How to Make a Living with Your Writing (Third Edition) is your comprehensive guide to building a thriving author business with multiple streams of income. Whether you dream of leaving your day job or simply want to earn more from your words, this book shows you exactly how to do it.
Award-winning, New York Times bestselling author Joanna Penn has built a multi-six-figure author business over 17+ years.
In this updated third edition, she shares the proven strategies that transformed her from a miserable corporate consultant to a successful creative entrepreneur.
What You'll Learn
This practical guide covers everything you need to make a living from your writing, including how to make money from books through both traditional publishing and self-publishing, sell direct to your audience and maximize your income, create scalable income that earns money while you sleep, develop multiple streams of author income for financial security, market your books effectively without burning out, and transition from your day job to full-time author.
Inside the Book
Part 1 focuses on making money with books, covering publishing options, intellectual property assets, writing more books and writing books people want to buy, publishing in multiple formats and globally, selling direct, and book marketing strategies.
Part 2 explores alternative income streams including affiliate income and sponsorship, crowdfunding and patronage (Patreon), professional speaking and teaching, online courses and membership sites, advertising and sponsorship, physical products and merchandise, freelance writing and ghostwriting, consulting and coaching, and author services.
The book also includes a transition guide with practical next steps, questions for reflection at the end of each chapter, comprehensive resources and bibliography, and examples from successful authors across genres.
Why This Book Is Different
Unlike generic business books, this guide is written specifically for authors by someone who has actually built a successful writing career from scratch. Joanna Penn started with zero audience and no publishing experience in 2008. Today, she's sold nearly a million books worldwide in 162 countries and 5 languages, runs two successful podcasts, and speaks internationally.
This isn't theory or wishful thinking. It's a proven roadmap based on real-world experience and ongoing success in the rapidly changing publishing landscape.
Perfect For
Writers ready to take their author career seriously, authors struggling to earn meaningful income from their books, creatives considering leaving their day job, self-published and traditionally published authors alike, and anyone who wants to turn their words into a sustainable business.
✓ Build Multiple Income Streams - Learn proven strategies to diversify your author income and protect yourself from market changes
✓ Real-World Blueprint - Follow the exact path Joanna Penn used to build a multi-six-figure author business
✓ Actionable Advice - Get practical steps you can implement immediately, with questions and resources in every chapter
✓ For All Authors - Valuable strategies whether you're traditionally published, self-published, or hybrid
✓ Beyond Book Sales - Discover 10+ ways to earn income from your writing, from courses to speaking to affiliate income