Resources for Your Writing Business

     I find many authors don’t put on their business cap until they have something to sell. There is nothing ‘wrong’ with that perspective, in fact it’s what I did. 

However, if you do want to start or change careers, you’ll consider such things as who you are writing to, how many books you’ll need to sell at which price to make a certain amount of money, and how to manage the businesses processes.

Maybe you’ll do your own taxes and file a Schedule C. Or should you set up an LLC – limited liability corporation? Don’t ask me, ask your accountant. You need an accountant? Possibly.

To be clear, I do not advocate that we right-brain creative types stop writing and do a lot of left-brain work to establish a business. That can come later, for most of us.

Write that book first.

RESOURCES

The Business of Being a Writer, Jane Friedman

Possibly the best overview of what you need to know after you write your book. You get an excellent work at the publishing world, too. Kindle and paperback.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07B9MB32X

The Indie Author Business Plan

Good overview, with a downloadable workbook. If you like multi-media learning, this is a good place to start.

Kimberly Grabas

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TyoVIN2T0sg

7 Elements for a Nonfiction Writer’s Business Plan

An overview that could be helpful whether you write fiction or nonfiction.

http://writenonfictionnow.com/7-key-elements-successful-nonfiction-writers-business-plan/

 

A Long-Term View of the Indie Author Business with Liliana Hart

42 minutes, but a good example of building to success in the real world.Hart (who has sold more than 3 million books) also compares Amazon and ibooks – not saying one is better, but discussing differences. Apple has 7 billion devices out there. I learned a lot watching this, especially about the Apple market for audiobooks.

The podcast interview is conducted by author/publisher Joanna Penn.

http://www.thecreativepenn.com/podcasts/

Tonya Price’s site deals with business aspects of writing. Her book on the writer’s business plans is comprehensive. Just looking at the description gives you a sense of things to consider.

https://www.businessbooksforwriters.com/blog/

Your tax dollars at work – Small Business Administration overview and links on preparing a business plan. A good reference point, but too much to think about if this is all new to you.

https://www.sba.gov/starting-business/write-your-business-plan

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To learn more about Elaine L. Orr, visit her website, www.elaineorr.com.