Skip to content
Words Rhymes & Rhythm

Words Rhymes & Rhythm

Words Rhymes & Rhythm Publishers

Header Advertise
Menu
  • HOME
    • ABOUT US
    • OUR CSR
    • CONTACT US
  • cọ́nscìò
  • FEATURES
    • BOOK REVIEWS
    • ESSAYS
    • INTERVIEWS
    • WRITING TIPS
  • POETRY
  • FICTION
  • SUBMIT
  • NEWS
    • CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS
  • PUBLISHING
    • PUBLISHING PACKAGES
    • 7 REASONS WHY
  • DOWNLOAD
  • Home
  • FEATURES
  • ESSAYS
  • WRITING, PUBLISHING: THE FOUR CAREER STAGES OF AUTHORSHIP by King Samuel Benson
ESSAYS

WRITING, PUBLISHING: THE FOUR CAREER STAGES OF AUTHORSHIP by King Samuel Benson

adminFebruary 26, 2017August 3, 2020

Share

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Read Time:3 Minute, 32 Second

Every published author, whether traditionally published or indie published, fall into one of these four career stages of authorship.

THE UNKNOWN AUTHOR

All authors start out from this stage. This is the stage where you don’t yet have an audience. Too often, the unknown author has no personal brand and only promotes his books.

The problem is that some unknown authors never quite leave this stage. All new authors may be unknown authors but not all unknown authors are new authors.

Many unknown authors are doomed to remain obscure because of their attitude to the business. They adopt a no-risk publishing model, and as a result, they can hardly accomplish anything outside of the writing process.

 

The most common issue with unknown authors is that, either they don’t have sufficient resources to drive the business growth they need or they are not willing to expend those resources.

Most unknown authors are indie authors. Unknown authors are usually the least privileged members of the publishing industry. However, with a little traction, a little leverage and a little drive, the unknown author can quickly become a selling author.

THE SELLING AUTHOR

The selling author has gained enough experience and developed skills that help him move out of the “unknown” stage by actually selling some books and attracting reader following. This selling stage is often triggered by a specific event such as a book signing, a review recommendation or a paid promotion.

Selling authors make up the bulk population of authors in general. This is also the stage where many authors are faced with the decision to either advance their career or lose reader interest.

A traditionally published author in this stage tends to quickly advance to the next stage. Indie authors, however, have a much harder time due to the lack of viable business systems and a structured reader acquisition funnel.

 

Selling authors who have been in this stage for too long tend to eventually lose value and return to being “unknown authors.”

THE BESTSELLING AUTHOR

The bestselling author has done something right for a long time and all the hard work is starting to pay off. The bestselling author has acquired a solid base of loyal readers in the long run, and maintains an excellent relationship with them. This gives him an important edge over selling authors — one that he is able to recreate over and over.

Many selling authors think themselves “bestselling” authors. But to the reader, the difference is clear: one has something which the other does not have, and a lot of it has to do with the attitude. But there are also other important factors at play, like business sense, organisation and systems.

 

A lot of selling authors believe becoming a bestselling author is just within their reach. But in reality, there’s a lot at play that they are not aware of. It is the part they don’t see that makes all the distinction.

THE SUCCESSFUL AUTHOR

The successful author is not only a bestselling author, he is also a business owner with an enterprising personality. The successful author has a large following of readers and super fans who love, cherish and promote him consistently. The successful author is also an important industry player and controls a major portion of his market.

By focusing on producing high quality material, a traditionally published author can quickly become a successful author. However, in the indiesphere, the indie author has a lot more to consider beyond just the quality of his writing.

Many successful indie authors hire a dedicated team of professionals to make up for the lack of viable publisher resources. On the payroll is a list of working personnel including editors, book designers, graphic artists, promoters and marketers, virtual assistants, and a buzz-generating fan club.

Such a robust system not only allows the successful author to stay productive and efficient without the stress, it also gives him a certain level of control and market predictability that authors in the lower stages don’t have. With such control and predictive power, the successful author can easily remain the dominating force in his market.

 

First Published on THE WRITER’S CLINIC  as ‘The Four Stages of Authorship‘

About Post Author

admin

I am a member of the WRR editorial team.
info@wrr.ng
https://wrr.ng/about-us/

Related

Tagged Publishing, writing

Post navigation

Previous

Previous post:

SPARE ME DEATH by Akinwale Peace

Next

Next post:

WINDS, WILD AND WHIRL by Dominic Ayegba Okoliko

Say something about this post Cancel reply

Categories

GET PUBLISHED!
  • Popular
  • Recent
  • Comments
  • May 27, 2014

    CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS: FR. ALBERT JUNGERS POETRY PRIZE (#AJPP2014)

  • November 25, 2012

    CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS: Eriata Oribhabor Poetry Prize 2012

  • November 5, 2012

    WOOING REBECCA [for Rebecca Effiong Okon who hates Poetry]

  • May 9, 2013

    I NEED AN AFRICAN WIFE

  • February 28, 2021

    WHAT IF (a poem by Agnes Olayemi Johnson)

  • February 28, 2021

    THE HILL WE CLIMB & SHADOW IN THE DARK (two poems by Stephen S. Moore)

  • February 7, 2021

    CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS: BRIGITTE POIRSON POETRY CONTEST [FEB/MAR 2021] — ‘WHAT WOULD YOUR ANCESTORS SAY?’

  • February 6, 2021

    CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS: ‘REGENERATION’ — CỌ́N-SCÌÒ MAGAZINE ISSUE 1, VOL 2, APR 2021

  • Ariyo faith adeshewa

    GOD’S WAY OF STAYING BEAUTIFUL BY ADENIRAN JOSEPH

  • Karlo Sevilla

    LIFE IN BPO (the evils of business process outsourcing)

  • Becky

    REVIEW: “SHOMEFUN TAKES THE GIRL CHILD THROUGH ALL THE CONFLICTS SHE MIGHT FACE AS A WOMAN” IN ‘A LETTER TO MY CHILD’

Close
Menu
  • HOME
    • ABOUT US
    • OUR CSR
    • CONTACT US
  • cọ́nscìò
  • FEATURES
    • BOOK REVIEWS
    • ESSAYS
    • INTERVIEWS
    • WRITING TIPS
  • POETRY
  • FICTION
  • SUBMIT
  • NEWS
    • CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS
  • PUBLISHING
    • PUBLISHING PACKAGES
    • 7 REASONS WHY
  • DOWNLOAD
Social profiles
  • HOME
    • ABOUT US
    • OUR CSR
    • CONTACT US
  • cọ́nscìò
  • FEATURES
    • BOOK REVIEWS
    • ESSAYS
    • INTERVIEWS
    • WRITING TIPS
  • POETRY
  • FICTION
  • SUBMIT
  • NEWS
    • CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS
  • PUBLISHING
    • PUBLISHING PACKAGES
    • 7 REASONS WHY
  • DOWNLOAD

Related Post

THE STATE OF NIGERIAN LITERATURE AND THE NEED FOR YOUTH INVOLVEMENT IN MANAGING THE AFFAIRS OF THE INDUSTRY by Ahmed Maiwada

8 Jan 2021

HAIKU: AN INTRODUCTION by Taofeek Ayeyemi

8 Jan 2021

WHO IS TO BLAME FOR A BADLY PUBLISHED BOOK: AUTHOR, EDITOR OR PUBLISHER?

1 Jan 2021

A BOY IS NOT ALWAYS A BUTTERFLY & OUR MOTHERS ARE NOT ALL MOONS: WHAT IS HAPPENING TO NIGERIAN POETRY?

16 Aug 2020

A POET’S PAST MUST ADRESS HIS PRESENT (an essay by Oludipe Oyin Samuel)

3 Aug 2020

THE LENIENT POEM AND SUBTLE MEANING (an analysis by Oludipe Oyin Samuel)

27 Jul 2020

ABOUT US

Words Rhymes & Rhythm Ltd. (RC 1234112), publishing and educational institution that supports and promotes Nigerian writers and writings talents through several initiatives like contests, prizes, and an annual literary festival. Our publishing susbsidiary is AUTHORPEDIA.

CONTRIBUTE

QUICK LINKS

  • CỌ́NSCÌÒ
  • CONTACT US
  • DOWNLOAD E-BOOKS
  • PUBLISHING
  • SUBMIT TO WRR
  • SERVICES
  • HOME
    • ABOUT US
    • OUR CSR
    • CONTACT US
  • cọ́nscìò
  • FEATURES
    • BOOK REVIEWS
    • ESSAYS
    • INTERVIEWS
    • WRITING TIPS
  • POETRY
  • FICTION
  • SUBMIT
  • NEWS
    • CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS
  • PUBLISHING
    • PUBLISHING PACKAGES
    • 7 REASONS WHY
  • DOWNLOAD
Copyright 2012-2021, Words Rhymes Rhythm Ltd. All Rights Reserved.