Fanbase-Building Coach Teresa LeYung-Ryan says:

“What is the purpose of creating a writer’s platform?  Your writer’s platform hooks attention from readers who care about the issues, subjects, themes that you write about.  What does your name stand for? When you make your name synonymous with what you care to write about, you are helping your fans find you.”

Example – Here’s my platform statement:

“I, Teresa LeYung-Ryan, use my novel Love Made of Heart, essays, short plays/monologues to encourage adult children of mentally ill parents to speak openly about the stigmas and find resources for their loved ones.”

My friends, colleagues, and fans know this about me and my work.  These wonderful people think of my name when they see or hear the words “mental health,” “mental illness” and “stigmas.”

Recently, author and documentary movie producer Margie Yee Webb gave me a print edition of an article written by Julie Samrick because Margie saw some keywords in Ms. Samrick’s piece (“Community partners work to end mental health stigma”) that are also in my platform statement. Thank you, Margie dear.

Ms. Samrick hooked my attention with a subject matter that I deeply care about.  And, her first line included the name of a powerful advocate whose messages I wholeheartedly support — actress Glenn Close who uses her international fame to shed light on  “ending the stigma of mental illness.”

Here’s an excerpt from the online edition of Ms. Samrick’s article.   http://www.villagelife.com/news/community-partners-work-to-end-mental-health-stigma/

Community partners work to end mental health stigma

Posted by Julie Samrick on Jul 7, 2014 Village Life is a weekly publication covering the communities of El Dorado Hills and Folsom, CA
Filed under Featured Stories, News.

“One out of four families will experience mental health challenges. My family is one,” narrates actress Glenn Close at the start of the documentary A New State of Mind: Ending the Stigma of Mental Illness, which was shown to residents at the El Dorado Hills Community Services District pavilion earlier this year in an effort to get more people to seek help when they or their loved ones are suffering with mental illness. Fifteen such forums were held throughout El Dorado County so far this year.  “My sister Jessie wasn’t diagnosed with bipolar disorder until she was 51 and her son was diagnosed with schizophrenia at 19,” Close continued.

From Olympic diver Greg Louganis to retired congressman Patrick Kennedy, high-profile individuals spoke openly about their struggles with mental illness in the Mental Health Services Act sponsored film.

Coach Teresa LeYung-Ryan here with another example. 

Ms. Glenn Close’s platform statements for her organization BringChange2Mind  are:  “Change A Mind About Mental Illness” and “Start the conversation. End the stigma.”

You see how simple building one’s platform is? 

For me . . .

• I write about and I read about “speaking openly about mental illness and stigmas” because I have a personal connection with the subject. I broadcast what I write about and read about with this blog, in social media, my YouTube channel, and in interviews.

• My friends, colleagues, and fans connect my name (Teresa LeYung-Ryan) with the subject I deeply care about.

• With help from my friends, colleagues, and fans, I continue to connect with other advocates who also speak openly about mental illness and stigmas, thus, my platform grows bigger and bigger.

Links to Ms. Close’s http://bringchange2mind.org/ and many other helpful organizations are listed on my blog page http://lovemadeofheart.com/blog/helpful-websites-resources-for-mental-health-mental-illness-depression/

Sincerely,

Teresa LeYung-Ryan

http://writingcoachTeresa.com

Fanbase-Building Coach Teresa LeYung-Ryan helps writers transform email signature blocks, photos, website descriptions, and YouTube videos into platform statements . . . before and after publication.

Build Your Writer’s Platform & Fanbase In 22 Days: Attract Agents, Editors, Publishers, Readers, and Media Attention NOW. Click here for print edition. Click here for Kindle edition. “Reach out, not stress out.”

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Sincerely,