For the third installment of #AuthorpreneurSpeak, I am delighted to publish the guest post by the very knowledgeable Adite Banerjie. Having seen the traditional publishing side of the ecosystem from close quarters, Adite recently turned to Indie publishing. Read on to learn from her experiences. 

There has been a tectonic shift in the publishing world in the last ten years. Getting a book contract from a traditional publisher is no longer the only way to see your name on the cover of your novel. The role of the publisher and/or agent who stand guard as gatekeepers to the publishing world has diminished. Suddenly, it is possible for writers to go directly to readers as long as there is a digital platform on which they can make their work available.

The rise of Amazon and its self-publishing platform (KDP Select) has been a game-changer in the slow-paced world of publishing. It has empowered writers by turning them into self-publishers and marketers of their own books. Speed to market which was once a term that was never attributed to book marketing has become the mantra for writers who have donned a new avatar—as entrepreneurs. Or, more accurately, authorpreneurs.

However, the word ‘authorpreneur’ is not mere jargon. It entails a shift in mindset. It   means that as a writer one is willing to dive into the business side of writing. For decades, writers have convinced themselves—and publishers have propagated this myth—that as a creative person one shouldn’t be getting his or her hands dirty in the business side of writing. But by accepting this argument the writer is signing away the right to take decisions on her own work.

Authorpreneurship offers writers the opportunity to make a call on issues that they have never had a say on—including pricing of books, cover design, marketing and more. But to be an effective authorpreneur a writer has to be willing to take the risk, change gears when required and constantly upgrade herself on the business side of writing.

Most importantly, while learning the new skills of authorpreneurship, a writer cannot forget that her book is the centrepiece around which all her strategies will revolve. So, make sure that the book is worthy enough of being professionally published.

As a newly minted authorpreneur myself, I have been keenly observing the traits of successful self-published authors. As a novice in this game I’ve realized that I need to operate more as a guerrilla authorpreneur to survive in this very competitive arena—and developing some of the following traits would be extremely beneficial.

Be creative: That’s the hallmark of a writer. But the authorpreneur needs to extend her creativity beyond writing and into marketing activities as well. Selecting an appealing cover design or communicating with readers and followers on social media platforms in a creative manner will make her efforts as an authorpreneur stand out.

Dedication: An authorpreneur is dedicated to her publishing timeline. She does not have the luxury of writing as and when the muse strikes. Time management needs to be an essential tool in the authorpreneur’s toolkit. Setting aside time for writing, marketing and online communication have to be factored into her daily schedule.

Learning and experimentation: To grow as an authorpreneur upgrading one’s skillsets is essential. One needs to keep learning from fellow self-publishers and the plethora of online resources that are available freely. But just because some tools have worked for one authorpreneur, there is no guarantee that it will work for another. While experimenting, exercising caution is important and instead of spending a bunch of money—say on a Facebook ad—it would be best to spend small amounts and keep a record of the impact. Every investment has a risk attached to it and being prepared for it is the best way forward.

Reining in expectations: It’s best to be conservative when it comes to estimating earnings from self-publishing ventures. As an authorpreneur’s backlist grows and her skills keep pace, her hard work and dedication are bound to pay off.

Self-Publishing is the way to go if a writer wants control over her creative work. Besides being a very empowering process, it can also be a lot of fun.

Happy Authorpreneuring! 🙂

After five years of being traditionally published, Adite Banerjie has chosen to become an authorpreneur. You can find her books on Amazon. Also connect with her via her website and Facebook Page.