How do I Build a Platform? (without wood)

Have a book published.

Visit other people's blog, comment on what you like on their blogs, offer to give guest posts for them and begin thinking about self-publishing your work.

Hope this helps,

Ethan

A "platform" is not running around online like a weasel on speed. A "platform" is "being known as an expert" or "being someone other people listen to and respect". Generally the first step is to become an expert or otherwise respectable. The second is being able to prove it. The internet may *or may not* have a lot to do with this. My non-fiction platform (basis of a successful book proposal) involved absolutely zero online material.

Kristen Lamb, who is my platform/social media guru, has 2 books out that I think are essential to anyone wanting to do this writer thing.

You can find her at her blog:

http://warriorwriters.wordpress.com/

and her books, We Are Not Alone and Are You There, Blog? It's Me, Writer are easy to get to from there. Check out her blog as well - I love her advice, and I have found most of my contacts through her. Best of luck!

cheers,

~Cate