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Updated June 7, 2023
Subtitle
Self-publish, but keep your day job
Synopsis
The reality is that most authors make little or no money from self-publishing. You must understand that getting your publications to make money will take time and effort. Here are ten great ways to get started without driving yourself crazy or upsetting your family.
What You Will Learn
1. You will learn ten painless ways to start your self-publishing career/business.
2. You will learn how and why self-publishing can complement your regular job and career.
3. You will learn how and why your day job might be a significant reason your self-publishing will succeed.
Introduction
Anyone can write a few books and quickly start a self-publishing business. The challenging part is in creating a financially successful self-publishing business.
The reality of publishing is that most authors and self-publishers make little or no money from self-publishing. You must understand that getting your publications to make money will take time and effort.
Here are some great ways to get started without driving yourself crazy or upsetting your family:
Tip # 1. Keep your current job and think long and hard about what you would like to publish
Do lots of research and soul-searching about what subject matter you will be writing about. What will your specialty, expertise, or niche be?
Tip # 2. Keep your current job and write and publish a subject that you love
You will devote many long hours to your writing, promoting, marketing, sales, etc. You cannot go the distance if you do not have a passion for your subject (niche).
Tip # 3. Keep your current job and get your family on board with your plans – especially your spouse
Usually, your spouse should be your partner in your new venture. They have as much to gain or lose as you do. Therefore, they will be very motivated to help make it a success.
Tip # 4. Keep your current job and get professional help for your business
Help from an accountant (for financial planning and taxes) and an attorney (for copyright, trademark, and business formation). You should not do these chores alone to save a few bucks.
Tip # 5. Keep your current job and business lean (keep expenses down to a minimum)
Using the internet wisely allows you to run an entire business from home – very inexpensively, efficiently, and with no employees.
Tip # 6. Keep your current job and become a fantastic employee at work
You must continue to perform well at your job; lose it, and you could lose everything.
Tip # 7. Keep your current job, save your business profits, and reinvest them when necessary
Use earnings to set up the business infrastructure your business needs, such as copyrights, trademarks, computers, LLC formation, etc.
Tip # 8. Keep your current job and create a schedule for your writing, business, and personal time
Make lists of things to do, achieve, and accomplish to keep yourself and your new business on track to success. And always make time for your family – without exception
Tip # 9. Keep your current job, and do not complain about your challenging work schedule
Co-workers do not want to hear your complaining, which will hurt your reputation. And never let your family listen to you complaining because it will upset everyone. Once your self-publishing business has been running for a while, scheduling and time management is less of a problem.
Tip # 10. Keep your current job and wait longer than you want to quit that job
At the very least, until your self-publishing can provide enough income to cover your living expenses. If you have a family, double or triple the revenue needed. If your job gives you credibility in your readers’ eyes, which will help you sell more copies, then you might want to keep that job.
Conclusion: Keep Your Current Job
Now you should understand that if you already have a paying job, the best way to start and maintain your new self-publishing venture is to keep your paying job AND do both together.
And, in most cases, it is easy enough to keep your regular job – for medical benefits, retirement savings, steady paycheck, and industry contacts – AND run your self-publishing business – for extra income, fame, credibility, retirement business and revenue, creative outlet – at the same time.
In addition, staying employed while you build your self-publishing business is the most intelligent and least risky way to dip your toe into the entrepreneurial waters.
Questions to Think About
1. What relatable experiences do you have working at a job and running a business simultaneously?
2. If you have written a book, maintained a blog, etc., is the subject matter related, in any way, to your regular job?
