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3 Steps to Build Your Writer’s Platform

Obedience in the same direction tisha martin author editor platform

(first published in 2018, now with updates)

Why do many aspects of Platform cause a writer to shun and run from this daunting stage?

“It’s so new.”

“It’s so scary.”

“I’m scared!”

“I can’t do it.”

“I don’t know even what I’m doing.”

“Why is it important?”

I don’t know what keeps you from building your writer platform. Every person is beautifully designed. What I do know is that in the years I’ve been navigating the waters of social media and building a platform, I’ve learned it’s not as daunting. Rather, it’s quite fun. God’s given each of us gifts with which to serve him. We each have intrinsic value to contribute to our community.

Yet fear is one thing that can get in the way of building platform.

Fear pushes you away from connecting, from growing, from learning. Fear keeps me from doing what I want to do. I didn’t realize how introverted I was on social media; I don’t enjoy sharing every scene of my life, however, as I’ve grown into the knowledge of truly connecting, I am learning how to connect in the way that works for me. It might not work for you, and you’ll likely find your own way of vulnerability and connection too.

Once I realized what I was afraid of and how to nudge it down, connecting with people has been the most rewarding part of this platform journey.

I can’t remember who said it but I’ve learned to let fear motivate me, for in that, I’m able to balance the rational fear from the irrational fear about platform and why it makes me scared. When I release my fear  and embrace inner confidence, I’m giving myself the freedom to do what needs to be done and press on with love and light.

As King David said in Psalm 23, “He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.”

My fellow writers, graze in the security that the Lord is with you in every situation. Even as you build your platform and reach out to people. In my mind, platform simply means connecting with people. With the Lord at my side and a love for people, I can go anywhere and do anything.

As many an industry professional will say, “Platform” isn’t just social media, branding, and blogging, “it’s network. It’s connection. It’s relationship.”

Many beginning creatives may find Platform challenging, and it is. Connection might seem like a valley at first. But if we zoom through the valley and turn our eyes toward the mountain, we will recognize success. Rome wasn’t built in one day. Neither is Platform built in one month. Or one year. Or ten.

Find your vulnerability. Find your tribe. And let your connections live and flourish.

Here are three N’s to build that platform:

  1. Network on the social media you’re comfortable with.
    If it’s only Facebook you’re on, stay there. Don’t try anything else. When you’re comfy cozy, venture out and include Instagram, LinkedIn, or YouTube. Above all else, start small. Build those relationships, even among your thirty friends. You’ll grow.
  2. Nudge everyone in your field. And join others’ newsletter list too.
    If that field is editing, reach out to one person a week. Make small conversation. Compliment them on something from their website or social media content or newsletter. If that field is writing, connect with writers who write the same things you do. Offer something of personal value to everyone you meet.
  3. Nestle with God and his people. 
    Growth takes time and effort before it just blossoms. Keep working at it. Form a prayer chain with a few friends about your struggles. Find a mentor. Ask God what he would want you to do. He will help you because he’s called you to it.

I’d Love to Connect with You!

Authors, writers, editors, friends, PEOPLE, I’d love to connect with you!

You see my social media links on the sidebar. Follow me, and I’ll follow you back––I would also love to engage in conversation. Or better yet!! Sign up for my email newsletters for valuable information and to continue broader and deeper conversations…

That’s what it’s all about. Let’s get this platform, connection, underway so we can do what we’re called to do!

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Author News 2019

Hello! I hope you all are surviving the last gusts of winter as we come face to face soon with Spring! I’m looking forward to it!

I’ve been sitting on some exciting author news since October 2018. Nearly four months—but as they say, it takes time for things to happen in the publishing industry.

Being able to combine two loves has been a thrill. Being able to write has been a gift and a blessing. I’m so thankful for every day that I can write. And I’m even more thankful for the writing community and the writer-friends who have invested a lot of time and effort answering questions, talking shop, and encouraging me.

In the fall, Revell will publish an essay of mine! I’m super excited to join other horse people too!! My essay is where I get to share my experience with horses and how they enriched my life, as well as those around me. Horses are like an heirloom…

Here’s me signing my contract!

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So … keep your eyes open for more announcements in the coming months! I’ll hopefully be sharing the cover, giving background to the essay, and hosting a giveaway too!

If you haven’t signed up for my newsletter, that’s where all the fun activity will happen! Hope you sign up — I’ll look forward to seeing you soon!

Newsletter here — Tisha Martin, Author & Editor and let’s keep in touch! http://eepurl.com/c7tRMX

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How to Edit Your Character

We’re into a New Year. Perhaps you finished a novel during Nanowrimo. Maybe you plotted a new story to begin writing in January. New Year, new goals, new story, right? I’d like to touch a little on how to edit your character. This might be something you tuck away and pull out after you’ve finished your discovery draft, or something you’re ready to use if you’ve completed your draft during the November writing frenzy.

I’d like to share a blurb from a well-loved classic to delve into the art of editing your character so that their inner/outer journey, actions, and dialogue is specific to the special person you’ve created. These elements will apply to both fiction and non-fiction.

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte is a leading example of the depth of story through the power of its characters and how each character is important to the plot. We see all of the main elements in Jane’s character that really endear her to us: background, personality, appearance, and journey.

Background

Jane in Jane Eyre came from a horrible background. She thinks she will be nothing more than a servant because that’s what she’s been told as a young girl. However, she desires to be more, and applies at Thornfield Hall as the new governess. And throughout this new experience, we see Jane struggle with feelings of being good enough for her new position, but how she chooses to react to those past situations in light of her interactions with Mr. Rochester eventually allows her to influence Mr. Rochester’s life.

What about your characters? Whether you’re writing fiction or non-fiction, you have many different characters who all play a part in your story. Your main character drives the story, and the other characters enhance what your main character does. What brought your characters to the beginning of your story?

Personality

When Jane first meets Mr. Rochester, she thinks he’s an angry person, but he does not scare her. What does that tell you of her personality? Her background of being treated unkindly and unfairly is characterized in her personality. She is not afraid of Mr. Rochester because she has learned how to respond to less-than-desirable actions from others. Jane’s gentle, firm, and idealistic personality is consistent throughout the novel, which creates a compelling character in Jane, and one that readers admire and love.

What about your story? What motivates your character to do the things they do, say what they say, or react and respond to different events within the story? In a non-fiction manuscript, your character’s personality will enhance the illustrations for each point you’re trying to

make and the content will really come alive for your readers. Developing these elements will ensure your character has a depth of personality that will affect your readers.

Appearance

Jane thinks she is plain, but in the end Mr. Rochester thinks she is the most beautiful person he’s ever seen, even though he has lost his sight due to the fire. Why is this? Jane’s inner character shines through to her outward appearance in her tone, mannerisms, and attitude.

What about your characters? Your readers will gauge your characters’ general appearance (hair color, eye color, skin tone, height), but it’s the inner appearance we create that will give readers a deeper understanding and appreciation for your characters. For example, a reader may find a character’s smile to be endearing, while the character themselves may think that their smile makes them look awkward because they have a crooked smile. When we describe the characters in our manuscript, we may be compelled to give a list of all of our character’s features. However, this type of character description bogs down the story. The trick is to describe characters in a way that is natural, and that is through your character’s actions in each scene.

Character’s journey

There are two kinds of journeys for your character. The inner journey and the outer journey. Each journey motivates the character throughout the story and engages the reader in your character’s life. What is the inner journey and the outer journey supposed to look like? The outer journey is what the character wants, and the inner journey is the inner struggle of that desire.

Jane wants to be treated not as a servant but as an equal. She wants independence, but she also wants someone to love her. The story shows how she displays that independence by standing up to Mr. Rochester’s indifferent attitude toward her. But with her inner journey, her struggle, she fears that she is not his equal because of their class differences, and she also fears that she might lose her independence, even though she desires to marry Mr. Rochester.

What about your characters? What does your character want? What is your character struggling with? What are they afraid of? What do they have to lose? Your characters will go through a series of emotional arcs. Michael Hague describes a character arc as a journey from living in fear to living courageously. Whether fiction or nonfiction, you decide what your character or reader wants. Then you structure the different events that your character goes through with the inner journey of how they are internalizing the events around them based on their outer journey, what they want.

Wrap-Up

The key here is to create a trail of breadcrumbs that leads your readers from Point A to Point B, keeps them guessing at how the character is going to get what they want, and what might get in their way and prevent them from getting what they want. And these four elements of your character’s background, personality, appearance, and journey set the stage for an engaging reading experience that whisks your readers away to a world of characters—and story—your readers will never forget.

Please take a minute and join in the discussion! I’d love to hear from you!

What’s your favorite character from a novel you’ve read, and what makes that character special to you? How can you enhance your own characters by the characters you read about in other books?

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Blogging de-bunked

Mary Jaksh over at Write-to-Done offers a very credible argument for the myth that has writers believing that blogging is deader than a door nail.

Visit Mary’s awesome article.

And after you’ve read it, skip back over here and share your opinions!