Is there a difference between being an author versus running a business as an author? In this interview with Joanna Penn, we discuss some of the important shifts that happen when you begin treating your writing (and/or your art) also as your business.
We also cover:
- The trade-offs that can make full-time writing possible
- The business models that writers are using these days
- The commonalities of authors making over $100,000 per year
- Understanding the profit and loss statement for your book
Joanna offers up our interview in three ways:
- A 45-minute video you can watch
- A transcript at her blog
- An audio-only version (at the top of the page)
I’m grateful to Joanna for inviting me as a guest on her series, and hope you find some useful takeaways in our discussion.
Jane Friedman (@JaneFriedman) has nearly 25 years of experience in the media & publishing industry. She is the publisher of The Hot Sheet, the essential newsletter on the publishing industry for authors, and was named Publishing Commentator of the Year by Digital Book World in 2019.
In addition to being a professor with The Great Courses (How to Publish Your Book), she is the author of The Business of Being a Writer (University of Chicago Press), which received a starred review from Library Journal.
Jane speaks regularly at conferences and industry events such as Digital Book World and Frankfurt Book Fair, and has served on panels with the National Endowment for the Arts and the Creative Work Fund. Find out more.