The Author's Platform
One of the biggest concerns for non-fiction authors is platform. Publishers demand that authors have a platform , but most authors not only don’t have a platform , they don’t know what one is and they don’t know how to get one. In simplest terms, an author’s platform is the author’s foundation. Figuratively, the author stands on his platform , much like a speaker would a soap box or a podium, and proclaims his message to the world. As with speakers, authors prefer to have a true podium over a soap box, but we must earn that right. Many things in life are complete in three parts. The author’s platform is no different. The three things that go into a platform are expertise , recognition and subject interest . The strength of the platform depends on an author having adequate portions of all three. Expertise comes from many different things. A Bible scholar, for example, may have gained his expertise by attending a seminary or by years of Bible study on his own, but one thing is cert...