We have declared 2012 The Year of the Memoir, and in our first event of the year, we’re going to plant seeds to help you envision yourself as a successful published author and take steps to build your audience—your platform—as it’s called by agents and publishers.
Our Roundtable Discussion leader this month is Teresa LeYung Ryan, author of Love Made of Heart and Build Your Writer’s Platform & Fanbase In 22 Days. Teresa will talk with us about ways to create success in your writing life—especially the specifics of creating that foundation of potential audience that will help you get published and sell your book. Be prepared to tell us what your book is about and think about who your audience will be.
Whether you’re pitching your memoir to agents or you want to be your own publisher, the thing that gives you the competitive edge is a platform that attracts fans before and after publication.
Coach Teresa’s definition of platform: “Making your name stand for something—so you attract targeted consumers who are likely to buy what you have to sell.”
Step 1 “What are you selling?” Your literary products—articles, columns, stories, poems, essays, speeches, scripts, books. Your memoir and anything connected to it like a blog, article, poem or essay are your products which deliver ideas, stories, and themes. Being published means that we plan to share these ideas, we are putting them out into the world so others can find out about them, and so our ideas can enrich their lives.
Step 2 “Making your name stand for something”–the “something” is the subject matter, the issues and themes in your writing. You will become identified and known for what you write about, what you stand for, and the topics and ideas your work represents. Publishers, agents, and consumers look for continuity in your name and the “brand” that you are building.
Step 3 “Targeted consumers?” They are the readers who want to know about your subject matter and themes, and are invested with reasons to read what you write—to learn, to enjoy, and to be inspired. They need your work, there is something you have to offer that will change their lives.
Coach Teresa LeYung-Ryan will lead our discussions to help you link steps 1, 2, and 3.
Teresa LeYung-Ryan has helped over 1,000 writers take steps to further their careers.
- She’s the author of Build Your Writer’s Platform & Fanbase In 22 Days: Attract Agents, Editors, Publishers, Readers, and Media Attention NOW (available in print edition and as E-book). You can sneak preview the 2 exercises for Day 1 by going to Amazon’s page for Teresa’s workbook and “Click to look inside.”
- As a manuscript consultant, Coach Teresa shows authors how to write page-turners by identifying themes & archetypes in their stories.
- Her using her book Love Made of Heart (to inspire adult children of mentally ill parents to speak openly about the stigmas and find resources for their families) demonstrates the power of making one’s name synonymous with the themes/subject matters/issues one writes about.
http://www.WritingCoachTeresa.com
The Roundtable discussion meets
4 PM PST; 5 PM MST; 6 PM CST; 7 PM EST
Telephone Conference call-in number: (605)
475-4000 Telephone Conference call-in code: 225733#
Teresa, this Internet event sounds very helpful.
Could you tell me what time it will be happening, and how to sign up? I’ve got 2 meetings on this day, and want to know if I should reschedule to connect with you. Thanks.
Hi, Deborah,
Regarding the January 12, 2012 Roundtable discussions at namw.org
Did you sign up and receive the call-in phone number from namw.org? I’ll ask the fabulous Linda Joy Myers to show the times on namw.org . I’m pretty sure it’s 4:00pm PST / 5:00pm MST / 6:00pm CST / 7:00pm EST.
Thanks again for being a role model on Sunday at California Writers Club. I tagged you on my blog post.
http://lovemadeofheart.com/blog/
“Reach out, not stress out, when building your writer’s platform!”
Sincerely,
Coach Teresa
The Roundtable discussion is 4 PM PST, 5 PM MST, 6 PM CST, 7 PM EST. Please sign up on the sidebar to get more information about how to call in.
When you sign up to the NAMW Roundtable discussions, you will receive a downloadable audio of the event.
Hi! I am aware that there are many agents and editors who are interested in the stories and topics. My question is: just like certain writers are interested in certain topics, are there certain agents and/or editors interested in certain topics such as societal issues? How can I get the information and contact numbers?
Thank you.
Coach Teresa LeYung-Ryan here. Deborah Taylor-French (who writes multiple genres (memoirs, children’s, mystery) emailed me this question.
“Teresa, Because my mysteries are written for children 8 to 13, my main challenge this year is how to reach my audience. Younger readers do not yet have e-readers nor will they go looking for me on the Web. I am not yet published in print. My goal this year is to find and agent/publisher for my series. I know schools and parent child book groups would be good to connect to, but how to do it in an effective manner? URL: http://dogleadermysteries.com”
Coach Teresa’s reply: “Deborah & everyone who write multiple genres, please sign up for Thursday’s roundtable discussions by scrolling up your screen until you see the right sidebar for this event and sign up immediately to get the phone number to call in on Thursday. For Deborah & all children’s literature authors, I have leads for you–where parents, teachers, school librarians (folks who buy books for the age group you write for) go to. I’ll reveal the answers tomorrow. Please sign up at https://www.namw.org Thank you, Linda Joy Myers, creator of NAMW!
What is a platform? http://lovemadeofheart.com/blog/why-would-a-memoir-writer-need-a-platform/
Until tomorrow!
Sincerely,
Coach Teresa at writingcoachteresa.com
author of Build Your Writer’s Platform & Fanbase In 22 Days
Hi there! I’m very excited for this roundtable and can’t wait to participate. I’m having trouble signing up, however. I entered my name and email and click “Sign Up Here,” but nothing happened. Are you able to confirm my sign-up went through? Thanks!