Youâre Not
Building an author platform used to feel impossible. I just wanted to writeânot spend hours crafting the perfect tweet or chasing Instagram trends. But from my conversations with other writers, I realized I wasnât alone.
In fact, from my research, I know that a crucial thing holding writers back from success isnât talent or disciplineâitâs the fear that without social media, no one will read their work.
But when I finally figured out that platform-building doesnât have to mean being Extremely Online, everything shifted. I tested different approaches, found what actually works for introverted, craft-driven writers, and adapted it to different kinds of projectsâSubstack newsletters, book proposals, finished books. And sure enough, it worked.
Now, Iâm unpacking it for you. Because if thereâs one thing I know to be true, itâs that you donât need another overwhelming marketing strategyâyou need an author platform that feels sustainable, authentic, and actually supports your writing.
As of January 2025, 5.24 billion people worldwide use social media, representing 63.9% of the global population. But you don't have to be one of them.
Alone.
This New Training is For You if:
You want to build an audience for your writing but break into a cold sweat at the thought of self-promotion.
SOUND GOOD? GET READY TO LEARN:
You're an introvert who would rather spend time writing than figuring out how to âgo viral.â
Youâre working on a Substack, book proposal, or manuscript and keep hearing, âYou need a platform.â
You love writing but hate the idea of constantly posting on social media just to stay "relevant."
01
Sustainable platform-building for writers who hate Social Media
Some good news for you: more peopleâboth readers and authorsâare stepping away from social media than ever. Simultaneously, as of January 2005, 63.9% of people worldwide use social media. We'll talk about how to use social media in a way that might decrease the "ick" factor for you. And if you don't want to use social media at all, don't worryâyou have options.
02
Authentic Connection vs. Performance: Reaching Readers in a Way That Feels Right
You don't need tens of thousands of followers to reach your ideal readers. We'll talk about finding your "100 ideal readers" and how making authentic connections with fewer people can have more impact.
03
The Minimalistâs Guide to Growing a Platform (Without Burning Out)
Do your life constraints have you believing that you'll hit a wall before you'll ever be able to grow (and keep) your platform? Let's talk about it.
Because let's be real
You don't have to go viral to build a powerful platform.
In this 90-minute live workshop, I'll show you how to create an engaged, meaningful audience that supports your writingâwithout forcing yourself onto social media platforms that drain your energy.
This is for writers at any stageâwhether you're working on a book proposal, publishing personal essays in a Substack newsletter, or simply want to grow your audience in a way that feels aligned with your values.
Sara V.
I find [Esmé] to be a smart and insightful teacher and appreciate her teaching style, which is patient, approachable, and calm... I always prefer quiet power over noisy, frenetic instruction.
I wanted to express how much I enjoyed this workshop. Your approach and tone was surprisingly warm for a Zoom workshopâit's such a hard thing to pull off when you don't necessarily get the immediate feedback on how certain points are landing, and I felt like you pulled it off beautifully, making us feel like we were in the room with you.
Robin Y.
Kind Words
@esmewwang
MEET YOUR Teacher
Hi, I'm Esmé Weijun Wang.
Iâm a writer and essayistâthe author of the New York Times-bestselling, Graywolf Nonfiction Prize-winning essay collection The Collected Schizophrenias (2019), as well as the novel The Border of Paradise (2016), which was named one of NPRâs Best Books of 2016. Iâve made appearances on the Today Show, NPRâs Weekend Edition, KCRW, the New York Times, the CBC, Flavorwire, and the New Yorker Online.
I've also been studying online marketing from experts like Steph Crowder since 2014, when I taught the class "Self-Promotion Without the Sleaze" at BinderCon at NYU. (It was such a popular class that it overflowed into the room behind it. That room filled up, too.) đ
100% FREE GIFT WHEN YOU SHOW UP LIVE
Building Your Author Platform workbook
Our guide to building your author platform without wanting to run away and live among the warthogs. Yours free when you show up live to the class!
LIVE
BONUS
YOUR NEW
platform-building ERA
HAS ARRIVED
A clear understanding of what "platform" actually means (and what agents & publishers really look for)
Practical strategies for building an audience without relying on social media
The best platform-building tools for introverts, deep thinkers, and non-marketers
Ways to grow your readership through newsletters, podcasts, partnerships, and more
A step-by-step plan to start building a platform that feels sustainable and authentic
By the end of this workshop, you'll walk away with:
03
Authors who want to...
build an engaged readership without feeling like a high-flying content creator.
Writers working on...
book proposals, memoirs, essays, or newsletters (Beehiiv, Substack, Ghost, etc.) who need a platform but dread traditional marketing
01
Who this is for:
People who are...
introverts, neurodivergent, or exhausted by social media but still want their work to reach the right audience.
02
SIGN UP FOR $67 or $97
Sign up for The Unexpected Shape Writing Academy, our writing school that includes a full curriculum from pre-writing to publication, co-writing sessions, group coaching calls, optional accountability checks, and more, and get the class for free as a part of your new membership. Learn about the Academy here.
Sign up for the class by itself.
Questions? Reach out to info@esmewang.com