Building Your Author Platform - Part 5

There will come a day when it seems everything falls into place in your writing career. The door you were hoping would open did, but should you walk through that door?

I'd always assumed that if a door opened then yes, you should. It wasn't until I was presented with a business deal that I reconsidered what I'd always believed about doors.

Don't get me wrong. The door was a great opportunity that would only lead to more opportunities. But underneath the opportunities were details I wasn't comfortable with.

After a lot of consideration, I decided not to walk through the door. While I desperately wanted that opportunity, the simple truth was that door didn't lead down the path I wanted to travel.

Building your author platform not only requires you to know which path you want to travel but to also be willing to say 'no' to the opportunities that won't advance your career. I'm not talking about taking on the occasional charity benefit, where you do something good simply because you want to help.

I'm talking about walking through a door the re-routes your path and puts in you on a position you didn't want to be in.

When you are presented with opportunities in your writing career, you need to stop and ask yourself two very important questions:

1.) Does this fit with who I am?
The fastest way to regret is to write or do something that goes against your core beliefs.

The second question you must ask yourself is

2.) Does this advance my career in the direction I want to go in?
Many things can advance your writing career, but you must consider whether it is the direction you want to go in or not.

Remember, you don’t have nor should you walk through every door that opens in your career. Pick only the ones that matter the most.