Turn your Writing into a Business
Learnings from The Business of Being a Writer by Jane Friedman
The Business of Being a Writer
…because very few people can make a living solely by writing and publishing books, it goes further, showing why this one pursuit should not constitute one’s entire business model.’ (2)
Here lies the premise of The Business of Being a Writer. Friedman, encouraging writers to understand and embrace the connectivity between the commercial and the creative.
‘Writers who see this as a creative challenge rather than a burden are more likely to survive the cycle of pitching and rejection without sinking into hopelessness.’ (9-10)
Here are some key insights.
Be Consistent
Play the ‘long game’. Friedman suggests that it is a ‘series of small successes’ that will build a network and create visibility. Consistent output, in terms of frequency and subject matter, is essential. In other words, the writer must know what they are ‘about’. And project that, consistently.
Be Deliberate
Friedman emphasises the importance of having a business model from the start. The target audience and the writer’s messaging must be clear. Identify demand within a niche market. And be intentional.
Focus on what it is that you can do for others. And view your book as a ‘marketable product’.
Newsletter
You ‘own’ your email list. A newsletter is an essential, powerful tool to grow a following and promote your books.
Social Media
Friedman’s emphasis here is to ‘engage’.
Be helpful to others, ‘continue to show up’, build a network. If you are consistent and your messaging is clear; over time, this should translate into book sales.
Blog
Again, this is about the ‘long game’.
Be ‘useful’. Consider the type of blogs you read — and revisit. They are likely to be ‘how to’ blogs or blogs that promise to be ‘useful’ in some way.
Consider subheadings and paragraph breaks for reading with ease and ensure your tone is consistent.
Blog posts should be ‘ever-green’. They must have continued relevance.
Passion
To sustain your efforts, and deliver an authentic perspective, you must care about the subject matter.
Talk about the things you love, as Friedman suggests, and ‘your voice will follow.’
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Reference: Friedman, J. (2018). The Business of Being a Writer. The University of Chicago Press.