Get Known Before The Book Deal: Use Your Personal Strengths to Grow an Author Platform

by Christina Katz

Provides a practical guide to self-promotion and self-marketing for aspiring authors that explains how to take advantage of inexpensive strategies and free tools to take charge of one's writing career; partner with agents, editors, and publishers; develop a readership; increase the odds of a book deal; and enhance one's book sales. Original.

Genres: Writing, Nonfiction, Business

263 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2008

About the author

Christina Katz is the author of three books from Writer’s Digest: The Writer’s Workout, Get Known Before the Book Deal, and Writer Mama. Her writing career tips and parenting advice appear regularly in national, regional, and online publications. A “gentle taskmaster” over the past decade to hundreds of writers, Christina’s students go from unpublished to published, build professional writing career skills, and increase their creative confidence over time. She holds an MFA in creative writing from Columbia College Chicago and a BA in English from Dartmouth College. A popular speaker on creative career growth, Christina presents for writing conferences, literary events, MFA writing programs, and libraries. She is the creator and host of the Northwest Author Series in Wilsonville, Oregon, where she lives with her husband, her daughter, and far too many pets. Learn more at ChristinaKatz.com.

Reviews

[A.L. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Christina Katz has packed A LOT into this book. Any aspiring author, almost author, or new author will benefit from her insights on how to create and grow a writing platform.

I was especially impressed with part one, in which she discusses how to discover your platform and what your first steps should be to make it unique and natural to you. Every writer should read at least this section if they're serious about having a career in publishing.

I was also amazed at the range of topics she covers: email signatures, taglines, mission statements, head shots, blogging pros and cons, blogging ideas, audience identification and selection, web-site design, style, etc. etc. This breadth of topics makes this paperback a strong reference resource. I'll be referring to it time and again, I'm sure.

Highly recommended for wannabe and newbie authors.

[April Hamilton · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a terrific book for any author or aspiring author, whether you're just getting started with platform or consider yourself fairly knowledgeable on the topic. I'm an author with four books in print who is active with social media, I have two blogs and four websites, and there were still some new ideas and tips for me in this very accessible book.

Author Christina Katz demystifies author platform. She not only defines the term, but goes on to separate the hype from the realities in clear, plain-spoken chapters which provide authors and aspiring authors with the ideas and tools they need to start or grow a platform. Katz addresses both the hows and the whys, making it easy for the reader to prioritize his or her own platform goals. And this is not merely a conceptual book, it's filled with practical advice and tips the reader can immediately put to use.

I especially like the way Katz addresses common author/aspiring author fears and insecurities which can undermine effective platform work. Unlike so many books and articles I've read on the subject, this one doesn't assume the reader is already a tech whiz. Katz guides the reader, gently but firmly, through the process of identifying strengths and weaknesses, then explains how to capitalize on strengths and avoid allowing weaknesses to dominate. I also like the author's tone, which is very casual and friendly; you really feel like Katz is right there with you as you read.

[Mindi Ramsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Are you seeking to grow your fiction or non-fiction platform as an aspiring author. From the first to last page of this book, Christina shepherds the newbie through the maze of social media, networking, blogging, and self-promotion. Whether you are a shy introvert or a raucous extrovert, you will find methods to employ your strategy for writing promotion. Struggling to find your niche? This is THE book for you!

The book is divided into three parts: Platform Ready, Platform Set, and Platform Grow. If you are a beginner, start with Part One. If you have already established a blog and social media presence, skim Part One while delving deeply into Part Two. If you are ready to push your limits, use the tips in Part Three to catapult your presence from mediocre to stellar.

Personally, I have used this book as a textbook. Each chapter provides exercises to accomplish, which build upon each other - a solid foundational approach. Working my way through this book has allowed me to discover my writing niche platform. For several months, I had wrestled with my focus. Now, I have a goal, a purpose, a reason to write.

P.S. - Most libraries carry this edition, if you are a cheapskate, like me. hee...hee.

[T.L. Cooper · Rating 3 out of 5]

Get Known Before the Book Deal by Christina Katz focuses on building a platform to create a foundation for a successful writing career. Katz addresses reaching and building an audience not writing technique. She is quick to point out Get Known Before the Book Deal assumes the writer already knows how to write well and works on improving craft. Get Known Before the Book Deal is geared toward the beginning writer but more seasoned authors can also find helpful information. While primarily written with the nonfiction writer in mind, the fiction author can also learn much from the book but may find that parts of it don’t necessarily fit well into his/her plan. Get Known Before Before the Book Deal shows the author how to build/remodel a platform that will keep his/her name in front of the appropriate audience by informing, inspiring, and remaining professional. Katz approaches building a platform for building a successful writing career with an inviting, easy to understand, engaging writing style that simplifies the platform building and maintaining process with steps that are easy to implement, easy to understand, filled with common sense, and fun!

[Alice · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great book for anyone starting a new creative venture. Katz writes specifically for nonfiction writers, but her advice easily transfers to other creative fields. I found this book serendipitously, and did not have high expectations for it initially, but this is one of the best DIY marketing books I have read. I made copious notes as I read, highlighted many passages, and will go back and read this one again -- probably many times.

[Bill · Rating 4 out of 5]

I heard Christina speak at a writing conference and liked her overall approach and attitude. This book is a thoughtful and thorough study of what a writer's "platform" is and how to have one, even before you've sold your first book. I picked up several tips that I will start using to ramp up my platform presence and identity while I'm still toiling away at learning craft.

[Saritza · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have made this book required reading for all of my clients and recommend to any author trying to expand their reach and market. Difficult to grow as an author if your platform is muddy. This book will not only help you establish your platform, it will provide you with the tools you need to build the buzz around your book even before it hits the shelves! MUST BUY!

[Jaimie Engle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an incredible book for anyone who is considering or has published a book. For me personally, it was a great step-by-step process to figure out my platform and to confirm choices I had already made. Everything is covered, and even though it's written for a nonfiction audience, as a fiction writer I received tons of information!

[Chip Cook · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you simply must have a book-book in print and you aren't really known outside of your immediate circle, you would be very wise to buy Katz's book and wear it out.

This is marketing, straight forward marketing. So, guess what?

You don't have to be an aspiring author to benefit from her expertise. You don't even have to be a self-publisher or Kindle author. You could just be a person with a skill set or product to market, and you would still learn tons of important ideas and methods.

[pianogal · Rating 3 out of 5]

Parts of this were good, but most of it was for a nonfiction writer. Would be very helpful for them. Not so much for me.

[LowKeyAlert · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are starting out as a writer you should put some time aside for this one. Before you get carried away (sometimes no where) too far.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

What I love about all of Christina Katz books is that they are not just ideas and inspiration (but they are that too!) they are filled with actionable steps and clear detailed plans.

[Andrew Post · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was more geared towards (female) nonfiction and freelance writers, but there were still some useful tidbits in it.

[Erin Matson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little dated, but extremely practical and helpful.

[Rolf · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some useful info, but of all the authorial advice books I’ve read recently, this felt the least insightful and helpful overall.

[Rebekah DeVall · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's primarily for nonfiction authors, and some of the tips are dated (published in 2008) but overall the book has some good insights and to-do lists on platforms for authors.

[Melissa Miyoko · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you're a writer or even if you're just wanting to streamline and strengthen your platforms, this book is so practical and succinct, it needs to be on your shelf.

The chapters are clearly laid out and at the end of each, Christina asks thought-provoking questions to help you ponder and come up with an ever- narrowing focus for yourself. Each chapter builds upon the other, but you could easily skip around to the ones most applicable in your situation.

Are you wanting to start a blog? Go to chapter 33. Interested in other venues for getting your message out there? Chapter 16-24 will give you great ideas. From crafting your niche and finding your audience identity to tailoring a bio and getting a website up and running, Get Known Before the Book Deal by Christina Katz has you covered.

I'm currently working on my first blog and with Christina's help, tackling a website is next. I'm not a techie gal, but with Christina's help, the process has been much smoother than I expected. Empty space for a tagline? Oh, yeah, I already wrote that. What should I do with my "about" section? No problem, I've got that right here. I've already done a lot of the hard head work with Katz step by step through the chapters. Thank you, Christina Katz, you've helped me tremendously!

[Ross Lampert · Rating 3 out of 5]

You’re a member of “writer mama” Christina Katz’s target audience if you’re (1) a female (2) non-fiction writer who’s (3) looking to traditionally publish (4) in around 2010 and (5) have plenty of time on your hands. The fewer of those categories you fall into, however, the less this book is for you. So for me as a male, indie-published, fiction author with precious little spare time in the middle of 2015, this book had limited value.

That’s not to say Get Known is a bad book. It’s not.

Katz, whom I discovered through one of many writers’ blogs I used to have time to read, treats the topic of “platform”—the base on which you establish your credibility and from which you grow your list of followers and readers—quite thoroughly. Before the indie-publishing revolution hit, establishing your platform was particularly critical for non-fiction authors, male or female. It still is today for authors who want that “validation” of being accepted by an agent and then by a New York publishing house. And it can certainly separate from the herd the non-fiction author who wants to publish independently in a world where anyone can publish and many people do.

To be fair, three of the factors that limit Get Known’s value today are things whose impact Katz, like many other authors at the time, did not anticipate: the rise of indie-publishing, which was in its infancy when this book was published in 2008; social media, which was also just getting going in a serious way then; and web site development, which has become vastly easier since 2008. As a result, both indie publishing, which is a legitimate option, and social media, now an important component of platform, are mentioned only in passing. Katz’s suggestions regarding the technologies for building a web site are simply outdated.

Katz describes in detail all the ways an author can build her platform: through making connections, volunteering, teaching, guest speaking, hosting an event, publishing articles, and/or offering a service. She emphasizes—as she should—that authors should not try to do all of these things, especially not all at once, and that some will just be a bad fit of some people. Still, it’s more than a little overwhelming to have all of these things thrown at you. And the busier you are with the rest of your life, the more overwhelming it is to see that you’re supposed to do some of these things too. A discussion of prioritizing would have been welcome.

The decision whether to give this book a try should be based on how well you fit into Katz’s target audience and with the understanding that important parts of the book are now outdated. Unfortunately, there does not appear to be an ebook version that might be more up-to-date.

[Lynne Spreen · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a pre-debut writer of women’s fiction, I’ve spent a lot of time surfing around the web trying to learn everything I can about writing and platforming. I have two blogs, I interact with numerous social netting sites, and I participate in several writing associations. Not only do I think I might just be spinning my wheels, but it’s becoming increasingly hard to find time to actually write. It would be an understatement to say that I am overwhelmed.

Luckily, I found out about Christina Katz and her helpful book, “Get Known Before the Book Deal.” Lots of experts say that we should establish a platform for our writing before our first book is sold, but this book actually tells you what you can do and why. GKBTBD is full of ideas for establishing the essential platform for your writing, whether fiction or nonfiction.

For example, Katz has a whole chapter on how to identify your target market early in the process. Contrary to what you might think, this actually REDUCES your stress because you know who you’re writing for. I also learned some handy ways to find out what my target audience is interested in, and what they’re going to be obsessing over in the future. I love doing research and learning new things, so the websites Katz recommended (such as www.trendwatching.com) are brain candy and will contribute to a deeper, richer experience for me and my future readers.

I learned that platforming can be fun – I can’t wait to implement some of Katz’s creative ideas to enhance my two blogs (which I’ll probably merge into one and focus better!) And I learned that I don’t have to be everywhere at once, doing everything yesterday.

Reading “Get Known Before the Book Deal” is as helpful to your writing as eating right, getting enough sleep and exercising regularly – only it’s a lot more fun and you’ll see results sooner. I recommend it.

[Chris Blocker]

These non-fiction how-to books have become difficult for me to read, rate, and review. It shouldn’t be Get Known Before the Book Deal’s fault as it is merely “the straw that broke the camel’s back.” Many predecessors received more fair treatment than I want to give this book, so that being said I’m going easy on this one and speaking more on “How to” books in general.

The biggest issue with nearly all these sort of dastardly books is that they harp on one thing over and over and over and over and over again. They have a morsel of truth. They have that tidbit of worthwhile information. The author could make all their points on one page of text, possibly take five to ten more pages to expand what they said in this one page, and that’s it. There’s no need to repeat it forty-six times. No need to give examples of the same thing over and over. No need to repeat it forty-six times. You get the point.

Clearly some revelation dawns on the author and they feel they must share this knowledge. That’s great. But if it’s not enough knowledge to fill a book, please don’t waste my time; I can simply read the book description on the back cover and get the information I need.

Get Known Before the Book Deal is guilty of this. It also pretends to be all-encompassing but really is a book about Non-Fiction publication with the occasional hint for fiction writers. There are some good ideas in here, and it did get me thinking about my platform, but I would’ve rather spent my actually developing my platform. And had I just been given the gist of this book without reading it, I would’ve had time to do so.

[Ashlee Willis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Any writer who is starting out - or even any writer who has been published already - can use the amazing tips Christina Katz has in this book. I took copious notes the whole time! She goes into detail on a number of different aspects of beginning your writer platform - something, in this day and age, every writer hoping to become an author needs to have. And not only "after the book deal" - but BEFORE. Editors and agents are much more likely to take your determination as a writer seriously if they see that you have taken the time and effort to begin your own platform and gain a following - and that you KNOW who that following is. This book helps you firstly define your audience, and then goes on to explain the best way to cater to them, and get the word out. And everything before you get published! Definitely would recommend to any and every writer out there. And if you don't read the book, you should at the very least follow Christina's blog or sign up for her ezines. I just did that today :)

[Alexandria · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is packed with information and exercises that will help you build your platform. I actually found the information so useful that I went out and bought a copy on Amazon. Ever chapter left me wanting to put notes in the margins and I had initially picked this book up as a library book. You simply can't do that as a library book!

I would love to see an updated edition that covers newer social media like Twitter or Instagram, so if anyone has seen one please let me know!

Get Known Before the Book Deal is the perfect book for anyone who knows they're missing a key element to their author toolkit. Katz lays it out, almost step by step, and makes it easy for her readers to find the confidence they need to build their own platforms.

[Christa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once again, Christina Katz delivers with a book jam-packed with valuable information. It's a book that won't be gathering dust on my bookshelf as I frequently refer to it when I have a question (much like her book "Writer Mama"). I took her class Discover Your Platform, Launch Your Specialty that goes along with this book and found both extremely helpful and insightful as I start specializing in my writing career. She's a terrific coach and someone I've grown to trust when it comes to offering advice on advancing my career. She doesn't promise that you'll become an overnight sensation, but rather encourages a measured, realistic, and steady approach to success.

[Jean Oram · Rating 3 out of 5]

I couldn't decide whether to give this book a 3 or a 4. Some of the tips and ideas were great and really helped me out. And others didn't go deep enough to tell me anything new. For a newbie who is just thinking about building a platform, starting a website, etc., this will be a very good guide to get one started. Basically, it is a multi-chaptered book with lots of topics covered within a few pages. It would be tough to fit everything one needs to know in here--especially with publishing changing every five minutes. Anyway, if you are looking for a book to get you started, this is a good one. Worth the money!

[Tom M. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Writing your book isn't enough. Writing your query and sending it off to agents isn't enough. No, you need to have a built-in audience who publishers think will be willing to buy your book without the benefit of any publicity the publisher might be willing to send your way.

The author has her platform (and tells us about it, thus promoting her platform through her book) and she encourages her readership to create and develop their own. She gives concrete suggestions in a writing style that was just a bit too breezy and chick-lit "girlfriend"ish for me at times.

[Claudette Alexander · Rating 5 out of 5]

Before reading this book, I was green and clueless about building a platform. The book provided me with valuable information that I felt empowered to build a website.
The book offers a step-by-step approach to creating, growing and nurturing a platform in a clear and understanding manner.
With Christina's guidance you are able to dig deep inside yourself and realize personal strengths/skills you had forgotten or was not aware that you possess.
Buying this book was a good investment in myself.

[Michelle Connell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overwhelming with the amount of work suggested in this book for authors-to-be, but lots of ideas to choose from, depending on your personality, time available and size of your family. Most of these won't work for me until I can work/write full-time. I currently homeschool 3 of my 4 children, so I can't devote as much time to these ideas as are suggested. But for the person who can work/promote full-time, this is an awesome book.

[Kelly Lynn Thomas · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a bad book, but a bit out of date (no mention of social media at all). The foundational concepts of the book are still good--figure out the ground you want to stand on, articulate it, and then start promoting yourself. This is definitely geared more toward nonfiction writers, so fiction writers (like myself) might be left a little frustrated at the end, especially if you don't really want to write ABOUT fiction to establish your expertise as a writer OF fiction.

[Carrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent, excellent source for us aspiring writers! Christina Katz has filled her book with practical and very helpful information on platform-building. I felt excited, encouraged, and energized as I read it and am anxious to continue working through all the steps that she has given. This is a resource that will stay within reach as I work on my writing.

[Kara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Perhaps when I build my freelance writing career a little more, this book will be more applicable to me, and the rating will be revised to a "5" to match the others (Writer Mama, and The Writer's Workout). Christina Katz is an incredibly talented writer and gentle teacher, who honestly seems to have the aspiring writer's best interests in mind.