Publishing & Platform

…If you or anyone has any advice for me related to how to get started in Christian non-fiction writing (publisher suggestions, writing suggestions, anything...), please share! I feel like now is the time to step out in faith and get started, somehow…

Haelie

Hi Haelie!

I love your question. I think you’re totally off to a great start by creating a blog. I say that because a blog is a great way to test out ideas and see whose needs your non-fiction can meet. The best way to do that is to ask yourself a couple of questions about what you want to accomplish:

First – Who do you want to reach?
Second – What are your qualifications and how can you grow them?

After you’ve determined your audience and its needs, you can begin blogging about those topics. (Incidentally, you may notice that your blog already runs along a particular theme.)

As you blog you can also think about magazines and other publications that reach the same demographic. For instance: I manage realteenfaith.com– so it’s a natural outflow for me to also write for Susie Magazine and similar outlets.

When you publish in various venues, you are building your publishing credits. This is something publishers love.

Of course, that isn’t the only way to get started with non-fiction. Excellent writing can overcome a lack of a platform with some publishers. But in this economy, almost all publishers want to see writers (especially non-fiction writers) growing a platform through social media, magazine articles, etc.

(Here’s my view on it: I am doing myself a favor by building an audience. I’m not doing it just to get a publisher’s interest – I’m doing it because I want my books and articles to reach as many people as they can for the glory of God.)

I'm looking forward to the other Scribble Chicks jumping in with advice about the other aspects of publishing you mentioned.

God bless you as you write for Him!

BJ
Editor, Real Teen Faith
www.realteenfaith.com