Balancing Writing, Marketing, and Running a Business: The Author’s Guide to Thriving
Writing a book is a monumental achievement, but the work doesn’t end once your manuscript is complete. For many authors, the real challenge lies in managing three major tasks simultaneously: continuing to write your next book, marketing the one you’ve just released, and running your author business. It can feel like a juggling act, leaving you overwhelmed and unsure of how to prioritize your time. However, balancing these aspects is possible with the right approach.
In this blog post, I’ll walk you through practical strategies to help you find that balance while nurturing both your creative work and the business side of being an author.
1. Set Clear, Realistic Goals
The first step to balancing multiple responsibilities is to define clear goals for each area: writing, marketing, and business development. These goals should be realistic and attainable, given the amount of time and energy you have available.
For writing: Set a word count goal or a specific time block each day dedicated solely to working on your next project. Start small if necessary, but make it a non-negotiable part of your routine.
For marketing: Develop a marketing calendar that outlines when and where you will promote your latest book. This could include social media posts, guest blogs, email campaigns, or podcasts. Spacing out these tasks will prevent burnout.
For business: Create a monthly plan for managing your author business, which could include updating your website, responding to reader inquiries, or planning future promotions.
By breaking down your larger objectives into smaller tasks, you’ll avoid the feeling of being overwhelmed and be able to steadily work toward your goals.
2. Leverage Time Management Tools
When you're balancing so many things at once, time management is key. There are plenty of tools available to help you organize your schedule and keep track of deadlines.
Project management apps: Tools like Asana or Trello can help you organize your writing, marketing, and business tasks. They allow you to create to-do lists, assign deadlines, and check off completed tasks.
Time-blocking techniques: Dedicate specific blocks of time to each responsibility. For example, you might write for two hours in the morning, handle marketing tasks in the afternoon, and focus on your business admin in the evening.
Pomodoro technique: Break your work into intervals (usually 25 minutes) followed by a short break. This method can help maintain focus and prevent burnout while juggling multiple responsibilities.
By using these techniques, you’ll not only become more efficient but also reduce the mental load of switching between tasks.
3. Batch Marketing Tasks for Efficiency
Instead of trying to manage marketing on a daily basis, batching your tasks is a much more efficient way to stay consistent with your efforts. Batching simply means dedicating specific time slots to complete a large number of similar tasks at once.
Batch social media content: Schedule a time each week or month to plan, write, and schedule all of your social media posts. Tools like Buffer or Hootsuite allow you to schedule content ahead of time, so you don’t have to worry about posting every day.
Batch email newsletters: Write and schedule your email newsletters in advance, too. This way, you're not scrambling to create new content when you should be focusing on other areas of your business or writing process.
Repurpose content: Use content you've already created in new ways. Turn a blog post into multiple social media posts or an email newsletter. This not only saves time but also ensures that you’re reaching different segments of your audience.
By batching these tasks, you can concentrate on writing or running your business for the rest of the week.
4. Delegate and Outsource When Possible
Running an author business can require skills that aren’t your strengths or take up more time than you can afford. This is where delegation and outsourcing can be invaluable.
Hire a virtual assistant (VA): A VA can handle a wide range of tasks, from scheduling social media posts to responding to reader emails. This frees up more time for writing and marketing.
Work with a marketing consultant: If marketing feels overwhelming or is taking too much time away from your writing, consider hiring a consultant to help you create and execute a plan.
Outsource formatting or editing: If you’re struggling to find time to write while preparing your book for release, delegate tasks like formatting or editing to professionals who can do the job faster and more effectively.
By outsourcing, you’ll be able to focus on what you do best—writing and connecting with your readers.
5. Focus on Self-Care and Avoid Burnout
As an author and entrepreneur, it’s easy to get caught up in the hustle and forget to take care of yourself. However, burnout is real, and it can put your creativity and business at risk.
Here are some ways to ensure you're maintaining balance:
Take regular breaks: Stepping away from your desk can actually improve your productivity and help you return to your work with a fresh perspective.
Set boundaries: Create a clear divide between your work hours and personal time. This is especially important when working from home, as the lines between the two can blur.
Celebrate small wins: Whether it’s finishing a chapter, gaining new email subscribers, or hitting a milestone in book sales, take time to acknowledge your achievements.
Taking care of yourself is not only good for your well-being but also for your writing career and business growth in the long run.
You can see more tips and resources in my free Guide to Recovering From Burnout.
By mastering balance, you can grow your author career without losing your creativity.
Balancing writing, marketing, and running an author business is undoubtedly challenging, but it’s also incredibly rewarding. By setting clear goals, managing your time wisely, batching marketing tasks, outsourcing when needed, and prioritizing self-care, you can successfully juggle all three aspects without feeling overwhelmed.
Remember, every author’s journey is unique, so take your time finding a system that works for you. And don’t be afraid to reach out for support when you need it—whether it’s hiring help or connecting with fellow authors who understand the challenges you face.
