The Business of Writing
This week Kare Anderson of Say It Better Center was interviewed by me about the elements of communication and public speaking. We also had a guest caller, the very first! Next week I will be doing half-hour show on books I have found enjoyable and useful in my journey to grow my business and change my thinking on prosperity. These books include Think Two Products Ahead by Ben Mack, Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill, The Millionaire Mind by T. Harv Eker.
The Business of Writing
I’ve focused a lot on small business and different aspects of small business that business owners need to consider as they work to grow and/or maintain their businesses. I am also a writing coach, and so for the next few posts I’m going to focus more on the business of writing. However business owners who read this newsletter shouldn’t tune out, because what I’m writing about is applicable to running a small business, and also because writing is a method for teaching people about your business.
When a lot of writers think about writing, they usually imagine themselves in a study or library writing away without a care in the world. The reality of writing, is that while actually doing writing is very important, there are other aspects involving writing which are equally important. Writing to publish a book means that you’ve chosen writing as a career choice. Now you might stop me and say, “But I work a full-time job. I don’t have time for another career!” Instead of telling you not to write that book, I’ll just say that writing can be a part-time career, but once you decide you really want to publish a book writing does become a career.
The reason writing becomes a career is because at that point you are committing yourself to developing a marketing platform or position which highlights your skills as an expert on the subject and also shows publishers that you are willing to do a variety of activities to promote your book, so that it will sell. It’s no longer just about the writing. And while writing is still an essential component of what you do, it’s not the only component or activity. For many authors, this is a hard reality to face, because many of them come into writing unprepared to market themselves, with a rosy vision that the publisher will not only arrange book signings and publicity events, but also cover all the travel costs of the author. While this can occur for an author, it’s rare for it to happen, and the author is someone who is usually well-established and well-known.
By approaching writing as a career you can plan on how to market your writing and promote yourself as an authority. Additionally you can get involved in public speaking and make money offering speeches on your area of expertise, while also selling your book. Writing as a career involves learning many skills that can help you communicate better in your writing, and result in writing sequels to what you’ve already published. In subsequent editions of this newletter we will focus on particular aspects of the business of writing, so tune in to learn more about what makes a writer successful.
