By Rebecca
Waters
“It’s so sweet you
found a hobby.” Those are the words I often hear now that I call myself a
writer. I understand. I was, after all, an educator for most of my adult life.
Unfortunately, I think
some of my fellow writers also regard their writing as a mere hobby. And for
many who do take their writing seriously, there is a resistance to speak of
writing as anything but art.
However, if we want to
publish, we need to think of our efforts as a business.
To that end, authors
need a business plan.
I have identified at
least six key elements every author should address in a business plan.
1. Draft a vision statement.
This statement reflects who you want to be as a writer.
I once interviewed
Debby Mayne, a successful writer of Christian romance novels. She was told she
could make more money if she wrote romance novels with steamy sex scenes in
them. She didn’t do it. She was true to her vision as a Christian writer.
2. Set goals for
your writing.
Write out long-range
goals as well as smaller, short-term objectives. Try to be specific and make
sure your goals are attainable. Setting a goal to write a novel in the next
three months is reasonable for me. If I were still teaching full time though, I
would need to extend that time frame. A short-term objective to reach that
goal? “I will write a thousand words a day.”
3. Create a plan to
address your weaknesses and build on your strengths.
This requires some
thoughtful self-examination. For example, I identified my
weaknesses in understanding and engaging in social media networks. Since
research is one of my strengths, I created a plan that included learning
everything I could about Facebook and Twitter. Eventually, I set up a Twitter
account and launched an author page on Facebook.
4. Build an education piece
into your plan.
Go to a writing
conference. Take a course in writing. Build your writing library. If you have
been honest with yourself in the self-examination phase of this process, you’ll
know those areas where you need to educate yourself.
5. Make sure your plan
provides for ways you will deliberately engage with others to
improve your craft.
Your plan should
reflect your engagement in a mentoring program, a critique group, workshop, or
class. I am a member of an online group that holds me accountable for
completing my work and another group that helps me refine my writing.
6. Include in your
plan statements regarding investment of your time and money.
How much time are you
willing to give to the writing, editing, revising, submitting, publishing, and
marketing of your work? Explore financial costs involved. In addition to
writing materials, you need a professional headshot, business cards, copies of
your book to give away, envelopes and postage.
True, your plan may
change. But without one, you will lack direction.
_________________________________________________________________
Rebecca
Waters left her position as a professor of teacher education in December 2012
to actively pursue her writing career. She shares her writing journey in her
weekly blog, A Novel Creation. Rebecca has published several freelance articles
including two submissions in the popular Chicken Soup for the Soul books,
Standard Publishing’s Lookout Magazine, The Christian Communicator, Church
Libraries, and Home Health Aide Digest. Rebecca’s debut novel, Breathing on Her Own, published by Lighthouse
Publishing of the Carolinas. Connect with her on Social Media via Website: http://www.BreathingOnHerOwn.com
Blog: http://RebeccaAWaters.blogspot.com
Twitter User Name:
@WatersAuthor
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