As a new author at age 66, I was overwhelmed with the business side of writing. Luckily I contacted Karen… we have forged a wonderful business relationship. She gives honest feedback that helps you grow both as an artist and a business proprietor. The image she has helped me craft has gotten me places I never thought possible.
– Bradley Harper MD, Author of 2019 Edgar Finalist A Knife in the Fog
and Queen’s Gambit, 2020 Silver Falchion Best Mystery & Book of the Year
Yes, authors need business & brand plans…
Please check back for future class schedules. Or contact me for one-on-one consultations.
Whether you are about to launch a debut novel independently, or you have half a dozen traditionally published works, the reality is authors must coordinate the majority of publishing and marketing endeavors. In order to manage it all, encourage your unique readers to buy the next book, and find time to write (without losing your mind) you’re going to need to build and work from a written plan. Two, in fact:
CLASS No. 1: THE BUSINESS OF PUBLISHING PLAN
This class is especially necessary for those who will indie- or self-publish. You’ll develop a plan for setting up your author business life— from taxes/accounting to book packaging. Even if you are traditionally-published, managing many business tasks will fall to you—sales tax, book launches, and all the post-launch marketing duties. We’ll cover it all. As a result, every moment you head toward and beyond publication, this written plan will provide a way to balance these tasks with writing. You will absolutely be more effective at both.
WHAT THE CLASS PROVIDES:
Tips to manage writing hours versus business hours to match the book-publishing cycle
Advice for organizing business versus marketing versus book development tasks
And you’ll learn the steps to build a business plan that includes:
Your Author Business Structure
• Accounts—expenses & income
• Records and tax plans
Marketing
• Audience and Platform
• Pre-sales & Launch Events
• PR, Promotions
• Distribution
Book Development
• Pre-Publication
• Packaging & Registration
• Publishing and Uploading Data
• Post-Publication Processes
As a follow-up, you’ll receive:
Author Platform Tip Sheet
The Indie Publisher’s Business Worksheet
Samples of Expense, Income, and Royalty reporting docs
CLASS NO. 2: THE AUTHOR BRANDING PLAN
Think of the brands you are most loyal to… What do you see? How do you feel about them? If I say Coca-Cola®, you can see the logo, the red color, the shape of the bottle. You also might also get nostalgic about those warm and fuzzy holiday commercials with the polar bears bringing the world together. And ALL of that adds up to how you feel about the brand. The same applies to authors.
This class will ensure you make your brand unique, consistent, and authentic to you. You’ll learn about your specific reader, and choose effective platform tools for your author career. More than a discussion about why you need an author brand, this class functions as a checklist; it provides easy (and fun) steps for creating a written plan for building and managing your author brand long term.
WHAT THE CLASS PROVIDES:
• Author brand and platform terminology
• Tips for how to organize brand tasks and all your documents
• Questions and steps to build your brand plan, which includes your:
Author brand message
What makes you unique, and the benefit you bring to readers
Target Audience(s)
Demographics, preferences, and comparative titles/authors
A prioritized platform tools list
Both online and print tools, based on how you find/engage with readers
Brand Elements
Colors, fonts, author photos, and imagery
As a follow-up, you’ll receive:
A recording of our class
Author Platform Tip Sheet
Platform Tools Priority Checklist
(To open/close class descriptions, toggle the +-signs.)
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STRUCTURE – $59/class
Each Zoom Webinar is 2.0 hours long—including a 10-minute break and Q&A time. Once you register, you’ll complete the transaction on PayPal, and a Zoom code will be emailed to you.
Both classes are live Zoom Webinars! I’ll be there in person to present and to conduct Q&A. Each class is designed to provide a practical, step-by-step guide to building the plans. You’ll be able to ask questions about each task/section. The classes are recorded and you’ll receive handouts to work at your own pace after the class. Register for an individual program, or sign up for both to build a solid author-entrepreneur foundation.
BUSINESS OF PUBLISHING:
Note: These classes will resume in February 2021
AUTHOR BRANDING PLAN:
Note: These classes will resume in February 2021
Far and away the best class on branding I have taken. Karen provides specific, discrete steps that you need to take to build your brand.
– Richard A. Williams, Author and Economist
Authoring four books didn’t turn me into a marketing professional. I needed Karen Chase’s expertise and patient guidance to help me translate who I am and what I write into a comprehensive brand and marketing plan that was achievable for me.
– Kat Spears, Author of The Tragedy of Dane Riley
