How to Build An Audience (NOT an Author Platform) for Your Writing
106#FantasyStorytelling #Audience #Writing
How to Build An Audience (NOT an Author Platform) for Your Writing
Part of my bigger series on How to Write and Produce Your Own Stories, this video tackles a critical question: "How do I build an audience for my writing?"
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WANT MORE? CHECK OUT JAY'S ONLINE COURSES:
- Fiction Writing: How to Find an Avid Audience as a Writer: https://masterclass.thepencilapp.com/courses/how-to-identify-your-target-market/
- Fiction Writing: How to Write a Concept that Sells (Coming Soon!)
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THE RECLAMATION SOCIETY'S ORIGINAL STORIES:
- Star Wars: Rivals: https://youtu.be/wrqWoTLRzCw
- DEATH OF A BOUNTY HUNTER: https://mailchi.mp/99c612968e83/dbh-q...
- TIMESLINGERS: bit.ly/TimeslingersKindle2
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TRANSCRIPT HIGHLIGHTS:
HOW TO BUILD AN AUDIENCE
A lot of writers talk about building an author platform—a place where an audience goes to find more information about or random musings from a writer they enjoy.
Because so many writers talk about building an author platform, many writers trust the misguided wisdom that: “if you build it, they will come.”
That’s not true or at best it’s highly unlikely.
There’s a better way to find and grow an audience. And it’s not building an author platform.
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The truth is, you need to FIND your audience and THEN build something that they love.
In the startup world it’s called Customer Development. As a writer, I call it Audience Development.
Let’s talk more about it as I give you an overview of Steve Blank’s 4 Steps to the Epiphany and how thinking like a tech startup founder can transform your writing.
WHAT MAKES 4 STEPS TO THE EPIPHANY SO REVOLUTIONARY?
In the courses I’m producing for writers who want to write and produce their own stories, I’ll cover the most important aspects of what’s in this book and how it applies to writers.
I still highly recommend you pick up a copy, but the program breaks down the essentials.
Fair warning, it looks like a boring textbook, and it’s written for entrepreneurs, so it has a ton of business jargon in it.
BUT, if you’re a writer AND a producer, you’re running a small business. You’re the owner and your stories are your products. And if you want to run your business like a professional, definitely pick up a copy of this book (or sign up for my program).
IF 4 STEPS TO THE EPIPHANY ISN’T FOR WRITERS… WHAT WISDOM IS EMBEDDED IN IT THAT WRITERS AND PRODUCERS NEED?
Here’s the first thing beginner and intermediate writers get wrong about writing and producing a story: They believe they’re writing for the mass market. But, unless you’re a celebrity, that’s not accurate.
As Steve Blank says in this book: You’re making a product—or a story—to meet the needs of a few, NOT the needs of the many.
Writers need an avid, engaged audience. When you’re looking to find that audience, you’re NOT looking for mass market appeal, you’re looking for a niche.
Wait. Don’t we want millions of book sales? Why would we limit our audience like that?
Because niche markets often have unmet needs or wants. The mass market has lots of options and may not be willing to take a risk on a writer or a story who they don’t recognize. Niche markets don’t have as many options. They crave specific kinds of stories and genres, but there aren’t many options available.
YOU can step in to meet that need.
Even if your book or short film COULD find mass appeal, you still need to think about that core, avid audience who needs something only YOU can provide them. If they love it, and they think others will love it, then you may reach a bigger audience through word-of-mouth.
In the startup/entrepreneurship world, Steve Blank calls this process CUSTOMER DEVELOPMENT. I’ve tweaked Steve’s process, applying it specifically to writers who want to produce their own stories. I call it: AUDIENCE DEVELOPMENT.
The first step of Audience Development is defining your audience. If you’re watching this in the context of my program, then this is what you’re about to start doing. If not, it’s something you NEED to do.
And the very first thing you need to do to define your audience is: START with YOU.
What are the traits, characteristics, interests, and perspectives that differentiate YOU as a writer? How do those work their way into your stories? What makes you… YOU?
Whatever differentiates you probably makes others interested in what you’re writing. You’re probably not alone in your needs, wants, desires, and interests. There are others out there who want to engage in your stories because they love your perspective and can’t get it anywhere else.
THIS PROCESS ISN’T EASY, BUT IT’S NOT IMPOSSIBLE. IT JUST TAKES WORK.
That’s why I’m applying this type of thinking to writing and producing stories. I want to provide you with a practical approach to finding your audience.
If you’re a beginner or intermediate writer looking to write and publish your own fiction, then you’re a businessperson.