I write this post to myself, but I hope it resonates with you as well. I write it because it’s the number one thing I hear about from authors. It’s an angst, a stress, a great big worry. What do we do about platform?
Branding
In the early 2000s, I remember hearing a talk from a Christian publishing insider about the importance of building an author brand. The logic came from corporate America, that when you reach for a Coke, you know what to expect. To veer wildly off from what you provide causes something called brand confusion. This has never rubbed me the right way, and it bothered me then, too. What if God changes your course? What if your life experience veers, and you now have something to write that differs from what you wrote in the past?
I do understand the necessity for publishers to make money. That’s their primary aim, even in Christian publishing. If they don’t sell their product, they won’t be in business. Branding is one way to ensure consistent sales.
The Shift
After branding discussions, the word PLATFORM began circulating around 2007 on the Christian writers conference circuit. I know because it was the year I returned from church planting overseas. I remember the stress that the concept caused me, the worry of whether I had enough people know me to justify me staying in the industry as a writer. From that point on, there were many times I wrote to my prayer team, “This may be my last book.” Whereas my books used to wholly be evaluated on the concept, the potential audience, and how well I wrote and articulated the book, now it mattered how “famous” I was.
Thus began the angsty years which continue to this day. I know I’m not alone in this ambivalence and frustration.
In 2012, Michael Hyatt captured the current zeitgeist of the publishing industry and wrote the book Platform.
I read it, learned from it, and applied its principles, as did many of my author friends. Why? We wanted to keep writing, and this was the new normal. When we wrote proposals, we would share our numbers, mainly email list numbers and how many people followed our author page on Facebook.
From that point forward, there have been a few explosions. Instagram grew up, and publishers took notice of the engagement there. YouTube channels started mattering. Podcasting blossomed. A myriad of other socials followed: Twitter (X), TikTok, LinkedIn (which had been around a bit longer), Substack, Snapchat, Threads, Discord, and a plethora of others. Honestly? It feels like social media whack-a-mole out there. You hear about a new “thing,” get a profile, then dread that you’re going to have to put content on it, especially if it takes off.
Traditional Used to be the Only Way
Back when I started publishing (2004 I landed my first two contracts), there were two options–expensive (and ugly covers) self publishing or traditional publishing. So I went the trad route. And I’ve mostly been on it every since. But the beauty of today is that there is much more power in the hands of authors. If the platform requirements stress you out, you can cheaply and easily get your content out there. The question becomes–can you sell it?
So, if you want to make a living at writing, people do have to know you. If you simply want to get your message out, you don’t need to worry so much about platform. If you’re a novelist, you don’t have to fret as much about it as well.
So the question becomes: what do we do?
Can we change an entire industry?
I’m finding it hard as a literary agent to create much movement in this area, though I could point to outliers who sold lots of books (the late Sarah Young comes to mind) who had nearly no initial platform. And I have anecdotal evidence from editors I’ve talked to who have lamented that their Instagram star of several hundreds of thousands of “followers” tanked in their sales figures. A following on a platform does not guarantee a sale, we’re learning.
Truly unique, well written books can find a niche, though they have a harder time selling in today’s climate than they did in the 90s. Why?
Because then, most Christian books were sold through Christian bookstores. People went into those stores, looked up a book on subject matter, and purchased it. Today? It’s exceptionally crowded on the Amazon marketplace, and there are few Christian bookstores left (and many are populated not by books, but by trinkets).
So now this issue is discoverability. How can new authors be discovered? Is building a social media empire the only way to woo a traditional publisher? I believe there are stronger ways to curate an audience, which means a change in terminology.
Presence, not platform.
The girls over at Writing Off Social and Thomas Umstattd of Author Media and the Novel Marketing Podcast have been talking about this issue. Both maintain the importance of building an email list–a tribe of people in your niche who really love your content. This coupled with any way you can meet with your audience in a human way (podcasting, speaking) is a terrific way to sell books. When I look at a potential author to agent, I do admit being constrained by low numbers. But if that same author has spent time curating a viable email list (with strong open rates), I am far more tempted to take a second look.
Why? Because marketing is really about knowing someone, trusting them. It is based on permission. And what better way to know someone than to hear their voice or experience their writing voice consistently in a newsletter?
So I’m personally shifting from the word platform to the word presence. What can I do to help others? How can I reach those who really want to hear/see/read my content? And most importantly: how can I bless those in my fold? And how can I do so without losing my mental health or my precious, limited time?
I am a better writer when I’m writing for those who actually want to read what I write. I am a better creator when I skim social media rather than doom-scroll it. Thanks to this book by Cal Newport, I am realizing that I need space and time to create truly unique written work:
Realities
I know I have a modest platform compared to many of the celebrity authors getting offered living-wage contracts. There was a time when I would chase gurus, bend over backwards to join the latest craze, but I’m not only tired of it all, I’m also wiser. I realize that if I am to be published again, it is up to the Lord to open that door. And if it is shut, he has something else in mind. I simply don’t want to make it to glory and hear something to the effect of, “Well, you built a big author platform, but you didn’t trust me.”
My best advice to those of you trying to be traditionally published in the Christian publishing space is this: pray.
Ask God to show you the avenues of PRESENCE that will best help others in your audience. Let go of anything that is no longer serving you, or is bringing you harm. Work hard, yes, but work hard at things that actually bring YOU a return on your time investment. Think about your audience as your congregation and seek ways to serve them simply and powerfully. Ask yourself, “What would help my friend today?” And then, do it.
We live in a spiraling world toward de-humanization, with some authors resorting to AI to write their books and others blatantly plagiarizing content. We are viewing audiences as a commodity rather than a blessing. We trip over the gods of commerce in order to be seen and recognized. There’s a crisis in the American church, which is fueled by the Christian publishing industry–where form often triumphs over substance, where platforms mean more than simple, daily ministry. We are enamored with celebrity.
I have talked to several editors in both spaces–in the general market and the Christian market, and I’ve learned this: the general market (NY publishing houses) have less of an interest in platform than the faith-based ones. Our industry seems to value it more, which makes no sense to me. Shouldn’t we be less enamored with famous people? Shouldn’t we value good work more than follower numbers?
I believe there will be a corrective in the coming years. I dare to hope that our industry will once again value orthodox theology, beautiful writing, Christian maturity & substance, and discipleship books far, far more than we chase after the instagram star or the TikTok sensation of the moment. Perhaps there will be a reckoning.
But even if not, Christian authors still have a choice. We can do our best, deep work in the quiet spaces of life. We can be counter cultural, spending more time with actual people than curating a persona online. We can entrust our careers to the One who matters most. We can remember the math of the disciples–it took 11 followers of Jesus to upend the world for the better. Little is much in the hands of our great big, famous God. We can understand the emaciating power of fame and how it corrupts us. We can seek first the kingdom, rather than chasing our own.
Very good. I love the way you think. We had a similar convo sometime ago now.
Thanks, friend.
Mary,
Thank you!
I completely agree. The industry is changing rapidly and only Lord God can show us the way through these rough seas.
I write advocating for women’s equality in the church and home. Christian bookstores will not carry those books. Even Christianbook.com will not offer egalitarian books in their catalogues they mail out to churches. As a result, I give my books away. I will never be famous. But I am doing what I am called to do. I have great joy in this. I have written 5 books for women’s equality. I self-publish because agents are not interested in books that they cannot sell.
I love that you have great joy doing this, Shirley!
Thank you for your wise voice of honoring God in the midst of platforms that don’t honor Him. May our hearts be to platform Christ as the treasure and true Gospel Goodness He is…to exalt Christ and lift Him high…to teach the Power of His Cross and the cross we take up daily… To bring Him glory …to advance His kingdom…to proclaim repentance and See God bring His Harvest…
Well said!
That’s why I’m here and appreciate your comments. Thank you.
The problem is your view of the equality of women is nor consistent with the Bible.
There is much similar with men and women but the Bible has defined specific roles for each.
Bless you, Mary, for your faithful, sprit-led voice in this challenging industry – and challenging times. May the Lord continue to use you to minister to those who seek to serve the Author of Life faithfully, effectively, and honorably, through the gift of words. We appreciate you!
Oh, you’re my favorite, Shadia!
🥰😘
YES! Love this shift as a fellow weary and wiser member of the Christian publishing world. I took 9 mos off of book marketing last year and have been wondering how I could approach it differently, with others’ books and with my own pursuit of “platform” that I’d become completely disillusioned with.
I hear you.
Cathartic. Thank you, Mary. Your line rings true: “if I am to be published again, it is up to the Lord to open that door. And if it is shut, he has something else in mind.”
I spend far more time on “marketing exercises” – social media, list-building, networking, live events – than creating the deep-think content that really will add value to people. It’s frustrating because great content without an audience is no content at all.
But I do agree with your premise that God can take any humble offering and use it how He deems best. I, for one, struggle to discern how He expects me to invest my time because all of the aforementioned exercises have a role.
Happy New Year!
I agree. It’s a constant struggle. You’ll see that I’m still creating content on social media. Always a balancing act.
This really resonated with me. It is exhausting work trying to build that ‘platform.’ I am taking a year off in a way and rather trying to plant ‘seeds.’ Making time to respond personally to people who like or comment on my posts. I will try to make more personal contacts with fewer people and trust God to do the growing if I do the planting.
If our goal in creating content is to grow our platform, then we are setting ourselves up for stress and watching the numbers.
If our goal is to help people, then one person who is helped equals success.
Lately I have sensed God prompting me to create more content than I do. I create almost zero for social media and focus instead on the content of my preaching. I’m guessing that the lessons God has taught me might be helpful to some others as well.
Mary, I loved your line, “I simply don’t want to make it to glory and hear something to the effect of, “Well, you built a big author platform, but you didn’t trust me.” Nailed it!
I am going through your book, The Wall Around Your Heart, again in preparation for preaching through the Lord’s prayer. Though we’ve never met in person you are helping me to help the people in the church I serve. “Thank you” is too weak to adequately express the appreciation I have for you.
Great content will find its audience, most often by word of mouth. I’m with you, Mary: spend your valuable time creating great content and then…self-publish if no one in the traditional publishing industry wants it and move on. We’re not in this to get rich or famous, but to obey God’s calling. He will bless our obedience in one way or another.
Well said, Karen. “We’re not in this to get rich or famous.” That’s for sure! 🙂
” . . . the general market (NY publishing houses) have less of an interest in platform than the faith-based ones. Our industry seems to value it more, which makes no sense to me. Shouldn’t we be less enamored with famous people? Shouldn’t we value good work more than follower numbers?” Very interesting! Yes, I would hope we would be less enamored with famous people. It’s sad to me that it’s this way in the faith-based publishing world. It seems to me that it eventually leads to other things, like plagiarizing (because of the need to publish as much as possible by the one with the big platform), which you and a few others have addressed, but which few Christians in the industry seem to care about.
I agree. It’s very frustrating that plagiarism doesn’t seem to be a “big deal.”
Well said. Thank you for this. Presence over platform. I’ve been thinking this but hadn’t found the words yet. Thank you for giving me words. Thankful for who you are.
Love you, Jodie.
Yes. And yes again.
If social media didn’t exist, what would you do to get your message out to the people who are waiting for it. Do that.
Great way to word these ideas, Susan.
Thank you, Tracie.
Thank you, Mary. Your encouragement and truth are a breath of fresh air. Since shifting from writer to aspiring author, I’ve experienced burnout and exhaustion from chasing an ideal platform and then striving to maintain it. Both [chasing & striving] are unhealthy mindsets I never had until entering the traditional publishing space. Over the past several months, I’ve surrendered those to God and allowed Him to direct my platform growth. I’ve enjoyed the grace and freedom that comes with authentically showing up for my current readers…being present for them, and leaving the platform/future in my Father’s hands.
Yes for grace and freedom!
Thank you for this. So helpful!
I pray that you are right about a corrective coming. We so desperately need it. I especially am concerned for new believers when one of those “celebrities” falls. I am also saddened and frustrated by those who are making money off of people’s dreams. It is heartbreaking. Profiting off of someone’s hope and their desperation to be published is appalling. I recently learned a well known author is charging a fee of $30K to divulge the secret of getting published. I don’t think I would have believed it had I not heard the words come from this person’s mouth directly.
“We can entrust our careers to the One who matters most.” Oh how beautifully said and what an important fact. Friend, there is so much freedom in truly knowing this.
Mary, thank you for not being part of the machine. Your courage to speak truth is refreshing.
Yikes! That’s a lot of money, 30K.
Thanks, Mary. I love this focus, “Think about your audience as your congregation and seek ways to serve them simply and powerfully. Ask yourself, “What would help my friend today?” And then, do it.”
When I began to place my writing onto public forums, a year ago, I realized it would take years to build my audience. But, if I sacrificed quality, thoughtful writing for quick throw it out there work I would never serve my readers or the Lord well. And, I would rather serve a small, faithful, growing audience with strong biblical and theological content, than to feed them with thin, useless, or AI generated writing.
I am finding so much joy in serving in smaller places.
Thank you for your wisdom. And the encouragement to trust.
This is a hurricane of fresh air. Thank you, Mary! I just ordered your book, Love, Pray, Listen. I met you at Mount Hermon in 2023. Blessings!
Thanks, I pray the book encourages you.
A whole slew of tired writers just stood up to give you a standing ovation, Mary. Well done. 100% with you.
All ovations go to Jesus. 🙂
Branding never sat well with me. Platform does not carry over to sales. I promote other authors on my Author Facebook page. I will remain self published for many reasons. I’m praying I find my audience or they find me.
“ Well, you built a big author platform, but you didn’t trust me.” Are words I need to live by or maybe God is helping me to live by them.
I’ve had this dream most of my life. I pray every day to honor my Lord and for His blessings on each endeavor.
Keep writing, Mollie. You’re gifted.
Great piece, Mary!
As you know, I was making my way into publishing about the same time as you. And I ran smack dab into the platforming wall. (My nose still hurts.)
My solution was ultimately to move into collaboration. By writing books for other people, I no longer had to worry about platform. I just had to write. The downside, of course was that I set aside my own projects in the interest of actually making a living as a writer.
Overall, I’m happy that I took that course. I’m not much of a marketer and never could get the hang of that platform thing. 😉
I love this pathway you’ve taken!
This resonates so deeply. The constant striving is exhausting. But I love your reminder to pray and entrust the future to God. Nothing can stop His hand and He orders all our steps, publishing and otherwise!
Amen.
This is so helpful. I love substituting “presence” for “platform,” and I’ll be telling others as well!
Just what I needed today. Confirmation. I spent some time in the last days of 2023 asking, What do I want?
Jesus actually asked that in John 1:37. What do you want?
And I had to really look over the past year and ask the hard question.
Because I want authenticity.
Sure. I would love to be published one day. I have a short story published in a compilation, so technically I am published. But a novel…that would be great!
I was headed down the comparison trap one day…okay lots of days…feeling sorry for myself.
And then I got an email from one of my newsletter friends. She wrote, “Sometimes I get your emails and I am not in a good place. Thanks for lifting me up.”
I have a small newsletter group thus far…300. But they open at least 67% of the time over the past year. For me, that’s a win.
I get emails back like this and it’s just confirmation that yep…it’s slow, but it’s where I’m supposed to be right now.
And my story is one that someone needs to hear when God decides the right time should be.
“Control what I can control and trust God for the rest.”
Thank you for this confirmation today.
Blessings.
I love that your newsletter helps people so tangibly!
Wow, thank you for this! This is very confirming to me…I have felt the LORD leading me to take a break from social media like IG and FB, and it didn’t seem to make sense because I am in the process of writing a couple of books. I would talk to others about publishing and building a platform and wonder where faith in the LORD comes into this process. It’s helpful to read you address this. I also feel God’s calling to be a missionary in a high-risk country and because of that, I cannot market my real self (thus, I will be publishing under a pen name). I love the idea of thinking about your “congregation” and what they need/what would truly benefit them. I think you’ve modeled that through this post! Thank you once again!
“I made my castle tall
I built up every wall
This is my kingdom and it needs to fall
I want You and no one else
Empty me of myself
Until the only thing that is left is
More of You, less of me.”
–Colton Dixon
That quote!!!!
Well said! Thank you for sharing, Mary!
Mary, I appreciate your thoughts on platform. I was just discussing with Deb Raney on her page of how the push for platform/marketing distracted me from writing. I was part of Thomas Umstattd’s program and realized I was spinning wheels to create a web page etc. as suggested instead of writing. My priorities were wrong in my anxiousness to stay on top of platform I was not writing. As we say ‘I had the cart before the horse’.
It’s so much work, and today’s author has to have a lot of skill sets and energy to make a living at it.
Thank you for bringing sanity to this subject!
Thank you for this, Mary!
All I can say is thanks!
So well said, Mary. Thank you for sharing this wisdom.
It does seem like the Christian world is too enamored with technology, especially social media “platform,” almost to the point of Psalm 115 idolatry in some cases. Your post is a much needed call to repentance and reflection.
God’s best to you in all you do!
Thanks Doug, appreciate your words. There is a lot of idolatry in the church and Christian systems these days, but we have a hard time seeing it (me included).
This is great! As a new author, I love learning from others and having confirmation for some of my thoughts while writing. Thank you for sharing.
Sure thing!
I’ve been pondering similar things recently. Sometimes the expectations of publishers and the things that writers do in the hopes of getting published end up being inconsistent with their faith at times. I’m glad to learn about the book Deep Work, too. You’re a refreshing voice of reason in this field, Mary. Thank you. I have been rereading the book by Henry Nouwen called The Way of the Heart: Connecting with God Through Prayer, Wisdom and Silence. It’s also refreshing and a great reminder of why we need solitude and silence as Christ followers, and as writers.
I so need solitude to create. That book, Deep Work, really changed the way I work.
I do, too. I will check out that book. Thank you, Mary.
As someone who is unpublished, I find the need to feed a platform very discouraging. I see writers I know posting mindless daily blurbs in an effort to promote interaction. Posting anything (What is your favorite book? How do you like your coffee?) just to be seen is degrading. I have to say that I was excited to find and read your blog, so I clicked on your website only to see you promoting the very thing you are complaining about. Perhaps the industry needs to go back to more face-to-face activities. Anyway, I appreciate the glimmer of hope offered in this post. It is nice to know that there are others who see there is a terrible cost associated with obsessing over your social media platforms.
I appreciate you bringing that up. I should have explained that in my post. As an agent, I am constrained by what the publishers will buy. They tend not to buy books by authors with little platform, so for me to stay afloat, I need to acquire authors who have something to work with. That being said, I have some authors with robust platforms and some with lesser platforms. When I consider a project I do have to keep that in mind, but I also look at the work (of course) and the skill of the writer. I also pray and ask the Lord for guidance and consult with my assistant.
So, so beautiful, Mary. It does my heart good to know that others are thinking critically and biblically about these things. We pray, we trust, we tell the truth in our writing, and we let God decide where to shelve it. Grateful you shared your thoughts today.
So good to know. And keep at it, Shannon.
This post made me feel “heard” without me having admitted it’s truly how I feel. Thank you! I’ll share this, and may need to reach back out for quote-sharing later.
It’s been difficult finding the words…but you nailed it.
The Lord has given me green lights in some areas and I’ve faithfully moved forward. Instead of feeling obligated to be everywhere like I used to, or going completely “off-grid” from overwhelm this time, I let some go, and organized the ones I want to keep and decided to just show up and be me (to have fun with it again).
The focus on face-to-face purpose is so important, and here in a couple months because of a door He opened, it will really be a thing, but while I prepare, I was observing many social platforms of artists and fellow musicians and couldn’t help but notice many of them had fun sharing simply because they were fully allowed to be themselves—a few I saw even sharing goofy clips, real life oopsies, or made a video of themselves putting together a new table they got (for instance). So I wonder if part of burn out is also from our inward pressure to not only show up everywhere but show up perfectly. 🤪
I had let so much go these past few years because I put man’s demands and opinions first thinking I was serving Him, and I know He uses it all, so regrets, but after praying and waiting on the Lord, I’m excited that this year will be one of creativity and saying yes to what He has put on my heart to give back, regardless of others’ opinions (though I’m still willing to learn of course!)
Being “teachable” about things had actually begun to stifle the Spirit in my life (that’s another story for another day…), so I’m still always super cautious about what I read or who I take info from (or let stick, I should say).
You always seem to share what resonates and I’ve wondered if it’s because you are another person who finds yourself in the middle, able to see something from both sides (peacemaker tendencies/trad-indie hybrid/outside-the-box thinking).
I’m definitely adding this book to my list. It’s growing, very intentionally! Thank you for sharing, Mary.
So grateful the post resonated. When I use socials now, I hope/pray it is from a state of abundance rather than a have-to.
Oh my goodness, ty. God has pushed, not nudged, me into this industry at the age of 69. I’ve mentored women, one on one, for over thirty-five years. Gotta love God’s sense of humor. I’m waiting to hear from a traditional pub. Although I have perfect peace with the decision, I do not have peace for platform status. Platform status, can’t believe that has become a part of my vocabulary. Thank you for getting me out of the forest so I can see the trees. I’ll pray for surrender and direction as my website relaunches soon.
Blessings as you write and are obedient!
Awesome read! We needed to hear this Mary. All praises to Him.
Thank you for this post. You speak my language.
WOW! Thank you for encouraging us and for your wise perspective, Mary. This post is incredibly helpful in all the most important ways. I’ll be bookmarking this to read it again and again—especially that last paragraph!
Mary, what a breath of fresh air, as you always are. I love the way you’ve built your tribe through being brutally real. I, too, have struggled with the demand for “platform” and the requirement to “pick one.” I keep asking the Lord about it. Why can’t I just pick one? But He’s given me insights, expertise, and a love for several areas and I have consistently written and taught in all of them. No commercial success to speak of, but He has provided for our family in other ways. (I want to measure my success by sales. It creates legitimacy for my wounded soul.) He won’t let me even tho I keep trying. I’ve reached the point in my life where I’ve created a website that reflects all of me and I’m offering what I have for free. Lots of resources for spiritual growth, leadership, healing, writing, homeschooling, and caregiving/aging. (patsikora.com) I know! Pick one! I’ve decided to let my audience, my tribe, pick one. Meanwhile, I’ll keep writing what the Lord gives me and cast my bread upon the water. Maybe someday it will come back… or maybe it will feed my tribes. Keep at it, Mary. You may not be financially where you want to be, but you are one of the best writers I know in the field and your exquisite blending of scholarship and prose bless, challenge, and motivate so many. I kind of think that might be how God measures us. Love you!
You are an inspiration, Pat.
Thank you, Mary, for putting words to the shift I’ve been feeling. And if I’m typical, the importance of the email list may be shifting too. I’ve subscribed to the emails from authors I know and admire, but I find myself paying less and less attention. It feels like old technology, and my inbox is cluttered with subscriptions I rarely read. I give my favorites a quick scan, but I rarely read the whole thing. What’s most likely to make add a new book to my reading list? A recommendation from a friend–in person or on social media. Just a quick click to the author’s website or to Amazon and I make an instant decision: read or skip. Am I the odd one out, or do others suffer from email fatigue?
It’s always been about word of mouth!
I suffer from email fatigue too. Some days I just don’t go there at all.
I so appreciate you and your wisdom. You even provide a simple (and what should be a no-brainer) solution: pray.
After 12 general market books, my first Christian market book is coming out soon. Thankfully, so far, I have felt supported by my kidlit community. I don’t know if that will always be the case.
I know writers for YA and adults have the solid option of self-pub. As a kidlit nonfiction author, I don’t feel I have the same liberty. Libraries and teachers are the driving force behind my audience. If I remember right you don’t rep kidlit authors, but I’d be curious if you agree with my thoughts where I need to continue the traditional route.
Though I’m here on the blog today, since meeting you at Mount Hermon I’ve followed you on IG. (Don’t know how vocal I am if you would have noticed.) I feel like you do an incredible job of being present there.
Thank you for spending the time to write this for all of us.
You are a delight, and I love what you write, Annette. So grateful we met.
Thank you so much for this article. I was told to publish my DMin thesis by my supervisor. I learned about platform math etc. and said I’d do it for free. It was never about the money. This blog truly helps me to follow where God is leading.
Thank you for this article. I was encouraged to publish my marriage Bible study, so I joined a popular Christian women’s ministry group that also trains writers. The focus was on building platforms and on “poor me” topics. I decided to end my membership and continue writing for my church, teaching, and posting articles and social media as the Lord leads.
Would love to know more about what you mean about “poor me” topics!
Brilliant. Finally, someone brave enough to say it. I’ve talked with other writers about this for a long time. When asked what I write, I say “Whatever I’m called to write.” If my goal is to sell a brand, fast food style, in order to feed my family, I would do it. Instead, I write as I’m led. No need for fame. Just pray what comes might pave a path for someone to desire to know Christ personally and profoundly.
Thank you for saying it so beautifully.
You are welcome, Suzanne.
I suggest not using the word “tribe.” I know some Christian gurus have used it a lot. It’s appropriation and it’s also wrong in terms of meaning. Followers, audience, fans, etc. is not a tribe.
Thank you for your heart and your messages!
This is so so so good. I’ve struggled with so many of these same issues and questions. You’ve given me some clarity, and just seeing your thoughts on these matters has given me hope. It’s encouraging to know that others see what I see. Thank you.
I’m not a published novelist YET, but I already relate to the angst you share. Just preparing the proposal to include my platform information is intimidating knowing what they expect.
Thank you for exposing this. I will include in my prayers to disrupt the tainted views of the publishing business to choose God’s good work over fame.
Thank you for your prayers!
thank you Mary bless you as your serve and thanks for being there in this world for all of us
Wow. Thank you, Mary, for putting together the words I’ve been feeling for SO LONG!
This message resonated deep within my writer’s heart. Just as having a relationship with Jesus comes first, having a relationship with readers who trust me comes before worrying about sales numbers. Am I being a person who is enriching someone else’s life spiritually if my only objective to to grow a number. Thank you for this truthful message. I pray lots of struggling writers are blessed by your honesty.
Love that question you ask yourself, Lori.
Thank you, Mary, for taking such a “radical” stand! When I first started writing, I spent years of anguish trying to do everything I was told do. One I totally rebelled against was blogging daily. I started a blog, but I prayed about the content, and as a result, God told me to write about what interested me, which are lighthouses and the correlation between them and God. So I posted once a week for five years. Because I spent hours doing research, the blog took up a lot of time. But I persevered for five years, but when I got contracts, they had greater priority, so I made the decision to blog when I had time, maybe once a month. I don’t know if the blog ever resulted in sales for my books, they just established my brand, which is okay, but what’s the point? And some of the branding advice is absurd – choose your color, etc. However, as a people-pleaser, I tried to check off the boxes and join various social media sites. I discovered, like manu, that it is a terrible waste of time. So when is a writer supposed to write? Several years ago, Liz Curtis Higgs said in a keynote that it is not our job to create sales, it is God’s. If He wants our books to sell, He’ll make it happen. So we do the work, the writing, and leave the results to Him. And that work needs to be our best work, as in 2 Timothy2:15, so to that end, we study and learn to do do our best writing. God Bless You!
I so resonate with what you wrote, as I am a guru chaser~
We write; we edit; we market, but God gives the increase. And he does not muzzle the ox who treads out the book.
Thanks for the article. Great reminder of what truly matters most.
Thank you for pulling back the curtain on the platform issue. I have thought the same thing and just recently decided to pray more seriously about my writing and trust the Lord to put it in the right place. I have been surprised at the way He has opened doors already.
I want to be as articulate as possible in response this so here goes….
WOW! Just WOW!
Thank you Mary, for such beautiful truth and hope for so many next generation writers! I’m saving it to share with everyone I serve.
As a new author, I know what you are saying. My agent/family friend sent my proposal to several Christian publishers. They “loved” my work and “yes,” wanted to publish it. How many Instagram followers did I have? The answer: none, the same number that now wanted to represent me. Thank you for this sweet reminder that God is in charge, not me.
I couldn’t agree more! I have a hate-hate relationship with social media, especially as a writer. It’s a waste of time. I am in process of writing a book, and if the Lord wills, I will self-publish to get the message out. Thank you for this!
Strong word, Mary. Love seeing you and Patrick most Sundays. Keep writing!
Hey Mary, yep, it’s tricky! I naively thought it was just about writing a good book and getting a publisher to like it enough to publish. (I think my sales figures may have been a disappointment to mine!) However, if the message was truly inspired by the Holy Spirit, I guess he is also more than capable of getting it into the hands of the people he wants to read it! Onwards and upwards 😎
Thank you for taking the conversation in this necessary direction. It’s encouraging and also disheartening to hear this coming from an industry “insider” who is also tied to the same broken system.
I appreciated your language shift from platform to presence. However, the idea of thinking about your audience as your congregation is sobering. This moves the world of writing full on into the world of ministry – also a huge responsibility. With platform alone, I guess you can settle for shallow engagement. But now if think of my audience as my congregation (and by extension myself as some kind of pastor – isn’t a pastor by definition the leader of a congregation?) I am holding some heavy responsibility. Is every writer able to give of themselves in this way to their readers?Is it responsible to think that every writer is now a congregation leader? Are you saying every writer needs to be prepared to establish a form of ministry, even if it’s only to a few people? That involves a whole other skill set than just writing. I’m not saying (some) writers shouldn’t do this. But we need to think about what offering our real presence to our readers really means.
Perhaps it’s the phrase “your congregation” that I’m hesitating over. As someone with pastoral responsibility in the past, I don’t take this lightly. I love your message of moving toward serving. I think writers should serve their readers. I think many writers (including myself) do view their writing as a form of ministry. But I’d want to be careful of transferring pastoral ministry language to every writer who wants to make an impact. (Again, nothing to do with size.) Or perhaps there will need to be ways of preparing writers for a shift to deeper engagement.
Thank you for opening this conversation.
That’s a good point, Lindsey. Perhaps those who aren’t writing nonfiction would fall in that space. Personally, I love the idea of seeing those I serve as a group of people I’m playing a small role in leading. It causes me not to look at them like a commodity (buyers of book) and more like human beings in need of kindhearted treatment.
Thanks for your response, Mary! I love viewing my small readership in the same way. 🙂 (And I should clarify, I do not have a large social media following with whom I engaging with shallowly online…) Coming through a season of severe personal limitations, perhaps I am more aware than ever of my smallness as just one person trying to serve and lead others. Because-wow-these are real people with real needs, who deserve my real attention and care. It hits me hard sometimes. I’m not just throwing words out into the ether. This is where your advice to PRAY is so necessary!
I’ve been thinking a lot lately about how pursuing traditional publishing in the Christian nonfiction world seems to carry with it the requirements for starting a ministry – speaking engagements, large web presence, ongoing interaction with readers, publishing regular content, the responsibility of being a “public figure,” etc. I don’t always see this acknowledged directly. It’s not just about writing a book. And it’s not for everyone. I wonder, are writers receiving training in the ministry aspect of this responsibility as much as they are in writing and marketing?
Whether their ministries are big or small, I just hope that writers will also be given the tools to serve well in healthy ways and be the unique disciple-makers God is calling them to be. I think your advice here is a great place to start.
(And I’d be curious to hear any more thoughts you may have on why the Christian market in particular is so enamoured with platform.)
Thanks. Encouraging when we get frustrated and want to throw in the towel. God will make a way.
Thanks for putting words to this Mary! It is something that I have wrestled and your ideas of “presence” brings more of a Kingdom vision that is inspiring to mind. Thanks for sharing your prayer, listening, experience and insight on this!
Thank you for your honesty, but more importantly your heart. I’m finding out that content is more valuable that sales