Of Course, But Do You Have a Plan?
Authors write books. Authorpreneurs write books and make bucks. The difference between an author and an authorpreneur is (not preneur xD) having a PLAN.?
Maybe you've always had that dream tucked away—writing full-time, making your living off your words. You picture yourself as the next big name in literature, the one who can churn out bestsellers like the Game of Thrones series, and secure your livelihood purely through storytelling.
And hey, who’s to say it’s a pipe dream? It’s possible.?
But you’re going to need a plan. A real one.?
A business plan.
Why in the world would a writer need a business plan? After all, your job is to write, right??
?Nope!
If you're a self-publishing author with aspirations to make writing your full-time gig, you have to think like a business owner.
Writing is only half of your job. The other half? Treating your book (and yourself) like a business.?
Publishing companies—self-publishing included—are there to support your work. They’re the experts at editing, designing, marketing, and getting your book to readers. But you’re the expert of your book. You know its heartbeat, its story, its potential. And if you’re going to rely on your books to pay the bills, you need to do more than just cross your fingers and hope for the best.
Imagine you're launching a startup, and instead of selling products, you’re selling books. You need to know your audience, your market, your budget, and your goals.?
?So what Should Go into an Author's Business Plan?
A typical business plan has elements like financial projections, marketing strategies, and product development. For authors, it’s not much different. Here’s what you need to include:
1. How Many Books Are You Writing?
???Think about your writing schedule. If you’re planning on going full-time, how many books do you want to release in a year? One? Two? Ten? (Okay, probably not ten, unless you want to) But seriously, consistency is key in building an author's brand.
2. What Genre?
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???Are you sticking to one genre, or will you mix it up? Knowing your genre helps position your books in the market, understand your readers, and carve out a niche for yourself. Spoiler: If you’re hopping from sci-fi to romance to historical fiction, you might want to re-evaluate.?
3. Understanding Your Market
???Who’s going to buy your book? And no, the answer isn't "everyone." Identifying your target audience will help you figure out how to market your book and where to focus your efforts. Are you targeting young adults? Parents? Sci-fi geeks? The more specific you are, the better.
4. Financial Plan
???Let’s get real for a second. Publishing isn’t free, especially if you’re self-publishing. You need to budget for editors, cover designers, marketing, and maybe even a launch event. Without a financial plan, you're walking into the unknown. How much do you need to invest? How much do you expect to make? (Hint: It’s probably not millions right out of the gate.)
5. Marketing Strategy
???Speaking of marketing—how are you going to get your book out there? Sure, self-publishing companies (like us) can help with some of this, but at the end of the day, it’s on you to hustle. Think about book signings, social media, building a mailing list, networking with other authors, and maybe even some ads. It’s not all glamorous, but it’s crucial.
6.? Future Book Ideas
???This one’s for the long haul. What's next? Are you planning a series? A sequel? Diversifying into a different genre? Having a long-term plan means you’re not just writing one book and then twiddling your thumbs. A career author always has something in the pipeline.
?Why Bother?
Look, no one said being a full-time author was easy. But it's rewarding. And having a business plan doesn't mean you're selling out or losing your creative edge. It simply means you're taking control of your career. You’re ensuring that your dream of writing full-time doesn’t remain just that—a dream.
Planning might not sound fun, but here’s the truth: if you don’t plan, you’re planning to fail. The most successful authors (yes, even the J.K. Rowlings of the world) didn’t get where they are by luck alone. They had strategies, goals, and yes—a business plan.
?So, Where Do You Start?
You start now. Grab a notebook (or open a fresh doc), and start writing down your goals. Don’t worry about making it perfect. Just start. Figure out how many books you want to write, who your audience is, and what your budget looks like. Take it one step at a time, but keep moving forward.?
And when you think your vision for your book(s) is ready, click the link below to get in touch with us and start publishing.?