Your Author Platform Should Feel Like Home
How to let go of the pressure.
We heard from a writer recently who felt stressed because she “felt pressure” build a platform while trying to write her book.
Sound familiar?
If you've ever felt like building your "author platform" requires you to be performative, then this message is especially for you.
The Weight of "Should"
The online writing world is full of shoulds, isn't it? You should be posting daily. You should have a content calendar. You should be building your email list. You should be networking strategically.
And while some of these things can be helpful tools, when they become the driving force behind your platform, something essential gets lost: you.
The pressure to "build a platform" has become so intense that many writers we work with feel like they're constantly on stage, performing a version of themselves that they think will be more marketable, more likeable, more successful.
Your readers don't want a performance. They want connection. They want to feel less alone in their own creative journey. They want to discover that someone else struggles with the same blank page, celebrates the same small victories, and asks the same big questions about art and life.
A Different Way to Think About It
What if we stopped calling it "building a platform" altogether?
What if instead, we thought of it as finding your creative community?
Because that's really what it is, isn't it? You're not trying to build a stage to perform on. You're trying to find the people who care about the same stories you care about. You're looking for readers who will resonate with your story message. You're seeking out fellow writers who know what it feels like to have a character surprise you, or to finally crack a plot problem that's been nagging you for months.
When we reframe it this way to writers we work with, we can literally see their shoulders relax. The energy shifts from "I have to" to "I get to."
What This Looks Like in Practice
Building community instead of building a platform changes everything about how you show up online:
Instead of posting because you have to fill your content calendar, you share because something genuinely excited, moved, or challenged you, and you want to explore it with others who might feel the same way.
Instead of crafting the "perfect" post to maximize engagement, you write something real and honest, trusting that the right people will respond to authenticity.
Instead of networking strategically, you genuinely support other writers whose work resonates with you, celebrating their wins and offering encouragement during their struggles.
Instead of trying to build an audience to sell to, you focus on building relationships with people who truly connect with your work and your journey.
When you stop trying so hard to build a platform, you often end up with something much more valuable: a genuine community of people who are genuinely invested in your success.
Small Steps, Big Shifts
If this resonates but you're not sure where to start, here are some gentle ways to begin:
Share your real writing life. Not just the polished final products, but the messy middle. The book that's changing how you think. The writing session that didn't go as planned. The small breakthrough that made your day.
Ask questions you're genuinely curious about. What themes keep showing up in your work? What writing advice do you wish you'd received earlier? What books have shaped you as a person, not just as a writer?
Respond to others with genuine interest, not just to get noticed. When someone shares something that moves you, tell them. When another writer is struggling with something you've faced, offer real support.
Choose depth over breadth. Rather than trying to be everywhere at once, pick one platform where you feel most comfortable and focus on building real connections there.
You Don't Have to Do This Alone
We know that even with this gentler approach, putting yourself out there as a writer can feel vulnerable and overwhelming. That's completely normal, and it's exactly why having support makes such a difference.
If you're ready to start building your creative community but want guidance that honors both your authentic voice and your writing goals, We'd love to talk with you. 📚Book a free exploratory call here, and let's explore how to grow your audience one authentic step at a time.