Time for work, time for dinner, time to fold the laundry.
Finally, time to write.
When you have to make a choice
about how to spend your writing time,
choose your book first.
~ Stephanie Bane in “‘Platforms’ Are Overrated”
Thanks for sharing this, Christi. I sort of figured out the “platform” issues about two years ago when I had an a-ha moment that for a fiction writer, fiction is the platform.
Despite turning my goals to focus on the fiction, I’m periodically drawn to “the secret tips for book marketing(!)”, so it’s nice to read a blunt opinion on the subject to keep me on track. 🙂
Cathryn,
I’m still figuring out the platform issue. Or, maybe just fighting with that issue. Not that long ago, I taught a workshop on blogging and social networking for writers. There’s so much information out there encouraging (sometimes pushing) writers to go online. So when I read this essay, I thought, Ok. Balance. And then I thought, No. I am a procrastinator with platform. That essay, especially that quote, has stayed with me.
PS. This essay will definitely make it into the workshop if/when I teach it again.
Yes, balance … a lifelong pursuit!