The Difference Between Your “Current Platform” and “Future Platform”

​Ah, platform. It’s that dirty word writers hate. It appeared a dozen years ago like a bad dream — a word publishing bigwigs used to describe a writer’s ability to sell their own work through a writer’s social media, networking and visibility. The bigwigs made it clear: Writers  have to write books and be the main marketing force behind them.

​Let’s be clear: If you’re a fiction writer, you want a platform. If you’re a nonfiction writer, you need a platform. In fact, if you’re writing nonfiction and you don’t have at least a modest platform, literary agents and editors probably won’t even consider your book idea, no matter how good it may be. If you can’t sell your own book, they ain’t interested in your pitch. So let's discuss some thoughts on “current platform” vs. “future platform.”

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Building a platform is difficult and takes time. But some good news, in my opinion, is that if you get off to a solid start, you can use realistic, down-to-earth predictions when pitching your book regarding where you will be in the future. After all, your book won’t get published for a year and a half or two years. Surely by that time your platform will have continued to grow — so feel free to mention where you think you’ll be.​ Building a platform is difficult and takes time. But some good news, in my opinion, is that if you get off to a solid start, you can use realistic, down-to-earth predictions when pitching your book regarding where you will be in the future. After all, your book won’t get published for a year and a half to two years. By that time your platform will have continued to grow — so feel free to mention where you think you’ll be.

ELEMENTS OF A PLATFORM
Off the top of my head, here are some elements that contribute to a writer’s platform:

• A successful blog
• A successful newsletter
• Article or column writing with bylines
• Contributing to large publications/blogs/etc.
• Networking and who you know
• Public speaking, such as presenting at writers conferences and retreats
• Social media (Instagram, Facebook, etc.)
• Organization membership
• Media appearances and interviews

A publisher will want to hear about all these things if you’re pitching a nonfiction book. These are your weapons in pitching to a publisher and selling your book to readers.

YOUR “FUTURE PLATFORM”

When writing a nonfiction book proposal, you will be examining all of the above elements and listing the weapons at your disposal. After that section is done, feel free to include some quick notes on where you think your platform will be in one-and-a-half to two years. This is your “future platform.”

For example: How many subscribers does your newsletter have? Perhaps 7,500? But what was that number three months ago? Six months ago? A year? Discover those numbers and chart its monthly growth rate. After you do that, your nonfiction proposal can include the line: “My newsletter, (Name), currently has 7,500 subscribers, and is growing at a rate of 7% a month. By 2026, even using a more conservative growth rate, subscribers are projected at 10,000+.”

Another example: “In 2024, the author presented on (topic/specialty) to two trade conferences: (conference name and other conference name). He/she is already contracted to present at least three events in 2025, with more invitations expected. In 2026. The goal is six to ten major speaking appearances at industry events, with audience numbers ranging from (number) to (number).”

The catch regarding all this is: Do not bullshit a literary agent or editor. If you bullshit us, we see through it immediately, and discussing your future platform unrealistically will actually work against you. When uncertain, err on the conservative side with numbers. Even a conservative growth in social media figures or public speaking appearances will aid your pitch. 

Last important note: Your current book promotion ability (your current platform) is all that you are able to do right now. Your future platform is a realistic prediction as to your platform growth in the next few years. Note that in neither definition do I want you to discuss what you are willing to do. By that, I mean: “I would be willing to do radio interviews in support of my book. I would be willing to discuss a book tour. I would be willing to be interviewed by Howard Stern.” All those possibilities are hypothetical, pie-in-the-sky scenarios that you cannot make happen. When discussing your platform, only discuss what you are able to do. If you cannot make it happen for certain, do not discuss it. 

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This post by Chuck Sambuchino, freelance editor and lead director of Writing Day Workshops. Chuck is a former longtime staffer with Writer's Digest, editing the Guide to Literary Agents. He is the author of the writing guide CREATE YOUR WRITER PLATFORM as well as the bestselling humor book HOW TO SURVIVE A GARDEN GNOME ATTACK. His most recent books are all about pickleball -- daily tear-off calendars as well as the picture book GOODNIGHT, PICKLEBALL. He is a proud #GirlDad, movie geek, and guitar/piano player. Connect with him through WDW's Instagram and Twitter,

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