You Are What You Write: How to create your author brand and build your platform with publishing credits.

That dreaded word: platform. But platform isn’t just social media—it’s everything you put out into the world, including the short pieces you publish while you’re querying agents, finding your publisher, and waiting for your book to hit the shelves. Platform is making your name mean something to readers. In this Submitting 101 session, we’ll talk about the importance of publishing short stories and essays to build a portfolio of publishing credentials, create your author brand, find your ideal readers, establish a loyal fan base, and shape your platform as a writer. We’ll learn how to research markets, how to submit your work, and how to distinguish yourself in an already crowded marketplace.

Please join me at the Central Coast Writers Conference on Saturday, September 27th, for this session on submitting short stories and essays to literary journals to build your writing resume, your author brand, and your platform.  Time TBA. For details about the conference and to register, visit cuesta.edu/communityprograms/writers-conference/.