How to build an author platform literary agents will love (without going viral)
I’m going to be honest, if you're entering the query trenches in 2025, having an author platform is pretty useful. It’s even more useful when you go on submission to publishers, but more on that shortly.
Having an author platform doesn’t mean you have had to go viral, dance on TikTok, or share your deepest secrets on Instagram Stories (unless you want to and that's you’re brand).
What agents and publishers actually want to see is:
You know how to build and nurture a community.
You know who your audience is.
Your readers engage with you.
What does that look like? Honestly, some agents won’t mind if you have 1-2 platforms and have 500 followers. But their eyes will widen with interest if they see in your submission that you have any of the following:
5%+ engagement on TikTok (not just views but actual comments, saves, duets)
1-2%+ engagement on Instagram (Saves, Comments, Likes and Shares, always preferable)
5,000+ followers on one or more social platforms
500+ clean newsletter subscribers - clean meaning engaged subscribers who open, read and engage with your content, are not bots and who genuinely enjoy your content
A consistent presence and growing brand.
Don’t panic if you don’t have the above, as mentioned, you don’t need it. But it will be helpful.
If you want to start growing your brand, without chasing virality or turning into a full-time content creator, here are my top tips as an author, publisher and content creator.
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