It’s been on my mind for while now about being an author entrepreneur. But first I need to learn more about it. So I’ve turned to Joanna Penn who wrote a book about business for authors which teaches us creatives how to bring business into our creative world and help us to sell more books.
In case you’re interested I’ll let you know what is in the table of contents:
Is the book for you?
Introduction
I. From Author to Entrepreneur
1.1Arc of the Author: From author to running a business
1.2 Definition of an author-entrepreneur
1.3 What is your definition of success?
1.4 what do you want with your life?
1.5 Should you start a company?
II. Products and Services
2.1 Definition
2.2 It’s not just one book. Your rights and how to exploit them
2.3 Business models for authors
2.4 Evaluating business models
2.5 Contracts
2.6 Copyright and piracy
2.7 Production plan
III. Employees, Suppliers and Contractors
3.1 Definition
3.2 You. The Writer.
3.3 Co-writing partners
3.4 Editors
3.5 Agents and Publishers
3.6 Translators
3.7 Book designers and formatters
3.8 Audiobook narrators
3.9 Bookkeeping and accounting
3.10 Virtual or executive assistant
3.11 Managing your team
IV. Customers
4.1 Definition
4.2 Who are your customers?
4.3 Customer service
V. Sales and Distribution
5.1 Definition
5.2 Selling through distributors
5.3 Selling direct
5.4 Publishing imprint and ISBNs
5.5 Pricing
VI. Marketing
6.1 Definition
6.2 Key Concepts
6.3 Book-based marketing
6.4 Author-based marketing
6.5 Customer-based marketing
6.6 A tale of two author brands
VII. Financials
7.1 Definition
7.2 Money mindset
7.3 Income circles exercise
7.4 Revenues of the author business
7.5 Increase your revenue
7.6 Costs of the author business
7.7 Funding your business
7.8 Banking and Paypal
7.9 Accounting, reporting, tax and estate planning
VIII. Strategy and Planning
8.1 Definition
8.2 Strategy
8.3 Business Plan
8.4 Managing your time
8.5 Developing professional habits
8.6 Accountability
8.7 The long term view
8.8 Becoming a full-time author. Why, when and how?
8.9 Looking after yourself
Your next steps
Need more help?
IX. Appendices
So once I get through all of this, if I find anything useful I”ll do another blog post on it. If you’ve read this book, what are your thoughts on it? Please let me know in the comments.
