The world of modern publishing has changed. Gone are the days when writers can write a book, submit a manuscript and sit back and wait for the cash. Today, changes in technology and publishing ethos mean that writers need to be proactive in their approach to writing, publishing and promoting. I have already written about the idea of a Proactive Writer here. In essence I suggested that a successful modern writer demonstrates four traits:

• They produce remarkable work,
• They have an active and persistent online presence,
• They embrace technology,
• They participate.

So what do I mean by an active and persistent online presence?

This is the idea that a writer must build an online platform. The concept is now well established and involves a web or hub approach.

The first step is to build a central point to which traffic is ultimately directed. My recommendation is to use an advanced blogging platform such as Wordpress. This will allow you to not only run a decent blog, but also create static web pages to give details of you as a writer and also your work.

The second step is to create spokes to your web. This is a process of creating a presence on a number of social media channels. The theory is that as potential readers come across you at these outlying sites and, because they like what you are saying/doing, they will find their way back to your hub site. Here they will discover your writing and hopefully, since you are producing remarkable work, become a fan.

Examples of spokes to your web include twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Stumble Upon, Delicious, Friend Feed, LinkedIn, but the list is almost endless.

The key is that at each of these spokes you do three things:

• You add value: Only by offering value to a reader will they have the inclination to seek out further information about you as a writer. How this value is given can vary greatly. It could be as simple as a link to a great site or as complex as a free chapter of your book.
• You are active: It is important you pick channels on which you can contribute. It is far better to have a strong active presence on say facebook and twitter, than it is to have a weak presence on five or six channels.
• You are persistent: It can take months or even years to build a large enough presence to make your efforts worthwhile. It is essential that you pick channels on which you can flourish and remain persistent in your efforts.

The ultimate goal is to create a wide internet web that will capture and channel potential readers to your central hub. Here, your remarkable content will be recognised and, overtime, a fan created.

Thoughts?

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