The Big Question: How Can I Build My Platform and Still Have Time to Write?

October 19, 2015 by Kimberley Grabas

While speaking at a local writer’s conference, I had the pleasure of meeting Suzanne Harris, a writing coach and “get-it-written” strategist. Her work helps writers take charge of their writing life, deal with resistance, finish their projects and make more out of their writing dreams. So I asked her if she could apply some of her insights to platform building – here’s what she has to say…

As a writers’ coach, I know first hand how many of you struggle to fit writing into your busy lives.

You’re already heroically juggling any combination of full-time, part-time, freelance, or volunteer work, along with grocery shopping, meal making, appointments, child care, errands, house work, yard work, family, friends in need…

Yet when you get a small in-between space you slip off to your pages and let the words come, because despite it all, dammit, you are a writer.

But you never signed up to be an entrepreneur, and now all this platform stuff… where the heck are you going to find time to do all that? [Read more…]

39 Things to Remember While Struggling to Build Your Writing Career

June 6, 2014 by Kimberley Grabas

When you’re knee-deep in the tangle of learning something new, it’s easy to get lost in trivialities.

What’s important and what’s not?

What deserves your attention, and what can you let go of?

Overwhelm stalls your forward progress, frustration rises (maybe even a little panic?) and the wave of “I’ll never figure this out”, washes over.

And since the rules are rapidly changing, there is a constant struggle to pull yourself from the quagmire of the “unimportant”, and focus on what’s truly relevant to crafting a long and successful writing career.

Take a deep breath.

Building your career as a writer is no small task.

But it’s too important not to figure out.

To ease the tension and guide you along your path, the following is a list of gentle reminders of what really matters. Things you probably already know, but have forgotten or abandoned while striving to build your author empire.

1. Failure is the best teacher.

Don’t waste any opportunities to fail–that’s where you’ll learn the biggest lessons. Learn what you need to and move forward, or expect to repeat these same lessons again (and again).

2. Let opportunity sneak up on you.

Be open to the possibility that the path for your work and your writing career may unfold in an entirely different way than you envision. You can’t anticipate a sharp turn, a serendipitous moment or a lucky chance, so have a plan, but allow room for happenstance. [Read more…]

Writers, Is Your Prehistoric Brain Holding You Back?

April 2, 2014 by Kimberley Grabas

Are fear and anxiety keeping you from reaching your full potential as a writer? I have received many emails from writers that share a common theme of self-doubt, so I asked my good friend Bobbi Emel–a psychotherapist–to share her insights on how we can identify the source of our angst, as well as some tips on managing the doubt and trepidation that often come as you begin your writing career. It’s a bit of a departure from what I usually do here on YWP, but I believe overcoming your fear is as important a topic when building your platform as marketing, social media or finding your ideal audience.

You’re a writer.

You have great ideas and want to get your stories and your message out into the world.

To create your own platform; to build buzz, capture attention, and increase your reach.

As the writer you are in this moment, finish this sentence: “The prospect of accomplishing any, some, or all of the above is ____________.”

If you’re like many writers, some words that come to mind are daunting, overwhelming, or… terrifying.

(Were any of the words you considered exciting, freeing or empowering?)

Our Inner Voice

We all have an inner voice.

For some people, their inner voice is often critical:

“You should write better than this.”

“You can’t be a writer.”

“You have nothing special to say.”

“You can’t create a writer’s platform. Who would be interested?”

For others, their inner voice is often anxious: [Read more…]

1. Failure is the best teacher.

2. Let opportunity sneak up on you.

Our Inner Voice

Authors with Platforms Sell Books.