Many writers get discouraged while struggling to find their place in the endless sea of emerging writers. Their mistake is that they are waiting for other people to discover them.Don’t wait to be picked. Instead, pick yourself by creating your reader platform and launch yourself into your career as a writer.

Create Your Platform

Before starting your journey as a writer, you should ask yourself “What do I have to share with the world, and what makes me uniquely equipped to deliver this message?” The answers to these questions will help you determine where your readers are, and the medium you can use to reach them.Look at your previous writings and try to figure out what they have in common. Perhaps you are an inquisitive writer - always looking for facts, asking questions, and answering them. Perhaps you see the world from a unique perspective.

Your Message

Every writer needs a platform to showcase their work, and the internet, with all its glamour and ego-centric clutter, is today’s world stage.Just because you are a writer does not mean you should only produce written content. You can also use audio (podcasts) and video as long as you keep providing value to your audience.

Your Stage

When choosing your brand’s name, you have to ask yourself two things: Is this name unique? Is this name memorable? For some people, it can be as simple as using their first and last names. For others, it might be more effective to have a pseudonym.Do your homework. Check if the name you chose is already used, especially in your field. Remember that your name must be the same on all your current and future channels.

The Name Of Your Brand

Once you’ve established your platform, designed your brand, and figured out your niche, it’s time to think about how to get people to come to you. Remember that no matter how relevant and important your writing is, it’s your job to connect people to your content through channels.Become active on Twitter and Facebook and give your readers a chance to sample your brand. Go to conferences and events related to your niche. Write an email newsletter to give your readers a regular update on what is going on in your field and with you.

Your Channels

<ul><li>The professional shows up every day, ready to do the work.</li><li>Do a document search for all uses of “that” and “very”—kill as many of them as possible. These words are rarely needed.</li><li>Reread the piece. Cut as many adverbs as possible. These are words that typically end in -ly (like ‘typically’). </li><li>Look for complex sentences using lots of ‘ands’ and ‘buts’—try simplifying some of them. Reread them and see if the meaning is more clear.</li><li>Destroy weak phrases like ‘I think’ or ‘in my opinion’ that corrupt your argument. Say what needs to be said, or don’t say it at all. </li></ul>

Tips For Powerful Writing

People often associate ”brand” with a fake persona. When they do, it simply means that the brand failed. Your brand should be an extension of you. It will never represent all of who you are. However, it does represent how readers remember you. It is important to feel comfortable in your brand to keep it consistent.

You Are A Brand

<ul>
<li>Gaining Experience: Before having your platform it’s best to learn as much as you can from an authority in your field. You can try guest posting or do some freelancing.</li>
<li>Set the Stage: Once you have an idea, the next step is to build your social presence. You can do it on the side at first. Never lose sight of how your platform will help you in your writing career.</li>
<li>Generating Buzz: Start by participating in forums and social media groups and helping other authors and artists with their work. Professional karma and unique content will start getting people interested in you and what you have to offer.</li>
</ul>

Honing Your Platform In Three Steps

The most crucial aspect of your brand as a writer is your voice. This includes the voice you use in your books, your social media posts, your website, interviews, etc.Most writers don’t get to choose their voice. Again, it is important to keep your voice consistent. After all, your voice is the reason why readers keep coming back to you. You can draw inspiration from all your favourite books and movies, but never try to imitate or copy another voice.

The Author's Voice

You might think that an author’s looks are not important for their success as writers. However, your brand is the sum of many factors – looks included. These factors come together to create a voice that readers can trust to deliver books that they love.Choose a style that is suitable for your persona and content. It doesn’t matter if it’s elegant, authoritative, or goofy. What matters is that you stick with it. Get some professional shots and use them across all your platforms.

The Image

<ul><li>You find your dream not by searching for it, but by submitting to what you had always hoped was true.</li><li>The amateur ships her work when she feels inspired; the professional ships her work regardless of her mood.</li><li>If you have something worth saying, you want people to listen because it matters to them.</li></ul>

Key Takeaways From The Book

<ul><li>Believe you already are what you want to be. And then start acting like it.</li><li>Before others will believe what is true about you, you’ll have to believe it yourself.</li><li>Multitasking is a myth. You can either create or react. But you can’t do both. Choose wisely.</li><li>A brand is who you are. But it’s more than that. It’s your truest self. The part people remember.</li></ul>

Noteworthy Ideas: You Are A Writer

Stop seeking public approval and just write.

Becoming a writer begins with a simple but important belief: You are a writer; you just need to write. In "You Are a Writer," Jeff Goins shares his own story of self-doubt and what it took for him to become a professional writer. He gives you practical steps to improve your writing, get published in magazines, and build a platform that puts you in charge. This book is about what it takes to be a writer in the 21st Century. You will learn the importance of passion and discipline and how to show up every day to do the work. Here's what else you will learn: -How to transition from wanting to be a writer to actually being one -What "good" writing is (and isn't) -How to stop waiting to be picked and finally choose yourself -What it takes to build a platform -Why authors need to brand themselves (and how to do it) -Tips for freelancing, guest blogging, and getting published in magazines -Different ways to network with other writers, artists, and influencers -The importance of blogging and social media and how to use it well to find more readers and fans of your writing "You Are a Writer" will help you fall back in love with writing and build an audience who shares your love. It's about living the dream of a life dedicated to words. AND IT ALL BEGINS WITH YOU. Table of Contents Introduction Part 1: Writing You ARE a Writer: Claiming the Title Writers Write The Myth of Good It Gets Tough Part 2: Getting Read Three Tools Every Writer Needs You Need a Platform Your Brand is You Channels of Connection Part 3: Taking Action Getting Started Before Your First Book When the Pitching Ends What Next?

motivationandinspiration

Motivation & Inspiration

writing

Reading & Writing

books

Books

Becoming a writer begins with a simple but important belief: You are a writer; you just need to write. In You Are a Writer, Jeff Goins shares his own story of self-doubt and what it took for him to become a professional writer. He gives you practical steps to improve your writing, get published in magazines, and build a platform that puts you in charge.This book is about what it takes to be a writer in the 21st Century. You will learn the importance of passion and discipline and how to show up every day to do the work. Here's what else you will learn: -How to transition from wanting to be a writer to actually being one -What "good" writing is (and isn't) -How to stop waiting to be picked and finally choose yourself -What it takes to build a platform -Why authors need to brand themselves (and how to do it) -Tips for freelancing, guest blogging, and getting published in magazines -Different ways to network with other writers, artists, and influencers -The importance of blogging and social media and how to use it well to find more readers and fans of your writingYou Are a Writer will help you fall back in love with writing and build an audience who shares your love. It's about living the dream of a life dedicated to words.AND IT ALL BEGINS WITH YOU. Table of ContentsIntroductionPart 1: WritingYou ARE a Writer: Claiming the Title Writers Write The Myth of Good It Gets ToughPart 2: Getting ReadThree Tools Every Writer Needs You Need a Platform Your Brand is You Channels of ConnectionPart 3: Taking ActionGetting Started Before Your First Book When the Pitching Ends What Next?