Many writers dream of becoming full-time authors. But how exactly do successful self-published authors earn their livings? The answer to this question lies in an entrepreneurial spirit.

Turning a creative hobby into a career is a business endeavor, yet many writers hesitate to think of their books as products, their readers as customers, and book marketing as an essential part of what it means to be a full-time author — which is also why so many self-published writers fail to garner more than just a few occasional sales.

That said, there's nothing easy about building a small business from the ground up. Most successful self-published authors spend years cultivating their careers before quitting their day jobs.

How do they get to the point where they can write full-time?

Let’s break down the three P's of successful self-publishing, writer. 👇

Both the traditional and independent publishing industries offer writers the fantastic opportunity to share their work with the world. But which path to publication is right for you?

To answer this question, we're first going to operate under the assumption that you'd like to publish for profit, meaning you aren't just looking to print a few copies of your recently finished book to give to family and friends. Your intent is to make a living as a writer — or, at the very least, to use your writing as a secondary income stream.

You can spend months crafting the perfect novel for your audience, only for it to sell poorly because you haven’t taken your metadata seriously. It may not be fair, but it’s true--the metadata for your eBook can make or break your sales.  But what is metadata? Here’s a list of what it includes:  1. Book title 2. Subtitle 3. Series information 4. Description 5. Author 6. Contributors 7. Publisher 8. Keywords 9. Category You enter all of these metadata elements when you’re publishing your book.

If you write short fiction, submitting to literary magazines is a great way to find an audience. But with thousands of magazines to choose from, submissions might feel intimidating. Don't know where to begin? Or even what to think about when submitting to litmags? This guide breaks down the big considerations as you delve into the world of submissions.

I worked on my thriller, Murderabilia, for years. Imagine my surprise when the TV show, “The Prodigal Son,” aired in September with a nearly identical premise. In my book and the show, the son of a serial killer has not seen his imprisoned father since he was a boy. Many years later, someone commits a murder that looks just the way his father would do it. The police need the protagonist to work with his father to find the copycat killer. Had someone borrowed my work?

If you’re looking for a simple and cost-effective way to format your next book, allow me to introduce you to Vellum.

This book formatting software is incredibly intuitive and easy to use. Though designed with fiction in mind, you can use Vellum to format any book not in need of complicated interior design.

Because Vellum is a one-time purchase (I.e. $199.99 for e-book formatting, $249.99 for print + e-book formatting), it’s a cost-effective DIY formatting option for many independent authors, especially those planning to publish multiple books. And because you don’t need to purchase Vellum until you’re ready to generate your formatted files, you can download and trial Vellum for an unlimited amount of time.

I’m often asked when I plan to publish my first novel, or how my work on that novel is coming along, and I’m incredibly grateful to know there are readers out there eagerly awaiting my fiction debut. If you’re one such reader, thank you! 

But on occasion, I’m asked a different question about my general lack of publishing experience: “What gives you the right to give writing advice when you aren’t even published? You’re not an author. Why should anyone trust you?”

This is by no means a common occurrence for me, but it does happen from time to time, usually once or twice a year. And every time I’m asked this question, I get to thinking about creative validation and what it really means to be a writer. 

Despite the saying, readers do indeed judge books by their covers.

A great book cover design catches readers’ eyes and gives them an immediate understanding of the book’s genre, intended audience, and tone — and in many cases, its overall quality as well. This information then helps readers decide whether clicking on the book’s listing is worth their time. If so, they’re all the more likely to purchase the book in question.

Can you see why a great cover design is essential to your book’s success on the market?

There’s more to self-publishing than throwing your book up on Amazon and calling it a day. 

To become a successful independent author, you must treat your writing as a business. Your books are your products, and to sell well, they must rival books produced by traditional publishers. To do this, you must give ample thought to every element of your books’ production, from editing and proofreading to cover design, back cover copy, formatting, and more.

Does that sound overwhelming? You’re not wrong. Indeed, there are a plethora of book production tools, services, and resources available to writers who choose to self-publish. But not all of these options are created equal. Some are more trustworthy than others, while some are simply better suited to certain books or writers.

How do you decide which options are best for you? Rather than fall victim to analysis-paralysis, let’s break down the most popular ways that self-published authors produce their books, beginning with five common interior formatting options…

One thing I love about being an online creator is connecting with fellow writers producing incredible work.

One such writer is Mandy Wallace, a blogger and writing mentor whose resources at Write or Die never fail to leave me feeling encouraged and inspired. Earlier this week, Mandy published Landing Your First Publication, a short story writing prompt and publication strategy guide for writers who refuse to rely on luck.

When Mandy offered to send me an advanced reader copy of the book to review, I jumped at the opportunity — and I’m so glad I did. Landing Your First Publication is a beautiful and insightful resource for any writer looking to stop wishing and start making their publication dreams come true.

Today, I’d love to share five key submission tips I gleaned from this incredible resource:

Thinking about entering a writing contest? How about submitting your work for feedback from industry professionals? Author Michelle Cornish has years of experience in both of these endeavors, and today on the Well-Storied blog, she’s sharing her top tips for submission success!