You might think marketing should start only after your masterpiece is published. You might think it’s not something you should have to do at all. The facts are different. Even if you are traditionally published, your agent and/or your publisher will ask you about your ‘author platform.’ “What’s that?” you ask. One trainer described it as everything you have that points people to your book. And if you haven’t started well before your book is published, your book is likely to get off to a sputtering start – if it gets off at all. This is a whole new set of tools you’re going to have to learn, complete with learning curves you may despise and initial outcomes you may detest. Fun! But you can get there. Here are just a few of the topics you’ll want (no, really) to consider.