Each writer’s journey is unique, a path punctuated with challenges, discoveries, and revelations. However, like any adventure, there are distinct milestones that most authors strive to achieve on their road to becoming successful authors.
This framework isn’t a one-size-fits-all blueprint. Rather it serves as a compass—a guide to offer direction, especially when the waters of the literary world can get murky. Here we’ll share eight levels of success as an author as guiding definitions of success.
Keep in mind that every author won’t want to become a level 8 author. If you enjoy the pace and freedom level 5 offers, you should feel no obligation to continue “climbing the ladder.” Stay there! Stress lies at the end of the path of trying to reach a level that’s not true to our desires.
Why Setting Goals is Important for Self-Published Authors
Setting goals is crucial for self-published authors who want to turn their passion for writing into a successful career. Having clear, well-defined objectives provides a roadmap for success and helps authors stay focused amidst the myriad tasks involved in writing, publishing, and marketing their work. Goals give writers something concrete to strive for.
Moreover, having a framework of goals allows authors to gauge their progress effectively. In the often solitary world of writing, it can be challenging to determine if one is moving forward or simply treading water. By setting short-term and long-term goals, authors can celebrate small victories along the way. These milestones also provide natural points for writers to reflect and assess what’s working, and what isn’t, and adjust their strategies accordingly.
Perhaps most importantly, goals give self-published authors a sense of purpose from the outset of their journey. Writing a book is a significant undertaking, and starting with clear intentions and a vision of what they want to achieve can help authors navigate challenges with greater resilience and determination.
Level 1 of Author Success: The Beginning
The first level is about establishing yourself. You’ve published your first book and maybe even a few more, and they’re generating some revenue. You’re not a millionaire, but you’re starting to see the potential.
The focus at level 1 is establishing a stable of readers—finding the people who love what you’re writing, and then writing books for them.
How to Reach Level 1:
- Level 1 success is all about mindset. Shift your mindset from “I have a book for sale” to “I’m a serious, successful author.”
- Treat your writing as a business by tracking metrics, planning, and maintaining a disciplined writing schedule.
Level 2 of Author Success: Expanding Formats
This level involves diversifying the formats of your books. This could mean different versions of print books, audiobooks, and even translations.
How to Reach Level 2:
- Use your platform and your following to understand what formats or products your audience is most interested in.
- Prioritize and then create those formats. When ready, list all the formats in which your books are available (hardcover, paperback, audiobook, translations, etc.).
Level 3 of Author Success: Going Wide
Level 3 is about expanding your reach as a self-published author. You’ve got some books under your belt, and you know a bit about the industry now. It’s time to bring your work to the world! Literally!
Level 3 is about liberating your books from any exclusive agreements you may have with a single retailer. It’s leveraging direct sales on your website, and getting your books listed in as many stores and libraries as possible worldwide. Draft2Digital can help you distribute your digital book files to just about every country on the planet.
How to Reach Level 3:
- Opt out of any exclusivity arrangements you may have with a single retailer. If you’re locked into a single retailer, you’re limiting your potential.
- Work with a digital distributor (sometimes called an aggregator) to get your books listed in as many global retail and library platforms as possible. A distributor will expand your reach significantly and save you a ton of time.
Level 4 of Author Success: Special Editions
Level 4 is the pinnacle of adding value. You’re starting to write special versions of your books that fans would treasure. These could be signed editions, exclusive covers, or even related content spun off from your main books.
Some authors make a mint selling handmade leather-bound special edition hardcover versions of their books on Kickstarter, and plenty of successful writers do quite well selling signed copies from their websites.
The best part about special editions is that you don’t need to spend nearly as much time producing the copies themselves—the book has already been written!
How to Reach Level 4:
- Engage with your readers to understand what they’d value as a ‘special edition’.
- Use deleted scenes, character profiles, and more to create these exclusive products.
- Offer something unique, like how the author created a bartender’s manual tied into the theme of his book series.
Level 5: The “Corporate” Level
Level 5 is called the “corporate” level because the tactic of bundling and add-ons is a common strategy used by almost every corporation. At Level 5, achieving success means grouping your existing products into bundles, box sets, groups of products, and otherwise lumping things you’ve already created together to maximize revenue and offering supplementary content to entice buyers.
Level 5 isn’t about creating new products, it’s about bundling existing work together in cool, innovative, and profitable ways.
How to Reach Level 5:
- Strengthen your personal author platform to maximize control over your sales process.
- Leverage the products you’ve already created by packaging them together in new and attractive ways.
- Guide readers along a specific journey on your site and optimize sales paths.
Level 6: Beyond the Book
At Level 6, you transcend the traditional confines of a book. You’re leveraging the brand you’ve built and the characters you’ve created in new and unexpected ways that absolutely delight your readership.
You might develop merchandise, soundtracks, and other unique products that are spin-offs from your literary work.
How to Reach Level 6:
- Transition from seeing yourself as an author to recognizing yourself as a brand.
- Engage deeply with your readers. Know your brand evangelists (aka superfans) and engage them to help sell your brand.
- Brainstorm and dream of unique merchandise or products related to your books, such as soundtracks, bobbleheads, themed merchandise, and more. Some authors create t-shirts with popular quotes from their books.
- Use platforms like Patreon to engage fans on a deeper level. Offer them exclusive deals, like being among the first to receive the book or including their name in the acknowledgments section, and involve them in the creation process.
- Segment your mailing list to tailor your marketing and engagement strategies to different subsets of your fanbase.
Level 7: Personal Access and Consultation
Level 7 success means you’re now offering personalized access, perhaps even in the form of consultation or mentorship to budding authors or die-hard fans. You’re recognizing that your time and expertise as a successful author hold value beyond just the written page.
How to Reach Level 7:
- Recognize that to some fans, you are their all-time favorite author and they’d pay for personalized interaction.
- Offer unique experiences: writing retreats, personal consultations, or even group workshops.
- Think like a consultant, offering your expertise and experiences to those willing to learn.
- Package your knowledge into consumable formats, whether that’s a personalized retreat, online course, or a workshop.
Level 8: The Brand Empire
Level 8 is the Empire Level. This one’s about being more than just becoming a successful author. It’s about being a brand or even a movement. Your books have potential beyond just the written word, and you’re looking to expand and capitalize on that.
How to Reach Level 8:
- Aim to be a keynote speaker or run personal events.
- Expand your writing universe, potentially even bringing in other writers to contribute.
- Diversify your offerings: consider recording courses, selling movie rights, licensing, and more.
- Build and lead a team. Surround yourself with professionals who can help carry out your vision, from editors to marketers to merchandise creators.
- Delegate: while you oversee and maintain the vision, you’re not necessarily creating every piece of content or product.
- Envision your end goal and create a plan to achieve it. Understand that level 8 doesn’t necessarily mean global domination or selling out arenas—it’s about achieving the pinnacle of success that you personally envision.
Tips to Becoming a Successful Author
Here are a few takeaways, as we draw this exploration to a close:
Every Author’s Path is Distinct
While frameworks and guidelines can offer direction, they aren’t prescriptive. They’re like maps—they outline the terrain, but the adventures you undertake, the allies you forge, the challenges you encounter, and the victories you celebrate are wholly yours.
The Journey is as Significant as the Destination
While “leveling up” is exhilarating, there’s unparalleled wisdom in the struggles, the writer’s blocks, the revisions, and even the rejections. They mold you, fortify your spirit, and enrich your narratives.
Connect and Collaborate
Whether you’re at a mixer, a writers’ conference, or even in the digital realm, seek out peers and mentors. Share stories, swap experiences, and learn. The literary world isn’t a solitary island but a vibrant archipelago. The bridges you build can lead to unforeseen and wondrous territories.
Stay Rooted, But Let Your Aspirations Soar
While it’s pivotal to remain grounded in your authentic voice, it’s equally crucial to dream big. Whether you’re exploring the self-publishing path, an indie author penning heartfelt stories, or aiming to build a literary empire, let your ambitions be your north star.
Embrace Evolution
The literary realm is dynamic. New genres emerge, reader preferences shift, and narrative styles evolve. Stay attuned to these winds of change. But more importantly, evolve with them. Not for mere relevance, but for growth, for the sheer thrill of exploration.
And there we have it—a whirlwind tour through the labyrinthine voyage of an author’s career. While the stages outlined reflect common patterns and milestones, the true essence of your journey lies in the heartbeats between these levels, in the stories that are uniquely yours.