My husband and I take a one week vacation every year in December, and it is my favorite time to catch up my reading.

Here are five business books that came out in 2016  that I recommend writing entrepreneurs add to their library.

The Successful Author Mindset: A Handbook for Surviving the Writer’s Journey by Joanna Penn (2016-06-29). Print: $6.99 eBook: $4.99.

Joanna Penn is one of my favorite authors on business advice for writers. I recommend all her non-fiction business books for writers. Her latest book, The Successful Author Mindset, provides insight into the psychological roller coaster of being a successful indie publisher.

Written in three sections, part 1 discusses issues that confront authors while writing. Part 2 analyses the period after you publish and as you begin to write successive books. The last part of the book talks about broader issues writers must confront: how to reassess your approach and how to continue to improve your writing, your productivity, and, your career.

You will discover as you go through Joanna’s stories that your journey as a writer is not as unique as you might think. You will see that all writers share a degree of insecurity about their work and question whether they are pursuing the right path, no matter where they are in their career. Even if you hit that six-figure income level, you will still have doubts, will still need your friends and will still have that drive to write.

Whether you are just starting out, have been writing or are at the top of your field, you will enjoy this short, but valuable book.

Closing the Deal…on Your Terms: Agents, Contracts and Other Considerations (WMG Writers’ Guide Book 14)  by Kristine Kathryn Rusch (2016-12-1). Print: $19.99 eBook: $7.99.

I have taken classes by Kristine Kathryn Rusch and her husband, Dean Wesley Smith, for years. Their information is reliable and based on years of experience. The proof is the number of awards they have on their resumes.  Kristine Rusch’s  newest non-fiction business book includes valuable advice on negotiating contracts with agents, dealing with publishing houses and working with lawyers, as well as a chapter on negotiating business deals for authors.

I recommend you read Closing The Deal On Your Terms before you face a legal issue, to prepare you for when you face the situations discussed in the book.

The cost of the print book is much higher than the eBook, but if you are like me, you are going to want to add this to your hardcopy reference library.

Packed with advice, tips and strategies, this is a book for those serious about building a sustainable writing business. The information presented is invaluable background information when working on the business strategy section of your business plan.

If you are on the fence about whether you can make it as a writer, then go through this book and ask yourself if you have the desire, the determination, time and money to invest in your business and in yourself to make your writing dreams come true. Many authors have already adopted this approach and are seeing success.

One thing you will learn when going through The Six Figure Writer, is that you won’t be an overnight sensation. Building a profitable writing business takes time and a lot of hard work. You have to love what you are doing and get a lot of satisfaction from seeing small steps add impact to reach a high level of success. In this book, you will see that others have done it and if you are willing to work hard, you can too.

The Writer’s Business Plan, by Tonya D. Price (2016-05- 25 ) Paperback: $9.99 eBook: $7.99.

I was surprised by the small number of business books for writers published in 2016. Given the number of people contacting me about The Writer’s Business Plan, I decided to include the book in this list and ask forgiveness rather than leave it off the list. I do think the books listed are great resources for when you work on your business plan.

I am a firm believer that as you learn about marketing strategies to promote your book, as you study how to negotiate business deals and as you look forward to evolving your business career, you should capture all this learning and dreaming in your plan. The information you gather from reading can help solve some of your business issues. Just reading that very successful authors also struggle with doubts at times providesthis:  perspective when you struggle through a downturn period.

A business plan should be a dynamic document that gets updated every year. So after you read the great books listed here, go back to your business plan and update your strategy section, your marketing section, your financial goal section and then spend the next year achieving your goals!

Tools of Titans: The Tactics, Routines, and Habits of Billionaires, Icons, and World-Class Performers by Timothy Ferriss (2016-12-06). Print: $16.80 eBook: $15.99.

I am not a big fan of get-rich-quick books and having come from parents who grew up in extreme poverty I have had to work over the years to get over many of the stereotypes I heard growing up regarding the rich.

When I first saw this book, I was skeptical that studying extremely rich people would have much value for me as a writing entrepreneur, but the book got great reviews so I took a chance and bought it. As you work to grow your company, you need to learn from everyone. You can learn from people’s failures. But you can also learn from people’s success. Some billionaires got their money from their parents. Some have decreased their fortunes due to their poor business decisions. These failures often come from thinking they are smarter than everyone else and not asking for advice. But many billionaires built their fortunes, and have lessons they can teach those of us who are building our companies.

You may be like me. I write because I love writing and started my company because I wanted to be able to write full time. Achieving a six-figure-income would mean, as my husband always says, we could be generous to others. Earning seven-figures would allow us to be generous in a more consistent way. To be honest, I’ve never evened dreamed of ten-figure wealth.

The real reason to read this book is not to learn to make a billion dollars, but because as a writing entrepreneur, you are always looking for ideas to make your business better and the people interviewed in this book have done just that!

Tools of Titans isn’t a business book written specifically for writers, but as a writing entrepreneur, I recommend you read this book, then go back and take another look at your business plan and ask yourself if maybe you should be dreaming bigger!

 

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Save

Save

Save