steps in connecting with the right audience—without the stress of trying to be everywhere at once.

Here’s what we’ll share:

• Why you need a platform (before you publish)
• Why a platform isn’t what you think it is
• Why it’s important to start with what you have

For more on Gretchen & Nicole, visit bookworks.co 

Transcript

STEPS TO STORY EP 51 - Building an Author Platform Before You Publish

[00:00:00] Nicole Meier: Hey, Steps to Story listeners. I'm so happy that you're joining me today because I have a special guest. Today, I have Gretchen Schaffer with me, and we are tackling the why behind building your author platform before you publish.

[00:00:22] Nicole Meier: Welcome to Steps to Story. This season, I'm focusing on helping you grow as a writer and as an author. I'm Nicole Meier, multi published author and certified book coach, here to guide you on strengthening your story and getting it out into the world. This season, we'll explore ways to overcome the challenges that hold writers back, from breaking through creative blocks to fine tuning your story's structure.

[00:01:05] Nicole Meier: As some of you may or may not know, in addition to my book coaching and developmental editing business, I am also the co creator of bookworks. co, and our aim over there is to help emerging authors with their author platforms and agent pitches. And today I have Gretchen Schaefer with me, and we are tackling the why behind building your author platform before you publish.

[00:01:29] Nicole Meier: So hi, welcome Gretchen. Thanks for having me, Nicole, it's great to be here. I love that you come on the podcast with me from time to time because this is such an important thing to talk about in addition to people strengthening their manuscript. I want them to think about their author journey, and I know that you do, too.

[00:01:45] Nicole Meier: And what's interesting, listeners, is that the more discovery calls that Gretchen and I do with emerging authors, the more we realize that there are some sort of myths out there about author platform. There's a lot of fear, people thinking it's one thing when really it's many things. So, today, let's just get real simple, Gretchen.

[00:02:05] Nicole Meier: Let's talk about the three whys, because I think that that will inform people's decision making when it comes to what's right for them. And the first one is, I want to talk about why authors need to think about a platform before the book is done and published. That sounds scary to people at first, right, Gretchen?

[00:02:24] Gretchen Schaffer: Yeah, absolutely. I mean, you're working on finishing your book and this amazing manuscript, and then also you have to think about selling your book and developing a platform. So a lot of times there's this myth of, if I write it, people will just come and read it and buy it. And I mean, that is amazing if that happens, but most of the time it doesn't work necessarily that way.

[00:02:48] Gretchen Schaffer: So you can't just. think that readers are just going to come out of no place on launch day and buy your book. So authors, publishers, agents do expect some level of bringing an audience to the table. That wasn't the case a number of years ago. You didn't necessarily have to be thinking about that, but, and we don't, especially for fiction writers.

[00:03:11] Gretchen Schaffer: Yes. And we certainly don't want to scare anybody away here. We want you to be thinking about all of these things now, and also really to empower authors that starting your platform can be simple. And I guess the purpose of our podcast today is really to put your best foot forward as you kind of start on this next part of your journey.

[00:03:31] Nicole Meier: Yeah, so true, and I know myself included in the beginning, like, there's a significant amount of fear, thinking. Okay, well, what if I do it wrong? What if I have to do all the things all day long, and I'm working, I have a family? I mean, it's asking a lot, and we talk about this quite a bit with authors is like, yeah, unfortunately, right now, the way the market is going is that authors are more and more expected to be the CEO of their own brand.

[00:03:55] Nicole Meier: And that doesn't have to be overwhelming. It doesn't have to be all the things all at once. But if you start considering it now, especially what we're talking about, what's your why? So we're going to get into that right now. I think it will really help people to take the next step in thinking about how they could best reach the audiences right for them.

[00:04:13] Gretchen Schaffer: Yeah. Some authors that we've worked with have started very, very small. This is even before they're pitching agents. Or even before they're officially completed with their manuscript, but they're in the process of completing it, and they've started their platform, and they've seen growth even just in a few short months.

[00:04:34] Gretchen Schaffer: So, they're getting a feel for what it's like to talk to their ideal audience. Yeah. And then having fun connecting with the community that will likely read their book once it's out there. 

[00:04:45] Nicole Meier: Yeah. And that's a really good segue, Gretchen, into the why. I think if people would stop to consider what is my why for even having an author platform or even considering how I might build one is.

[00:04:57] Nicole Meier: Are you just trying to, for the very first time, know what it's like to write for and connect to your ideal audience? Or are you trying to attract an agent or a publisher or a certain program or community? I think identifying that why and your goals. will help inform how you build the platform and where you're going to show up.

[00:05:18] Nicole Meier: Nicole, 

[00:05:18] Gretchen Schaffer: you worked with an author who was finding her audience before she was published and out there, and it was a thriller, right? 

[00:05:27] Nicole Meier: Yeah, that's a really good example. I always like to say. Think about what you're writing, the genre, your ideal audience, and then think about the themes you want to share before you even know how or what you're sharing is.

[00:05:38] Nicole Meier: For example, are you a contemporary romance author? Maybe you want to share themes of love and empowerment. Maybe you're a thriller writer and you can focus on suspense and intrigue. And that's what one of the writers I worked with was doing. And I was so inspired by her because she was working on strengthening her novel manuscript.

[00:05:55] Nicole Meier: She knew she wanted a career in being a thriller writer. And so she really leaned into finding her audience and talking to them by sharing her why. Why she loved the thriller genre, books she loved in the category. Why the thriller genre specifically was right for her as a reader. She got personal and she shared some of her mental health struggles and some things that kind of got her through and the community around that thriller community and the readers and writers.

[00:06:25] Nicole Meier: And it was really cool to see this and engaging. And it brought in people who were ideal audience, and they wanted to see whatever she was doing. You know, she was doing reels and articles and podcasts and things. And she started very small. That might feel very overwhelming, but she started with baby steps.

[00:06:43] Nicole Meier: And one thing led into the next and to the next. And she started to get this community that was resonating with what she was saying and excited when her book was self published. 

[00:06:53] Gretchen Schaffer: I love that example, Nicole, that's such a good one. So let's talk about why a platform is not what you think. 

[00:07:01] Nicole Meier: Yeah. Again, when you and I talk to people on exploratory calls, you see the sort of deer in the headlights look and they say, please don't make me dance on video or do I need a massive following in order to make an impact or I don't want to take time away from my writing and my creative time in order to be like a so called influencer.

[00:07:20] Nicole Meier: And we want people to know right away. The, all those things are not true. We don't want you to do any of those things unless you very much want to. 

[00:07:29] Gretchen Schaffer: Yeah, it's not about gimmicks and doing things that are not authentic to who you are. And it isn't about the number of people that follow you and getting those kind of crazy numbers.

[00:07:42] Gretchen Schaffer: It's about, like we've talked about, establishing your voice and connecting with people who would be interested in your book and your story. 

[00:07:51] Nicole Meier: Yeah, exactly. And it's also quality over quantity, wherever you show up. That could be articles, it could be sub stack, it could be podcasts, social media, the list goes on and on.

[00:08:02] Nicole Meier: It's actually should be right for your ideal audience, not what everybody else is doing. But honestly, it is quality over quantity because you want to engage, you want things to resonate and you want to find. stories that connect with your ideal reader in a way that you guys can build that community. And to drive 

[00:08:20] Gretchen Schaffer: this point home, it's really about tailoring your platform to align with your personality and the preferences that you have that are authentic to you as a writer, as an author.

[00:08:31] Nicole Meier: Yeah, exactly. Don't limit yourself. I think listeners, that's one thing I'd love for you to take away is when you're thinking about building a platform and potentially reaching out to your ideal audience, don't limit yourself. It's not about just being on one specific trendy social media platform. It's actually so much more than that.

[00:08:50] Nicole Meier: The beautiful thing is it's not a one size fits all option. There's beautiful opportunity out there to reach your ideal audience where they're already living. 

[00:09:00] Gretchen Schaffer: Now let's talk about Why starting a platform is easier than you think. So first of all, the elephant in the room is the overwhelm factor. Yeah, so true.

[00:09:11] Gretchen Schaffer: So most writers think that you have to do everything all at once, and you have to be everywhere, and that is just not true. The truth is, is just starting small is really powerful in choosing one thing where you feel like you can be really consistent on. Would you agree, Nicole? Yeah, 

[00:09:31] Nicole Meier: consistent and joyful.

[00:09:32] Nicole Meier: Yeah. We want you to enjoy what you're doing because that's what you're writing. Yes, you're trying to tell the story that's on your heart, but you're also finding joy in connecting with readers. You know, that's really exciting. Okay, so let's break it down. We want people to know, first, you already have the tools you need.

[00:09:51] Nicole Meier: Your unique perspective and voice is yours and yours alone. And I promise you that will draw people in that are like minded if you really share from a place of authenticity. And the next thing is sharing what you're already doing is also very powerful. I'll just give you a quick example. You could share.

[00:10:09] Nicole Meier: Favorite books in that genre, some of your writing struggles, you could share a sneak peek into the world of your story. There are so many opportunities to use what you already have, even if you're still crafting your draft, even if you're still thinking about what in the world is the publishing path that's right for me.

[00:10:26] Nicole Meier: There are so many things you can share now that are of value. 

[00:10:30] Gretchen Schaffer: That's so true, Nicole. A platform doesn't have to be perfect. It's going to evolve over time. And you're going to change and do things differently, but it doesn't have to be perfect, and I think you can't get caught up on everything having to be 

[00:10:45] Nicole Meier: perfect before you start.

[00:10:47] Nicole Meier: Yeah, I totally agree. And things should evolve. Yeah. I know, your writing journey is evolving, your manuscript's evolving, so what you're sharing and the way that you're reaching your audience will also evolve, and that It's actually exciting. Like I said, don't limit yourself. Don't think you have to have it all buttoned up and just be one place.

[00:11:05] Nicole Meier: There are so many opportunities unique to you and so many ways unique to you that you can speak to your audience. 

[00:11:13] Gretchen Schaffer: Okay, writers, let's recap why you should consider building an author platform now. So first, think about the why behind your author platform and Consider starting it early. Even before your book is finished, we talked about that.

[00:11:29] Gretchen Schaffer: There's no better time to start than when you're almost finished with your book and ready for that next step. Second, we talked about why a platform is not what you think and why you shouldn't force yourself into a box that isn't right for you and your ideal audience. Last, we talked about why starting a platform is easier than you think.

[00:11:51] Gretchen Schaffer: You already have the tools. To share, such as your love for the genre, your own writing journey, and your story world. And these are all things that can be easy to get started. 

[00:12:04] Nicole Meier: Yeah, great, great. Okay, writers, I hope that you're taking away a nugget of inspiration from this short but powerful podcast episode on why building an author platform is not as scary as you think.

[00:12:17] Nicole Meier: We would also love to hear from you. Gretchen and I can be found at bookworks. co. Send us your questions. Send us your thoughts. We love hearing from emerging authors. We're here for you, and we get really excited when we learn about your work in progress. So thanks for tuning in, everyone. Until next week, happy writing and happy creating.

[00:12:41] Nicole Meier: If you want to check out my coaching programs for fiction writers, visit NicoleMeier. com. That's M E I E R. And if you liked this episode, I'd love you to take a minute to leave a rating and review for this podcast. This will help more writers like you to discover the show. and to get going on their writing journey.

[00:13:01] Nicole Meier: Thanks so much for listening. Until next time, happy writing everyone.