Understanding Authorpreneurship

Understanding Authorpreneurship

You may be an excellent writer, a leader, or a well-respected expert in your field. But you may not succeed as a self-publisher without first knowing the rules of the road and applying the energy and vision of a small business owner. As a new author, you’ll always need to look ahead for new ideas, new markets, and creative ways to get book buyers and readers to take notice of your work.

A popular statistic shows that 84% of all Americans say they want to write a book one day. What’s the difference between those who simply dream about it, and those who do it? Authors come from every walk of life, young or old, male or female, college-educated or not. Yet certain personality types will have a better chance of emerging as successful authors, while others won’t. Clearly, writing talent is a given, but what other characteristics factor into a formula for a successful author?

Today, digital technology is strongly influencing how we use writing, how we communicate ideas, and how we publish for tangible circulation. Welcome to the new world of publishing—an industry in the midst of more radical change than in the entire last one hundred years combined. The roles of author, publisher, and even the definition of “book” are morphing and changing in this context—and will continue to change well into the next decades. More is expected from an author today than in the old publishing model.

In this new model, authors take on more responsibilities and tasks than ever before. Where once publishers paid for most sales and marketing expenses, now authors write marketing plans, pay for their own travel, and sometimes hire their own publicists to ensure the success of their books—even with a signed publishing contract from a commercial publisher! No wonder some authors decide to take charge of their own careers and choose to self-publish. Yet some will have a better chance of success than others. In this new world, successful authors embody some of the same skills and characteristics of successful entrepreneurs, and these authors are called “authorpreneurs.”

Passion and perseverance are the first two proven ingredients for the potential authorpreneur. You’ve got to have passion for your subject, and passion for the work to go the distance. Launching a book is not a sprint—it’s a marathon! Genuine passion and enthusiasm will generate energy and inform your work, while patience and perseverance will help you keep going when it seems that everything is stacked against you.

Passion and persistence will fuel your ability to work smarter and to think creatively in overcoming the various challenges you will face. There will be tasks that may not be enjoyable, and you’ll have dull chores to complete; yet they will be crucial to your success. Think about whether you’ve got the fire in the belly to surmount these difficulties, and make a plan before you commit to your book.

Independence and self-reliance are also essential to make your book a success. You’ll need to make dozens of small decisions on your own and carry them out to make it over the long haul. Intuition and creativity help authorpreneurs to see beyond the obvious. Innovating, experimenting, and following gut instincts come in handy when having to make the right decisions. Knowing you’ve minimized risks and surprises through diligently working your Book Plan will give you the confidence through these challenges.  

You’ll be more confident working with a plan as you begin building your business platform. Your platform is a foundation, a springboard, and hopefully a stable home for all your work. It encompasses your research, your scholarship, your writing, speaking, and teaching. Your platform is bigger than the book alone and includes your associations, your readership, and your audience. It’s your ability to move people—through your personal appearances, website, blogs, and social media. It’s your participation in conferences and professional organizations. In short, your platform is the synergistic combination of all the skills, resources, products and services you have to offer.

Sobering statistics show that most self-published authors will sell fewer than 100 books. This may be acceptable for authors whose projects are passionate personal endeavors. But authors who dream of making a name or making money will want to create a bigger vision—and build their plan accordingly. As you use the Self-Publisher’s Book Plan to assess your skills, your resources, and your goals, you will be able to create the right Book Plan for your project.

The most important journey is the one you take on with your eyes wide open to the risks and rewards. The challenges you will face and overcome as an author will stretch you and help you grow as a person. You will discover how the publishing process can bring you into a deeply satisfying dialogue with a growing community of readers. Presenting your work will bring you new ideas, new collaborators, and will expand your world. Releasing your book to the public is just the beginning of your new identity as authorpreneur.

If you’re not sure if your book is a good idea, or you don’t have a clear plan, download my FREE GUIDE. 

If you want guidance and help creating a plan, schedule a FREE DISCOVERY CALL with me to see how I can help.

Plan for Success!

Lindsay