Did you know that Goodreads, the social media site for bookworms everywhere, has a program specifically for authors who want to promote their latest books? Even if you’re not a big fan of social media, it’s important to claim your Goodreads author account so that no one else does. But while you’re doing that, take a look around. Did you know that Goodreads, the social media site for bookworms everywhere, has a program specifically for authors who want to promote their latest books? Even if you’re not a big fan of social media, it’s important to claim your Goodreads author account so that no one else does. But while you’re doing that, take a look around. Goodreads was recently acquired by Amazon, making it an even more powerful driver of sales and promotion.

Also remember this: If you’re a writer, you’re a reader. Goodreads was pretty much built for you. As a writer, you get all the benefits of using a social media network, and you don’t even have to add a lot of extra work to your already busy schedule. Goodreads lets you do what you do best: talk books!

Why Is Goodreads Especially Powerful For Writers?

Consider this: When you’re on Facebook and someone clicks “Like” on a post about your book, that person’s friends will see the Like on their timeline. But how many of those friends are readers? And how many of those readers are reading in your genre?

On Goodreads, you’ve got direct contact with your target audience. Readers on Goodreads tend to be prolific.

According to Forbes: “Goodreads is one of the primary tools on the Internet for book recommendations, particularly for active readers.”

In other words, these are serious book lovers. They read more passionately and more regularly than typical readers. That means they’re book evangelists; they’re powerful drivers of sales and trends.

When power-readers are looking for their next literary delight, chances are they’re going to poke around and see what their friends are reading and reviewing on Goodreads. And since Goodreads is now under the Amazon umbrella, it’s good to have Goodreads friends if you’re hoping for Amazon sales.

Who Can Join The Goodreads Author Program?

If you’re a writer published in book-length fiction, be sure to sign up for the Goodreads author program, which is different from its profiles for users who are not authors. While regular users get a profile page, Goodreads authors get a fan page, a profile page, and lots of fun marketing and advertising opportunities.

Any author with a book featured on the website of a major retailer (like Amazon) is welcome; in other words, whether you’re traditionally published, self-published, or publishing overseas, you can probably join the Goodreads author program.

Tip: Check out this Goodreads group specifically for self-published writers.

What Exactly Does The Goodreads Author Program Do For Writers?

Your Goodreads page is the hub of your life as an author; it’s all about who you’re reading and who’s reading you.

Along with using Goodreads to post and share book reviews, you can compel visitors to become fans by

• Uploading pictures or videos: Share additional cover art for overseas additions or shots from your research trip
• Syncing your blog posts: Set up your Goodreads page so the blog posts on a third-party site will automatically load into Goodreads. And you can manually post your Goodreads reviews to your personal blog just by grabbing a bit of code.
• Syncing your social network feeds: You can sync your Facebook or Twitter feed so that it automatically updates to Goodreads (and vice versa). It takes some research to do this, but it’s well worth the investment!
• Hosting contests: Organize book or other giveaways, which Goodreads can help promote to your fans and friends.
• Creating quizzes: Encourage participation by creating quizzes that focus on your book, related topics, or books in general
• Sharing your calendar: Publicize your upcoming speaking engagements or book signings.
• And more!

The more active you are on Goodreads, the better. To learn how to do these things, visit the Goodreads author program.

Here’s A Fantastic Video Overview Of The Goodreads Author Program

One Last Word About Goodreads

Let’s say you hate Facebook. You loathe Twitter.

Before lumping Goodreads into the same category as all of the other social networking sites, we urge you to give it a try. If you love books and can’t get enough of talking about them, reading them, and getting/giving recommendations, Goodreads won’t feel like social networking; it will just feel like you’re doing something you love. AND you’ll get the added benefit of meaningful promotion.

Photo by Lilian’s Pics via Flickr

QUESTION: Are you on Goodreads? What do you think? 

When designing your author website, why not go for texture? These days, there are more creative ways to incorporate textures into your site than ever before.

Adding texture engages Web visitors by using images that have a 3D feeling, giving your site dimension, visual interest, and freshness. Textured images can add that “pop” that distinguishes a website that’s spectacular from one that’s just okay.

And using texture can be an easy, fun way to exercise [...]]]> When designing your author website, why not go for texture? These days, there are more creative ways to incorporate textures into your site than ever before.

Adding texture engages Web visitors by using images that have a 3D feeling, giving your site dimension, visual interest, and freshness. Textured images can add that “pop” that distinguishes a website that’s spectacular from one that’s just okay.

And using texture can be an easy, fun way to exercise your creativity!

Examples Of How To Incorporate Texture Into Your Author Website

Here Are Some Ideas To Texturize Your Website

If you haven’t already, take our What’s Your Web Personality? quiz. Then, based on your answers, find a texture that works to help your site transmit a cohesive message.

• Chalkboards
• Windows
• Glass
• Mirrors
• Metals
• Wood planks
• Plastic
• Moss
• Leaf litter
• Book pages
• Metal
• Clay
• Sand
• Rocks
• Tile

The list goes on!

Where To Find Textured Images

Textural images are easy to find on the Web, and if you’ve got a website that allows for easy changes (like those that WDR develops in WordPress), then adding a new image can be as simple as a few clicks.

The following websites offer textured images. To find an image you like, just search on the word “texture.” You can also add words like “pavement,” “cardboard,” or “tin.”

• iStock Photo
• ShutterStock 
  
• Flickr (with creative commons permissions only)
• FreeDigitalPhotos (images must link back to the site)
• Texturemate
• And more

Don’t Overdo Your Textures

Although we love adding interesting textures to a website in the same way that we love adding interesting spices to a meal, it’s important not to overdo it.

Too many textures can work against one another, confusing visitors by not giving them a clear, defined focus on each page. Also, overdoing textures can make a website look too busy.

It’s best to pick one texture you love, then leave it at that. But most of all, have fun! Don’t be afraid to use texture in your design for big impact.

QUESTION: Add to our list! What else can you use to add texture to a website? 

Even the best writers sometimes get bad information. And when it comes to author websites, there’s a lot of misconceptions and myths about author websites going around. If you have a promotional website or are thinking of starting one, be sure you aren’t carrying around any of these common (but largely wrong) ideas.

1.      Only famous writers have websites. I don’t [...]]]> Even the best writers sometimes get bad information. And when it comes to author websites, there’s a lot of misconceptions and myths about author websites going around. If you have a promotional website or are thinking of starting one, be sure you aren’t carrying around any of these common (but largely wrong) ideas.

11 Author Website Myths Busted

1.      Only famous writers have websites. I don’t have an awesome writing bio (or my book’s not done yet), so I have no use for a website. This is easily the biggest misconception we at Web Design Relief encounter. It’s so big that we wrote a whole article about it. If you’re under the impression that being in the early stages of your career means you can’t benefit from a website, stop everything and read this right now: Do Pre-Published Authors Need A Website?

2.      Having a website isn’t really going to do anything for me. Having a website puts you in a position to take advantage of opportunities that you might not be able to see at this moment (opportunities that someone who has a website can make use of). Read more: What An Author Website Can Do For You

3.      Having a website is going to make me rich and popular. While some people are totally pessimistic about their Web potential, others are hyper-optimistic. A website alone probably won’t make a writer’s career. Your website is just one component of your entire author platform. And that, in total, can have a big effect on your reputation as a writer or your sales.

4.      People will visit my website just because it exists. Oops! Not really. People will visit your website if you a) tell them it exists and b) give them a reason to visit it. That tends to be where social media comes in.

5.      I don’t want to be on social media, so what’s the point of a website? There are plenty of authors out there who don’t tweet, poke, post, stumble, dig, or Like. But their website functions as the central hub for fans of their exceptionally strong writing (which translates into steady sales and readers who come back again and again). Also, see point #1 above.

6.      My old website is good enough. Most writers find they have to update their site at least every couple (or few) years to keep it from looking stale, tired, and out of touch. If your writing speaks to contemporary readers, your site should too.

7.      I can get a fantastic website for free. Well, no. You can probably get a website for free. But it probably won’t be fantastic. It will be a cookie-cutter site, possibly covered in ads. Be wary of free offers (especially if you won’t get to control your content or your URL).

8.      Making an awesome website is going to be expensive. Okay, this one is true…unless you know where to look. The Web Design Relief team has done our research; we offer the BEST VALUE that balances personal expression and customizations with money-saving design.

9.      I have to be a techie to maintain a website. If the ideas of SEO, hosting, and coding seem a little mysterious, you’re not alone. That’s why WordPress is so popular; non-techie types can have full control over their own websites without learning to write code. Web Design Relief sites are WordPress sites, and clients have full control of their content.

10.  I don’t have time to maintain a website. Your site is what you make of it. You can spend as much or as little time on it as you feel is appropriate. That’s really the bottom line. And there are tools available to save you time, like social media programs you can use to update multiple social media sites at one time.

11.  If I have a website, my whole life will be out there on the Web, and I’m a private person. Your website doesn’t have to feel like an invasion of privacy; you have complete control over what you choose to share. And there are specific steps you can take to stay safe on the Web.

QUESTION: What have we missed? What do you think writers are getting “wrong” about author websites?

In this month’s Links Roundup, we’ve got great advice for writers trying to build their online author platforms PLUS an awesome Web design tool for people who love color, and lots of it!

Enjoy!

12 Most Simple Social Media Mistakes We All Make via Ragan.com — There are a lot of articles out there telling you what to do when it comes to [...]]]> In this month’s Links Roundup, we’ve got great advice for writers trying to build their online author platforms PLUS an awesome Web design tool for people who love color, and lots of it!

Enjoy!

12 Most Simple Social Media Mistakes We All Make via Ragan.com — There are a lot of articles out there telling you what to do when it comes to social media—but what about what NOT to do? Rebekah Radice pinpoints the most common mistakes people make on social media so you can avoid them and boost your credibility.

Where Do Readers Hang Out Online The Most? via Jody Hedlund — Somewhere out there is someone just waiting to read your work. The trick is to find them! In this blog post, author Jody Hedlund provides awesome insight into the most effective ways an author can expand his or her brand and interact with potential readers.

What Writers Need To Know About Tumblr via GalleyCat — Tumblr is a fantastic—and extremely fun—social media tool. This article describes how writers can best use it to promote their efforts. Just try not to get distracted by all the cat memes!

Color Palette Generator via Stephen DeGraeve — Sometimes a single picture can inspire your entire site’s design. With this nifty little tool, you can upload any image from the Web and it will generate two color palettes for you to draw from, complete with the hexadecimal codes to use in your design. Cool!

8 Great Author Websites via Apt Design — Need some inspiration before you commit to a design for your author website? Check out these 8 amazing examples of sophisticated, professional design. And if that’s not enough, you can also check out our own design portfolio, of course.

Photo by Darwin Bell.

Are you feeling a little low on the literary street-cred list? Ready to build a bigger reputation as a writer?

While writing can be a solitary experience, a writer has to break out of his/her shell in order to do any self-promotion. There are steps you can take each day to improve and expand upon your reputation as a writer, and we’ve outlined them [...]]]> Are you feeling a little low on the literary street-cred list? Ready to build a bigger reputation as a writer?

While writing can be a solitary experience, a writer has to break out of his/her shell in order to do any self-promotion. There are steps you can take each day to improve and expand upon your reputation as a writer, and we’ve outlined them below. Let the 7-Step Program begin!

7 Steps To A Bigger Reputation As A Writer

Step One: Get An Author Website. There’s no doubt that an author website is the new business card. Creating an author website lets everyone know you’re serious about your craft. Remember: As your author platform grows, your author website will grow too—and you can have it for a lifetime! Find out how to get a fantastic website at a great value.

Step Two: Sketch Out A Social Media Strategy. With so many options to choose from (Facebook, Google+, Goodreads, Pinterest, Tumblr, Twitter, and on and on…), it shouldn’t be too hard to find a social media platform that speaks to you. Use social media to promote your latest work, tell friends, fans, and family a little about what you’re up to and what future endeavors lie ahead. Learn more: Author Platform Tool Kit.

Step Three: Show Your Face. The writing community is huge—like, ginormous—and to stay (or become) relevant, you’ve got to be an active participant. Showing your face (and showing off your writing chops) at writers conferences and other events is a great way to build an audience and get to know your fellow writers. And what better way to build a good reputation as a writer than meeting other writers face-to-face? (Be sure to direct everyone to your author website before your leave!)

Step Four: Ask Friends And Family To Spread The Word. Let this be the one instance in which you’re not embarrassed by your mother’s bragging about you. Tell the people you love and trust the most to shout it from the rooftops that you’re a writer, and a good one at that! They can tell their friends, and their friends’ friends, to check out your author website or to start following you on Twitter.

Step Five: Reward Your Fans With A Contest Or Giveaway. Who doesn’t love free stuff? One sure way to keep people interested (and to make them want to promote you and spread the word about your writing) is to offer a giveaway or host a fun writing contest. If you’re enthusiastic about promoting yourself as a writer, others will be enthusiastic too. It’s infectious! And contests are a great way to give back to your friends and fans.

Step Six: Submit Your Work Regularly. Getting your name out there isn’t just about word of mouth and making personal appearances. Submit your work regularly  and editors of literary journals will be more likely to remember your name. Submitting and getting your work accepted is a great way to stay active as a writer, build an audience of readers, and share your work with the writing community.

Step Seven: Keep At It! Building a reputation as a writer and maintaining your author platform requires a lot of legwork, but it’s absolutely necessary to stay relevant. Be active on your social media platform—or platforms!—keep your website up-to-date, get out in the world and interact with other writers, and, most importantly, write! Eventually, it’ll all feel like second nature.

Next time you’re feeling a little anonymous in Writer Land, take another look at these steps and consider how you can implement these ideas in your writing life.

QUESTION: Which of these steps have you practiced or found most beneficial to building your reputation and author platform?

Every author who is serious about self-promotion should invest in an author website and engage in social media. Let’s say you’ve done all that: You have an author website, engage with fans on Twitter, and post regular content on Facebook. Now what? Well, the next step to making your digital author platform shine is creating your digital [...]]]> Every author who is serious about self-promotion should invest in an author website and engage in social media. Let’s say you’ve done all that: You have an author website, engage with fans on Twitter, and post regular content on Facebook. Now what? Well, the next step to making your digital author platform shine is creating your digital press kit and making it available online. Let’s take a look at how a serious author like you can make that happen.

1.       What is a digital press kit?

A digital press kit gives your website’s visitors a chance to get to know you as an author, become familiar with your latest novels or other projects, and have that information available with the click of a button.

Here’s what should be in every author’s digital press kit:

• Author bio (be sure to include contact info)
• Author headshot
• Press release
• Description of latest projects (this is particularly important for book authors!)
• List of publication credits
• Book covers
• Reviews of your work (preferably clips from newspapers or journals)
• Sample interview questions and answers
• Contact info for you or your publicist (if you have one)

2.       Do I need one?

If you’re an author who’s serious about self-promotion, then the answer is: It can only help; it won’t hurt. Even if you’re just starting out and only have a few publication credits, a digital press kit is a great way to prove to potential fans, editors, agents, and publishers that you are serious about your craft and self-promotion. Keep in mind that an author digital press kit will appeal most to those in the media and potential agents. If you don’t have a book project or are only starting out as a writer, you may want to devote your free time to increasing your following on social media instead.

3.       How do I make my author press kit available online?

The smartest way to make your digital press kit available online is to make it downloadable on your author website. Create a page on your website called “Press” or “Press Kit” and provide a link to download your press kit. The two easiest ways to provide visitors with your press kit are as one PDF or as multiple PDFs.

Once you’ve got a link to your digital press kit on your author website, let your fans know about it by providing a link to that page of your website on Facebook or Twitter.

Be A Digital Press Kit Wizard!

So what have we learned? If you’re an author with a book or serious about self-promotion, we recommend that you create a digital press kit. We covered what to include in your digital press kit and how to make it available to your fans. Having an online platform proves to be more and more important in this day and age, so creating a downloadable extension of your author persona is key.

Photo by: marchorowitz.

QUESTION: What would you consider adding to your digital press kit?

Web design is a lot like fashion—everyone has a distinct style.

And though there are aesthetic trends that come and go in the Web design world, the best websites are the ones that reflect the unique personality of the people for whom they were designed.

So if you’re interested in creating an author website (or having someone do it for you), but are [...]]]> Web design is a lot like fashion—everyone has a distinct style.

And though there are aesthetic trends that come and go in the Web design world, the best websites are the ones that reflect the unique personality of the people for whom they were designed.

So if you’re interested in creating an author website (or having someone do it for you), but are not sure what kind of design you want to go for, no worries!

This quick little quiz will reveal what kind of Web personality you are and help point you in the right direction.

Have fun!

What’s your favorite way to spend a Sunday afternoon?

a)    Calling your friends to catch up on the latest gossip
b)    Taking it easy, not making too many plans
c)     Paintball tournament, followed by redoing your kitchen, followed by an evening walk near your favorite lake
d)     Doing your chores, then reading or watching TV

Which of these TV shows would you rather watch?

a)    The Soup
b)    The Joy Of Painting with Bob Ross
c)    Game Of Thrones
d)    Local News

You just received a gift certificate for your favorite clothing store. What is the first thing that you buy?

a)    Something fun that you can dance in this weekend
b)    Several plain white T-shirts for everyday wear
c)    Something high fashion (think: fierce design, bold prints)
d)    A gift for someone else—the clothes you have are fine

Which is your favorite social media platform?

a)    Facebook
b)    Twitter
c)    Pinterest
d)    You don’t really like social media

You won an award and have to give an acceptance speech. You:

a)     Thank every person you know and bring them up on stage
b)     Graciously say “thank you everyone” and leave it at that
c)     Give a performance to show your gratitude and possibly go over your time limit
d)     Thank people in alphabetical order and in a timely fashion

You’re going on a first date. Where do you go?

a)    A new club in town that has become the hot spot
b)    A casual stroll around town
c)    A Broadway show
d)    A romantic dinner at a French restaurant

The Results

Mostly As = Social Butterfly

Mostly Bs = Minimalist

Mostly Cs = Visual Powerhouse

Mostly Ds = Traditionalist

Mostly As:

You’re a SOCIAL BUTTERFLY! You love staying connected with people and sharing great content. Your ideal website would be one that can connect to all of your social media profiles and that allows for easy interaction with your visitors.

Check out these customizable WordPress themes with social media integration:

-       Socialike
-       Scrn
-       Author

Mostly Bs:

You’re a MINIMALIST! You like the simple things in life. Your approach to Web design would be sleek and intuitive, sticking to a couple of colors and a basic design. Keep in mind that minimalist doesn’t mean boring or easy—a lot of minimalist designs require a keen understanding of aesthetics and Web design.

Check out these customizable minimalist WordPress themes:

-       Blox
-       Modest
-       Purity

Mostly Cs:

You’re a VISUAL POWERHOUSE! You lean toward the extravagant and enjoy being stimulated by all sorts of media. Your ideal approach to Web design would include fluid backgrounds, slideshows, and interactive elements.

Check out these show-off-your-style, super visual WordPress themes:

-       Cubrik
-       Photolux
-       Yin & Yang

Mostly Ds:

You’re a TRADITIONALIST!  You yearn for the days of yore when Web design was not something to be fussed over. You just want to get your information out there, case closed. The best kind of design for you is something simple that doesn’t necessarily adhere to trends but will stand the test of time.

Check out these modest, traditional WordPress themes:

-       Basic
-       Quattro
-       Retro

If any of this is going over your head, don’t panic. You don’t have to be a tech genius to get your online platform off the ground. Web Design Relief can help you build a beautiful, custom author website based on your preferences—and personality! Our sites start at $299 plus hosting. Check out our pricing overview page for details about our awesome design packages!

QUESTION: What’s your Web personality?

If you want to multiply your marketing efforts when you begin promoting your book or collection, consider starting your own power promo team. Promo teams are fantastic for cross-promotion and can help writers introduce one another to new audiences.

We’ve also heard power promo teams called “lifeboat” teams—the idea being that nobody wants to be stuck in a lifeboat alone. There’s always strength in numbers.

What [...]]]> If you want to multiply your marketing efforts when you begin promoting your book or collection, consider starting your own power promo team. Promo teams are fantastic for cross-promotion and can help writers introduce one another to new audiences.

We’ve also heard power promo teams called “lifeboat” teams—the idea being that nobody wants to be stuck in a lifeboat alone. There’s always strength in numbers.

What Does A Promo Team Do?

Your promo team can work together in a number of different ways. Here are just a few examples:

• Promote new book releases. When one member publishes a new book, all members tweet, post, and share the news. You can also share the press releases about your books.
• Promote events. When one member speaks at a library, gives a book signing, or offers a free e-book, all members share the news.
• Visit each other’s blogs. Each member can do a blog tour by blogging on other members’ sites. This helps everyone reach new readers.
• Blog together. When you create a group blog (where all bloggers post to the same central blog), you may be more likely to attract a larger audience. And all of the blog’s contributors benefit from increased exposure across the board.
• Create events together. Put together a group seminar or even a day-long conference. There’s strength in numbers when it comes to PR. Bonus points if you have a clear, clever hook.

Who Is On Your Power Promo Team?

Ideally, it may be best to choose authors who will help you establish a strong author brand. In other words, if you’re writing thoughtful literary fiction, you may want the members of your team to be in the same genre, reaching out to the same audience.

If you’re writing self-help, find authors whose work ties into yours, and create powerful seminars, resources, and offerings to get the word out.

By selecting writers within the same genre, you’ll have clearer branding and attract a very specific kind of reader: the kind who is most likely to buy your books.

That said, there’s certainly nothing wrong with inviting members in other genres to join your power promo team, especially if you’re working the lecture circuit. Each writer will bring his/her specific perspective to the table. This could possibly draw a wider audience.

However, keep in mind that the mystery writer will appeal primarily to mystery readers in the audience, and the poet to readers of poetry. The broader the audience, the less likely you’ll reach every person in attendance.

How To Start Up Your Power Promo Team

Don’t know many other writers? Don’t worry about it. The good news about writers is that most of us love meeting new friends.

Find a great list of organizations for writers on our Publishing Tool Kit pages. You’ll be able to start meeting writers who share your interests and who may want to join your power promo team.

QUESTION: Have you ever teamed up with another writer? Did you find it to be successful?

In this installment of our Industry Influencer we’re talking to Chuck Sambuchino of Writer’s Digest Books. Chuck edits the Guide To Literary Agents and the Children’s Writer’s And Illustrator’s Markets. His Guide to Literary Agents Blog is one of the largest blogs in publishing. Chuck’s 2010 humor book, How To Survive A Garden Gnome Attack, was optioned by Sony Pictures, and his second humor [...]]]> In this installment of our Industry Influencer we’re talking to Chuck Sambuchino of Writer’s Digest Books. Chuck edits the Guide To Literary Agents and the Children’s Writer’s And Illustrator’s Markets. His Guide to Literary Agents Blog is one of the largest blogs in publishing. Chuck’s 2010 humor book, How To Survive A Garden Gnome Attack, was optioned by Sony Pictures, and his second humor book, Red Dog/Blue Dog, is a photo collection of dogs doing liberal and conservative things. Chuck has also written the writing guides Formatting & Submitting Your Manuscript and Create Your Writer Platform. Find all his books on Amazon here. In addition, he is a freelance book & query editor, husband, sleep-deprived new father, and owner of a flabby-yet-lovable dog named Graham. Find Chuck on Twitter.

CONTEST: Leave a comment on this blog post by April 11 to enter to win a FREE copy of one of Chuck’s books!

Enjoy!

Tell us about Create Your Writer Platform. How does the book enrich a writer’s life?

This is a book all about how to build your visibility, networking, and self-marketing potential as an author. It talks about things like easy changes you can make all around you each and every day—down to nitty-gritty tips on things like blogs, social media, public speaking, and more. I wrote the book because the subject of “writer platform” became popular about five years ago, and the conversation just keeps getting louder.

The book enriches writers’ lives because it offers tons of practical tips on how to get your name out there and make connections. The better your platform, the more books you can sell. And the more books you can sell, the more your future as a writer is secure. You’ll be able to get more book deals and make a better living as a writer. Any writer of any book can benefit from being more well-known.

When’s the right time for a writer to start building his/her author platform? 

Immediately. A platform is built before you need it. Think about it. You wouldn’t want to have a book come out, then spend years trying to develop a newsletter with 10,000 subscribers, would you? The goal is to develop the fan following now, so that when your book comes out, you already have channels and avenues in existence that you can use to sell your book (such as that newsletter). You’ve already made friendships and relationships, rather than seeking them out solely in the interest of hocking your book that just came out.

Keep in mind that every little bit helps. Start slow, but start now. Also keep in mind that when developing a platform and getting “out there” in the world, you do not have to go it alone. This is one of the Fundamental Principles of Platform. If you feel that starting a blog is too daunting, contribute to existing blogs instead. You don’t have to start your own organization if you can help out with another or speak at established events. Work with others wherever you can. You see this kind of collaboration all around you, every day.

Does building a writer platform have to be expensive? Can you recommend cost-effective ways of reputation-building?

I’m not aware that platform-building costs much money at all. The only real costs would be website construction and buying domain names, etc. But all those costs would likely run you only a few hundred dollars a year (which you can then write off). The Internet has made it very easy to meet people and connect with others. You could always travel to California for a conference, sure (and there is great value in conferences and events), but you can do plenty via Facebook and Twitter as well. Internet networking is quite cheap.

In terms of keeping costs down, I will say this: Try to combine attending a writers conference with an out-of-town trip to see a relative. If you’re headed to meet in-laws in Seattle, Atlanta, Boston, or wherever, go during the weekend a conference is held in town. That way, you can combine costs, and then write off a bunch of expenses.

At Web Design Relief, we help writers develop their platform starting with strong Web design specifically for authors—and we’ll admit that we’re biased when it comes to the power of the Web for platform building. Do you think it’s possible in this day and age for a writer to develop a strong platform without having a Web presence?

Great question—one that I asked literary agents in my book. And agents said it is indeed possible, though not recommended. Usually these types of successful writers are longtime journalists with boatloads of media contacts. 99% of writers do not fit into that category of writer, so 99% of writers should be online in some way.

I often advise newbies to the platform arena to take steps in developing at least these three things:

1. Create a website. It doesn’t have to be pretty. It just has to be clear and present. The point is: When people Google your name, have something turn up.

2. Develop a “new school” platform plank. Be on Twitter or be actively blogging. Both are good, but pick at least one and try to dig deep and make some progress.

3. Develop an “old school” platform plank. You can write magazine articles, be an on-air contributor to a local TV or radio show, or try to speak in public. Any of these are good; try to get at least one.

Through these three things, you should slowly start to get your name out there, accrue followers and fans, etc.—and build your platform!

We’re dying to know details: Can you tell us about getting your wildly popular humor book How To Survive a Garden Gnome Attack optioned for film with Sony? What was the process that led to the option?

A lot of literary agents, my own included, have contacts in the film world. Whenever these agents sell any book, they pass the manuscript on to their co-agents in Hollywood and ask them if they could stir up attention to adapt the book into a movie. This is a very standard thing to do with almost any book that’s sold by an agent; many books get passed around in Los Angeles, but few make it past that first step.

After GNOME ATTACK was released, the manuscript, like many others, was sent to a Hollywood co-agent to generate possible interest from producers. Since this protocol is so standard, I tried not to get my hopes up. But then, we received some huge, out-of-the-blue news. Robert Zemeckis, who directed Back to the Future and many other great movies, had gotten wind of the book and wanted to discuss it with my co-agent representation in Los Angeles. (His people called my people!)

You must realize that I had absolutely nothing to do with this process. All of this was handled by my agents. I just received occasional phone calls to update me on the process.

A few months later, Zemeckis’ production company, ImageMovers, formally optioned the book—meaning that they bought film rights for a limited amount of time in the hopes that all the pieces come together and they can actually greenlight the film. It was quite a whirlwind experience, and I still can’t actually believe it most days. One of my grandest hopes is that this film actually gets made; I can easily say that attending the premiere would likely be one of the greatest moments of my life. (Sometimes my wife starts talking about what kind of dress she wants to wear on the red carpet!)

A lot of people are discussing platform and social media these days. What makes your book unique?

One of the best parts about my book is that it’s not just me talking. I did long interviews with 10 different literary agents and sprinkled their advice and opinions throughout the book. Also, the last third of the book is 12 long author case studies that examine different writers who developed their platforms from scratch. The goal was to show you different paths so you can learn by example.

The truth is that I am often wary of advice when it is just the opinion of one person. For this book, I wanted to cull together advice from dozens of agents, writers, and publicists, then use their feedback to synthesize the best tips for writers. It’s always good to hear a lot of thoughts and feedback before making a decision.

So we heard that you’re a new father. How is your little one?

Little Geneva Rose Sambuchino is approaching three months old, and she is an energetic bundle of love. She likes it when I dance with her in my arms, and she likes falling asleep while listening to me playing music on the piano. Overall, she’s one cool girl. My wife and I keep arguing over who she looks like more.

Chuck, did you want to give away a copy of one of your books to one random commenter?

I’d be happy to. Just send me the winner’s address.

QUESTION: How did you know the time was right for you to begin building your author platform?

Check out this month’s Links Roundup. It’s a good mix of practical and philosophical tips.

Remember that an author platform is a living, breathing thing. So breathe some life into yours!

Enjoy.

The Real Meaning of Your Platform as a Writer via We Grow Media – If you [...]]]> Check out this month’s Links Roundup. It’s a good mix of practical and philosophical tips.

Remember that an author platform is a living, breathing thing. So breathe some life into yours!

Enjoy.

The Real Meaning of Your Platform as a Writer via We Grow Media – If you feel weird about delving into the cold, technical world of the Web, click this link first. This article touches upon a very important fact about author platforms: It’s not about going down a checklist of tools to have; it’s about how you use those tools to make real, human connections.

Use of Twitter #Hashtags for Authors via No Wasted Ink – Have you ever looked at your Twitter feed and wondered why #people #use #so #many #hashtags? When not used to be obnoxious or funny, hashtags can actually be a GREAT networking tool. And did you know that there are common hashtags writers use to find each other in the great sea of tweets? #SWEET.

Why Should Writers Blog via The Urban Muse – An interesting approach to a commonly discussed topic. Authors are constantly being told that they should add a blog to their author websites, but it isn’t always clear why. There are many advantages to blogging beyond being able to tell people about the toast you ate this morning, and this article explains what they are.

10+ WordPress Plugins to Pinterest-ize Your Website via Hongkiat – This article combines three things that we absolutely love: WordPress, Pinterest, and extra website functionality. If you want to see your content shared on the Web, you have to make it easy for people to do so. Adding “Pin It” buttons to your website can and will help you tap into one of the fastest-growing social networks out there without junking up your design.

Are You Getting the Most Out of Your Author Website? via DuoLit – If you build it, will they come? It’s not always that easy. Learn some simple marketing philosophies that will elevate your author website beyond being a mere page with some pretty pictures on it.

Photo by paral_lax <°)><.