By Bhupinder Singh
As new and emerging writers, and aspiring authors, we all know the power of a platform and an audience base that can later be converted into a reader base To grab a deal, especially for traditional nonfiction publishing, a platform plays a vital role. For indie authors, the platform is a major source of business, interaction and mutual help.
Twitter and Instagram have been in use for a long time to become credible author/writer platforms. Specific communities around writing and reading have been formed where writers promote each other, attract a new audience, ask for writing and editing related help, and get to know the process of writing as a craft. Most publishing houses, lit mags, and journals are also actively promoting their authors, seeking submissions, and showcasing work on these two platforms.
Recently a new social network has emerged and has taken the internet by surprise. Clubhouse is a new type of social network based on voice—where people around the world come together to talk, listen and learn from each other in real time. The audio-only app hosts live discussions, with opportunities to participate through speaking and listening. Right now in order to join, a friend must send you an invite.
I have been actively checking the platform for the last three weeks and have found immense potential in it, for a more meaningful and resourceful way to interact as a writer/author. Already a lot of writing and reading rooms have come up, where people interact in a directed way around a specific topic.
I have strongly come to believe it is a better place for serious writers/authors who want to improve their craft, learn more about the craft, collaborate with others, promote their work, and sell more.
The foremost reason is the way Clubhouse works. It is a voice-based live discussion network. A user or a group of users create a room, where they talk about a topic. Other users can join to listen, and if they want to speak, they can raise their hand. A moderator allows the users who raised their hand to come up to the speaker panel and ask questions, share views, or talk f about the topic.
Listening to someone’s voice creates better trust and intimacy and leads to better connectivity. Conversations through talking are always better than reading a text message, and have less scope of creating misinterpretation or discord.
A discussion on Clubhouse by Carly Watters from the PS Literary Agency was one major thing that changed my outlook towards how live-voice is a better medium than text-based events.
There is no need to wait for days to get a reply to your message. Whatever happens, happens in the present. And unlike textual conversation, Clubhouse is spontaneous and has more creative space.
Regular rooms are being hosted by a number of clubs. A club is a place to follow for future discussion, where rooms about the club topics will be hosted, so users can keep track.
What I found interesting is that number of literary agents and publishing houses thatattended discussions and hosted real-time events for Q&A about publishing tips. Rooms about how to pitch, practice your pitch, how to edit, how to submit etc., have been hosted. When we search for answers on Google or any other place which relies mostly on text/or pre-recorded videos, we don’t have to chance to clear our doubts.
But on Clubhouse, you can probe further and further, ask a series of questions until you finally are satisfied with your query.
For those who are looking to garner an audience, promote their work, and create a social media presence, hosting rooms about general or writing-specific topics creates a space for talking more freely. Also, Clubhouse allows you to connect on Twitter and Instagram, so any new person you find on Clubhouse can also be reached on Twitter for further interaction.
Some clubs that I have found to be great resources for writers are:
- Publishing Professionals: to find great literary agents and publishers in one place. It is a club where publishing professionals discuss industry topics, share book recommendations, and help aspiring authors, editors, agents, and publicists get started in the business.
- The Writers’ Room: a club where any writer can open rooms and reach their followers, for creating a community.
- Writing Room: It connects writers, hosts workshops and discussion on craft.
