From Stone Circles to Social Media: The Evolution of Author Platforms
Part 1 of the From Stone Circles to Success series
Where Storytelling Began
Picture this: thousands of years ago, as the mist rolled across the Scottish highlands, people gathered at massive stone circles carved from ancient rock.
These weren't just random meeting spots—they were carefully chosen, strategically placed gathering spaces where communities came together to share stories, trade news, and connect with one another.
The storytellers who commanded attention at these circles weren't there by accident.
They had earned their place through reputation, consistency, and the trust of their audience.
People knew where to find them, what to expect from them, and why their stories mattered.
Sound familiar? It should, because those ancient stone circles were humanity's first author platforms.
The Original Author Platform: Stone Circles and Sacred Spaces
Long before authors worried about author website design or building their online presence, storytellers understood a fundamental truth: you need a recognized, trusted space where your audience knows they can find you.
In ancient Scotland, stone circles like Stonehenge and the Ring of Brodgar served as more than just mysterious monuments.
They are theorized to be the original connection hubs—places where bards, storytellers, and knowledge-keepers would gather their audiences.
These spaces had to be:
Easily recognizable from a distance
Accessible to the community they served
Consistent in their purpose and function
Trustworthy as sources of valuable information
The most successful storytellers weren't just wandering minstrels hoping to stumble upon an audience.
They established themselves at specific circles, built relationships with regular attendees, and became known for the type of stories they told.
Their "platform" was both physical and reputational.
Medieval Markets: The Rise of Portable Platforms
As civilizations evolved, so did storytelling platforms.
Medieval market squares became the new gathering spaces, and storytellers had to adapt.
Instead of relying on permanent stone structures, they created portable platforms—literally wooden platforms they could set up wherever crowds gathered.
This shift taught storytellers something crucial: your platform needs to be both stable and flexible.
The wooden platform gave them a consistent "stage" and visual identity (think colorful banners and costumes), but they could take their show wherever their audience might be.
This is remarkably similar to how modern authors need to think about their author platform building.
Your website is your permanent "stone circle"—your home base where people know they can always find you. But you also need portable platforms (social media, email newsletters, speaking events) that let you reach audiences wherever they gather.
The Printing Press Revolution: When Authors Lost Control
The invention of the printing press changed everything, and not necessarily for the better when it comes to author platforms.
Suddenly, the relationship between storytellers and their audiences became mediated by publishers, booksellers, and distributors.
Authors who had once commanded their own stone circles now found themselves dependent on others to reach their readers.
Publishers became the gatekeepers, bookshops became the platforms, and authors often lost that direct connection with their audience that had sustained storytelling for millennia.
This disconnect persisted for centuries. Authors wrote books, publishers distributed them, and readers encountered them in bookstores or libraries.
The author platform, in many cases, ceased to exist entirely.
The Digital Renaissance: Reclaiming the Circle
Here's where our story takes an exciting turn. The internet has given authors something unprecedented: the ability to reclaim that ancient storyteller-audience relationship while reaching a global community.
Your author website is your modern stone circle.
It's the permanent, recognizable space where your audience knows they can find you.
Just like those ancient Scottish gathering places, your website needs to be:
Instantly recognizable as uniquely yours
Easy to navigate and find what visitors need
Consistent in message and visual identity
Trustworthy as a source of information about you and your work
Social media platforms are your medieval market squares—portable platforms where you can meet new audiences and connect with existing readers where they already gather.
Email newsletters are your inner circle of trusted community members who want regular updates directly from you.
Why Platform Evolution Matters for Modern Authors
Understanding this evolution isn't just a fun history lesson—it reveals something crucial about human nature and author marketing strategy.
People have always sought out storytellers in designated spaces.
They want to know where to find you, what to expect from you, and why your stories matter.
The authors who understand this build their platforms intentionally.
They create websites that feel like welcoming gathering spaces rather than cold, corporate brochures.
They maintain consistent visual branding across all their platforms, just like ancient storytellers maintained consistent personas and storytelling styles.
Most importantly, they remember that their platform isn't about them—it's about their audience.
Those stone circles weren't built for the storytellers; they were built for the community that gathered there.
The Modern Author's Platform Strategy
Today's most successful authors think like ancient storytellers.
They understand that building an author platform means creating a space that serves their audience while establishing their authority and trustworthiness.
Your website should feel like a destination, not a pit stop.
When potential readers land on your site, they should immediately understand who you are, what you write, and why they should care.
Your author branding strategy should make it clear what type of stories you tell and what kind of experience readers can expect.
Just as ancient storytellers earned their place at the stone circle through consistent value and building relationships, modern authors earn their platform through consistent content, authentic engagement, and delivering on their promises to readers.
The tools have evolved from carved stone to sophisticated websites, but the fundamental principles remain unchanged: create a recognizable space, serve your audience consistently, and build trust through authentic storytelling.
Discover why modern authors face challenges ancient storytellers never had to deal with—and how understanding this paradox can transform your approach to building readership—in “The Storyteller’s Paradox: Why Ancient Bards Never Had to Query Agents.”
Your Stone Circle Awaits
Every author needs their stone circle—a digital home base that reflects who they are and welcomes their ideal readers.
Whether you're a debut novelist preparing to query agents or an established author with multiple published works, your platform should be working as hard as your writing to build connections with readers.
The ancient storytellers who commanded attention at those misty Scottish stone circles understood something we sometimes forget in our rush to market ourselves: platforms aren't built overnight, but they're absolutely essential for sustainable success.
Your stories deserve a platform worthy of them.
The question is: will yours be a forgettable collection of random posts, or will it be the kind of destination that draws readers back again and again, just like those powerful stone circles drew communities together across generations?
