Susan,

I liked the way you pursued your passion. It sounds like you have a great book. Why not pursue self-publication at Lulu for instance? If your book does well (which it sounds like it might), there is your platform. It would be a shame to put it off by writing a fiction book (unless that is what you want).

Peace,

David

Hope that makes more sense 🙂

It feels like a hard balance to me. I would like to be more deliberate about platform building, but I would rather spend that time writing. Like everyone, I feel like I never have enough time. It's complicated by the fact that I don't know how much platform I need to avoid ever having a conversation like the one you quoted.

I'm writing an adoption memoir, and the main way that I'm building platform is by blogging. I didn't start a blog as a platform, I blogged to connect with people and write about what was important to me. It's only lately (after reading posts like this in the last few months) that I've realised it's my 'platform', too. It's not very big, as platforms go, but I'm not really sure what else I can realistically do. I get several thousand hits a month, and I really have no idea whether a publisher would see that as a platform at all, or just a little pile of twigs.

My platform? I am a veteran homeschooler with 10+ yrs experience. I have visited Walt Disney World 3 times, with a 4th scheduled for January. I have been invited aboard the inaugural Disney Dream cruise before the general public sets sail! A major Earmarked travel agency sponsors and co-created the blog on which the book is based, which launched 10 months ago. We have nearly 500 blog followers/subscribers with nearly 2500 monthly hits. We have close to 400 Facebook fans. I have more than 1100 Twitter followers to whom I regularly tweet blog posts and information. I advertise and network through homeschool social sites and support groups and network in various Disney circles. More than 200 students subscribe to our supplemental Earn Your E.A.R.S. incentive program. I'm on the schedule to teach a course based on the Magical Mouse Schoolhouse material at a local homeschool co-op next fall.

There's more, but I'd have to send you my proposal, and you're closed to submissions right now 😉

I'm doing what I can, but I repeatedly get, "Good stuff, but no."

motorcycle insurance companies

That's how the book came about. It happened as I began to journal. I researched heavily during that time period in this area as I was going through the experience of losing weight and getting fit at the age of 52.

I was encouraged by my peers who read and followed my journals to write a book. I did, with my co-author who was going through the same experience at the time.

You asked a great question. Why would anyone want to buy my book when there are stars and MD's who continue to write countless books on weight loss?

The answer is clear. Many people cannot relate to these type books. Most of these books are simply the latest and greatest theories by the latest and greatest expert of the moment. Of course, we may be able to relate to some of the information in these type books but the fact is most of us are not movie stars and we don't have the time or money to hire a personal chef or trainer.

Our way, doesn't have to cost a dime and it's all based on common sense and expert information under one informative umbrella. We pulled together all of the things we felt were of the utmost importance for the average person to know in order to lose weight and get fit for life. We did this through a tremendous amount of research.

I am a typical woman, no different than millions of women who put themselves on the backburner in order to focus primarily on their family. I was one of those people who was blessed with good genes. I did not have a weight problem until my children became teenagers and I decided to put myself on the backburner. For close to two decades I carried an extra 30-40 pounds and it made me miserable. I was no different than millions of people who have found no clear cut easy to incorporate solution to their weight loss and fitness issues.

I longed to feel like me again. Honestly, I thought it was impossible. I wrote the book for all of the women and men who think it's too late to lose weight and get fit again. I wrote this book for my two adult daughters to remind all women of their ages to never put themselves on the back burner. We are examples for our children and we must always make our health a priority.

I am proof that this plan works. My Dr. agrees and stated she will write the foreward for the book.

We lost the weight and became fit in a structured healthy fashion. We were able to recapture the weight of our early 20's in a matter of few months by setting up a healthy eating plan based on the Food Pyramid but the book goes into great detail in numerous additional areas.

We take the reader on a journey that shows why 68% of our nation is either overweight or obese.

It's not a diet book; it's a book that helps you set up a healthy eating and exercise plan for life.

It has a catchy fun title and one that most people can easily relate.

The book is written in a voice that is easy for the average man or woman to identify. We planted short life experiences in each chapter so that others can easily relate.

For lessor known authors, the great thing about the Kindle and the ibookstore is consumers get to download sample chapters of anything that even remotely catches their interest. In doing so, I've bought books that I normally wouldn't have. I think that the e-book revolution might offer a breath of new hope to writers with weaker platforms.

The thing I have going for me is that I'm a marketing professional, so I know how much work, persistence and luck are involved in moving from invisibility and irrelevance to recognition. Ironically, I'm frequently discouraged knowing the odds and the work required to have a shot.

PS: I really enjoyed that movie!

To even write a book of this type before establishing yourself as an expert is probably putting the cart before the horse. You'll need to use media – magazines, newspapers, and the Internet – to build yourself into an authority. You'll need to offer something new and exciting, bring something different to the weight loss discussion. Otherwise there's no reason for any publisher to take you on, and no reason for consumers to buy your book instead of the competition.

You are also competing with all the FREE information on the Internet – blogs and websites on weight loss. Many people writing on health, parenting or self-help are dealing with the same situation.

I've been working on platform for three years. My blog is up. I'm gaining an audience, but I am unknown and I know it.

Recently, I started a fiction novel based on the same topic and aimed at the same audience as my nonfiction project. Before that, though, I've written several articles on the same subject and have one accepted for an upcoming anthology.

This will take years, but for a nobody it's what I will do as I turn into somebody with a platform.