Pitching a Platform: The Experiment

Submissions to literary mags can involve lots of rules, lots of waiting, and lots of rejection. Writers send their bright jewels of stories into the void to live or die on their literary merits, or on the hope that they’ll align with the magazine’s aesthetic.But what if there’s a way to spice things up? What if we told them how we’ll help sell copies, so that we’re pitching not just our stories but also our platforms, connections, and willingness to pay for ads?With nonfiction, if your platform is relevant to your piece’s content, it’s good to mention it. But with fiction, the consensus seems to be that literary mags evaluate submissions based on merit alone. It’s the quality of your writing that matters, not your reach or your marketing skills.In this bold new experiment, Gifted Underachiever James is willing to risk his literary reputation to find out if that’s true.Questions for Listeners:* Would you ever pitch your platform to a literary mag?* Or does it cheapen the whole affair?* Are there parallel situations in other creative fields?Buy us a Coffee and Win a BookHere in the GU Clubhouse, we’ve gleaned and gathered incredible wisdom from our creative guests, whom we fondly call the Gifted Achievers. We’re putting this wisdom into a series of handy guides so listeners can study how to make a good living doing what you love. Click the coffee cup below and you’re on the list! The first 20 coffee angels will get a free guide!For Further Exploration:Author platform requirements by genre.Editor Matthew Fox talks about how to submit to literary mags: Want to Show Your Support for the Gifted Underachievers?Visit the Gifted Underachiever Merch ShopWe have T-shirts, notebooks, hats, fridge magnets, mugs, and more. (Note: We’re working on getting free or low shipping in all countries!)If you’re not already a subscriber, we’d love to have you in the GU Clubhouse. Always free, no spam, unsubscribe any time.Thanks for listening to Gifted Underachievers! This post is public so feel free to share it. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit giftedunderachievers.substack.com