Building an Author Platform Without Going Broke (or Losing Your Soul)

So, you’ve written a book—or you’re writing one—and now everyone’s shouting:

“Start Building an Author Platform!”

“Grow your audience!”

“Get 10k followers, or no one will take you seriously!”

Coolcoolcool. And by cool, I mean: what the hell does that even mean?

Let’s break it down. Because I’m here now, screaming into the Instagram void, posting moody pictures of coffee and keyboard keys, wondering why no one cares that I’m bleeding my soul into a Google Doc every night.

AI-Generated moody picture of coffee and keyboard keys... Since that's what we do.

What Is an Author Platform, Really?

It’s not just follower count. It’s not blue checkmarks or viral videos.

An author platform is:

• Visibility (can people find you?)

• Credibility (do they trust what you’re saying?)

• Connection (are they sticking around?)

You can have 300 followers and still have a solid platform. You can also have 30,000 and be screaming into an empty room. Engagement > ego metrics. Every time.

Do You Need a Platform to Get Published?

Short answer: yes.

Longer answer: you don’t need to be famous, but agents and publishers want to see that you’re invested. That you understand how books are sold in 2025 (hint: it’s not just bookstore displays and New York Times reviews anymore).

And if you’re self-publishing? Your platform is your marketing team. You’re the buzz. You’re the launch party. You’re the one-person hype machine.

But let’s not panic. You don’t have to sell your soul—or your life savings—to make it happen.

Low-Cost, Low-Burnout Ways to Build Your Platform

Here’s what’s worked for me so far (and what hasn’t):

1. Be Somewhere Online

Pick one or two platforms you actually like. Hate TikTok? Don’t force it. Love writing long captions? Instagram or Substack might be your jam. Just don’t try to be everywhere—it’s a fast path to burnout and bland content.

2. Start a Newsletter (Even if It’s Tiny)

Your email list is yours. Algorithms can’t throttle it. Start with friends, fellow writers, and that one cousin who likes everything you post. Share updates, behind-the-scenes, maybe even early access to chapters. Sign up for mine! :)

3. Be a Human, Not a Billboard

Talk about your writing process. Your doubts. Your coffee addiction. Readers connect with people, not book covers. No one wants to follow an ad. Be messy, be honest, be you.

4. Engage in Communities You Actually Care About

Writers supporting writers is a real thing. Join a Facebook group, hang on Threads, comment on other authors’ posts. Don’t fake it—people can smell desperation through the screen. But when it’s real? That support boomerangs back.

5. Stop Waiting for “Big Enough”

Share your work. Now. Before it’s “perfect.” Before you hit 1k followers. Before your website is done. Build with your audience—not for them. You don’t need permission to be seen.

What’s Not Worth It (IMO):

• Paying for followers. Just…no.

• Spamming your link everywhere. That’s how you get blocked.

• Pretending to be a “brand.” You’re not a soda company. You’re a writer. Own it.

My Platform Right Now? Still Growing.

I’m building this brick by brick. Blog post by blog post. With each comment, DM, or share, it grows. Not fast. But real.

I’m not here to go viral—I’m here to connect. And if you’re reading this? You’re part of it already.

Next time? We’re not talking marketing. We’re talking anxiety.

Because here’s the truth: when you’re self-publishing, you are the whole damn team. Every decision, every typo, every review—your name’s on it. And if you’re like me, an overthinker with a perfectionist streak and a mild fear of public failure (okay, not that mild)… letting go of a manuscript feels like walking naked into traffic.

What if it flops? What if every review is one star? What if I missed something obvious, and now it’s printed forever?

Yeah. We’re going there.

Until then—write bravely, show up awkwardly, and don’t be afraid to write weird shit.

— Rufus