The reality for writers in today's internet and social media world is that after a literary agent (looking for writers to publish) asks, "Is the book good?" they ask, "Does this author have a platform?"
By using I Turn Pages' social features, an unpublished writer can turn their "Work-in-Progress" into a quantifiable marketing asset.
Here is how to use I Turn Pages to build your own reading community.
For Unpublished Writers: Your Launchpad to a Deal
On I Turn Pages, you don't need a finished book to start your career. You can build a "Beta Tribe" that proves your market value to agents and publishers.
Great writing + compelling story + writer follower count = success!
Some ideas for you to get started:
- Build Your Proof of Concept: Create a dedicated group for your Work-in-Progress, i.e. your current writing project. When you query an agent, you can point to a community of 500+ readers already engaged with your world-building and characters. The more followers you have, the more excited a literary agent (looking for unpublished writers to represent and get published) becomes if they love your story.
- Exclusive Beta-Reader Rooms: Use Private Groups to host your first readers. In your group, you can share raw chapters, get real-time feedback, and iron out plot holes in a secure, distraction-free environment away from the public eye. It's your choice to have the group open and public or closed and private. Having the latter gives you the chance to discuss your writing project in total privacy and only have valued readers in one place to share their thoughts.
- Character Casting & Interactive Development: Use polls and topics to let your growing fanbase vote on character names, costume designs, or minor plot points. This creates "emotional ownership" in your readers, who will help "build" the book. They are 10x more likely to buy it on launch day and shout about it to their followers. Growing your readership this way is vital for writers looking for a publishing deal or who plan to publish their own books.
- Engagement Stats: I Turn Pages allows you to see how many people are following your journey. These numbers are pure gold for a Book Proposal, showing publishers you aren't starting from zero.
- Serialized Sneak-Peeks: Build hype by posting weekly "Snippet Saturdays" or "Sharing Sundays." These short, high-impact excerpts keep your audience warm while you finish the manuscript. They may even invite others to come along to enjoy the sharing ~ if you allow them.
- Direct Access to "Comp Titles": Join Genre Groups for books similar to yours (Comparative Titles) to see what readers in your niche are actually talking about, helping you refine your pitch and identify market gaps.