Author Platforms

The dreaded word for authors: platform.

Do you have one? Is it necessary for fiction authors? Why do we need one? These are a few of the questions I've asked on this touchy subject over the years.

Can't say I like the answers, either. Especially since I'm not a push-myself-into-the-spotlight type of person. In fact, my friends from high school and college (especially those in my [required] freshman speech class) would probably tell you that I am the last person they expected to ever stand in front of groups of people (some of them large) and speak on any subject. Yet, I do. And while I'm always nervous beforehand, I enjoy speaking—especially when I'm leading a Bible study.

I know that's God answering my hesitant and reluctant prayers to give me a platform if this call to write was truly from Him. I don't know that my platform or my area of influence and expertise will ever be a large one. But that suits my personality just fine. Leave me in the background! That's fine with me. But that's not always where I find myself. The Lord seems to delight in pushing me forward, forcing me to depend on Him. And that's good for me.

If you want to read more about platforms and how to develop one, check out this link.

Tomorrow (Jan. 10) at W!W!W!'s January meeting, I'll be speaking on "Self-Editing Tips for the Grammatically Challenged"—part of my platform in the writing world. I hope to see many of you there. Please check out W!W!W!'s page on this site for information on time and place.