Chuck Sambuchino

The writing section in my library is in constant flux. On one hand my favorite freelance writing books disappear from the shelves and online database never to be referenced again. Good thing I took notes. On the other hand, I come across new gems like Create Your Writer Platform.

Is it any different than reading a dozen online articles? That was my first concern. Yes, it's different and it's better.

The first chapters define a platform and the basics in how to use it. These chapters I skimmed as they are on par with the content you'll find in articles found on the first search engine page. Start your platform long before you publish, establish yourself in social media as a community member instead of constantly self-promoting, blog, etc. I call this common sense social media marketing. It's nothing special but a good baseline. But what does make one's content and marketing special?

Chapters four through thirteen specialize on aspects of a platform: choosing a niche, choosing your platform avenues, website, newsletters, and more. I'm not going to sell a book anytime soon, but the content holds relevance to those who aren't book authors. Platforms are imperative to freelancers and professional bloggers, and this book's information extends nicely. I took notes that'll help me choose a niche and how narrow to make it, know which social media sites suit which niches, and how to strategically approach blogging while maintaining my personal brand.

The back quarter of the book profiles successful writers with various approaches to platforming. Some hire help, some prefer going solo. Some use social media, some get by with word of mouth. They represent different genres, though perhaps happenstance they are mostly mainstream like general fiction, memoirs, inspirational, general reference, and such.

My main critique would be to include writers of specialized niches like science for nonfiction and fantasy for fiction--it's my understanding that specialized content come with specialized audiences, and writers need to target their marketing more differently than the degree of difference between writers of mainstream genres.

Even editors of anthologies and periodicals will explicitly say in their submission guidelines that they either accept everything other than speculative fiction or only accept speculative fiction. In nonfiction, publishers often flaunt the diversity of their content, which will be almost anything other than science.

Meanwhile others specialize in intellectual topics like science, history, and literature and almost entirely toss sports, lifestyle, and often politics unless it ties into one of the other accepted subjects--these publishers outcast mainstream topics the way mainstream publishers toss niche topics. In the writing industry there's no honest way of avoiding that we have split ourselves into two, broad marketing categories: mainstream and specialized.

Overall, Chuck Sambuchino did a good job with this book. I often find writer books to be too elementary, common sense, and even vague to glean anything applicable that I haven't applied when the ideas came to me on my own. Because of this, I appreciate the authors that do introduce information I have to take notes on and try for myself.… (altro)