With the changes in the publishing industry, I’ve been relieved to see that fewer people are feeling the need to write a book.
It’s fine to want to write a book, it’s even fine to write a book. But what’s not often understood is how dangerous an activity book writing can be for your business.
I was talking to one of my clients who had written a book very early in her business. The same client has had financial struggles ever since.
I told her to stop blaming herself and helped her bring in some compassion. Because it was actually the book that had created so much struggle.
I have a friend who has written two best-selling books and been involved in many business start-ups. He told me, “If you choose to write a book at the wrong time, it can sink your business.”
It needs to be said, in the interest of fairness, that since my client wrote the book, it is a great point of leverage. The book has created an incredible amount of credibility for her in her industry. What it hasn’t done (yet) is generate much cash.
I’ve been helping her rework her business model, and we’re seeing her business do better. She has further to go, but it’s looking good.
Let me explain the three reasons I’ve learned that book writing is so dangerous. It has to do with Time, Focus, and Profitability.
Time
The first thing you should know is that writing a good book, a book worth writing, takes a LOT of time. It can take months, even years, writing, rewriting, editing.
And that’s just getting it written. Once you publish it, then there’s the marketing of the book, which takes more time. Whether you self-publish or are published by a publisher, it takes the coordination and effort of a small team to pull off the successful marketing of a book.
That’s a great deal of time. Which leads me to the next issue.
Focus
Anything that takes up that much time means that it is more than just a project. It’s almost a business unto itself. It’s no mistake that authors sometimes refer to their books as “children” because of the time and the focus they take.
Researching. Creating. Writing. Editing. Coordinating. Interviewing. More writing. Marketing. Networking.
Everything you would ordinarily do for your business, you need to do for your book. Which leads me to the third reason.
Profitability
During the entire time all of this is going on with your book, it’s not generating any money at all. All that time you are spending on it, it’s not doing anything for your bank account.
Not everything needs to generate money quickly, and many things don’t need to generate money at all. However, if this book is a part of your business, you need to take this into account.
Even supposing you get an agent and sell your book, you might get a $5000 advance, which for many people is barely one month’s worth of income. The chances that your book will earn more than the advance are very, very slim. I happen to know several people who have published best-selling books, and none of them are currently making a living off the book itself.
All the time you spend working on your book could instead be spent on developing your business until it reaches momentum, at which point you could start to write a book without sinking yourself.
This is NOT to say you shouldn’t be writing. You should be. Articulating the hard-to-articulate ideas and concepts in your industry is what makes you an industry leader, builds credibility, and attracts clients.
You need to be expressing yourself, and putting your ideas and presence out in the world. I just prefer that your writing lifts your business up instead of sinking it.
Of course, if your business is in momentum and you have the time and the material is all there, just waiting to be put together, then do write your book. The book itself may not make you rich, but like my client and many others, it will give you credibility and propel an already established business forward.
But the timing is very important, because when you write your book will determine whether it could sink you or help you swim. I want you to swim!
What’s been your experience with book writing, or even contemplating writing a book?
With love and appreciation,
Mark
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17 Responses
Ouch! My business IS writing books! It’s not a business that has ever brought in much money, but it is abundant in service and satisfaction. My psychotherapy practice brings in money and supports my book writing. Sometimes I joke, ‘I work as a psychotherapist to support my writing habit’.
So having two side-by-side businesses seems to be the best I can do.
Thanks for all your wisdom Mark, I love reading what you write.
Hi Juliet- as long as you’re clear and taking care of yourself! Thanks for your kind words.
Hey Mark
Interesting article with a great deal of truth.
The way I see it is that writing a book as a business tool is, these days, exactly as you describe it. To write books we need to love the process, to love books and not be too concerned about the financial rewards.
My book, Break Out of Your Mind! has sold a few thousand copies but was not designed to be a best-seller. The amount of time I poured into it makes no business sense whatever, even though I’ve picked up several thousand pounds from mentoring clients as a result of it.
The reward for me comes from the powerful learning that came from it at all levels
Thank your Leo.Your comments really resonated with me. I want to leave a legacy of what I’ve learned and reach more people. I know how much the right book can effect me, so I’m in no doubt I need to do it. I also think Mark’s advice is really useful to bear in mind. You need to have the ongoing funds to be able to spare the time and not expect that it will bring in major financial reward.
Hi Leo- I wasn’t thinking of it as a “cold business decision” that’s just about the money. I was thinking of people I see struggling to care for themselves, for their families, who are in a real financial danger zone because of this issue. I think writing for love is beautiful, as long as you’re clear, and able to care for yourself as well.
And yes, the writing can bear unforeseen fruit- and that’s so beautiful!
I get you Mark. I didn’t mean anything personal by “cold business facts”. No insult intended.
When I wrote my book I had very little income but also no commitments to speak of. May have been different if I’d had a young family.
A minor miracle happened in that, without any marketing whatever, just enough clients came in to pay the bills during the intensive months of writing.
So it seems to me there’s a fine balance between following our Heart calling and being sensible and responsible for our worldly commitments.
To me a really important distinction is to perceive the difference between a calling that truly comes from the Divine, and thus carries that power, and a wanting of mind that does not.
The latter can surely lure us onto the rocks if we heed that Siren call …
Yes, Leo- I get you. My comments were primarily for others reading to get the clarity between these points, rather than any worry that you had misinterpreted me. 🙂 I agree wholeheartedly about the importance of discernment between the heart’s calling and the self’s wanting. Amina Melody who commented below is a great example of that discernment.
I’d be really interested in any tips people have on how to distinguish between the heart’s calling and the self’s wanting. My book feels very much form heart. I’ve dreamed about it since I was 12! But for other decisions it would be very helpful.
As always Mark, your newsletters are like a breath of fresh air, bringing in tremendous relief and a sense of ease with my business. I was part of an anthology book entitled “Women Living Consciously”, and although it gave me great satisfaction in being a part of it, I still have a ton of printed books sitting in my basement and my business focus has gone elsewhere. I’m wondering how you feel about ebooks? Would the same concerns apply? I really hear you about the timing of publishing a book and how it fits into how well your business is doing. Thank you!!
Hi Pat- Ugh! I feel for you. I think this applies to any book length project. However, if you are writing a book that is being sold as part of a learning package, perhaps with audio or video, or just more involvement, and it’s being sold for more than US$19, then you have a chance to make a profit at it! My first self-published book, which sells for $65, help Heart of Business break the six figure annual income mark for the first time back in 2005.
Hi Mark, I was listening to a Sufi teaching over the weekend that said when you are seeking guidance to look for 3 signs in answer. Three confirmations are a way to make sure you are following true guidance and not your own self. Your post was one of my 3 signs!
I so appreciated what Leo wrote. I’ve done the “if I were on my deathbed, looking back on my life . . . ” and what I know deep down in my bones is that to pass peacefully from this world (some day) I NEED TO WRITE what’s in my heart to write. That IS my business. I’m in the fortunate position of having other source of income so for me it is first service and love, and God willing, some financial blessing will unfold from that. More importantly, my soul will be at peace knowing that I’ve done what I came here to do.
Amina- there you go! As long as you aren’t trying to earn a living from it, I think you’re in a perfect spot.
Hi Mark,
My husband and business partner has been suggesting for years that I write fewer books, due to many of the observations that you shared here.
But I self identify as a writer – it’s my passion and joy. So how can book writing coincide with other aspects of a healthy business? I’m curious to feel into this question and learn more.
I’m assuming that you see web based programs as different than books?
In my experience, you can make good money with ebooks. My ebook on sugar addiction generates a nice check each month from amazon that helps support my business.
Warmly, Karly
Hi Karly- as long as your business model works for you, then there you go! I just hate to see good people struggle unnecessarily.
Hi Mark,
I just want to say thanks so much for this.
I feel that mine is one of the hearts that the divine was prompting you to send this message to.
As someone else put it I have always self-identified as a writer. This is the one thing that I have always felt clear I want to do.
But writing doesn’t pay enough, at least until you are very well-established. So I have been hopping from one foot to the other for, oh, about 8 years now. Starting businesses but not growing them enough because I’m not writing, and then not being able to grow the writing enough because it doesn’t pay all the bills. I guess you’ve heard this story before!
For the first time in so long now I feel clear. I will work at my business to pay the bills and work at my writing because I love it. I will hold the idea of earning an income from writing but in such a such a gentle way. No pressure. Just the way I would do any of the hundred things we do each day because they are our life, but not expecting to squeeze income from them. I can see now I was trying to get eggs from a little baby chicken!
Having read your post today I can see how everything can be taken care of in a much more careful way. I can’t wait to see what is down this path, it feels so right so thank you!
Hi Mark,
Your article gave me a sense of relief and clarity.I know I have books in me that want to be born however feeling financial not ready is crucial and writing from a place of feeling scarcity would undermine the book, as well as, the rest of my life and biz. It also brought to the forefront how I can focus on things that don’t bring in an income instead of really getting out there and letting my biz be known.Fear and resistance play a role here . So for now, waiting on the book and putting that energy into articles,website (on-going writing saga),and relationship building emails makes most sense. Thanks Mark for this article and the clarity and direction it evoked!
Hi Mark,
This is a great blog post – you make some key points and outline the pros and cons really well.
I do agree with you about not writing a book too soon. I help people to get started on their first non-fiction book and I believe it’s essential to be several years into your business, so that you have clarity on your business message, services and tribe, otherwise you may end up writing the wrong book altogether.
I know what you mean about the financial side; the way to look at your book is as a great calling card, rather than a huge source of income in itself.
Writing a book does take effort and work, but it can also be one of the most wonderful journeys you’ll ever make. I know that writing my first book was a real labour of love. Timing is key and you need to be ‘on fire’ to write it.