Prepublished writers: Why NOT to Focus on Building a Platform

From the moment I started taking this writing thing seriously, I've had this word "platform" tossed at me from all sides.

Agents say you need one in order to get a contract. Editors say having one helps them decide if you, an unpublished author, are worth the gamble. And other authors tell you how important it is too, and give you ideas using their OWN methods of platform building.

What if I told you that you needed to stop worrying so darn much about platform building?

Did your ears just perk up...or did I just make you scowl since you've spent the last five years of your writing life fretting about it?

First, let's back up a second, as I know we might not all be on the same page.  

What IS platform anyway?

The quick answer on how *I* view it is to picture standing on a stage (i.e. a platform). How many people can see you? The BIGGER the stage, the HIGHER the stage, the more of your audience you can see and reach, right?

Same with writing. Your platform is your sphere of influence. Is your platform a book you stand on? Is it a shoe box? Is it a step stool? Is it a local theater stage? Is it a Broadway Stage?

(Platform, by the way, differs from audience, as your audience is how many people are in the surrounding seats, wanting to read your particular type of writing. But that's a different blog post!)

The size of your platform, in theory, gives publishers an idea of how wide your original "net" will be cast once you're published.

We've been spoon fed ways to build one. Heck, I've probably written blogs here myself with suggestions. Blog regularly, get active on all the major social media websites, do speaking engagements, etc.

As I mentioned in my last post, I attended a local showing of IF:Gathering in February. There was SO much great information, and it really shook my spiritual life from a very dormant state it had been in.

The theme of the conference was JOSHUA, and one of the speakers said this super profound thing about platform that literally made me gasp out loud.

She was talking about Joshua in his early days. He wasn't this big, well-known person like Moses. No, he was just a helper. He was in the trenches, fighting, assisting Moses, and was definitely not super noteworthy at first. He had to put in his time, he had to learn, he had to grow. All of his experiences, including going into the promise land and being one of the two to say, "GOD CAN DO THIS, let's go!" all helped mold him into the man that, 40 years later, God called to lead the Israelites into the Promised Land.

What if Joshua hadn't put in the time? What if he'd complained like the others? What if he'd been so focused on being a LEADER and taking Moses' place that he hadn't let God grow him organically into the calling he was meant to have? What if he'd gotten inpatient and decided to form a revolt within the Israelites against Moses? (that last one was purely the fiction writer in me hypothesizing)

The quote from the speaker was something like this (I didn't write it down verbatim...)

God is equipping you for something great. At some point He is going to come to you, ready to bring you into your calling, but you won't be there because you're too busy out chasing after some platform.

YIKES!

As a writer, I almost wanted to laugh at the truth of that. How many of us, my hand raised, have spent SO much time on social media and other avenues in the pursuit of platform building instead of crazy things like, let's say, WRITING and craft learning?

Now, don't get me wrong. I'm not saying close down your Facebook page and blog. Those things can totally be a valid part of God's prepping, equipping and calling us.

But if you are blogging just because everyone tells you that it's a great way to build a platform---yet you have no desire to blog and have no clue what to blog about---do you think that's a wise way to use your time?

Are you on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, Tumbler, LinkedIn, Google+ and spending hours a day to cultivate a following in the name of platform but wishing all the while you could just be writing?

Are you spending $$$$ you don't have to build a website--or building one yourself that looks like something my 10 year old could put together just because, well, everyone says you HAVE to have one and you don't have money to do it yourself. But you have NO clue what info to actually PUT on one since you aren't published! (no judgement on self-made websites... I've had one of those myself since 2008 and it spent many a years looking my five year old put together... it wasn't pretty!!!)

There are definite smart tips to listen to as a prepublished author. RESERVE that domain name if you can. RESERVE that Facebook/Twitter/Instagram handle.

But don't forget where you focus should be.

On letting God equip you for HIS calling. Both spiritually and in your writing.

Instead of getting so caught up in platform building, get caught up in Jesus. Spend time in the Word of God. Spend time praying for God to lead you. Spend time writing, journaling, seeking wisdom and discernment. Ask God what HE wants to do with this whole writing thing you feel Him calling you towards.

And of course, spend time WRITING the stories he lays on your heart and learning from others the craft, so you can shine bright when it is your time.

No amount of platform building could replace the value in WRITING and the value you of seeking God during this time of waiting.

Let's Chat: 

Prepublished authors: Have you started trying to build your platform? Are you having a difficult time with the concept?

Published Authors: What things did YOU do as an prepublished author that you look back that a.) thought was a huge waste of time and b.) was the BEST thing you could have done?

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Krista is a follower of Jesus, a wife, a mother, and author of Sandwich, With a Side of Romanceand A Side of Faith. She blogs about finding JOY in the journey of LIFE at http://www.kristaphillips.com. She is represented by Sarah Freese of Wordserve Literary.