Focus on the stuff you’re on all of those other platforms promoting. Write it first, and write it most.
We hear it all the time: “There has never been a better time to be a writer.”
The digital world has provided us with more opportunities to write and to get our stories into the world more than any other writer in the history of storytelling (so, like, forever) has ever had.
We can reach more people with our stories. More of us are making good livings with our writing. We have a bunch more options than writers even a decade ago. Want to publish a book? Do it. There’s no one left to tell us that we can’t.
It is true. There has never been a better time to be a writer. I know it, and I’m incredibly grateful for these opportunities.
But there’s a catch.
We have so, so, so many options.
Now, this isn’t something to complain about. Quite the opposite.
We’ve got dozens of choices as to where to publish our books and how to promote them. We can write blogs, books, short stories, epic novel series, novellas. We can submit to agents and traditional publishers, or publish everything ourselves. We can podcast. We can get into dozens of social media channels and connect with readers everywhere, anytime. We can do video blogs. Book trailers. Turn our stories into multi-media extravaganzas.
And there are hundreds (more!) people in the world right now suggesting we do all these things and giving us incredibly valuable information as to how we can do them.
All of them. At the same time.
There’s the rub.
The ease of access to information and so many great options for what and how to write often leads us to write (or otherwise focus on) the wrong things.
Writers are meant to be everything, all things to all people. Or at least that’s what it seems like if you stop and listen to even a fraction of the advice for writers on offer every second.
Writers have to do social media, get the online platform happening, maybe a blog, or a Patreon, Substack, buy ads, do courses, go to in person events, join critique groups, make videos, make a podcast.
And it is good advice. It’s all valuable stuff.
But when are we meant to write books and tell stories?
With all of the options that make this the best time to be a writer, it’s easy to forget, as writers, that we’re in this game to be telling stories.
Not blogging or Substacking (that’s a verb, right?). Writing books. Not “doing” social media. Writing. Not podcasting. Writing.
The options are overwhelming, and a lot of writers, or would-be writers, assume it’s all mandatory.
Or at the very least, writers know they have the choices, but which option is best?
Okay, before you start sending me angry emails (just another thing to write, right?), let me qualify…
I love blogging. I listen to writers’ podcasts, watch videos, take courses, attend events, all the time. I enjoy connecting with readers and other authors. I love it!
This ancillary content is amazing. For so many authors it’s key to their author platform. For so many up-and-coming authors, this content is a beautifully generous resource.
But it doesn’t mean anything without the books to back it up.
Stories are the only thing we do actually need.
(Note: We’re not just talking fiction stories and books here. Even nonfiction writers tell stories.)
Having a website is a good idea just to let your readers know what you’ve written and how they can contact you. But that doesn’t need to be a blog or a lengthy weekly newsletter. No, you don’t need to do a podcast. No, you don’t need to have a Facebook page or spend hours on social media every day “connecting”.
What you need to do is write stories.
Put those stories out in the world in whatever way is best for you. And do it again.
Once you’ve got that ball rolling, then think about the other stuff.
Focus on the stuff you’re on all of those other platforms promoting. Write it first, and write it most.
Everything else is an option and should be treated as such.
Do you want to Substack or podcast?
Great! Do it! Love it!
But do that after you’ve finished your book.
Write more books.
The books that YOU want to write.
And then write another one.
Do the rest of the stuff in between.
Write more books.
Publish.
Do it again.
Let’s go write books. After all, there has never been a better time to be a writer.
