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The Steve Laube Agency

Helping to Change the World…Word by Word

The Steve Laube Agency

The Steve Laube Agency

Helping to Change the World Word by Word

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Home » Platform

Platform

I Have No Book. What Do I Talk About?

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon October 29, 2025
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Many authors feel stymied by the dilemma of not having anything to talk about to build a platform and interest in a book that isn’t under contract. Yet as wordsmiths, authors can create entertaining and meaningful content to find a tribe. To wit:

  1. Talk about other people’s books. What are you reading? Why? What did you like about the book? Why is this one of your favorite authors? Author interviews are also fun.
  2. Show us pictures of your office pet. Who doesn’t love seeing a cute pet, or even a cantankerous pet?
  3. Where have you traveled lately? Photos posted after you have returned from a lovely trip, even if you traveled only a few miles from your house, always provide great visuals.
  4. How is your book coming along? What is a struggle for you? What gives you joy? Have your characters gotten from Point A to Point B today, as planned?
  5. What gives you joy? Cheerful posts to make others smile should keep them interested.
  6. Bible verses that inspire you. Ask your readers to post their favorites too.
  7. Discouragements, Disappointments, and Difficulties. Within reason. Discovering that authors don’t always live in a fantasy world helps readers relate to you.
  8. Your book. Why are you writing this book? What do you hope readers will love about your work, once it’s published?
  9. Your publishing journey. Share the ups and downs in an uplifting way.

These are only a few ideas. The goal is to provide content your potential readers will enjoy. Let them know you care about them, and make your visit to their IN box worth their time.

To brainstorm more, sign up for author newsletters. What do they say and share that appeals to you?

I hope our blog readers will share ideas too.

 

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Category: Branding, Marketing, Platform

Platform Now, Agents Later

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon September 17, 2025
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Many authors, understandably, seek to discover if there’s enough interest in their work for them to toil to build a platform. If there is no interest in Devotionals for Grasshopper Farmers Who Crochet, then why go to the trouble and expense? One, if you discover on your own that exactly fourteen people will buy your devotional, and ten of them are your mother and her friends, that’s a good thing. …

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Category: Platform

Too Early for an Agent?

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon August 20, 2025
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In speaking with authors and receiving proposals, I often learn that authors WILL: Establish a website Find endorsers Start a newsletter Start a blog Line up speaking engagements Hop on social media These plans are great. Unfortunately, they are plans. They are not what is already in place to show a publisher how the author will be a partner in selling the book. We prefer to: Visit an author …

Read moreToo Early for an Agent?
Category: Marketing, Platform, The Writing Life

Why Should I Follow Your Guidelines?

By Steve Laubeon July 21, 2025
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Believe it or not, we once had someone write and say that forcing an author to follow our guidelines when submitting a proposal is the height of arrogance. An artist should be allowed artistic freedom of expression, and cramming ideas into a preprescribed format is squelching that creativity. While I understand the frustration and the amount of work involved in creating a proposal, there are …

Read moreWhy Should I Follow Your Guidelines?
Category: Book Proposals, Get Published, Marketing, PlatformTag: book proposals, Get Published, Guidelines

Publishing Without a Platform

By Dan Balowon May 22, 2025
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I spent much of my early career in publishing, working with authors and publishers to market their books. It didn’t take long to experience the number one complaint of all authors working with all publishers: The marketing department didn’t do enough. And even when we did a good job, once the book launched and the initial marketing plan completed, the author and book were abandoned to sail across …

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Category: Platform

How Do You Know What Will (or Will Not) Sell?

By Steve Laubeon February 24, 2025
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There is a mysterious magic embedded in the mythos of the publishing industry: the ability to pick successful books. I was recently asked, “You say ‘no’ so often, how do you know when to say ‘yes?’” I wish I could claim that every agent and publisher have a secret formula we consult to know what will sell. Ask any group of us for that secret and we will all laugh because there is no “secret.” We …

Read moreHow Do You Know What Will (or Will Not) Sell?
Category: Book Business, Book Proposals, Branding, Career, PlatformTag: Agents, book proposals, Career, Pitching, What Sells, Writers

What’s the Magic Number for Platform?

By Bob Hostetleron February 5, 2025
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I get asked this question a lot at writers conferences, in webinars, and even in line at Dunkin’ Donuts (to be fair, I buy a lot of donuts). It was posed this way in an email from someone I’d met at a writers conference: “At what point is a platform attractive [to publishers]? 10K, 20K, 50K or more?” Simply speaking, writers want to know “What’s the number?” To which I routinely (and sagely) …

Read moreWhat’s the Magic Number for Platform?
Category: Platform

New Book Proposal Course

By Steve Laubeon August 12, 2024
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I have some exciting news to share! The Christian Writers Institute has released an all-new edition of my “Elements of an Effective Book Proposal” course. Completely revised and expanded to provide even more value and insight. Why This Course Matters I have long taught that writing a book proposal is one of the most critical steps in securing a publishing deal. Whether you’re a …

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Category: Book Business, Book Proposals, Career, Get Published, Pitching, Platform, The Publishing Life, The Writing Life, Writing Craft

The Power of a Referral

By Steve Laubeon July 22, 2024
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It was recently pointed out that a number of agencies will not accept unsolicited proposals. Instead they state, in their guidelines, that they only take proposals via referrals or from meeting someone at a writers conference. Our agency continues to keep the doors open to any and all who send material following our guidelines. It can be a challenge to read all the incoming proposals, but I prefer …

Read moreThe Power of a Referral
Category: Book Business, Career, Marketing, Pitching, PlatformTag: Agents, Referrals

What About Affinity Groups?

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon June 27, 2024
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When showing author platform, many writers talk about affinity groups. That is, hobbyists, organization members, and people in a particular stage of life who might buy the book. For instance, an author may say that her devotional book titled Single Parents Who Fly Kites will appeal to: 1. Kite flyers 2. Single parents 3. People who work in kite factories 4. People who love windy days 5. Members of …

Read moreWhat About Affinity Groups?
Category: Book Proposals, Marketing, Pitching, Platform
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