Is It Time to Build an Author Platform?

If the phrase “author platform” makes you want to close your laptop and disappear into the woods, you’re not alone. For many writers, the idea of putting yourself out there in the digital world can feel overwhelming, confusing, or even a little cringey.

But at some point, usually after a solid draft is in hand, the question arises: Is it time to build an author platform? 

It’s a question worth approaching with honesty. What often helps is a more grounded way to think about platforms. One that focuses less on hype and more on connection.

First, What Is an Author Platform, Really?

Your author platform is simply the way readers, agents, and editors can find you. It includes things like your website, your newsletter, your social media presence, and anywhere your name and your writing appear online.

It’s not about being famous. It’s about being findable.

Think of it this way: if someone reads something you wrote, likes it, and decides to search your name, you want them to land somewhere that says, yes, this person is a writer, and by the way they have a book coming soon. 

A good author platform also gives them a way to connect, either by signing up for your newsletter or following you on social media. 

Start Small: One Place to Land

You don’t need everything all at once. A simple, elegant website, a newsletter, multiple social media accounts… it can be a lot. And honestly, most of it isn’t urgent.

What is helpful is having just one clean, professional-looking place online where people can learn a bit about you and follow your journey.

For most writers, that looks like this:

• A simple website (even just one page) with your name, a short bio, and a contact form.
• A sign-up form for your newsletter (even if you only email a few times a year).
• One social media account where you show up occasionally with your writer hat on.

That’s all you really need to start.

When Should You Build an Author Platform?

In a word: now. Don’t wait until your book is finished to start building an author platform. Don’t even wait until you’re revising. The earlier you begin, the better.

And don’t be discouraged if your audience is small to start. It should be. I mean, imagine if you knew that 20,000 people would read your first blog post. How terrifying would that be? In truth, only a few people will probably read your first blog post, and that’s a good thing. 

Building a platform early gives you time to ease into it – no pressure, no rush. It allows you to show up gradually, to experiment, and to find what feels natural. 

A simple website, a short bio, a place for readers or editors to land when they look you up.

That presence matters. Not because you need to be everywhere, but because being findable opens doors. It also says to agents and publishers that you’re able and willing to be an active participant in promoting your work when the time comes. It invites connection. It helps your writing have a life beyond the page.

You’re Allowed to Learn As You Go

No one launches their platform fully formed. You’re going to figure it out in steps. You might change your handle. You will update your bio from time to time. You may find you want to switch newsletter platforms.

That’s all okay.

Think of your author platform as something that evolves alongside your writing career. What matters most is that it exists and that readers and industry folks can find you, see what you write, and follow along.

And when your book comes out? You’ll be so glad you started.

Build It Your Way

If the whole idea still feels murky, or you’re unsure what actually matters versus what the internet insists you “should” be doing, that’s exactly why I created Path to Publication. Inside the program, I support you through the full arc of starting your writing career, from shaping the manuscript to preparing for publication, with clear guidance, steady accountability, and decisions that actually match your goals.

We cover author platforms as one piece of a much bigger process. We also work on craft and revision, structure and momentum, submission strategy, and the mindset support that keeps you moving when doubt creeps in. The point is not to turn you into a brand. It’s to help you become publication-ready in a way that feels calm, intentional, and sustainable.

Writing careers are built piece by piece. Quietly. Intentionally. One thoughtful step at a time.